Adler, David A. Our Golda: The Story of Golda Mier.
A biography of the Israeli prime minister and world leader, emphasizing her early childhood and youth in Russia and America.

Ajmera, Maya and Anna Rhesa Versola. Children from Australia to Zimbabwe: A Photographic Journey Around the World.
Meet children all over the world and learn about their home countries in this unique alphabet book. Young readers will be thrilled to discover what games children play in Nigeria, what houses look like in Turkey, and what people's favorite sport is in Russia. Newly revised with updated facts and population figures, this is one trip you won't want to miss!

Atkins, Jeannine. Girls Who Looked Under Rocks: The Lives of Six Pioneering Naturalists.
The six women portrayed in this book--Maria Merian (b.1647), Anna Comstock (b.1854), Frances Hamerstrom (b.1907), Rachel Carson (b.1907), Miriam Rothschild (b.1908) and Jane Goodall (b.1934--all grew up to become award-winning scientists, writers and artists, as comfortable with a pen as with a magnifying glass. Often they were discouraged from getting dirty, much less pursuing careers in science. But they all became renowned scientists, frequently the only women in their fields. They overcame opposition and found ways to pass on their vision of how all lives in nature are beautifully connected.

Campbell, Ann. Queenie Farmer Had Fifteen Daughters.
On the very day Queenie Farmer gives birth to fifteen daughters, her beloved prize herd of cows runs off with her husband in chase. Her life is never dull, and Queenie rises to each task with her own particular flair.Ann Campbell's delightfully original tall tale weaves together a down-home family story with early math concepts and an introduction to the days of the week. Holly Meade's gentle hand and buoyant compositions highlight the bold, independent spirit of Queenie--and each of her beloved girls.

Capitelli, Yvonne. Daria Rose and The Day She Chose.
A story of self-empowerment; tofoster positive behavior, confidence, courage, strength, determination, friendaship, good, values and the importance of being thoughtful and thankful. join Daria Rose in a seven-day adventure as she discovers the powers she had inside her all along. She takes control of her days and learns how to make good choices. She discovers that her decisions can change the outcome of the different worries and fears in her life. Daria Rose learns that life is all about choices and it is up to her to make the right ones.

Chapman, Linda. My Secret Unicorn: The Magic Spell.
Have you ever longed for a pony? Lauren Foster has. And when her family moves to the country, her dream finally comes true. But when she reads a story about a perfectly ordinary pony who turns into a snow-white unicorn, she starts to look at her own pony, Twilight, and to wonder, maybe . . . Just maybe . . .?

Christensen, Bonnie. The Daring Nellie Bly: America's Star Reporter.
From the award-winning picture book biographer of Woody Guthrie comes the inspirational story of Nellie Bly. Born in 1864, during a time in which options were extremely limited for women, Nellie defied all expectations and became a famous newspaper correspondent. Her daring exploits included committing herself to an infamous insane asylum in New York City to expose the terrible conditions there and becoming the first American war correspondent of either sex to report on the front lines of Austria during World War I. In 1889, Nellie completed her most publicized stunt, her world-famous trip around the world in just 72 days, beating the record of Jules Vernes’ fictional hero in Around the World in 80 Days.

Cleary, Beverly. Ramona and Her Father.
Ramona Quimby, a spunky second grader, finds that her life changes when her father unexpectedly loses his job. Ramona becomes determined to make her worried father, overworked mother, and moody older sister a happy family again. When her plan to earn a million dollars making television commercials fails miserably, Ramona decides to save her father's life by getting him to quit smoking. Mr. Quimby becomes even crankier! Yet, he shows his love for Ramona by sharing insights into what makes a happy family. That Christmas, Ramona, filled with joy and pride, realizes that she has everything she really wants.

Cooney, Barbara. Miss Rumphius.
As a child Great-aunt Alice Rumphius resolved that when she grew up she would go to faraway places, live by the sea in her old age, and do something to make the world more beautiful--and she does all those things, the last being the most difficult of all.

Coyle, Carmela LaVigna. Princesses Rule! Three Not-So-Typical Princess Stories
Including the stories Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?, Do Princesses Really Kiss Frogs?, and Do Princesses Scrape Their Knees?, these girls are active and curious, and learn valuable lessons along the way.

Curtis, Jamie Lee and Laura Cornell. I’m Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem
Through alternating points of view, a girl’s and a boy’s, Jamie Lee Curtis’ triumphant text and Laura Cornell’s lively artwork show kids that the key to feeling good is liking yourself because you are you.

Davidson, Margret. Helen Keller's Teacher.
Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller's friend and life-long teacher, was an exceptional woman in her own right. This biography begins when 12-year-old Anne and her brother are forced to live in the city's poorhouse. Her brother dies shortly after they arrive, and this event is only the first of many tragedies that will touch Anne in her life. Nevertheless, she continues to persevere and becomes an inspirational woman.

dePaola, Tomie. Oliver Button Is A Sissy
A little boy must come to terms with being teased and ostracized because he'd rather read books, paint pictures and tap-dance than participate in sports.

Dorris, Michael. Morning Girl.
Morning Girl is the story of a Taino girl and her brother, told in alternating first-person chapters from each of their perspectives. The setting is Hispaniola, near the time of Columbus' first landing. Michael Dorris, who received the Scott O'Dell Award for historical fiction for this book, has presented a fictionalized recreation of what life may have been like for Taino children before Columbus arrived.

Elwin, Rosamund and Michele Paulse. Asha's Mums.
Asha, an African-Canadian girl whose lesbian mums become an issue for the teacher and the curiosity of classmates, responds with clarity and assuredness that having two mums is no big deal - they are a family.

Fizthugh, Louise. Harriet The Spy.
Harriet M. Welsch is a spy. In her notebook, she writes down everything she knows about everyone, even her classmates and her best friends. Then Harriet loses track of her notebook, and it ends up in the wrong hands. Before she can stop them, her friends have read the always truthful, sometimes awful things she's written about each of them. Will Harriet find a way to put her life and her friendships back together?

Frith, Margaret. Frida Kahlo: The Artist Who Painted Herself
This is the story of a girl who writes a report on the artist Frida Kahlo.

Gormley, Beatrice. Amelia Earhart: Young Aviator.
What early influences shaped Amelia Earhart's extraordinary career? How did she grow up to become the woman whose very name means adventure and independence? And what about the mystery of her fatal last flight? Beatrice Gormley answers these questions in the fascinating and inspiring story of Amelia Earhart's life.

Hahn, Micheal T. Ann Story: Vermont's Herione of Independence
Biography of the Vermonter who was known as the "Mother of the Green Mountain Boys" and who was one of the few women whose contributions to the Patriot cause were documented.

Hample, Stuart and Eric Marshall. Children's Letters to God.
Here is the unassuming little book that charmed its way up the bestseller lists and now has over 1.2 million copies in print. This third edition of CHILDREN-S LETTERS TO GOD reveals again the surprising pleasures and provocations of what happens when kids decide to send a letter off to their maker. Whether posing a question, begging a favor, or expressing doubt or joy, these letters are notable for their refreshing directness, unexpected humor, and startling clarity of thought. It-s like seeing the world through a child-s bright eyes, eyes untouched by cynicism, eyes brimming with innocence, wonder, and curiosity.Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club.

Henckes, Kevin. Sheila Rae, The Brave.
Sheila Rae is not afraid of anything. She walks backwards with her eyes closed, steps on every crack, growls and stray dogs, and bares her teeth at stray cats. But when Sheila Rae becomes lost on the way home from school, it is her "scaredy cat" sister, Louise, who shows her a thing or two about bravery and sibling love.

Hillman, Elizabeth. Min-Yo and The Moon Dragon.
All over China, the people notice that the moon seems bigger, brighter, and closer to the earth. The ancient cobweb staircase between the earth and the moon is loose and droopy now. Is the moon slowly falling toward earth as wise men say? Only little Min-Yo, the lightest person in China, can make the dangerous journey to find the dragon and solve the mystery of the moon's fall.

King, Sarah E. Maya Angelou: Greeting the Morning
Presents the life and accomplishments of the gifted black writer, the second poet in American history to deliver an inaugural poem, revealing how she has triumphed over many personal troubles and public obstacles.

Knight, Margy Burns. Who Belongs Here? An American Story.
Following their well-received Talking Walls , Knight and O'Brien again team up for an affectionate if didactic exploration of connections among people world-wide. This time the message is filtered through the experience of Nary, a Cambodian refugee who immigrates to the U.S. with his grandmother after the death of both parents. Hostility toward immigrants and the impetus to work for change are explored. The central question, "What if everyone . . . whose ancestors came from another country was forced to return to his or her homeland? . . . Who would be left?" signals the book's design as a vehicle for discussion. The text itself pairs Nary's story with italicized information on immigration to the U.S. This strategy is only intermittently effective; younger readers may not be capable of making the conceptual jumps both Knight and O'Brien require, while older readers may chafe at the picture-book format. These limitations notwithstanding, the volume provides strong starting points for ongoing explorations of multicultural themes.

Konigsburg, E.L. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
"Claudia knew that she could never pull off the old-fashioned kind of running away..." so she decided to run not from somewhere but to somewhere--somewhere large, warm, comfortable, and beautiful. And that was how Claudia and her brother, Jamie, ended up living in the Metropolitan Museum of Art--and right in the middle of a mystery that made headlines.

Kroll,Virgina L. My Sister Then and Now.
A young girl's fictional account of her sister's mental illness.

Krull, Kathleen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. Dreams Taking Flight
When Hillary was young, she wanted to be an astronaut, to soar as high as the stars above. She kept reaching up and up as she grew. There were people who told her no. But she didn't listen to them. There were people who didn't think she could do it. But she believed in herself. And Hillary has been making history ever since. This is the inspiring story of a girl with dreams as big as the open sky.

Lansky, Bruce, Ed. Girls to the Rescue, Volumes 1,3-5, & 7.
This is a series of tales of clever, courageous girls from around the world. All of the stories feature girls as heroes.

Lindgren, Astrid. Pippi Longstocking.
The classic book about the unconventional, assertive, and extraordinarily strong little girl with the red pigtails.

Lindgren, Astrid. Ronia, The Robber's Daughter.
Ronia is born among a clan of robbers, and grows up surronded by love. But as she grows up she will discover that her small world is threatened from the outside. We are taken into a tale of strong friendship and love, a world where you are strong only because people love you, and you love other people. This is not a sweet love story, but a story where every child and grown up can learn important things about life. About forgiveness. About fright. And most of all about love.

MacLachlan, Patricia. Sarah, Plain and Tall.
In the late 19th century a widowed midwestern farmer with two children--Anna and Caleb--advertises for a wife. When Sarah arrives she is homesick for Maine, especially for the ocean which she misses greatly. The children fear that she will not stay, and when she goes off to town alone, young Caleb--whose mother died during childbirth--is stricken with the fear that she has gone for good. But she returns with colored pencils to illustrate for them the beauty of Maine, and to explain that, though she misses her home, "the truth of it is I would miss you more." The tale gently explores themes of abandonment, loss and love.

Maze, Stephanie. I Want to Be... A Firefighter.
Kindergarten-Grade 2-These books introduce a limited number of concepts and terms associated with an occupation and are appropriate for beginning readers. The one or two sentences per page are supported by attractive full- and double-page color photographs of men and women at work, whether it be rounding up cows, putting out fires, or navigating a plane.

Mazer, Anne. The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes: Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining.
Mazer (The Fixits) introduces a spunky and appealing heroine in this inaugural volume of The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes: she and her days are more average than amazing. This is, in fact, the bee in Abby's bonnet. Her three "SuperSibs" outshine her. One of her older twin sisters excels at virtually every sport, the other is the top student in ninth grade, and her younger brother is a math and computer genius. Her lawyer mother also runs marathons, and her father owns a successful computer business. Where does this leave poor Abby? Feeling "small and insignificant," yet determined to prove "that she was deserving of being a Hayes, too." At the start of her fifth-grade year, Abby resolves to make her mark by becoming a soccer star by the end of the fall season. Documented largely through the journal writings of this devoted young writer, Abby's quest to reach this goal, as well as her frustration with her accomplished siblings, makes for repetitious reading at times. But Mazer injects some moments of sophisticated, wry humor (e.g., a Bridget Jones-like journal entry in which the allegedly newly reformed heroine notes, "Went home and ate plate of cookies to celebrate decision to turn self into great athlete"). In the end, Abby's real talents outshine those to which she aspires. Abby may well score enough points with readers that they'll ride out this tale's pleasures and faults, and move on to her next caper, The Declaration of Independence, also due this month. Ages 8-12.

Mazer, Anne. The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes:Good Things Come in Small Packages.
When Abby and her new friend, Hannah, take charge of a class project to assemble gift packages for underprivileged children, one thing after the next goes wrong. First their teacher, Mrs. Kantor, must leave school for a few weeks. The class is stuck with a mean substitute who won't let them work on their gift boxes. Then, after their kind principal intervenes and work on the class project resumes, Hannah's baby sister unintentionally destroys many of the gift boxes. Working as a team, Abby and Hannah think of a clever way to save the day, their budding friendship, and the class project.

McElroy, Lisa Tucker. Meet My Grandmother: She's a Deep Sea Explorer.
Gr 3-4-Grandmothers are getting younger every day, and Sylvia Earle, pioneering marine biologist, has joined the ranks of this esteemed group. Written in the first person from her 10-year-old grandson's point of view, the text describes "G-mom's" dedication to protecting the marine environment and her work to further the awareness and knowledge of this precious resource. Full-color photographs on every page show Earle and her grandchildren on beaches and in aquarium settings holding kelp, touching sea creatures, and thoroughly enjoying themselves. Her professional activities aboard NOAA research vessels-diving in submersibles and scuba gear-are documented as is her role as National Geographic's explorer-in-residence. The last page provides nine tips for readers who want to be deep-sea explorers with the final tip, "Get Wet." While there's not a lot of substance, this is an engaging family photo album with narration.

Montgomery, L.M. Anne of Green Gables.
Marilla Cuthbert and Matthew Cuthbert, middle-aged siblings who live together at Green Gables, a farm in Avonlea, on Prince Edward Island, decide to adopt a boy from an orphan asylum in Nova Scotia as a helper on their farm. Through a series of mishaps, the person who ends up under their roof is a precocious girl of eleven named Anne Shirley. Anne is bright and quick, eager to please but dissatisfied with her name, her pale countenance dotted with freckles, and with her long braids of red hair. Being a child of imagination, however, Anne takes much joy in life, and adapts quickly, thriving in the environment of Prince Edward Island.

Mora, Pat. The Desert is My Mother/El Desierto Es Mi Madre.
Ages 4-8. With a playful, poetic text, this bilingual picture book celebrates a child's connection with her desert home. "I say feed me. / She serves red prickly pear on a spiked cactus."

Moss, Peggy. Say Something.
At this school, there are some children who push and tease and bully. Sometimes they hurt other kids by just ignoring them. The girl in this story sees it happening, but she would never do these mean things herself. Then one day something happens that shows her that being a silent bystander isn't enough. Will she take some steps on her ownto help another kid?

Moss, Peggy & Dee Dee Tardiff. Our Friendship Rules.
Alexandra and Jenny have been best friends for a long time. But when Alexandra is momentarily dazzled by the glamour of a new girl at school, she's willing to do almost anything to get to be the cool girl's friend. Ultimately, she tells Jenny's biggest, most important secret--and just like that, Alexandra is in! But when Alexandra realizes what it feels like to lose her best friend, and sees the hurt she's caused, she knows she has to figure out a way to regain the relationship that's far more important to her than being invited to sit with the popular girls. Our Friendship Rules is both a lyrical story of forgiveness and a simple, sweet but instructive tale of how to get along.

Munsch, Robert. The Paper Bag Princess
This is the story of a princess named Elizabeth. When a dragon comes and burns Elizabeth’s castle and all her belongings with his fiery breath and steals the prince that she is supposed to marry, Elizabeth takes off, dressed only in a paper bag to get her revenge.

Newman, Lesléa. Heather Has Two Mommies
Heather’s favorite number is two. She has two arms, two legs, two eyes, two ears, two hands and two feet. Heather has two pets: a ginger colored cat named Gingersnap and a big black dog named Midnight. Heather also has two mommies: Mama Jane and Mama Kate. This is a great book to teach children about all kinds of different families.

O'Dell, Scott. Island of The Blue Dolphins.
The real-life story of a 12-year-old American Indian girl, Karana. The author based his book on the life of this remarkable young woman who, during the evacuation of Ghalas-at (an island off the coast of California), jumped ship to stay with her young brother who had been abandoned on the island. He died shortly thereafter, and Karana fended for herself on the island for 18 years. This is the miraculous story of how Karana forages on land and in the ocean, clothes herself (in a green-cormorant skirt and an otter cape on special occasions), and secures shelter. Perhaps even more startlingly, she finds strength and serenity living alone on the island.

Paterson, Katherine. The Great Gilly Hopkins.
Eleven-year-old Gilly has been stuck in more foster families than she can remember, and she's disliked them all. She has a county-wide reputation for being brash, brilliant, and completely unmanageable. So when she's sent to live with the Trotters -- by far the strangest family yet -- Gilly decides to put her sharp mind to work. Before long she's devised an elaborate scheme to get her real mother to come rescue her. But the rescue doesn't work out, and the great Gilly Hopkins is left thinking that maybe life with the Trotters wasn't so bad ...

Phelps, Ethel Johnston. Tatterhood and Other Tales.
All the central characters in these folk tales are spirited females�decisive heroes of extraordinary courage, wit, and achievement who set out to determine their own fate. Some of their stories are comic, some adventurous, some eerie, and some magical. The 25 traditional tales come from Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Richards, Beah E. Keep Climbing Girls.
Kindergarten-Grade 3. In this picture-book rendition of Richardss 1951 poem of the same name, girls are urged to keep climbing no matter what obstacles get in the way. Bold gouache illustrations create a beguiling green-and-gold landscape with an irresistible tree and a determined little girl who climbs it higher and higher with every page turn. Stern and frightened Miss Nettie tries coaxing the child out of the tree, using scare tactics of broken necks and taunts of tomboy. But a little girl victorious/cant hide her childish glee,/to see Miss Nettie so put out/that she, a girl, could climb a tree. An introduction by LisaGay Hamilton gives readers more information about the poem and Richards, an African-American actor, playwright, and poet who set her own sights high and faced plenty of challenges along the way. This work helps to encourage and bolster up young girls as they begin to make their way in the world.

Rockwell, Anne. They Called Her Molly Pitcher.
George Washington made her a sergeant in the Continental Army for her bravery, and Rockwell (Only Passing Through) gives her star treatment in this stirring picture book biography. She's Mary (better known as Molly) Hays, and in 1777 she followed her husband to war and straight into the annals of American history. After surviving a winter at Valley Forge, Molly continued on with the remaining soldiers to the Battle of Monmouth (N.J.), fought on a sweltering June day. Molly spends the day fearlessly dodging cannon and musket fire to bring pitchers of water to heat-stricken soldiers and, later, manning the cannon left by her injured husband. Without sacrificing the dramatic momentum, the author also assesses the Americans' military tactics and training (or lack thereof) versus British expectations and mores (despite temperatures approaching 100 degrees, British soldiers wore fur hats and heavy wool suits). Rockwell finds opportunities for humor (in later life, it seems, the only fault her employers ever found with her was that she swore like a soldier) and for her own opinions (after Washington honors Molly, no soldier sneered at the thought of a woman being a sergeant in his army). Von Buhler (Little Girl in a Red Dress with Cat and Dog) works in a folk-art style, and flat perspectives, sturdy brushwork and light crackling effects give her paintings a colonial look. The type, unfortunately, can be difficult to read, set on a rustic, linen-like background a minor flaw in a memorable book. Ages 7-10.

Sabin, Francene. Rachel Carson.
Focuses on the childhood and young-adult years of Rachel Carson, who overcame obstacles to achieve greatness. Inspirational and informative reading for students with big dreams.

Sabin, Francene. Young Eleanor Roosevelt.
Recounts the early life of the first lady and humanitarian who grew up with "Uncle Teddy" Roosevelt and found an outlet for her intelligence and energy by working in resettlement houses.

Shannon, David. A Bad Case of Stipes.
Camilla Cream loves lima beans. But she never eats them. Why? Because the other kids in her school don't like them. And Camilla Cream is very, very worried about what other people think of her. In fact, she's so worried that she's about to break out in...a bad case of stripes!

Soman, David and Jacky Davis. Lady Bug Girl.
Lulu�s older brother says she is too little to play with him. Her mama and papa are busy too, so Lulu has to make her own fun. This is a situation for Ladybug Girl! Ladybug Girl saves ants in distress, jumps through shark-infested puddles, and even skips along the great dark twisty tree trunk-all by herself. It doesn�t matter what her brother says, Ladybug Girl is definitely not too little! In this sweet and cheerful story by husband and wife team Jacky Davis and David Soman, one not-so-little girl discovers how to make some fun that is just her size, right in her own backyard.

Sweet, Melissa. Carmine: A Little More Red.
While a little girl who loves red--and loves to dilly-dally--stops to paint a picture on the way to visit her grandmother, her dog Rufus meets a wolf and leads him directly to Granny's house.

Tchana, Katrin and Trina Schart Hyman. The Serpant Slayer and Other Stories of Strong Women.
Move over, Jack the Giant-Killer, Prince Charming, and all the other heroes of our most familiar folk and fairy tales. Here is a collection of eighteen stories about heroines, girls and women with as much courage, wit, and intelligence as their better-known male counterparts. From Li Chi, who battles a fierce serpent to save her townspeople, to the old women sly enough to outwit even the devil, the heroines in these tales prove their mettle and pluck, and do it on their own terms.

Wegars, Priscilla: Polly Bemis: A Chinese American Pioneer.
The opening line of Polly Bemis: A Chinese American Pioneer reads like the beginning of a fairy tale, but this is a true story. Between her birth and her death in Idaho on November 6, 1933, Polly Bemis lived an extraordinary life indeed.The adventures of most pioneers don�t begin quite the way Polly�s did. "In faraway northern China long ago, a young girl�s family sold her because they had no food. She became a slave girl. Her owners took her to a southern seaport and put her on a boat going to America."