Top Five Recent Releases to Show Kids that Women Rule

I find myself making reading lists more and more for my job and not all on subjects that particularly interest me.  That being said, here is a list of my own making of children's books released in the past 12 months about the awesomeness of women!

1. Rad American Women A-Z: Rebels, Trailblazers, and Visionaries Who Shaped Our History...and Our Future! 

By Kate Schatz, City Lights Books, $14.95, ISBN: 978-0872866836, Hardcover

What makes this book different than the 8000 other biography anthologies out there is the specificity  of American women and the unique selection of women.  Foregoing the stereotypical women you think of when you image "Great American Women," (Betsey Ross, Helen Keller, etc.) this book highlights lesser-known but still influential women like Billie Jean King, Patti Smith, and Ursula LeGuin.  For a complete list of all the lovely ladies in this book, click on the title here.

2. Viva Frida 

By Yuyi Morales, Roaring Book Press, $17.99, ISBN: 978-1596436039, Hardcover

This Caldecott Honor Book features beautiful photographs showing various stages in the life of Frida Kahlo.  Though Morales is a puppet maker, the photos aren't creepy, but, instead, look almost like paintings.  Another great thing about this book is that it's bilingual so English speakers can learn Spanish words and vice versa!

3. Little Melba and Her Big Trombone

By Katheryn Russell-Brown, Lee & Low Books, $18.95, ISBN: 978-1600608988, Hardcover

Who was Melba Doretta Liston?  Find out in this book about this little-known jazz musician who grew up in Kansas City during the Great Depression.  Liston worked with such jazz greats as Dizzy Gillespie and Charles Mingus.  Plus, how cute does she look as a little girl?

4. Lumberjanes

By Shannon Watters, Noelle Stevenson, and Grace Ellis, BOOM! Box, $14.99, ISBN: 978-1608866878, Paperback

The only fiction title on this list, Lumberjanes is a cleverly written comic about girls that kick serious butt.  The book is a set at a summer camp for "Hardcore Ladies Types" where the girls solve puzzles and investigate a mysterious event.  While graphic novels and comics have been a boys' game, Lumberjanes shows just how much women can contribute to the genre.  So put on your combat boots and embark on reading adventure--girl-style!

5. I am Lucille Ball

By Brad Meltzer, Dial Books, $12.99, ISBN: 978-0525428558, Hardcover

Now for the little kiddies, I bring you this title from Meltzer's popular series "Ordinary People Change the World."  While any title in this series will do, Lucy's story is the most recent release.  Lucy changed the world through laughter and the power of laughter comes across in this delightful title.