Inspiring Illustrated Biographies for Women's History Month

The month of March serves as a time to honor the achievements and contributions made by women in the United States. Here are two inspiring biographies about amazing female athletes.  

Long-Armed Ludy and the First Women's Olympics by Jean L.S. Patrick; Illustrated by Adam Gustavson

Born in Marion, South Carolina in 1900, Lucile (Ludy) Godbold was one of  fifteen American athletes selected to compete in the first Women's Olympics in 1922.  Long-Armed Ludy is an interesting look at Olympic history and a gold metal athlete who made history.         .  

Picture Books About Women Serving in the United States Military

Women have been serving in the military since the inception of organized warfare, in both combat and non-combat roles. Over 200,000 women currently serve in the U.S. Armed Services. These picture books show what life is like for military families and mothers and daughters serving in the United States military. 

Missing Momma by Winsome Bingham; Illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell

This thoughtful picture book shows the real world-challenges of children in military families including when a parent is deployed far from home, lost time with family, and a mother's struggles with PTSD from a child’s perspective. The colorfully illustrated book also reveals the healing power of music and family. 

Author Winsome Bingham, a disabled army veteran, writes that Missing Momma is about a child who pays attention to her surroundings and the people in her life.   

Inspiring Illustrated Biographies for Women's History Month

The month of March serves as a time to honor the achievements and contributions made by women throughout the history of the United States. These biographies teach young readers about American women who are recognized for their unique contributions and groundbreaking achievements. 

The Power of Her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne by Lesa Cline-Ransome; Illustrated by John Parra  

           

Young Ethel L. Payne had an ear for stories and courage to ask tough questions, earning her the distinction of being the first Black woman invited into the White House briefing room and the nickname, The First Lady of the Black Press. This inspiring picture book chronicles the joys and hardships of Payne’s early life and her professional achievements including reporting from across the globe and drawing attention to critical civil rights issues.

I’ve had a box seat on history and that’s a rare thing. 

Ethel L. Payne      

           

Inspiring Illustrated Biographies for Women's History Month

The month of March serves as a time to honor the achievements and contributions made by women throughout the history of the United States. Forsyth County Public Library has many biographical picture books about the lives of women who made unique contributions to society. 

Here are a few of the books in our collection for young readers. 

Good Books for Bad Children: the Genius of Ursula Nordstrom by Beth Kephart; Illustrated by Chloe Bristol

Book lovers of any age will enjoy this biography of Ursula Nordstrom, the groundbreaking book editor whose keen eye for talent and high expectations brought many classic children’s books to publication. 

If you enjoyed Crocket Johnson’s Harold and the Purple Crayon, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, and Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, you have Ursula Nordstrom to thank for their publication. As a book nerd, I loved learning the backstory on several beloved children's books. 

Picture Books for International Women's Day

While the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines celebrate women's history with an entire month, many countries around the globe observe International Women's Day on March 8. 

These picture books focus on women from different parts of the world who became advocates for environmental issues.  

Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior by Carole Lindstrom, Illustrated by Bridget George

Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior is the illustrated biography of two groundbreaking water warriors, Josephine Henrietta Mandamin, known as Grandma Josephine, and her great-niece Autumn. Both advocated for clean water. Grandma Josephine walked the circumference of Lake Superior carrying a ceremonial copper pail filled with lake water and conducted twelve other tribal water walks to raise awareness for the protection of water flowing through the Great Lakes.