6 children’s books about inspiring real-life women

Lately the 6-year-old has been selecting a new book, “Pocket Full of Colors: The Magical World of Mary Blair, Disney Artist Extraordinaire” as his bedtime story and considering it’s a story about a female illustrator in the 1940s, he’s surprisingly into it.

It tells the story of illustrator, designer, and animator Mary Blair, who joined Walt Disney studios with a colorful, imaginative vision at a time when the “men in charge” just wanted to think in basic black and white. I like that it keeps my son interested in the story while also making him think about why Blair was one of the “first women ever to be hired” at Walt Disney and just why all those men were the ones in charge of a talented woman.

It’s made me want to seek out other great stories of inspiring real life women for him to enjoy. Below, a few of our family’s selections.

The Story of Ruby Bridges

Ruby Bridges was the first African-American child to integrate an all-white school less than 60 years ago. The book captures Ruby’s story with watercolor paintings and simple prose. For ages 5-9.

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark

RBG has been serving as an inspiration to little girls for awhile now -- just look at this one who dressed up as her for school superhero day. Through this picture book about her life, kids can learn about how she has spent her life standing up for people and what’s right by “dissenting.” For ages 4-8.

The Doctor With An Eye For Eyes: The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath

Growing up during the civil rights movement, Patricia Bath was determined to become a doctor. She went on to break ground for African Americans and revolutionize medicine with her work in opthalmology. This book is part of a new series about the lives of scientists. For ages 5-10.

Katherine Johnson (You Should Meet)

The You Should Meet series of Ready to Read books are fascinating nonfiction intros to some incredible figures, including Katherine Johnson, one of the NASA mathematicians who was portrayed in “Hidden Figures.” For ages 6-8.

Hillary Rodham Clinton: Some Girls Are Born To Lead

This gorgeous political biography tells the story of the presidential candidate through her time as a student, lawyer, mother, activist and politician, illustrating her fight to make a difference for women everywhere. For ages 4-8.

What are you some of your family’s favorites? Send us an email at parents@huffpost.com or come talk about it in the So You Want To Raise a Feminist Facebook group.

Xoxo

Emily

This Week's Teachable Moment

"Tonight my 7-year-old daughter was doing an activity with my sister. My daughter's unicorn horn (we are a rainbow unicorn this month) strayed too close to my sister's eye, and she pushed it back up on my daughters head to protect her eyes. My daughter replied 'How dare you touch a unicorn's horn without asking!' So I'm going to take this as a win for teaching consent."