Amy L. Sullivan
A year ago, I looked at my daughters’ bookshelf and noticed it resembled a TV listing.
Of course we owned the classics, but our bookshelf also contained a disproportionate amount of books on premade princesses, talking ponies, multiple fairies, a girl who liked to dress-up named Nancy, and let’s not forget the ever popular shopping bag and friends with bulging eyes (oh beloved Shopkins, you are just plain strange).
We owned children’s Bibles and a handful of Christian reads, but as I stared at the shelf, I noticed our family was missing picture books which contained strong female protagonists. Where were the stories of girls who liked adventure and science? Where were the characters who showed bravery and kindness? Where were the main characters who loved God?
Books about strong girls are out there.
These books may not stare at us from the endcap of our favorite book seller, but they exist. Just ask today’s panel of experts: Teri Lynne, Tracy, Kate, Jessie, and Danielle. Not only do the following authors know something about raising girls, but they have agreed to share today about the picture books that have impacted them.
Here we go! From Teri Lynne Underwood, founder of Prayers for Our Girls:
Teri Lynne Underwood is a worship leader’s wife and cheerleader’s mom who writes in between loads of laundry and mourning the end of Downton Abbey. Blog || Prayers for Girls || Instagram || Facebook
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From Tracy Borgmeyer, author of She Loves Science: A Mother’s Guide to Nuturing the Curiosity, Confidence, and Creativity of Her Daughter:
Tracy is an engineer, mom, and author of the book She Loves Science: A Mother’s Guide to Nurturing the Curiosity, Confidence, and Creativity of Her Daughter, and she writes of her daughter’s science adventures on her blog.
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From Kate Motaung, author of Letters to Grief:
Kate Motaung is author of the e-book, Letters to Grief, hosts the Five Minute Friday blog link-up, and writes at Heading Home.
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From Jessie Clemence, author of a slew of must-reads:
Jessie Clemence is a writer and blogger from southwest Michigan. You can find her at jessieclemence.com.
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From Danielle Ayers Jones, author of Celebrate! Holiday Picture Books for Children:
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney. Alice’s grandfather tells her when she grows up she must do something to make the world more beautiful, but Alice doesn’t know what it could be. In the meantime she grows up, becomes a librarian, and then travels the world. But when she buys an old house by the sea, she discovers exactly what that beauty will be.
Danielle Ayers Jones seeks to find beauty in the everyday, joy in hardship, and encouragement in unexpected places, and you can find her blogging, and on Instagram and Twitter.
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Over the last six months, I’ve worked hard to include more girl-centered reads on our bookshelves. Here is a sampling of our favorites.
But I am always looking to add to my list. Here’s the part where you come in. Recommend away, my friends! Hey, and make sure to click around some of the links from our guests. Each of the authors listed are working on fun projects.
What picture books inspire your girl? What picture books inspire you? Any long ago or current favorites?