March 8 is International Women’s Day and there is plenty to do to celebrate. In my class we are talking about women who inspire us in our own lives. My 6 year olds also love listening to a good read aloud. I have read many books to them leading up to International Women’s Day and will continue to focus on books about strong women for the duration of International Women’s Month.

Here’s a roundup of my favourite books to read for International Women’s Month so you can celebrate all month long too!

Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed

My students were excited to see the Mars rover Perseverance land in February and have shared their wonders about space ever since. We read this story about Mae Jemison, the first African American women in space whose primary school teacher told her she should be a nurse rather than trying to be an astronaut. My girls got the message loud and clear - don’t let anyone discourage you from chasing your dreams just because you are a girl.

Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors by Tanya Lee Stone

This inspiring story about Elizabeth Blackwell, the first female doctor, was a hit in my class. This story about an adventurous young girl is told with fun illustrations that captured the attention of my young students. The more Elizabeth was told no, the more my students wanted her to succeed. Resilience and persistence were the big takeaways for my class.

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

This classic tale about a girl who shows the world that she does not need a prince or fancy clothes is sure to be a favourite. The little princess battles a dragon herself rather than waiting for a prince to save her making this an excellent book to introduce challenging gender stereotypes.

Every-Day Dress-Up by Selina Alko

My class loves imaginative play and this book gave them so many new ideas. This story is about a young girl who loves to dress up as princesses until her mom tells her stories of many real, great women. Dressing up each day becomes an adventure as she dresses up as a variety of inspiring women from pilot Amelia Earheart, to jazz singer Ella Ftizgerald, to scientist Marie Curie.

Little Dreamers: Visionary Women Around the World by Vashti Harrison

This charming book tells the true stories of 40 women from around the world. All were inspiring creators of some kind, from writers to inventors, artists to scientists. This book shows it’s young readers that they can grow up to do something amazing, just like these dreamers.