Picture Books starring Change-Making Female Characters

Some excellent and entertaining picture books that star female characters with ambition and agency who change their worlds. These books were all published in America within the last year, except for one that's a notable re-print of a 25-year-old classic.


Bloom by Doreen Cronin and David Small

This looks like a pretty fairy story, there's a king and queen and a sparkly glass kingdom anda green winged fairy. It's actually a story about Maker Women changing the world for the better. The last line always blows me away. "And then an ordinary girl rebuilt a kingdom."

Ada Twist Scientist
by Andrea Beatty and David Roberts
Ada Twist uses the scientific method to find the source of a disgusting smell. She may not succeed, but it's the process that's important, as well as her parents' growing understanding of Ada's passion.

One Word From Sophia
by Jim Averbeck and Yasmeen Ismail
Sophia wants something special, but she needs to clear it with an adult in her family.
She presents some compelling and targeted arguments, but keeps using the wrong words. Until her Grandmother puts her right.

The Worst Princess by Anna Kemp
Originally published in the UK, this is a fabulous madcap rhyming picture book starring a "royal twit" of a prince, an indignant dragon and a princess who's not willing to go from one overly protected tower to another.


Be a Friend by Salina Yoon

A little kids book about empathy. Where a girl named Joy reaches out to another child who's lonely in his silent world.

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
Grace loves stories and she loves to act and perform. But she comes up against opposition when she auditions for the part of Peter Pan in the school play because Peter is a white boy and she is a black girl. A determined black girl opens minds. It's amazing to me that this 25 year old book is still relevant.

Gorillas in Our Midst by Richard Fairgray and Terry Jones

Just from the title, we know this is going to be a silly picture book and we are not disappointed. Apparently, you should always carry a banana with you because there are so many gorillas hiding in plain sight amongst the human population. The comic book style artwork underlines this theme by giving the Gorilla characters more detail than the human characters. But the thing to really look out for are the jokes in the illustrations, for example a gorilla reading a book on a train entitled "How to Read on a Train" or another Gorilla wearing a t-shirt that says "I Am Not a Gorilla". 

The perfect gift for little monkeys or for the ape in all of us.

For ages 3-8

Published by Sky Pony Press April 14, 2015