This list features books on woman and girls who have been forgotten or overlooked by the history books. Books marked with an asterisk also apply to the Non-Fiction list and a double asterisk to the Disability Non-Fiction list.
*Her Name was Mary Katherine by Ella Schwartz and illustrated by Dow Phumiruk – Official printer of the Declaration of Independence
Stitch by Stitch: Elizabeth Hobbs Keckly Sews Her Way to Freedom by Connie Schofield-Morrison and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon – Mrs. Lincoln’s dressmaker
I am Mozart, Too by Audrey Ades and illustrated by Adelina Lirius – Maria Anna Mozart, older sister to composer Wolfgang Mozart
The Power of her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne – First Black woman reporter admitted to the White House Press Room
Mae makes a way : the true story of Mae Reeves, hat & history maker by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich and illustrated by Andrea Pippins – milliner Mae Reeves
Harriet’s Ruffled Feathers: The Woman Who Saved Millions of Birds by Joy McCullough and illustrated by Romina Galotta – Harriet Hemenway, conservationist and founder of the Audubon Society
*The Girl Who Named Pluto: The Story of Venetia Burney by Alice McGinty and illustrated by Elizabeth Haidle – Venetia Burney, a young space loving girl who suggested the name of Pluto
Out of the Shadows: How Lotte Reiniger Made the First Animated Fairytale Movie by Fiona Robinson – Lotte Reiniger, early animator, film maker, and expert in scherenschnitte, the German art of cutting paper silhouettes
**Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion by Shannon Stocker and illustrated by Devon Holzwarth – Deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie
Sanctuary: Kip Tiernan and Rosie’s Place, the Nation’s First Shelter for Women by Christine McDonnell and illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov – Activist Kip Teirnan
**Splash! Ethelda Bleibtrey Makes Waves of Change by Elisa Boxer and illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley – Gold Medal Swimmer and fashion changer
*Rosalind Looked Closer: The Unsung Hero of Molecular Biology by Lisa Gerin and illustrated by Chiara Fedele – Scientist Rosalind Carter, the woman behind the discovery of DNA’s double helix
Make Meatballs Sing: The Life and Art of Sister Corita Kent by Matthew Burgess and illustrated by Kara Kramer – Sister Corita Kent, rebel nun and renowned artist
*Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist by Evan Griffith and illustrated by Joanie Stone by – Jeanne Villepreux-Power, self taught Marine life researcher and creator of the modern aquarium
*Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life by Cheryl Blackford – self taught Paleontologist and Geologist Mary Anning
A Perfect Fit: How Lena “Lane” Bryant Changed the Shape of Fashion by Mara Rockliff and illustrated by Juana Marinez Neal – Seamstres Lane Bryant, the precursor to the plus size fashion brand
Shaped by Her Hands: Potter Maria Martinez by Anna Harber Freeman and Barbara Gonzalez and illustrated by Aphelandra – renowed Native American Potter
Madame Alexander: The Creator of the Iconic American Doll by Susan Goldman Rubin and illustrated by Sarah Dvojack – Beatrice Alexander, Jewish Immigrant and creator of the Madame Alexander Doll line
*Grace Barker and her Hello Girls by Claudia Friddell and illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley – Grace Barker and the “Hello Girls” aka the Women’s Signal Corp of WWI
Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee by Julie Leung and illustrated by Julie Kwon – First Chinese American military pilot Hazel Lee
*Sisters in Science: Marie Curie, Bronia Dluska, and the Atomic Power of Sisterhood by Linda Elovitz Marshall and illustrated by Elena and Anna Balbusso – Scientist and researcher Marie Curie and her doctor sister
Fearless World Traveler: Adventures of Marianne North, Botanical Artist by Laurie Lawlor and illustrated by Becca Stadtlander – painter and amateur botanist and creator of the Marianne North Gallery at Kew Botanical Gardens, London
Only the Best: the Exceptional Life and Fashion of Ann Lowe by Kate Messner and Margaret E. Powell and illustrated by Erin K. Robinson – Fashion designer to the stars Ann Lowe
Numbers in Motion: Sophie Kowalevski, Queen of Mathematics by Laurie Wallmark and illustrated by Yevgenia Nayberg – Russian Mathematician and first woman to obtain a doctorate in mathematics, co creator of the Cauchy-Kowalevski theorem
The Brilliant Calculator: How Mathematician Edith Clarke Helped Electrify America by Jan Lower and illustrated by Susan Reagan – American electrical engineer
*Nellie Vs. Elizabeth: Two Daredevil Journalists’ Breakneck Race Around The World by Kate Hannigan and illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon – Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Biston’s race around the world
*Cloaked in Courage: Uncovering Deborah Sampson Patriot Soldier by Beth Anderson and illustrated by Anne Lambelet – First female soldier in the US
*The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt her Town in Stories and Photographs by Chana Steifel and illustrated by Susan Gal – Professor of Judaism and Holocaust Survivor
The Stuff Between the Stars: How Vera Rubin Discovered Most of the Universe by Sandra Nickel and illustrated by Aimee Sicuro – Astronomer Professor and researcher
*Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter by Aida Salazar and illustrated by Molly Mendoza – Mexican freedom fighter and Christero
The Fire of Stars: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What the Stars are Made Of by Kirsten W. Larson and illustrated by Katherine Roy – Astronomer Cecilia Payne
*The Woman Who Split the Atom by Marissa Moss – scientist physicist Lise Meitner
A Dinosaur Named Ruth: How Ruth Mason Discovered Fossils in her Own Backyard by Julia Lyon and illustrated by Alexander Bye – Ruth Mason, who discovered a t-rex on her ranch and other dinosaur bones, the T-Rex skeleton she found is on display named for her
Good Books for Bad Children: The Genius of Ursula Nordstrom by Beth Kephart and illustrated by Chloe Bristol – children’s book editor Ursula Norstrom
Chef Edna: Queen of Southern Cooking by Melvina Noel and illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera – Southern chef and cookbook author
Virginia Wouldn’t Slow Down! The Unstoppable Dr. Apgar and Her Life Saving Invention by Carrie A. Pearson and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter – Doctor and anesthesiology
Granny Smith Was Not an Apple by Sarah Glen Forston and illustrated by Kris Aro McLeod – orchardist “Granny” Smith
Fabulous Fannie Farmer: Kitchen Scientist and America’s Cook by Emma Bland Smith and illustrated by Susan Reagan – Kitchen pioneer in standardizing recipes, cooking school teacher, and cookbook author
Cactus Queen: Minerva Hoyt Establishes Joshua Tree National Park by Lori Alexander and illustrated by Jen Ely – Conservationist Minerva Hoyt’s campaign to create a national park
The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets of the Rain Forest by Heather Lang and illustrated by Jana Christy – Botanist, biologist, and rainforest conservationist
The Ramblings of a Jedi Librarian 