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Women Picture Book Biographies

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October always brings a magic to me. In preparation for Halloween, I start thinking about all the people I can choose to become for just one night. In this case, the magic fades until the next year when I do it all over again, but here are some books about Women who made their dreams come true and influenced history by proving that they could be anyone they wanted to be for more than just one night a year.


By: Brooke Hartman
Page Street Kids, 2020. Picture Biography

Lotte Reiniger influenced cinema history with her paper puppets. They were building blocks in the first cinematic films, using shadows and still motion photography to create visual fairy tales. The illustrations in the book are true to her work and bring magic to the page as you learn her story.



By: Camille Andros
Henry Holt and Company, 2019. Picture Biography

Eliza Hamilton is probably best known for her marriage to Alexander Hamilton, but she also accomplished incredible things in her life. Learn more about her inspiration and execution to create an orphanage and welfare system for those who needed it. 




By: Laura Gehl
Albert Whitman & Company, 2019. Picture Biography
Although Nancy moved all around the country growing up, the stars were a constant in her life and helped her to develop a love for astronomy. She pushed on past others disapproval that a woman should pursue an advanced degree and ended up going on to make a lot of new discoveries and headway in the field.



By: Michelle Meadows
Henry Holt & Company, 2020. Picture Biography
In rhyming verses, this book follows Simone Biles' life from foster care as a child to an award winning champion. In perfect terms for young children to follow, it balances words with pictures to create a stunning performance. 




By: Laurie Wallmark
Abrams Books For Young Readers, 2021. Picture Biography.
Written for older readers, this book follows how Elizebeth Friedman became a cryptographer in WWI and on. With her personal quotes on each page, it shows her skill in code breaking and how she influenced the future of cryptography. The back includes an explanation of ciphers and codes to practice cracking. 



By: Katie Munday Williams
Beaming Books, 2021. Picture Biography
Although in her day women were not allowed to be writers, Anne loved to read and learn. She immigrated from England to America  and during hardship turned to poetry for comfort. Rebelling against acceptable culture, Anne wrote her poetry down and eventually her works were published, inspiring many.




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Unknown said…
Thanks for including my CODE BREAKER, SPY HUNTER: HOW ELIZEBETH FRIEDMAN CHANGED THE COURSE OF TWO WORLD WARS. Educators and parents can download activity and teacher guides from my website: www.lauriewallmark.com
October 16, 2021 at 11:02 AM
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