Celebrate Women’s History Month with Quality Children’s Literature

by Isabel Estrada O'Hagin

March is Women’s History Month! Interested in delving into books for this month and beyond? ALA’s got you covered!

In early February, I received fabulous news in a letter of congratulations from the co-chair of the ALA 2024 Rise: A Feminist Book Project Committee. The committee shared that they selected my debut picture book, LA MARIACHI, illustrated by Addy Rivera Sonda, to be honored this year on the 2024 Booklist. Thrilled with this news, I didn’t know much about the Rise project and wanted to know more. I went to their website and saw our book listed in the Early Readers: Fiction category.

Receiving this honor as a debut picture book author and seeing it on their website was exciting! I had many people to thank, including SCBWI, my critique group partners, editorial consultants, and the great team at Sleeping Bear Press.

Included in the site’s Introduction page is a quote from our book

“Remember, always play con todo tu corazón.” (Estrada, La Mariachi)

In a barrier-breaking story set in the 1970s, Tuchi is passionate about mariachi, but she’s told that it’s only for boys. With the help of her grandmother, she’s determined to prove that mariachi is for everyone. 

So, what did I find? According to their website, Rise: A Feminist Book Project for Ages 0-18 has been promoting quality feminist literature for young readers since 2002. Rise is part of the American Library Association’s Feminist Task Force and the Social Responsibilities Round Table. Each year Rise recommends recent books with significant feminist content for readers from birth to 18 years old.

I also discovered a bevy of book titles that will go on my TBR list. Looking for a book? I encourage you to take a look at this list!

The website answered my question about how books are selected for this honor. Rise: A Feminist Book Project selects well-written and well-illustrated books with significant feminist content for young readers each year. Books may be recommended by anyone through the field recommendation process, but books can only be officially nominated for the list by regular Rise committee members.

Feminist books for young readers must move beyond merely “spunky” and “feisty” young women, beyond characters and people who fight to protect themselves without concern for the rights of others. Feminist protagonists call out and work to eliminate sexism and other systemic prejudices, actively shaping their destinies. They break bonds forced by society as they defy stereotypical expectations and show resilience in the face of societal strictures. . . . feminist books show women solving problems, gaining personal power, and empowering others. They celebrate girls and women as a vibrant, vital force in the world.

March is Women’s History month is a great time to introduce children to historical stories, biographies, and fiction that highlight incredible women through the years. If you’re looking for book titles, the Rise website includes this year’s bibliography and archives of past years. The complete list can be found on the official RISE blog and FTF’s official website. The categories are: Early Readers: Fiction/Nonfiction; Middle Grade: Fiction/Nonfiction; and Young Adult: Fiction/Nonfiction.

Here are the Top Ten titles for 2024 (featured in a School Library Journal article):

• FLOWER GIRL by Amy Bloom, illustrated by Jameela Wahlgren
• SPIN by Rebecca Caprara
• THE BLACKWOODS by Brandy Colbert
• BIG by Vashti Harrison
• I KICK AND I FLY by Ruchira Gupta
• AUTUMN PELTIER, WATER WARRIOR by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Bridget George
• MY POWERFUL HAIR by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Steph Littlebird
• BARELY FLOATING by Lilliam Rivera
• THE MOONLIT VINE by Elizabeth Santiago
• ALL THE FIGHTING PARTS by Hannah V. Sawyerr

Happy Reading in March and anytime of the year!

Isabel O’Hagin, who writes as Isabel Estrada, is the author of the picture book, LA MARIACHI, published by Sleeping Bear Press, and serves as the SCBWI-Michigan Outreach Coordinator and the Kalamazoo Area Shop Talk Coordinator (Where everyone is a star!). She is also a member of Las Musas, a collective of Latinx women and otherwise marginalized people whose gender identity aligns with femininity, writing and/or illustrating in traditional children's literature.