Top 5 Feminist Dads and Daughters in Picture Books
In the world full of children’s books to choose from, finding books with diverse female role models is my mission. For my students, as well as my two biracial daughters, finding strong females who are going on adventures, achieving their goals, and conquering their dreams is difficult. Finding feminist dads who support their daughter’s goals along with helping them achieve their dreams in children’s books… even harder.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a New York times best-selling Nigerian author, wrote a book this year which is a letter to a friend on “how to raise a feminist.”
According to her, feminist dads teach their daughters:
- the idea of ‘gender roles’ is absolute nonsense
- never tell them that they should or should not do something because they are a girl
- ‘Because you are a girl’ is never a reason for anything. Ever.
Top 5 Feminist Dads and Daughters in Picture Books
Earlier this year, a video from Rebel Girls went viral that shared exactly how large the gender gap is when it comes to smart, strong, confident girls. Bookshelves are overwhelmingly full of adventures and accomplishments of boys and men (both in fiction and non-fiction). Animal characters with male animals were in 23% of books, compared to 7.5% containing female animals. Male characters were central in 57% of children’s books, while only 31% had female central characters.
As Anne-Marie Slaughter said, “How we talk matters. A lot. It matters at work, at home, in life.” My commitment to teaching literacy skills with diverse books is unwavering for this reason. The world of books opens the world at large. By reading diverse books, children will value a more inclusive and tolerant worldview.
The words we choose reflect and reinforce deep assumptions about what is normal and what is not, what is approved and what is not, what is valued and what is not.”
Recently, National Geographic revealed to the shocked world of science that ” the ideal Viking male warrior grave,” actually belonged to a Viking woman. Even in archaeology: gender roles are being challenged to tell the stories of strong and brave female leaders too. According to gender studies with girls from all over the world, girls who start to lose self-confidence at just 6 years old. Men (and fathers) are a critical part of the solution to this problem.
The feminist dads and daughters in picture books below show rock star dads who do everything in their power to ensure their courageous and clever girls have the right to conquer their dreams. In some cases, they have to fight against injustice and institutionalized gender inequality, and never give up.
These stories just may give the girls in your life a glimmer and sparkle of hope that they too can become a (s)hero!
The Doctor with an Eye for Eyes: The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath
The Doctor with an Eye for Eyes: The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath by Julia Finley Mosca celebrates a powerful woman in medical history that may not be otherwise known if it were not for this beautiful picture book. The pacing of this rhyming biography is spot on to keep a reader’s attention. The vocabulary is just right for young emerging and independent readers to soak in and learn from Dr. Bath and her life’s work.
I love reading this book because of the quality of the writing, but also to see a strong black woman fight for the ‘right to sight’ for everyone. Her human rights battle is so critical, and kids will love learning about her travels around the world in pursuit of her dreams.
Against so many obstacles that her peers and classmates simply did not have,Dr. Bath’s story is truly inspiring. The page that won me over said “See her father was smart (and a jack-of-all-trades). He had taught her “We’re EQUAL- all genders, all shades.” This amazing feminist dad told Dr. Bath over and over “education is the key to success.” (Recommended for ages 4-7)
We're EQUAL- all genders, all shades. #feministdads #multiracial Share on X
Be sure to check out the rest of the Amazing Scientist Series.
Buy the book on Amazon | IndieBound | The Innovation Press
Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions, as always, are my own.
Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation
Many are familiar with the Brown v. the Board of Education to desegregate American public schools. You may have also read the story of Ruby Bridges who was the first African American to attend an all-white school in Louisiana. The Mendez v. Westminster case happened 10 years before the Brown v. Board of Education. This was the first victory of desegregation in America thanks to this brave Mexican-American family.
This award-winning book by Duncan Tonatiuh is beautifully illustrated and expertly written. It will also engage young readers with an important part of civil rights history. Sylvia’s dad will not rest until his daughter has the basic human right to an education. It is compelling and wonderful to have a window into Sylvia’s world. A world where BOTH of her parents were fully dedicated to giving their daughter the opportunity for a fair education.
As a teacher, I have many conferences, events, and back to school nights where only the mothers are present. I would love to see fathers taking an active role in a child’s education as Mr. Mendez modeled in this incredible picture book. (Recommended for ages 6-9)
Buy this book on Amazon | IndieBound
Littles and How They Grow
If you have a child under 5 years old, this is a must-have newly released book. This adorable rhyming story depicts life with a newborn perfectly.
The illustrations include siblings, grandparents, and parents. But then author and illustrator Kelly DiPucchio and A.G. Ford take things to a whole new level. They include mothers breastfeeding, same-sex and biracial couples, and most importantly for our theme here; dads who are not inept babysitters.
These are dads who are not depicted as the “fun parent” who only plays and wrestles with their kids. These feminist dads are ‘walking the crying baby up and down the hallway in the middle of night’ type of committed.
Spoiler Alert: The conclusion are the Littles growing up and going off to Kindergarten. A guaranteed favorite book with every parent universally able to relate to the message of this love song to babies and how fast they grow. (Recommended for ages 0-5)
Buy the book on Amazon | IndieBound
Lola Loves Stories
In this wonderful picture book by Anna McQuinn, Lola’s dad reads to her every night. More importantly however, he takes reading aloud one step further. In this book, we see Lola and her dad role play all the fabulous stories they read together. Lola’s dad encourages her imagination as she explores; traveling to Lagos, becoming a pilot, a farmer, and even a tiger.
This is a favorite to read aloud during my community helpers unit with my students as a pre-writing activity to “what do you want to be when you grow up.” Lola’s dad would answer: The sky is the limit.
Buy this book on Amazon | IndieBound
Bo at Ballard Creek
Bo at Ballard Creek is the first book in the series by Kirkpatrick Hill. This series highlights the story of an orphan girl in Alaska during the Gold Rush in the 1920’s. As Bo was headed for an Alaskan orphanage, she is adopted by two tough gold miners instead. The multiracial and adoptive non-traditional family dynamic is certainly relatable in the present times.
The story follows Bo, along with her feminist dads, as she wins many hearts with her bravery and resilience. She is certainly a role model as she fully embraces her new culture. She befriends the Eskimos by learning their language, cooking their food, and playing their games.
For these reasons, I would encourage reading this book aloud or simultaneously with young children. However, I feel as though the vocabulary depicts the time and place realistically. (Recommended age 8-12)
Buy this book on Amazon | IndieBound
Dads and daughters change the world! Read on. #diversebooks Share on X
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10/08/2017 @ 3:19 am
Love this list! Shared it on my FB a few days ago #diversekidlit
10/08/2017 @ 8:16 am
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. Such an important list to celebrate dads who value being involved in parenting.
09/30/2017 @ 1:34 pm
I have always loved reading as a way to connect with and learn about people and the world. I knew that I wanted to create a diverse library for my own kids so they could do the same. I think it’s important that they not only see themselves reflected in books, but that they also see our diverse community reflected too.
10/03/2017 @ 3:07 pm
I am so thankful for your comment Nicole. I agree wholeheartedly that representation matters. We as adults must model through our friendships as well as our choices in books that we seek to connect with people in our communities and in the world who offer a unique and wonderful perspective that is different than our own. Thank you for joining our tribe of children’s book activists. I am looking forward to connecting with you further.
09/29/2017 @ 2:49 pm
Diverse books are so important! I love that these books illustrate many different kinds of families.
10/03/2017 @ 3:10 pm
These books represent my friends, my colleagues, my family, and my travels. Thanks to amazing and wonderful people in my life who have taken the time to have important conversations, I can pay it forward by sharing these amazing books with others. Would love to connect with you further in our facebook group where we have discussions with educators, authors, and parents who share a wealth of expertise on a daily basis.https://www.facebook.com/groups/ReadYourWorld.MultiracialResources/
09/27/2017 @ 3:31 pm
Diversity is sooooo important especially when reading. Growing up, I did not enjoy reading because I could not relate to the characters. Since I’ve become a mother, I make sure I find books that my daughter can relate to based on age, gender, culture, skin color, hair, and other factors to help encourage her to read. Furthermore, when children are surrounded by “like” items be it in magazines/books, television/YouTube, etc. it gives them a greater sense of self resulting in a higher self esteem and confidence. I want my daughter (and other children) to be strong, confident, passionate about reading and learning, and embrace people who are different from her which all result in exposure. That’s why we read and promote diverse books. #KnowledgeIsPower
09/27/2017 @ 9:37 pm
This has me dancing and cheering all over the place. I hear “if the books was more interesting, I would read more” ALL.the.time. Kids have to read interesting/funny/enticing books to stay motivated. When you find a book that relates to you on a HUMAN level, you are hooked for life. Cheers to you and your amazing perspective. I hope you drop by and drop more knowledge for myself and for my readers.
09/26/2017 @ 12:10 pm
I read diverse books because it’s just makes sense that characters should mirror real life, which is full of diversity. It’s important for kids to see accurate representations of people in books, to learn more about different types of people, and to see themselves in characters.
09/26/2017 @ 1:50 pm
I am so excited to read your comment Janna. I completely agree with your perspective. What an amazing diverse world we get to show off from day 1 through books that teach the alphabet and a globally minded worldview. Do you have a favorite diverse book? I am always on the look out for a book recommendation?
09/25/2017 @ 9:42 pm
Representation matters so much. I love watching my daughter’s eyes light up when she sees characters that look like her.
09/26/2017 @ 10:42 am
I feel the exact same way. I see the lightbulb and the excitement both for students and my own kids when the character looks and speaks like them. It is SO important for cultivating life long readers. So many kids “don’t like reading” simply because they don’t connect with the book characters they are being exposed to in classes. I am here to make the difference one little girl at a time! How old is your daughter Melissa?
You might find this blog post full of diverse and wonderful girls interesting: https://www.biracialbookworms.com/diverse-childrens-books-strong-girls/