A Bilingual Women’s History Month for Kids
We’re so excited to share our humble collection of books for Women’s History Month this year. From breakthrough science to political activism, it’s time to be inspired by some truly phenomenal women! Here are just a few that children can read about this year — in either English or Chinese!
Books in Chinese
Malala Yousafzai
Who is she? Malala Yousafzai is an activist campaigning for the rights of women and girls to education. She bravely stood up for female education despite the threats of violence and harassment.
Did you know? Malala is the youngest Nobel Prize laureate! She spoke as a United Nations messenger of peace and co-founded the Malala Fund.
Wangari Maathai
Who was she? Wangari Maathai is best known for the Green Belt Movement which she founded in 1977. She advocated for the planting of trees, environmental conservation and women’s rights, despite opposition from the Kenyan government.
Did you know? She became the first African woman to ever with the Nobel Peace Prize! She was especially known for encouraging women to strive for better!
Harriet Tubman
Who was she? Tubman was an American abolitionist who carried out missions to rescue approximately 70 enslaved people. Although she was born into chattel slavery herself, she always sought freedom, not only for herself, but for all slaves.
Did you know? She is also known as the ‘Moses of her people’. She’s considered the first African-American woman to serve in the military for her role as the ‘conductor’ of the Underground Railroad.
Tu Youyou
Who is she? Tu Youyou is the Chinese chemist who discovered the cure for malaria — which was a breakthrough in medical science at the time. Ever since she was a teenager, Tu Youyou was determined to find cures for diseases like the tuberculosis that affected her when she was 16.
Did you know? She used Chinese medicine from the Zhou, Qing and Han dynasties to help her find the cure! Through this, she extracted artemisinin and even volunteered herself to be the first human subject. Her work has saved millions of lives across the world.
Niki Nakayama
Who is she? Niki is best known for her mouth-watering Japanese kaiseki cuisine. Kaiseki is a traditional multi-course Japanese meal which is like a work of art — for both the taste buds and the eyes! She brings a modern touch to traditional kaiseki while using the best seasonal and local ingredients.
Did you know? She owns her own restaurant in Los Angeles called n/naka which has two Michelin stars! She was inspired to open her own food place after her three years training and working in Japan, including at a Japanese inn owned by her relatives.
I’m feeling so inspired after writing this booklist! I hope you’re feeling it, too! There are some truly amazing women in our world, some reach the limelight more than others. So lets celebrate the role and achievements of women across the world — big or small, young or old, public or personal!
Share this booklist with a friend. Or, if there’s a woman who has inspired you, let us know on social media or in the comments below. We’d love to hear more (and try to find books about them).