With International Women’s Day around the corner [March 8th] I have created a list of inspiring children’s books for girls, filled with stories of women who have and are changing the world. These are beautiful and uplifting stories with themes of courage, diversity, belonging and hope. Here are 6 Inspiring Children’s Books for girls (approx 4-8 years).
1. The wonderful things you will be
A friend of mine bought this book for my 5-year-old daughter and it has quickly become a firm fave. The Wonderful things you will be is a timeless celebration of all the exciting things children have in store.
“This is the first time
There’s ever been you,
So I wonder what wonderful things
You will do.”
In this gorgeous poem about growing up, Emily Windfield Martin explores all the things you can choose to be, from brave and bold to creative and wise. It’s a delight to read to my daughter each night. Buy the book here.
2. All the ways to be smart
From the award-winning creators of Under the Love Umbrella [another one of our favourites] comes this joyful ode to all the unique and wonderful qualities that make children who they are. We adore All the ways to be smart as it celebrates the myriad ways for kids to be smart–being empathic, artistic, athletic, and inquisitive.
Smart is not just ticks and crosses, smart is building boats from boxes.
Painting patterns, wheeling wagons, being mermaids, riding dragons . . .
3. The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be
The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be follows a group of diverse children as they each build their very own hot-air balloons. As the kids work together to fill the sky with beautiful colors, we discover that the same is true for life–it’s more beautiful when our differences are celebrated.
This vibrant hot-air balloon adventure celebrates every child’s one-of-a-kind strengths as well as teamwork and acceptance of differences. Everything can be made more beautiful when we kindly share our talents and abilities, lend a helping hand, and do our best to take care of one another.
This delightful story will take you on a journey of growth and imagination as you learn in full color that “the world needs who you were made to be. Most of all, the world needs both you and me.”
4. Girls who changed the world
From the inspiring author of Girls Who Rocked the World comes another comprehensive collection of true, inspiring profiles of successful young women throughout history who made their mark on the world before turning twenty.
Young women today crave strong, independent role models to look to for motivation. Girls Who Changed the World offers a fun and uplifting collection of influential stories with 45 more movers and shakers who made a difference early on in life.
From Cleopatra to Mindy Kaling, and Aretha Franklin to Emma Watson – also included are profiles of gutsy teenagers who are out there rocking the world right now and personal aspirations from today’s young women.
5. If I had a little Dream
We love lyrical picture books in our family. Nina Laden’s warm and delightful picture book sees and appreciates through a child’s eyes how fortunate we are to live in the world we do. If I had a little dream is tender, optimistic and full of possibilities.
Celebrate the wonder of the world in this reassuring picture book about the joy, love, and beauty that is part of each and every day. Our world is full of possibilities if you look for them.
6. Have you filled a bucket today?
I must have read this book hundreds of times and it fills my bucket every time. Right now as my daughter navigates the Prep playground we are talking a lot about “bucket filling.” The concept of bucket filling is an effective metaphor for encouraging kind and considerate behaviour and for teaching the benefits of positive relationships.
Have you filled a bucket today has been listed as one of the top children’s books that encourage kindness towards others. When you do something kind, you fill someone’s bucket; when you do something mean, you dip into someone’s bucket and remove some good thoughts and feelings. This book focuses on how our social interactions positively or negatively affect others and encourages all to be kind.
* Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you click to purchase the item, I earn a few cents, but you don’t pay any extra.
