In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating women who write who write fabulous stories for children’s and young adults. Some of our selections are classics and others are recent finds by contemporary women authors. Let’s hear it for our storytellers, the women who taught us about fair play, helped our imaginations take flight and the women of this decade who will inspire our children to be brave, kind and dream big.

Classic Children’s Tales:

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown – Introduce your kids to this timeless classic about bedtime. For ages birth -4

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett - Three children find healing and friendship in a magical forgotten garden on the haunting Yorkshire moors. For ages 6-12

BEATRIX POTTER Ultimate Collection - 22 Children's Books with Complete Original Illustrations: The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck, The Tale of Tom Kitten and more. For ages 5-8

Lulu's Library - Complete Collection: 30+ Stories for Children (Illustrated): “The Skipping Shoes,” “Eva's Visit to Fairyland,” “Mermaids,” “A Christmas Dream,” “Sophie's Secret” and many more by Louisa May Alcott – Alcott created these stories to tell her niece at bedtime. The stories became favorites of her niece and friends. Alcott wrote them down and compiled them into this book which became her Christmas gift to the children. For ages 8 & up

Biographies/Memoirs:

Who Was Beatrix Potter? by Sarah Fabiny – Learn about the woman who created some of the most beloved characters in children’s literature. Did you know The Tale of Peter Rabbit was rejected by several publishers before it was published? Beatrix Potter worked as a Christmas card illustrator with her brother before writing and illustrating her first book. Found out more interesting facts about this author. For ages 8-12

Women in Art: 50 Fearless Creatives Who Inspired the World (Women in Science)

by Rachel Ignotofsky - highlights the achievements and stories of 50 notable women in the arts including Frida Kahlo and Georgia O'Keefe and lesser-known names like the African American quilter Harriet Powers and Hopi-Tewa ceramic artist Nampeyo. This book covers various artistic mediums, artistic movements throughout history, and statistics about women's representation in museums. For ages 10 & up

Women Who Dared: 52 Stories of Fearless Daredevils, Adventurers, and Rebels by Linda Skeers - This collection of brief biographies features women throughout history who have risked their lives for adventure, justice, and innovation such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Annie Edson Taylor,  Valentina Tereshkova and Helen Gibson. For ages 8-14

No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg – Read the New York Times bestseller by Time's 2019 Person of the Year. This is a collection of speeches by Greta Thunberg, the young climate activist. It includes her historic address to the United Nations. For ages 12 & up

Contemporary Women Authors:

World So Wide by Alison McGhee – A celebration of a child’s wonder-filled first experiences, and the love between parents and child. For ages birth – 6

Judy Blume

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing – Book one in the series about Fudge, Peter Hatcher’s pesky little brother. For ages 8-12

Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great – Book two

Superfudge – Book three

Fudge-a-Mania – Book four

Double Fudge – Book five

More than 75 million copies of her books for children have been sold, and her work has been translated into twenty-six languages. Look for more of Blume’s books at your local library.

Emma Hart

The Adventurers and the Cursed Castle - Kexley Castle has been cursed since an Egyptian treasure was transported to Cornwall by a 19th Century explorer. Four intrepid adventurers, Lara, Rufus, Tom and Barney attempt to unravel the mystery and race to find Captain Jack Kexley’s hiding place before two uninvited visitors from the British Museum. The adventurers must work together to solve a series of clues left by their ancestor.  Who will find the treasure first? For ages 8-12

The Adventurers and the Temple of Treasure – Lara, Rufus, Tom and Barney travel to Egypt for this treasure hunt. Helped by friends both old and new, the adventurers must navigate their way through the ancient wonders of Egypt to find one of the greatest treasure troves in history. For ages 8-12

J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – for ages 8 & up

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – for ages 8 & up

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – for ages 8 & up

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – for ages 8 & up

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – for ages 8 & up

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – for ages 8 & up

Harry Potter and the Half blood Prince – for ages 8 & up

The Tales of Beedle the Bard – for ages 8 & up

Quidditch Through the Ages – for ages 8 & up

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – for ages 8 & up

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald – for ages 8 & up

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts One and Two – for ages 10 & up

Even if your kids have seen the movies, the books have details and adventures that are missing from the films. It’s fun to discuss these differences with your kids. Ask them how well they think the settings in the book were recreated for film and what they thought of the casting.

Lois Lowry

Number the Stars – Experience the action through the eyes of a 10 year old girl named Annemarie as German troops begin their campaign to "relocate" all the Jews of Denmark. Annemarie’s family takes in Annemarie’s best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her as part of the family. The Danish Resistance smuggles nearly 7,000 people, almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark, across the sea to Sweden. For ages 10 & up

The Giver - Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in an “idyllic world.” Everyone follows the rules and no one flaunts their individuality. However, after Jonas is given his life assignment, Receiver of Memory, he begins to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community. Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son are follow- up novels to The Giver. For ages 12 & up

Lowry has written over 40 novels for young adults.