March is Women’s History Month, so I thought I would round up some of my favorites and share them with y’all. These picture books are great for upper elementary. They are also great for anytime of the year-not just March! You can download the free list I created here.
I also thought I would highlight 5 of my top picks.
Building Zaha: The Story of Architect Zaha Hadid
If you don’t know, Zaha Hadid was the first woman to design a museum in the United States. This tells the story of her life and how she grew up in Baghdad and became fascinated with designing buildings. I like that this focuses on a lesser known historical female figure, while also spotlighting architecture- a field that many upper elementary kids are starting to become interested in. Picture books featuring architects are hard to come by and the fact that this one features a female just makes it even more of an asset to add to your classroom library.
Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote
I always started off women’s history month by sharing this book because it does a good job of explaining why there is a special month for women’s history in the first place. I think most of our students just assume girls and boys are equal and have the same rights-which is an amazing thing, but they need to learn that it wasn’t always like this. When I would read this book, the kids were always shocked to learn that I wouldn’t be allowed to own my own home since I don’t have a husband. This book is very eye opening for students, but it’s written in a way they can understand it. Elizabeth Leads the Way is one of my very favorites!
Amelia and Eleanor Go For A Ride
This book tells the story of when Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt ate dinner together at the White House and then went for a ride in an airplane at night. I loved this literary nonfiction story that is based on an actual event in history. The author’s note adds so much to the story. While this one is great for learning about important female historical figures, I especially like the illustrations and the rich vocabulary that is found in this story. You don’t get as many facts/life stories with this book, your kids will be transported into a story that they will be racing to learn more about!
I love this book because it features a lesser known, important historical female figure, but it deals with something that is present in children’s everyday lives. This book tells the story of Anne Carroll Moore-the woman who helped create libraries for children. She worked hard to change how children were allowed to act inside a library. Libraries for children went from a single box that was kept locked so children couldn’t touch the books and ruin them to the spaces we know and love today. I loved this one!
Flying Free: How Bessie Coleman’s Dreams Took Flight and Fly High! The Story of Bessie Coleman
Let me start off by saying I love both of these books and think both of them would be perfect for upper elementary students, BUT if you are wanting more of a biography, informational text then I suggest going with Fly High! Flying Free is more a literary based story that is written in rhyme. It’s my personal favorite, but you do get more facts and life info with Fly High. My suggestion? Use Flying Free as a read aloud and then students could read Flying High on their own to learn more about Bessie Coleman, the first Black female pilot in the world.
I’ve included all of these titles in an Amazon list, which you can find here.
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