Best Children’s Books for Women’s History Month (2026): 5 Picks

Shopping for the best children’s books for women’s history month means finding true stories that fit the child in front of you, from a sturdy board book for a toddler to a full biography collection for a third grader. We compared five books by listed reading age, grade level, print length and what each description says, so you can match the book to the reader.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Little Leaders by Harrison	9.8/10	Buy
2	Mae Among the Stars by Ahmed	9.6/10	Buy
3	A Is for Awesome! by Chen	9.5/10	Buy
4	ABCs of Black History by Cortez	9.5/10	Buy
5	Little Legends by Harrison	9.3/10	Buy

1

Little Leaders by Harrison

Vashti Harrison·9.8/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Forty trailblazing Black women, from nurses to mathematicians, in short illustrated biographies.

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Pros

• Forty biographies in one 96-page volume gives a wide view of Black women's history
• The listing gives a reading age of 4 to 9 years, marked as from customers, and grade level 3 to 7
• Book 1 of 3 in the Leaders and Dreamers series, so there is more to read next

Cons

• Reading age is marked as from customers rather than stated by the publisher
• Each biography is short, so a reader who wants one deep story may prefer a single-subject pick
• Grade level 3 to 7 starts above a younger child's class level

2

Mae Among the Stars by Ahmed

Roda Ahmed·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

The true story of Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space, told as a picture book.

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Pros

• A single-subject biography lets a child follow one life from childhood dream to NASA
• The listing gives a reading age of 3 to 6 years, marked as from customers, and grade level Preschool to 3
• The title notes it suits ages 4 to 8, right around the read-aloud years

Cons

• Reading age is marked as from customers rather than stated by the publisher
• One story in 40 pages covers less ground than the biography collections
• Published in 2018, an older edition than newer picks

3

A Is for Awesome! by Chen

Eva Chen·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

An alphabet board book introducing 23 iconic women, from Amelia Earhart to Malala.

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Pros

• Board-book format stands up to toddler handling
• The listing gives a reading age of 1 to 4 years, marked as from customers
• Twenty-three women from A to Z gives a first taste of many lives

Cons

• Reading age is marked as from customers rather than stated by the publisher
• No grade level is stated on the listing
• One spread per letter, so each woman gets only a brief mention

4

ABCs of Black History by Cortez

Rio Cortez·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A rhyming alphabet tour of Black history, culture and figures, with extra facts on each topic.

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Pros

• Rhyming text reads aloud well, with fact boxes for deeper dives
• The listing gives a reading age of 2 to 8 years, marked as from customers, and grade level Kindergarten and up
• At 64 pages it holds more than a standard alphabet book

Cons

• Reading age is marked as from customers rather than stated by the publisher
• Covers Black history broadly rather than women's history specifically
• Published in 2020, so check the listing for the newest edition

5

Little Legends by Harrison

Vashti Harrison·9.3/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

True stories of exceptional Black men through history, from artists to activists.

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Pros

• Many biographies in one 96-page illustrated volume
• The listing gives a reading age of 3 to 9 years, marked as from customers, and grade level 3 to 7
• Book 3 of 3 in the Leaders and Dreamers series, pairing with Little Leaders

Cons

• Profiles men, not women, so it misses the Women's History Month brief
• Reading age is marked as from customers rather than stated by the publisher
• Grade level 3 to 7 starts above a younger child's class level

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More picks to compare

• Little Dreamers by HarrisonThirty-five women creators around the world, Book 2 of 3.Check on Amazon
• The Oldest Student by HubbardTrue story of Mary Walker, who learned to read at 116.Check on Amazon
• Rebel Girls Baby's First BookBoard book of extraordinary women for babies to age 3.Check on Amazon
• What Is the Women's Rights Movement?What Was? history of the US women's rights fight, ages 8 to 12.Check on Amazon
• Brave. Black. First. by HudsonOver 50 Black women who changed the world, with Smithsonian curators.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 18 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for a young reader of women’s history, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or grade level. Four of the five listings give both a reading age, marked by Amazon as from customers, and a grade level; the A Is for Awesome listing gives a reading age only. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best children’s books for women’s history month

Match the book to the reader’s age

A toddler will get more from the A Is for Awesome board book than from a 96-page biography collection, while a third grader can dig into Little Leaders. Check the listed reading age and grade level against the child, not just the topic. For more themed months, see our best children’s books for hispanic heritage month.

Decide between one life and many

A single-subject book like Mae Among the Stars lets a child follow one story from start to finish, while Little Leaders samples forty lives in short spreads. If your reader latches onto one figure, look for that person’s own picture book next. For another history topic, try our best children’s books about native american history.

Before you buy

• Check the series number on the listing: Little Leaders is Book 1 of 3 and Little Legends is Book 3 of 3 in Leaders and Dreamers.
• For alphabet books, confirm the format: A Is for Awesome is a board book, while The ABCs of Black History is a 64-page illustrated book.
• Compare the listed reading age and grade level with your child, and note that Amazon marks reading ages as from customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age are these books for?

The listings give reading ages from 1 to 4 years up to 4 to 9 years, all marked as from customers. Match the listed age to your child rather than the topic alone.

Are these books only about American women?

No. Little Leaders covers Black women in history including figures like Mary Seacole and Diane Abbott, and the more picks below add women creators from around the world.

Which book should I start with for a 5 year old?

Mae Among the Stars lists a reading age of 3 to 6 years and grade level Preschool to 3, which brackets age 5. Its single-story format also suits a younger listener better than a biography collection.

Still deciding? Our top pickLittle Leaders by Harrison

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Related lists

See every history and biography list and all nonfiction lists.

More lists: books about Martin Luther King Jr., fantasy picture books and books about moms.