Women throughout history have made amazing discoveries and achieved incredible things.
Here are five fantastic books for Women’s History Month, one for each letter in STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics.
Science
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist, by Jess Keating, illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns
Growing up in the 1920s and ’30s, Eugenie Clark loved sharks and wanted to learn everything about them—even when teachers told her women couldn’t be zoologists. Kids who love the ocean will feel encouraged by Clark’s bold story.
Technology
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin, by Julia Finley Mosca, illustrated by Daniel Rieley
This rhyming book tells the inspiring story of Dr. Temple Grandin, whose autism helped her to invent machines that transformed farming. (Don’t miss the other great stories in this series by author-illustrator team of Mosca and Riley—including the next book on this list!)
Engineering
The Astronaut with a Song for the Stars: The Story of Dr. Ellen Ochoa, by Julia Finley Mosca, illustrated by Daniel Rieley
Dr. Ellen Ochoa faced both racism and sexism on her path to becoming the first Latina to go to space. But she persevered, not only conducting research for NASA, but also playing the flute during her first mission!
Art
Art from Her Heart: Folk Artist Clementine Hunter, by Kathy Whitehead, illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Self-taught artist Clementine Hunter used any materials she could find to create her paintings while living and working on a Louisiana plantation in the early 1900s. See more of her paintings, murals, and quilts in this article from Google Arts and Culture.
Mathematics
Maryam’s Magic: The Story of Mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani, by Megan Reid, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel
Maryam Mirzakhani grew up in Iran, where she discovered that math fit into her love of drawing and storytelling. As an adult, her inventive approach to solving problems helped her become the first woman to win the Field Medal, the biggest math award in the world.