Tandem Book List: Celebrating Unsung Heroes in Women’s History
At Tandem, we believe that books should inspire. And that’s the spirit behind this book list that celebrates Women’s History Month by introducing children (and their grownups) to stories of trailblazing women from fields as varied as arts, science, politics, activism, and sports.
While some of these women are well known, many are not. This book list aims to shine a light on the largely unsung heroes whose work and contributions have nevertheless made an important mark on the world.
These picture book biographies are most appropriate for children 4 years and older (although, it’s a Tandem value that you’re never too young—or too old—for a good book!). For each title, we have included resources where grownups can learn more about the topic, so that they can use the book and the book sharing experience as a jumping off place for rich conversations with children.
Whether you’re sharing a picture book biography at bedtime or learning about a new hero with the children you teach, we hope these books will encourage you to tell women’s stories all year long.
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré / Sembrando Historias: Pura Belpré: Bibliotecaria y Narradora
Written by Anika Aldamuy Denise
Illustrated by Paola Escobar
Pura Belpré was storyteller, author, puppeteer, activist and New York City’s first Puerto Rican librarian. When she was hired by the library, Pura traveled all over New York City, telling stories with puppets in Spanish and English—and it is because of her we have storytime (and library programming) not only in English, but also in Spanish and other languages.
It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way
Written by Kyo Maclear
Illustrated by Julie Morstad
Artist Gyo Fujikawa was one of the first picture book illustrators who embraced racial diversity (in spite of her publishers’ objections) by drawing babies of different races playing together. As the child of Japanese Americans interned during World War II—her entire California community was uprooted—she remembered feeling “unseen and unwelcome,” and used her books to create a world in which difference was embraced.
What Miss Mitchell Saw
Written by Hayley Barrett
Illustrated by Diana Sudyka
The first female astronomer in the United States, Maria Mitchell was also the first American scientist to discover a comet (“Miss Mitchell’s Comet”), which brought her international acclaim. Maria was also an advocate for science and math education for girls, the first female astronomy professor, and a leader in the formation of the American Association of University Women.
There Goes Patti McGee
Written by Tootie Nienow
Illustrated by Erika Medina
Born and raised in Southern California, McGee started skating in the mid-1950s after she and some neighborhood friends fashioned roller skates onto the bottoms of some 2×4’s and rode downhill. Through public appearances, magazines and television during the 1960s, McGee became well-known across the nation. In a sport that was largely dominated by men, Patti proved there was more than enough room for women.
Sarah and the Big Wave: The True Story of the First Woman to Surf Mavericks
Written by Bonnie Tsui
Illustrated by Sophie Diao
Sarah Gerhardt became the first woman (in 1999, when she was 24!) to surf a famously dangerous big-wave spot south of San Francisco called ‘Mavericks’ known for producing 60-foot tall waves. Sarah is not only a pioneer in a male-dominated sport, but she has created a legacy in the world of big wave surfing.
Background Resources:
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist
Written by Jess Keating
Illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns
After a trip to the aquarium when she was nine, Eugenie Clark became fascinated with sharks even though they were seen as killing machines. When she grew up, Eugenie became a scientist who studied poisonous fish and sharks (she was known as the ‘Shark Lady’), and she worked to change how people saw these oceanic creatures through her research.
The Water Lady: How Darlene Arviso Helps a Thirsty Navajo Nation
Written by Alice B. McGinty
Illustrated by Shonto Begay
Darlene Arviso, known as “the water lady,” delivers water five days a week to communities without plumbing and clean water on the Navajo reservation surrounding Thoreau, New Mexico. She totes over three thousand gallons of water in her yellow tanker truck, traveling 75 miles and visiting about a dozen families every day.
Fall Down Seven Times, Stand Up Eight: Patsy Takemoto Mink and the Fight for Title IX
Written by Jen Bryant
Illustrated by Toshiki Nakamura
Patsy Takemoto Mink became a congresswoman after being turned down from medical school because she was a woman. This biography tells the story of how Patsy led the creation of Title IX, the law that requires federally funded schools to treat boys and girls equally. This equal rights activist lived her life according to the Japanese proverb, Fall down seven times, stand up eight.
Background Resources:
Saving American Beach: The Biography of African American Environmentalist MaVynee Betsch
Written by Heidi Tyline King
Illustrated by Ekua Holmes
Reminded of the days of Jim Crow which banned Black people from many places, including beaches, American opera singer-turned-environmentalist MaVynee Oshun Betsch, set out to save the one beach she loved as a child, American Beach. Her great-grandfather, Abraham Lincoln Lewis, created the beachside community in 1935 as a resort spot for Black families who were not welcome elsewhere.
Background Resources:
- Renowned ‘Beach Lady’ championed Amelia Island’s beach for African Americans
- The unsung hero who saved a Florida beach
An American Beach (video) Trigger Warning: Includes discussions of slavery
Milloo’s Mind: The Story of Maryam Faruqi, Trailblazer for Women’s Education
Written by Reem Faruqi
Illustrated by Hoda Hadadi
Maryam “Milloo” Faruqi founded the Happy Home Schools in Karachi, Pakistan, which provided schooling to thousands of girls at a time when women were discouraged from getting an education.
Background Resources:
Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom
Written by Teresa Robeson
Illustrated by Rebecca Huang
Born during a time in China when most girls didn’t attend school, this remarkable story of how Wu Chien Shiung overcame prejudice to become a famous physicist is sure to leave young readers believing that they can become anything they want.
Building Zaha: The Story of Architect Zaha Hadid
Written and Illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov
British Iraqi Zaha Hadid knew she wanted to be an architect at a very young age. But in a male-dominated world of architecture, she had many critics telling her she didn’t belong. This is the story of how she followed her dreams and persisted to become a pioneer in the field against all odds.
Background Resource:
Angela Dalton, Tandem Board Member
Angela Dalton is a professional storyteller with more than twenty years of experience turning fundamental concepts into engaging narratives. Her expertise in crafting stories and leading digital teams has allowed her to cultivate children-focused marketing initiatives for companies such as Target, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and General Mills. She lives in Oakland with her husband and son and is an award-winning author of children’s books. Both traditionally and independently published, her titles include If You Look Up to the Sky (Self-published, 2018) Ruby’s Reunion Day Dinner (HarperCollins, 2021), Show the World! (Viking Books for Young Readers, 2022), and the forthcoming To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped to Advance Civil Rights (HarperCollins, 2023). When she is not reading or writing, Angela enjoys spending her time working on other types of engaging content for kids. She is currently co-creating an online puppet video series and developing a story-time video program for UCSF Children’s Hospital.
