March is Women's History Month!

Whether they were putting pen to paper, soaring through the air or speaking up for the rights of others, the women profiled in these pages were all taking a stand against a world that didn't always accept them. The leaders in this book may be little, but they all did something big and amazing, inspiring generations to come. (Publisher)

My personal favorite? Florence Joyner, or "Flo Jo" -- who in 1988, inspired me to run a little faster in middle school gym class. - Ms. G.

Why do galaxies spin the way they do? What's the best kind of house for a Komodo dragon? Can you cure malaria with medicine made from a plant? The scientists and mathematicians in Born Curious sought answers to these and many other fascinating questions. And it's lucky for us they did. Without their vision, insight, and hard work, the world would be a sicker, dirtier, and more dangerous place. The twenty groundbreaking women--including Rosalind Franklin, Marie Tharp, Shirley Anne Jackson, and more--came from all kinds of backgrounds and had all kinds of life experiences. Some grew up rich. Some grew up poor. Some were always the smartest kid in class. Some struggled to do well in school. But all had one thing in common: They were born curious. Are you curious, too? Read on.

---

The entire Good Night series never fails to make me look back at women's history in wonder. -Ms. G.

The unique narrative style of this book transforms each biography into a fairytale, filling readers with wonder and a burning curiosity to know more about each hero. Each woman's story is also accompanied by a full-page, full-color portrait that captures her rebel spirit.

---

Girls Who Rocked the World spans a variety of achievements, interests, and backgrounds, from Harriet Tubman and Coco Chanel to S.E. Hinton and Maya Lin--each with her own incredible story of how she created life-changing opportunities for herself and the world. Personal aspirations from today's young women are interspersed throughout the book, which also includes profiles of teenagers who are rocking the world right now--girls like Winter Vinecki, the creator of the nonprofit organization Team Winter, and Jazmin Whitley, the youngest designer to show at L.A. Fashion Week.

Motivating! - Ms. G.

---

Chapin alumna and award-winning author Tonya Bolden explores Black women who have changed the world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in America. Including groundbreaking computer scientists, doctors, inventors, physicists, pharmacists, mathematicians, aviators, and many more, this book celebrates more than 50 women who have shattered the glass ceiling, defied racial discrimination, and pioneered in their fields.

Love that this was written by a Chapin alum. Talk about Green and Gold pride! -Ms. G.

---

Are you a political junkie like me? - Ms. G

Find out what our country's First Ladies thought, did, and advocated for as they moved into the White House. Why did the Patriots love Martha Washington? What causes did Eleanor Roosevelt support and lead? What did Jacqueline Kennedy do to establish her legacy long after she left the White House? How did Hillary Clinton turn her role as First Lady into a political career of her own? Packed with anecdotes and sidebars, a timeline of the advancement of women's rights, and humorous illustrations and portraits, Kathleen Krull's introduction to the First Ladies of the United States brings vividly to life the women to hold the role as they paved the way for American women in times of change.

---

Not all governments have been run by men. Lives of Extraordinary Women turns the spotlight on women who have wielded power, revealing their feats--and flaws--for all the world to see. Here you'll find twenty of the most influential women in history: queens, warriors, prime ministers, first ladies, revolutionary leaders. Some are revered. Others are notorious. What were they really like? In this grand addition to their highly praised series, Kathleen Krull and Kathryn Hewitt celebrate some of the world's most noteworthy women, ranging from the famous to those whose stories have rarely been told. Features twenty extraordinary women, including: Cleopatra Joan of Arc Elizabeth I Harriet Tubman Eleanor Roosevelt Eva Perón...

If I could write like anyone, I'd write like Kathleen Krull. -Ms. G

---

Women in Art highlights the achievements and stories of 50 notable women in the arts--from well-known figures like painters Frida Kahlo and Georgia O'Keefe, to lesser-known names like 19th-century African American quilter Harriet Powers and Hopi-Tewa ceramic artist Nampeyo. Covering a wide array of artistic mediums, this fascinating collection also contains infographics about artistic movements throughout history, statistics about women's representation in museums, and notable works by women. Women in Art celebrates the success of the bold female creators who inspired the world and paved the way for the next generation of artists.

You'll be inspired to draw more after reading this gorgeous book. - Ms. G.

---

A charmingly illustrated gift book profiling 50 famous women scientists from the ancient Greek mathematician, philosopher, and astronomer, Hypatia, to Marie Curie, a physicist and chemist. It's a scientific fact- Women rock!

---

Women in Sports highlights the achievements and stories of fifty notable women athletes--from well-known figures like tennis player Billie Jean King and gymnast Simone Biles, to lesser-known athletes like skateboarding pioneer Patti McGee and Toni Stone, the first woman to play baseball in a men's professional league. Covering more than forty sports, this fascinating collection also contains infographics about notable women's teams throughout history, pay and media statistics for female athletes, and muscle anatomy.

---

Hilarious cartoon-style illustrations bring to life the works of renowned artists, combining poignant anecdotes with important factual information for readers.This book presents a biography of the African-American artist who created the painted story quilt, an art form that combines rich oral history with colorful paintings on quilted fabric and canvas.

Ms. B. and I are going to see her awesome exhibition at the New Museum! You should, too. - Ms. G.

---

Ms. Goldberg's favorite book as a fourth grader (and a short one, at only 57 pages long!)

From the age of a year and a half, Helen Keller could not hear. She could not see, and she did not speak. She lived in a dark and lonely world--until Annie Sullivan came to teach her. Annie traced letters and words in Helen's hand, and made Helen realize she could "talk" to people. Eager to make up for lost time, Helen threw herself into her studies. She decided to teach others about the special training deaf and blind children need.

---

Mary Cassatt was not only a fabulous and important artist, but an awesome BUSINESSWOMAN! Read her exciting story here. The book is very enlightening and inspiring, not to mention funny. - Ms. G.

---

Many people dream of being a millionaire, but Madam C. J. Walker actually became one with her revolutionary hair care system. Readers will learn about Madam C. J. Walker's life and the discovery of her hair care products. Readers will make their own homemade bubble bath, too.

Homemade bubble bath recipe? Yes, please. -Ms. G.

---

Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert come from completely different places and play tennis in completely different ways. Chrissie is the all-American girl: practiced, poised, with perfect technique. Martina hails from Czechoslovakia, a Communist country, and her game is ruled by emotion. They both want to be the best. But as their intense rivalry grows, something else begins to swing into place, and a friendship forms that will outlast all their tennis victories.

---

Gloria Steinem is known as a leader of the feminist movement and a trailblazer who fights for equality for all people. This unofficial biography for young readers tells her story, from being a young girl to her inspiring travels in India to the launch of Ms. magazine, which gave women a voice. (Book jacket)

---

Kathleen Krull blends history and humor in this accessible young biography series. Judy Blume wrote her way through controversy and censorship to become a pioneer who helped make it okay for kids and teens to discuss their everyday concerns, including the kinds of things people don't always like to talk about.

---

From the time she was a young girl, Lise was obsessed with physics. Thanks to her, we understand how to split an atom: knowledge that can be used for good (generating electricity), as well as evil (creating atomic bombs). Meitner's discoveries, alas, were not properly acknowledged by the Nobel Prize committee. All honor went to her partner, Otto Hahn (in spite of her equal contributions!) This March, you can celebrate Lise Meitner (a bit late) by reading this awesome graphic novel-style biography by Mike Venezia. She's the Marie Curie superstar scientist you never learned about...until now!

---

Fiona Macdonald and David Antram use humorous illustrations to depict the mysterious story of Joan of Arc, a 16-year-old country girl who led a French army after hearing "holy voices" in her head.

Come on, women's history doesn't get more interesting than a girl who heard voices and led an army as a teenager. Am I right? -Ms. G.

---

From the time she was little, Julia Morgan wanted to know how everything fit together. Her family often visited San Francisco, where she could puzzle over the many new buildings under construction there. Julia desperately wanted to be an architect--but in the late nineteenth century that was rare for a woman. Julia was not deterred. After several rejections, she finally made it into the prestigious all-male École des Beaux Arts, in Paris. She also became California's first licensed female architect and designed over 800 buildings, including newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst's magnificent San Simeon.

---

Some Chapin graduates have been so inspired by the story of Mother Jones that they've gone on to pursue degrees in labor relations at Cornell University. Perhaps you'll be one of them! -Ms. G

Find out what makes Mother Jones so inspiring in this graphic novel who fought for the rights of factory children.

---