In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage Parade of 1913, I’ve decided to highlight my favorite biographies and histories of important women. This is only a sampling of the fantastic nonfiction written about famous and not-so-famous women:
When Wilma Rudolph contracted polio, her doctor told her family that she would never walk again. Not only did she prove her doctor wrong, but she became the first American woman to win three gold medals at a single Olympiad. Kathleen Krull and David Diaz artfully and sensitively render Rudolph’s pain and determination. Wilma Unlimited is a captivating read aloud for elementary school students.
Little was known about autism when Temple Grandin was diagnosed at the age of three. Although institutionalization was not uncommon in the 1950s, Grandin’s mother insisted that Temple remain with the family. As an adult, Dr. Grandin was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people; her designs for the humane treatment of animals raised for food has won her worldwide admiration. This is an exceptional book for middle-grade readers; not only does it include first-hand information from Dr. Grandin and her family and friends, but it also informs readers about the different aspects of autism.
(First of all–that is a fabulous cover. One of the best I saw last year.) The Girl Scouts marked their 100th anniversary in 2012, so a spate of Juliette Gordon Low biographies were published. First Girl Scout is a handsome and thoughtful account of founder Juliette Gordon Low. Low was an engaging character, as Wadsworth demonstrates, and overcame several challenges, including severe hearing loss and the collapse of her marriage (due to her husband’s infidelity).
Among Karen Blumenthal’s many impressive histories for middle grade readers, Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX remains at the top of my favorites. Many newspaper clippings, photographs, and other media fill the pages of this engrossing look at the fight for women’s participation and respect in sports. Although some key statistics may be outdated (it was published in 2006), this is an inspiring account of the journey to bring Title IX into law.
Over 1000 women served in the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots during World War II, but it wasn’t until 1977 that they, including the 38 pilots who died in service, were recognized for their war work. The WASPs faced innumerable obstacles, not the least of which were defective planes and unequal pay. This is a part of World War II history that should be widely known; fans of Almost Astronauts (by Tanya Lee Stone) should definitely read this.
I could go on, but I want to know about your favorite biographies and histories of notable women. Talk about them in the comments!
Lisa
I’ll be posting more on Women’s History Month tomorrow. I’m glad you’ve kicked things off with some great titles! BTW, if anyone would like the details for an easy WHM scavenger hunt created especially for this year’s theme, contact me via email.
Elizabeth Kopack
Hi,
Please send me your WHM scavanger hunt . Sounds like a great idea!
Thanks!
Stacey
Hi Jennifer,
I love using the following titles when teaching research skills for biography:
Louisa : the life of Louisa May Alcott
Yona Zeldis McDonough.
Harriet Tubman, secret agent : how daring slaves and free Blacks spied for the Union during the Civil War
Thomas B. Allen ; featuring illustrations by Carla Bauer.
Girls think of everything : stories of ingenious inventions by women
Catherine Thimmesh ; illustrated by Melissa Sweet.
Florence Nightingale : a photo-illustrated biography
by Lucile Davis.
When Marian sang : the true recital of Marian Anderson the voice of a century
libretto by Pam Muñoz Ryan ; staging by Brian Selznick.
Mermaid Queen : the spectacular true story of Annette Kellerman, who swam her way to fame, fortune, & swimsuit history!
by Shana Corey ; illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham.
Amelia to Zora : twenty-six women who changed the world
Cynthia Chin-Lee ; illustrated by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy.
Purple mountain majesties : the story of Katharine Lee Bates and “America the Beautiful”
by Barbara Younger ; illustrated by Stacey Schuett.
Aunt Clara Brown : official pioneer
by Linda Lowery ; illustrations by Janice Lee Porter.
She touched the world : Laura Bridgman, deaf-blind pioneer
by Sally Hobart Alexander and Robert Alexander.
Rachel Carson : friend of the earth
by Francene Sabin ; illustrated by Yoshi Miyake.
The divide
Michael Bedard ; illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully.
Manya’s dream : a story of Marie Curie
Frieda Wishinsky ; illustrated by Jacques Lamontagne.
Sarah Emma Edmonds was a great pretender : the true story of a Civil War spy
Carrie Jones ; illustrations by Mark Oldroyd.
America’s champion swimmer : Gertrude Ederle
written by David A. Adler ; illustrated by Terry Widener.
Nurse, soldier, spy : the story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War hero
Marissa Moss ; [illustrated by] John Hendrix.
They called her Molly Pitcher
by Anne Rockwell ; illustrated by Cynthia von Buhler.
Minty : a story of young Harriet Tubman
by Alan Schroeder ; pictures by Jerry Pinkney.
To be a princess : the fascinating lives of real princesses
by Hugh Brewster and Laurie Coulter ; with paintings by Laurie McGaw.
Patriots in petticoats : heroines of the American Revolution
Shirley Raye Redmond.
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