I got a LOT of conflicting messages when I was a little girl. My dad would say “you can be anything you set your mind to” but then I had a teacher that told me that I wouldn’t need to do anymore math than what was done at a grocery store–since I’d never be more than a trophy wife. I hated it. I hated it and was so confused. I don’t want that for my girls. I want my daughters to be proud and strong and, as my dad encouraged me–to be anything they want to be. So, I’m setting out on a mission. I want to buy them EVERY ONE of these 35 Great Girl-Power Books for Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers. Watch-out, world, here my daughters come…
It still bothers me today that my second grade teacher had such a horrible affect on me and my self-confidence. For a long time, I truly felt I couldn’t do math. That I couldn’t be a scientist or an engineer…or, what I really wanted to be, an astrophysicist. (let that sink-in for a second)
I feel like that one teacher–that one moment in time–really changed the course of my life and, rather than building me up as a teacher should, she brought me down.
Not that I’m not perfectly happy with my life now, but I do feel that I had a lot of self-confidence problems as a result of her callous comment–and just because I was pretty and blonde. In second grade. Gimme a break.
I pray my daughters will never have their own version of this horrid moment. But, I’m realistic and I know the world we life in. So, I’m going to give them a good foundation so that, should the moment arise, maybe it’s easier for them to brush-off the thoughtless and look to their strengths.
Here’s to having great girl-role model books to help build that foundation and inspire my tiny girls to greatness of their own.
Great Girl-Power Books for Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers
Paid links:
The Paper Bag Princess (Munsch for Kids)Rosie Revere, Engineer
Red Is the Color Of…
Ninja Red Riding Hood
Going Places
Not All Princesses Dress in Pink
Cinder Edna
Gabby: Wonder Girl
Grace for President
Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors?: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell (Christy Ottaviano Books)
Pink is Just A Color and So is Blue
Every Cowgirl Needs Dancing Boots
The Tough Princess
Brave Margaret : An Irish Adventure
The Princess and the Pizza
Petunia, the Girl who was NOT A Princess
Pepper
Kelly Finds a Way
Daredevil: The Daring Life of Betty Skelton
Maya Was Grumpy
The Princess Knight
Igraine The Brave
Molly the Brave and Me (Step-Into-Reading, Step 3)
Violet the Pilot
Blueberries for Sal
Dangerously Ever After
The Sandwich Swap
Twelve Dancing Unicorns
Not One Damsel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls
Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?
Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream
O’Sullivan Stew (Picture Puffins)
East o’ the Sun and West o’ the Moon
The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps
My Uncle Emily
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So, join hands with me in girl-power-ville and let’s get these 35 Great Girl-Power Books for Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers to all the girls. Because they all deserve that foundation–that chance to be great. Share the list–pin it, post it on your wall, do whatever. But let’s get these books to our daughters and their friends. Let’s change the world.