Celebrated each year on March 8th, International Women's Day invites us all to imagine a gender equal world. Get ready for #IWD2026 with these books!
Picture Books
The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne: Discovering the Stuff of Stars
Written by Laura Alary
Illustrated by Yas Imamura
W.M. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2026
IL: Ages 7-12 RL: Grades 2-7
An incredible picture book biography about how the trailblazing astronomer found her people—and figured out what stars are made of.
Cecilia Payne loved learning to see nature’s wonders, even things other people called impossible. While studying at Cambridge, she dreamed of becoming a great astronomer like the ones she read about in the library. But too many people thought women didn’t belong among stars or atoms...
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I, Too, Am Here
Written by Morgan Christie
Illustrated by Marley Berot
Second Story Press, 2024
IL: Ages 6-8 RL: Grades 1-3
The street a young girl lives on is made up of families from all over the world. Her family shares with her their stories of journey and struggle. Her own story begins here in this country, but she is sometimes made to feel she does not belong. She listens to her family’s voices. They tell her she will soar, they tell her she is beautiful. She listens and she says I, too, am here.
A multigenerational story of immigration, racism, and what it truly means to belong. Inspired by Langston Hughes’ poem, “I, Too.”
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Sarabeth’s Garage
Written by Melanie Florence
Illustrated by Nadia Alam
Tundra Books, 2026
IL: Ages 3-7 RL: Grades p-2
A picture book that celebrates doing your own thing in the face of society's expectations.
Sarabeth loves cars. And most of all, she loves to help her dad at his garage. Sarabeth’s grandmother doesn’t approve. She thinks little girls should play with dolls and wear dresses and always have clean hands. But when her car starts grumbling like a walrus instead of purring like a kitten, who will be there to help?
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Victoria Chung: A Doctor of Change
Written by Haley Healey
Illustrated by Kimiko Fraser
Heritage House, 2025
IL: Ages 4-8 RL: Grades p-3
IL: Ages 4-8 RL: Grades p-3
This picture book biography shares the inspiring life story of Victoria Chung (1897–1966), who pursued her dreams against all odds to become the first female Chinese-Canadian doctor. Named for the city in which she was born, Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria Chung was the daughter of Chinese immigrants. Despite racist laws that initially prevented her from attending public school, and sexist attitudes that prevented many women from pursuing careers in the sciences, Victoria had an ambitious dream—to become a doctor and help heal people around the world.
For Middle Readers
The Dream of an Education: How Phymean Noun Built a School
Written by Susan Hughes
Illustrated by Tida Kheav
Orca Book Publishers, 2026
IL: Ages 9-12 RL: Grades 4-7
As a young child, Phymean Noun dreamed of learning to read and write. But growing up during the Khmer Rouge reign of terror in Cambodia in the 1970s made that dream impossible. Formal education was not only forbidden at that time but also could result in a death sentence. When the Khmer Rouge government was eventually overthrown, Phymean was finally able to go to school and fulfill the promise she made to herself as a young girl.
This illustrated biography for middle readers details Phymean Noun’s journey from survivor to children’s rights activist who founded People Improvement Organization (PIO), an NGO that educated, fed and housed children in need.
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Never Silent: A Hiroshima Survivor’s Story
Written by Setsuko Thurlow & Kathy Lowinger
Illustrated by Michelle Theodore
Annick Press, 2025
IL: Ages 11-13 RL: Grades 6-8
Never Silent recounts Setsuko’s earliest memories of her happy life in Hiroshima, followed by the devastating firsthand impact she witnesses after the dropping of the atomic bomb, and finally traces the steps she takes to rebuild a life in the aftermath of her experiences.
With informational text scattered throughout the book to give historical context for the places and events, readers are given a full and profoundly affecting picture of what it was like after the bomb dropped, the struggle to return to normalcy, and the plea for activism to ban nuclear weapons.
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Run the World Like a Girl: International Women Leaders
Written by Kate Graham
Second Story Press, 2025
IL: Ages 9-12 RL: Grades 4-7
Run the World Like a Girl tells the inspirational stories of twelve girls from across the globe who became leaders of their countries. Who were they as young people? What motivated them? Although they came from different backgrounds and different paths, they shared the same desire for positive change—and the belief that they could be the ones to bring it.
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Seabird
Written by Michelle Kadarusman
Pajama Press, 2025
IL: Ages 8-12 RL: Grades 3-7
Inspired by the true story of a nineteenth century feminist. Seabird follows Kartini’s early teen years as a young noble girl. Confined to the family home in preparation for an arranged marriage, Kartini’s desire for freedom ignites as she fights to have a say in the decisions that shape her life.
For Teen Readers
The Unbeatable Sonya Ballantyne
Written by Sonya Ballantyne
Illustrated by Rhael McGregor, Azby Whitecalf, Kielamel Sibal
HighWater Press, 2026
IL: Ages 12-14 RL: Grades 6-11
In this heartfelt and often-funny memoir, author Sonya Ballantyne gives us a look at her younger self’s diary and inner life as she struggles to find herself in the pop culture she loves.
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So She Went Ahead: 50 Trailblazing Women of the Canadian Prairies
Written by Haley Healey
Illustrated by Kimiko Fraser
Heritage House Publishing, 2026
IL: Ages 12-18 RL: Grades 7-12
So She Went Ahead introduces young readers to a group of powerful, diverse women who followed their dreams, challenged norms, and lived life on their own terms. This inspiring collection of concise biographies reveals the under-reported history of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba through the stories of female artists, writers, entrepreneurs, adventurers, pioneers, doctors, midwives, activists, politicians, journalists, community leaders, and more!
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What Friends Are For
Written by Harriet Zaidman
Heritage House Publishing, 2025
IL: Ages 12-18 RL: Grades 7-12
Set in 1983, at the height of Canada's abortion debate, this powerful, nuanced YA novel follows a young girl as she grapples with an unplanned pregnancy. As she struggles to make a decision that could determine her whole future, Leesa comes to realize that she is only one who should have the right to make a choice about her own body.
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Book list curated by Spencer Miller