The history of women’s athletics has been marked by challenges and triumphs, both on and off the field. Across the sports world, women have claimed a place for themselves, breaking barriers and records despite the odds stacked against them. This Women’s History Month, help your child celebrate the incredible accomplishments of female athletes with these ten books.
Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles by Michelle Meadows, illustrated by Ebony Glenn
How do you become the greatest gymnast in the world? Flying High takes readers through the childhood of the incomparable Simone Biles. After spending her early childhood in and out of foster care, Biles found a home in the gym. With her grandparents’ support, she quickly honed her talent, tumbling her way to the top of the podium. Michelle Meadows and Ebony Glenn perfectly capture the explosive power and resilience that made her one of the most decorated gymnastic champions of all time.
Long-Armed Ludy and the First Women’s Olympics by Jean L. S. Patrick, illustrated by Adam Gustavson
Back when women could not compete in Olympic track and field, they organized a meet of their own: the 1922 Women’s Olympics. One of the fifteen women representing the United States was the multitalented Lucile “Ludy” Godbold — but she almost couldn’t compete. It took the financial support of her South Carolina community to send her to Paris, where she won two medals. Long-Armed Ludy brings Godbold’s story of hard work and determination to a new generation of athletes.
Fastest Woman on Earth: The Story of Tatyana McFadden by Francesca Cavallo, illustrated by Luis San Vicente
Born with spina bifida, Tatyana McFadden spent the first six years of her life in a Russian orphanage. When she was adopted, McFadden moved to the United States, where she excelled in a variety of sports. She went on to become a decorated Paralympian, winning 20 medals and breaking five world records. Fastest Woman on Earth highlights the often-overlooked world of parasports, giving readers a look at one of the Paralympics’ greatest.
Girl Running by Annette Bay Pimentel, illustrated by Micha Archer
Women have only officially competed in the Boston Marathon since 1972 — and it’s all thanks to one spectacular runner. At a time where women were believed incapable of running more than a mile and a half, Bobbi Gibb defied expectations. She trained relentlessly for months to complete the race, sometimes running as much as 40 miles a day. Budding runners will love learning about this true trailblazer — pun intended.
How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion by Ashima Shiraishi, illustrated by Yao Xiao
Since she was just six years old, climber Ashima Shiraishi has been tackling some of the world’s trickiest boulders. But to Shiraishi, they’re problems that can be solved by any other — even if it means taking a few falls in the process. Shiraishi walks readers through her problem-solving process with poetic grace, perfectly complemented by Yao Xiao’s wonderful illustrations.
Sisters: Venus & Serena Williams by Jeanette Winter
One of the most dynamic duos in tennis, Venus and Serena Williams have left a remarkable impact on the sport. Sisters travels back in time to their childhood training in Compton, California, tracing the highs and lows of the girls’ budding tennis careers. It’s as much a celebration of Black girlhood and sisterly love as it is two phenomenal women’s athletic excellence.
Billie Jean!: How Tennis Star Billie Jean King Changed Women’s Sports by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Elizabeth Baddeley
From the moment she joined her local tennis team, Billie Jean King faced discrimination and misogyny. Billie Jean! follows King’s lifelong fight to get women’s tennis taken seriously, from organizing a women’s tournament to defeating Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes. Throughout King’s remarkable career, victory has meant more than a trophy: it’s meant breaking down barriers for women across sports.
Ice Breaker: How Mabel Fairbanks Changed Figure Skating by Rose Viña, illustrated by Claire Almon
Mabel Fairbanks’s life changed forever when she discovered the world of figure skating. Armed with a pair of skates two sizes too big, Fairbanks fought Jim Crow segregation in order to practice her skills. She went on to coach some of the sport’s brightest stars, from Scott Hamilton to Kristi Yamaguchi. Ice Breaker celebrates Fairbanks’s life, career, and most importantly, her work to make figure skating accessible to all.
Yusra Swims by Julie Abery, illustrated by Sally Deng
Growing up in Damascus, Yusra Mardini dreamed of swimming at the Olympics. But when war broke out, Mardini and her sister were forced to flee Syria, undertaking a perilous journey to safety. Settled in Berlin, Mardini was invited to compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics as part of the Refugee Olympic Team. Yusra Swims tells her story in brief, moving verse, accompanied by Sally Deng’s evocative paintings.
Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win by Rachel Ignotofsky
This illustrated history of women’s sports profiles 50 women athletes from the late 1800s to the present day. Women in Sports is chock-full of biographies, fun facts, and quotes from heroines both familiar and lesser known. But that’s not all: it also includes infographics on muscle anatomy, pay and media statistics, and historic women’s teams.
From the courts to the pool, there’s no shortage of amazing female athletes with fascinating stories to explore. Happy reading!
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