The team at MyKidsTime are always on the hunt for great books that put brave, funny, clever girls front and centre — so we were delighted to come across this collection from Children’s Books Ireland’s BOLD GIRLS project. Launched in 2018 to mark International Women’s Day and the centenary of Irish women’s suffrage, BOLD GIRLS put together an 88-page Reading Guide reviewing 173 children’s books (in English and Irish) featuring strong women and girls, for readers aged 0–18, spanning classics and non-fiction alike.
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The guide covers female characters with agency, power and opinions — books that gently open up conversations about the things that can stand in a girl’s way, whether that’s in leadership, government or the arts. These are stories from Ireland and around the world, featuring pirates, politicians, ponies, polar bears, pilots, princesses and pretty much everything in between, from authors and illustrators ranging from Marita Conlon-McKenna to Roald Dahl to L. M. Montgomery.
Here are 20 books from that original guide, to give you a flavour:
#1. Maisy’s Digger by Lucy Cousins
WALKER BOOKS 2015 (BOARDBOOK) 18pp £5.99 ISBN 9781406358155
Fans of Maisy will recognise her bright, colourful world straight away. In Maisy’s Digger, Maisy drives a digger and shows off some of the things it can do, before her friends join in to help finish the job. The repetition of action words will keep young readers engaged, and it’s a lovely, simple story about working together to build something everyone can enjoy.
READ ALSO: Maisy’s Fire Engine; Maisy’s Moon Landing; Doctor Maisy
#2. I’m a Girl! by Yasmeen Ismail
BLOOMSBURY CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2015 (PBK) 32pp £6.99 ISBN 9781408857007
I’m A Girl! is the story of a fast, loud, messy, strong, spontaneous girl who keeps getting mistaken for a boy because of how she behaves and dresses. She’s supposed to be sugar and spice, but she’d rather win races, learn about boats and play loud music. A brilliant celebration of girls who do their own thing, whatever anyone expects of them.
READ ALSO: Nothing! by Yasmeen Ismail
You might also enjoy reading Why Picture Books Are Good For All Ages
#3. Izzy Gizmo by Pip Jones, illustrated by Sarah Ogilvie
SIMON & SCHUSTER 2017 (PBK) 32pp £6.99 ISBN 9780857075130
Izzy Gizmo is a book about never giving up, perfect for any girl who dreams of being an inventor — or a vet. Izzy puts her creativity and ingenuity to work helping an injured crow fly again, and along the way teaches us that making mistakes and persisting is the real key to getting things right.
READ ALSO: Is Breá le Lúlú an Leabharlann le Áine Nic Cuinn agus Rosalind Beardshaw
#4. Little Red by Bethan Woollvin
TWO HOOTS 2017 (PBK) 32pp £6.99 ISBN 9781447291404
Little Red dutifully takes a cake to her sick relative, but unlike her more gullible namesake, she knows straight away that’s not granny in the bed — and she takes matters into her own hands. This wryly funny retelling, with muted illustrations that let Little Red blaze her own trail, is no story about a girl waiting to be rescued.
READ ALSO: Rapunzel; Hansel & Gretel
You might also enjoy reading 10 Great Stories For Kids You Should Have In Your Home
#5. You’re Amazing, Anna Hibiscus! by Atinuke, illustrated by Lauren Tobia
WALKER BOOKS 2016 (PBK) 96pp £5.99 ISBN 9781406349139
In You’re Amazing, Anna Hibiscus!, Anna and her extended family live together in a big house in Africa. Coping with troublesome younger brothers, the loss of her beloved grandfather, and a falling-out with her best friend, Anna learns that stories can heal, that it’s worth righting your wrongs, and that happiness is still possible after hard things happen. A beautiful, warm portrait of a child facing grief and coming through it.
READ ALSO: Hooray for Anna Hibiscus!; Chicken in the Kitchen by Nnedi Okorafor and Mehrdokht Amini
#6. Little People, Big Dreams: Frida Kahlo by Isabel Sánchez Vegara, illustrated by Gee Fan Eng, translated by Emma Martinez
FRANCES LINCOLN 2016 (HBK) 32pp £9.99 ISBN 9781847807700
Mexican artist Frida Kahlo only achieved worldwide fame decades after her death. Little People, Big Dreams: Frida Kahlo follows her from childhood in Mexico into adulthood, touching on the hardships of her life with a light touch and letting the illustrations carry some of the harder moments. An empowering, inspirational biography that reads like a story. (Age 5–8)
READ ALSO: the rest of the Little People, BIG DREAMS series
You may also enjoy reading 10 More Good Books Every Home Should Have
#7. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren, illustrated by Tony Ross
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 2015 [1945] (PBK) 138pp £5.99 ISBN 9780192793799
Beloved for generations, Pippi Longstocking is the girl free from every rule of parents or society. First written in 1945, her anarchic antics have stood the test of time and remain a delightful inspiration to any young reader tired of being told to be on best behaviour. Her super strength and love of tall tales still get laughs today. (Ages 5–8)
READ ALSO: Ronia the Robber’s Daughter by Astrid Lindgren
#8. Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts
ABRAMS BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS 2014 (HBK) 32pp £13.99 ISBN 9781419708459
Rosie Revere is a young inventor with ingenious ideas, but she’s too shy to show them to anyone — until a visit from her great-great-aunt Rose, who reveals her greatest wish is to fly, inspires Rosie to build a flying machine. Rosie learns that failure is just part of getting to the next stage. A gentle way into conversations about perfection and expectation, with beautifully detailed illustrations.
READ ALSO: Rosie Revere’s Big Project Book for Bold Engineers; Ada Twist, Scientist
You might also like reading The 10 Best Books For Kids Aged 8-12 Years
#9. The Princess and the Pony by Kate Beaton
WALKER BOOKS 2015 (PBK) 40pp £6.99 ISBN 9781406365382
Beaton’s background in comics shows in her hilarious, fresh style, quirky colours and perfect pacing. The Princess and the Pony follows Princess Pinecone, who longs for a pony instead of yet another fluffy jumper for her birthday. Her not-quite-right pony turns out to be exactly the warrior she needs to win an important battle — in a way you’d never expect.
READ ALSO: Isadora Moon Gets into Trouble and Isadora Moon Goes Camping by Harriet Muncaster
#10. Women in Sport: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win by Rachel Ignotofsky
WREN AND ROOK 2018 (HBK) 128pp £12.99 ISBN 9781526360922
Women in Sport: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win introduces young readers to over a century of women in sport — from those who competed in male events to record-breaking swimmers, referees, coaches, famous names and lesser-known heroines. Packed with striking portraits, facts and inspiring quotes, this is a must-have for any bold girl. (Age 7–10)
You might also enjoy The Best Non Fiction Books for Kids
#11. Rebel Voices: The Rise of Votes for Women by Louise Kay Stewart, illustrated by Eve Lloyd Knight
WREN & ROOK 2018 (HBK) 48pp £12.99 ISBN 9781526300232
Rebel Voices: The Rise of Votes for Women takes readers on a whistle-stop tour of the women’s suffrage movement, from its first success in New Zealand in 1893 onward around the world. Readers will be captivated by stories of female activism — and reminded that the global fight for women’s right to vote isn’t over everywhere yet. (Ages 8–10, 10–12)
#12. Mollie on the March by Anna Carey
THE O’BRIEN PRESS 2018 (PBK) 352pp €8.99 ISBN 9781788490085
Everyone’s favourite young suffragette returns in this timely sequel, Mollie on the March. Mollie and Nora are dedicated to the cause of votes for women, but between terrible cousins, a crazy dog and the risk of arrest, nothing goes quite to plan. Mollie is a wonderfully fearless character whose questioning of her own identity as a suffragette will get readers thinking about feminism and women’s history.
READ ALSO: The Making of Mollie by Anna Carey
You might also enjoy reading Books I Loved As a Child
#13. Matilda by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake
PUFFIN 2016 [1988] (PBK) 256pp £6.99 ISBN 9780141365466
Matilda is an unappreciated five-year-old genius coping with the world’s worst parents and a headmistress from hell. She teaches herself to read and uses the magic of books to escape into new worlds, eventually developing a strange power she puts to very effective use. Full of wisdom, wit and hope, with Quentin Blake’s expressive line drawings, Matilda is one of the best of all the classic bold girls. (Ages 9–11)
READ ALSO: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
You might also enjoy reading The BFG and 9 Other Epic Stories with Giants
#14. Rocking the System: Fearless and Amazing Irish Women Who Made History by Siobhán Parkinson, illustrated by Bren Luke
LITTLE ISLAND BOOKS 2018 (HBK) 208pp €15.00 ISBN 9781910411964
Rocking the System: Fearless and Amazing Irish Women Who Made History celebrates twenty remarkable Irish women, organised chronologically from mythical Queen Medhbh to athlete Sonia O’Sullivan. Each profile pairs a sketch and quick summary with a fuller essay, break-out boxes of interesting asides, and a timeline. An eye-opening introduction to some of Ireland’s most inspirational women. (Ages 9–11, 12–16)
#15. I am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up For Education and Changed The World by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick
ORION CHILDREN’S BOOKS 2015 (PBK) 272pp £7.99 ISBN 9781780622163
On what she calls the most ordinary of days, a man boarded Malala’s school bus and asked, “Who is Malala?” — then shot her, almost killing her, because her campaign for girls’ education had already gone global. I am Malala tells her journey from an ordinary Pakistani childhood, through imposed sharia law and death threats, to safety abroad. A glossary, timeline and photographs add context. (Age 11+)
#16. Lydia: The Wild Girl of Pride & Prejudice by Natasha Farrant
CHICKEN HOUSE 2016 (PBK) 304pp £7.99 ISBN 9781910002971
In Lydia we meet the youngest Bennet sister from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, given fresh energy, determination and optimism. She has a healthy appetite for food and life, refuses to be bound by society’s narrow rules, and prefers swimming with the boys to sitting quietly. A fun, engaging read for fans of the original.
READ ALSO: After Iris: The Diary of Bluebell Gadsby
You might also enjoy reading 10 of the Coolest Classic Books for Teens
#17. Wing Jones by Katherine Webber
WALKER BOOKS 2017 (PBK) 384pp £7.99 ISBN 9781406369090
Wing Jones comes from a long line of bold women, including her Chinese Granny LaoLao and her Ghanaian Granny Dee. Living in the shadow of her football-hero brother and targeted by the school bully, Wing discovers an astonishing talent for running after a family accident changes everything. A direct writing style and a nuanced view of relationships give this real depth.
READ ALSO: The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan
#18. Star by Star by Sheena Wilkinson
LITTLE ISLAND BOOKS 2017 (PBK) 180pp ISBN 9781910411537
Set in 1918 against the backdrop of the flu epidemic, the Great War and the Irish struggle for independence, Star by Star is full of hope. Stella is a vulnerable, impulsive, feisty heroine as concerned with fashion and friendship as with injustice, and the novel’s imagery of the night sky lighting up one star at a time gives a real sense of history changing, person by person.
READ ALSO: Name upon Name by Sheena Wilkinson
#19. Things a Bright Girl Can Do by Sally Nicholls
ANDERSEN PRESS 2018 (PBK) 432pp £7.99 ISBN 9781783446735
This marvellous historical novel makes the point that history belongs to everyone. Three protagonists from very different backgrounds, all involved in the suffrage movement in London, show different kinds of feminism in the lead-up to and during World War I. Drawing on the writings of Vera Brittain and Sylvia Pankhurst, Things a Bright Girl Can Do is a compelling, moving read.
READ ALSO: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
#20. Tangleweed and Brine by Deirdre Sullivan, illustrated by Karen Vaughan
LITTLE ISLAND BOOKS 2017 (HBK) 180pp €16.00 ISBN 9781910411926
Tangleweed and Brine is a fantastic collection of short stories retelling familiar fairy tales from the perspectives of the women in them. You won’t always know whose voice you’re hearing, and there are twists throughout these beautifully told adaptations. Some themes are more mature, involving adult relationships. The language is richly descriptive and the characters brave, resilient and real. Note this collection suits older teen readers rather than younger children.
READ ALSO: Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
About the BOLD GIRLS project
For the centenary of women’s suffrage in Ireland in 2018, Children’s Books Ireland’s BOLD GIRLS project celebrated strong, confident, intelligent, brave women and girls in children’s books, giving them visibility alongside their male counterparts.
The project’s aim was to break down societal barriers and build confidence in girls and young women by putting female characters with agency, power and opinions in front of them from an early age — characters who address, in a child-friendly way, some of the issues that stand in the way of women achieving their ambitions in leadership, government or the arts.
BOLD GIRLS highlighted and reviewed books with strong, intelligent, self-possessed female protagonists, and celebrated twenty female Irish authors and illustrators, both emerging and established, who have made an exceptional contribution to Irish children’s literature.
You can find out more about Children’s Books Ireland’s ongoing work, including this and other reading guides, at childrensbooksireland.ie.
Loved this list? Bookmark this page or save it to your reading list so you’ve got twenty brilliant bold-girl books ready the next time you’re stuck for what to read next — whether that’s a trip to the library or your next online order.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age range does this list of bold girls books cover?
The books on this list span a wide age range, from board books for toddlers right through to novels for teens and young adults. Each entry above notes a suggested age where one was given, so you can pick out the right books for your own child’s stage.
What was the BOLD GIRLS project?
BOLD GIRLS was a 2018 initiative from Children’s Books Ireland, created to mark the centenary of Irish women’s suffrage. It produced an 88-page Reading Guide reviewing 173 children’s books featuring strong female characters, alongside events and a schools resource pack.
Are all of these books still easy to find?
Some of these titles are recent releases and easy to find in bookshops or libraries, while others are older or out of print. Your local library or a good independent bookshop is often the best place to track down any title on this list.
Where can I find more books like these?
Explore our related book lists below for more reading ideas across different ages and interests, from picture books to teen fiction.
More Reading Lists You Might Like
- Why Picture Books Are Good For All Ages
- 10 Great Stories For Kids You Should Have In Your Home
- 10 More Good Books Every Home Should Have
- The Best Non-Fiction Books for Kids
- 10 of the Coolest Classic Books for Teens
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