by Laura Falin posted in Life

Today is International Women's Day.
Because I love books -- both to read myself and to read to my kids -- days like this usually find me sharing books with values I want my kids to admire. In this case, women and girls who are strong, and smart, and capable, and who are not afraid of being themselves. Books with nuanced female characters who aren't always concerned with being sweet or pretty, but who are real and outspoken and valuable because of who they are.
So here are a few of our favorite female heroines with some awesome stories to tell.

Picture Books:
Flossie and the Fox by Patricia McKissack and Rachel Isadora -- this was also on my list of books to read with kids for Black History Month, because I love it so much. In this retelling of "Little Red Riding Hood," fearless Flossie meets a wily fox...and outsmarts him good. Olivia by Ian Falconer -- Olivia is outspoken, precocious, and very good at wearing people out. Kids will love Olivia's endless energy and personality, I love that she doesn't apologize for who she is.
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans -- Madeline faces challenges from mice, to the tiger in the zoo, to getting her appendix out, with bravery. She even manages to calm those around her who aren't quite as composed. A classic series.
Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty and David Roberts -- She's kind of quiet by day, but at night, Rosie is an inventor and tinkerer who loves messing with gadgets. When her great-...