A Mighty Girl's top picks of girl-empowering reimaginings of twelve traditional fairy tales from Rapunzel to Cinderella!

It’s a rare person who hasn’t heard traditional fairy tales like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Red Riding Hood, and more — in fact, variants of stories like these exist in most world cultures! But one of the most evocative aspects of fairy tales is how they change to suit the times... and in a time when Mighty Girl stories are in great demand, it’s no surprise that there are some terrific empowering spins on classic fairy tales! Continue reading → Continue reading

Our favorite books about Mighty Girls and their hair that encourage a healthy body image and celebrate the diversity of girls' hair!

Long or short, straight or curly, in ponytails or a ballerina bun — there are so many wonderful ways Mighty Girls wear their hair! But hair can also be the source of body image insecurity for many girls as they wonder if their hair is too thick or too flat, the wrong color or the wrong texture. And, of course, even if she loves her hair, there’s always the battle when it comes time to pull out the brush and comb.

In this blog post, we're showcasing stories for young readers about Mighty Girls and their hair. Whether they're celebrating their unique hair, wrestling to keep it under control, or donating it to a worthy cause, these Mighty Girls love their hair — even if they find it a little challenging at times. They also come to recognize that, in the end, it's not the hair that matters: it's the head underneath!

For more Mighty Girl books that explore body image issues, you can find recommendations for both children and teens in our blog post, Celebrating Every Body: 25 Body Image Positive Books for Mighty Girls. Continue reading → Continue reading

In one state, 80% of domestic violence cases are dismissed, often due to lack of evidence. This app will help change that.

Sheri Kurdakul is a domestic violence survivor, so she knows how hard it can be to prove the systematic nature of abuse: often by the time someone gathers the courage to report their abuser, they're trying to remember details of events that are months or years old. This can make it challenging to build a case against abusers and, unfortunately, many domestic violence cases are dismissed as a result, including 80% of cases in one state. To help make it easier for victims to document abuse, Kurdakul has created an app called VictimsVoice, which records incidences of abuse in a way that's safe, secure, and legally admissible. "What did you have for lunch 10 days ago? What was the weather like? Can you remember without looking at your calendar?" she asks. "If you cannot recall this, then how is a victim supposed to remember something that happened when they are trying to stay safe, protect their kids and pets — months, even years in the past? That’s the problem we solve." Continue reading → Continue reading

The Nobel committee praised Glück "for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal."

The acclaimed American poet and essayist Louise Glück has been awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize for Literature! The Nobel committee praised Glück "for her unmistakable poetic voice that with austere beauty makes individual existence universal." The 77-year-old Yale professor is best known for lyric poems focused on intense personal experiences, such as those involving loss, rejection, desire, and healing. She has been honored with a Pulitzer Prize for The Wild Iris and a National Book Award for Faithful and Virtuous Night, as well as serving as the Poet Laureate of the United States for 2003 to 2004. In announcing the award, the Nobel Prize committee chair Anders Olsson, praised Glück's unique voice, observing: "It is candid and uncompromising, and it signals that this poet wants to be understood — but it is also a voice full of humor and biting wit.” Continue reading → Continue reading

Dr. Andrea Ghez became the fourth woman in history to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for her discovery of a supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy.

Dr. Andrea Ghez was awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics this week for her discovery of a supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy! The astrophysicist, who is the Lauren B. Leichtman and Arthur E. Levine Professor of Astrophysics at UCLA, shares half of the prize with Reinhard Genzel of UC Berkeley; the other half recognizes Roger Penrose, a professor at the University of Oxford who proved that black holes must be a physical reality. Ghez was delighted to receive the award, particularly because she is only the fourth woman in history to receive a Nobel Prize in Physics. "I'm thrilled to receive the prize and I take very seriously the responsibility associated with being... the fourth woman to win," Ghez said after the announcement. "[And] I think today I feel more passionate about the teaching side of my job than I have ever. Because it's so important to convince the younger generation that their ability to question, and their ability to think, is just crucial to the future of the world." Continue reading → Continue reading

From workbooks from trusted brands like Highlights, School Zone, and Brain Quest to new series that incorporate popular characters from Star Wars and Minecraft, there's a workbook in our new round-up that every child will love!

Whether you'd like to supplement your children's remote classes or are planning on homeschooling this year, many parents are looking for ways to make at-home learning easier for the new school year. A high-quality workbook can be revolutionary for a child, allowing them to move at their own pace, tying the abstract lesson they're learning into topics that interest them, and fostering a sense of independence and self-confidence. It's no wonder that demand for children's academic workbooks is at an all-time high! Continue reading → Continue reading

A Mighty Girl's round-up of new stamps honoring trailblazing women throughout history!

With record numbers of Americans planning on voting by mail this election and concerns about the health of the Postal Service on the rise, many people want to support USPS — and a great way to do so is by buying stamps! Whether you're a collector or just looking for a few fun stamps to use when mailing cards and letters, the USPS offers a wide selection of stamps, including several current stamps honoring the contributions of mighty women from history. Continue reading → Continue reading

A Mighty Girl tribute to this beloved Mighty Girl character and Anne of Green Gables author Lucy Maud Montgomery!

For generations, readers have fallen in love with Anne Shirley, also known as Anne of Green Gables! Since author L.M. Montgomery published her novel about the imaginative red-haired orphan in 1908, the book has sold over 50 million copies around the world, and sparked adaptations for both stage and screen. It's no wonder that so many people know immediately who you mean when you talk about "Anne with an E." Continue reading → Continue reading

From women's history to outer space, artsy cats to world maps, we've featured puzzles to reflect the wide range of Mighty Girls' interests!

There's something soothing about putting together a puzzle. Especially during such a stressful time, many people — kids and adults alike — are finding puzzles to be a welcome distraction, and a fun way to occupy their hands and calm their minds. Plus, a larger scale puzzle can be a terrific family activity: working on one together, chatting all the while, can be a cherished tradition for the whole family to enjoy. Continue reading → Continue reading

After learning that the Oakland Zoo might close permanently due to the pandemic, 6-year-old Andy Soulard wanted to help save the animals — and has raised over $220,000!

When 6-year-old Andrea "Andy" Soulard learned that the Oakland Zoo might have to shut down permanently due to loss of income during the pandemic shutdown, the California Mighty Girl wanted to help. "I like to see the animals," she explains. "I like the guinea hogs, the otters and the tigers." So with her seventh birthday approaching, Andy decided to ask people to donate to the zoo instead of giving her a present this year, and she pledged to make a bracelet for anyone who donated $25 or more. She hoped to raise $200, but after word of her fundraiser started spreading online, people began donating from across the country — and, in less than a month, she's now raised $220,000 and counting! "We are at a loss for words," her mother, Kelly Soulard, wrote on Facebook, "but know we are so touched at the outpouring of support." Continue reading → Continue reading