"I look for traits such as perseverance, creativity, empathy, and courage in the people I write about. But most importantly, I look for people who have never given up on their dreams."

Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara celebrated the birth of her twin nieces with an extra special gift: the very first volume in the Little People, BIG DREAMS picture book biography series! The series, with its stylish artwork, intriguing subjects, and empowering stories, quickly became a bestseller. Today, more than 7.5 million copies of her books have been sold and the series is about to reach an enormous milestone: Sánchez Vegara has just released her 100th volume, telling the story of Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate! Continue reading → Continue reading

A Mighty Girl's top picks of girl-empowering books for children and teens starring Asian American Mighty Girls.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is nearly here! Every May, we celebrate the diverse cultures and communities represented by Asians and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the United States — and recognize the contributions that AAPI people make to our country every day. Continue reading → Continue reading

Mighty Girl classics beloved by generations of young readers!

While hundreds of wonderful new Mighty Girl books are published every year, there are also many girl-empowering stories that have been passed down for decades! Times may have changed, but these classic characters still speak to the girls of today just as they did to their mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers! With that in mind, we're showcasing our favorite classic Mighty Girl stories in this blog post. These are books that you’re likely to remember from your own childhood — in fact, you may have even been first introduced to them because an adult you know loved them as as child!

In the first section, we've highlighted classic stories written before 1950, many of which remain immensely popular decades after their publication. In the second section, we've featured modern classics written between 1950 and 1990. These modern classics show the changes in the way Western culture viewed girls and women with the Mighty Girls in these pages tackling difficult social issues, going on hitherto unimagined adventures, and daring to define themselves in daring ways. And, more and more, girls being portrayed in strong leadership roles is no longer considered unusual — that's just the way Mighty Girls are!

So take a look at our collection and see if your favorite Mighty Girl book from your own childhood is on here. One way or another, it’s sure to spur you to share a few with the Mighty Girls in your life. After all, one of the great joys of a beloved book is having the opportunity to share it with a new generation!

Of course, the books featured in this post are only a handful of the many Mighty Girl books available. To browse our collection of over 3,000 girl-empowering books for children and teens, sortable by recommended reading age and theme, visit our Books section.

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A Mighty Girl's top picks for children and teens about 9/11 on the terrorist attacks' 22nd anniversary.

On September 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 people were killed in four coordinated terrorist attacks by the militant Islamist terrorist group al-Qaeda. To this day, 9/11 remains the largest terrorist attack in history and most adults can still clearly recall where they were and what they were doing on that terrible day. And yet for today's kids, 9/11 can feel like a tragic event in the distant past with little relevancy to their lives. The 9/11 attacks, however, have had a profound impact over the past two decades on both the families of those immediately impacted and on the country and world at large. Continue reading → Continue reading

"I Love My Body Because" is a new picture book by Shelly Anand and Nomi Ellenson that shows what makes every body special.

When Shelly Anand and Nomi Ellenson were girls, both remember feeling insecure and self-conscious about their bodies. Their experience is not unique according to a study by the Girl Scouts which found 80% of 10-year-old girls are already afraid of getting fat and other studies which found that 79% of girls have opted out of activities due to a lack of body confidence. As adults, Shelly and Nomi say that they have been on a journey to learn to love themselves just as they are, and they wanted to help girls learn to do the same. That desire was the spark that led to creation of their new book, I Love My Body Because — a book they wish they'd had as kids, "one that opened up a world where we recognize all the amazing things our bodies can do." Continue reading → Continue reading

A Mighty Girl's top pick of the books, toys, and clothing featuring the mighty women of Star Wars!

From Princess Leia and Padme Amidala, to Rey to Jyn Erso, the girls and women of the Star Wars universe have inspired generations of Mighty Girls! These characters are bold, compassionate, determined, and strong; they fight for justice and they risk their lives to protect their friends. It's no wonder that, on Star Wars Day, there are so many girls eager to declare, "May the Force be with you!" Continue reading → Continue reading

A Mighty Girl's top picks of new biographies about Mighty Women for adult readers.

It's been another incredible year of books celebrating mighty women! From a fascinating biography of the woman leading today's new scientific revolution to gripping accounts of clever spies who outwitted the Nazis to powerful memoirs by women grappling with grief to upbeat autobiographies by beloved popular figures, this year has seen a diverse range of new biographies for adult readers about extraordinary women. And, just as our Mighty Girls love reading books about smart, confident, and courageous girls and women, we know that our adult supporters love their stories too! Continue reading → Continue reading

"'My Best Friend' is about the instant heart connection between two girls who meet for the first time."

After her daughter came home in tears from preschool because she didn't have "magical pretty princess hair" like her friends, Kelly Greenawalt searched for a picture book to share with her starring a princess with natural puffy curls — and when she couldn't find what she was looking for, the mother of seven decided to write one. Kelly's first picture book, I Am Truly, created with her friend and illustrator Amariah Rauscher, became a surprise hit and has now grown into an early reader series as part of Scholastic's Acorn line. Continue reading → Continue reading

A Mighty Girl's top picks of books for children and teens celebrating acceptance and the value of diversity.

For parents and educators concerned about fostering children's appreciation of diversity and acceptance of others, it can sometimes feel like an uphill battle in such divisive times. From the subtle to the overt, discrimination based on sex, race, sexual orientation, religion, country of origin, appearance, and ability does exist, and tackling it can be a difficult conversation to have with kids regardless of their age. Continue reading → Continue reading

A Mighty Girl's top picks of new biographies about Mighty Women for adult readers.

Moms can be an incredible source of inspiration, but that doesn’t mean they can’t use a little inspiration themselves! Stories of the incredible women of past and present aren’t just great to share with young readers: they’re also a great gift when you want to honor a special woman in your life. With that in mind, we've gathered a selection of new biographies for adult readers in a blog post which tell the stories of Mighty Women, all perfect for Mother's Day gift giving! Continue reading → Continue reading