6 Children’s Books That Champion Women and Girls in Sports
Despite progress, stereotypes around women and girls in sports persist today.
Girls should be raised in a world where “running like a girl” means pumping your arms so hard that your muscles ache and your calves burn – but you push on anyway. A girl should hear, “You play like a girl” and beam with pride, knowing that she played with whole-hearted passion and tenacity. This message resonates powerfully in Always’ famous #LikeAGirl campaign.
At Worldreader, we believe that a world like this would reflect the strength, boldness and determination that embody young women and girls everywhere.
But we’re not there yet. We know that girls gain confidence, physical health and leadership skills through sports. Yet many walk away as “pressure to conform to traditionally ‘feminine’ stereotypes” increases with age.
Statistically, more than half of girls (51%) will have quit sports altogether by age 17. Research shows that ⅔ of girls feel as though society does not encourage them to play sports. And the pay gap between men and women professional athletes seems to prove that point even further.
Books can help fight gender inequities in the world of sports.
At Worldreader, we are determined to fight gender inequity in all areas of life, including the world of sports.
Recently, we have added the Women in Sports Collection to our free BookSmart library. This set of 25 books aims to deconstruct gender stereotypes, emphasize the benefits of physical activity, and inspire young women and girls around the world to participate in sport. Here are a few must reads from this collection for your children.
Special thanks to Lisa Brummel for making this Women in Sports Collection possible!
Zamda’s Kilimanjaro Journal by Nahida Esmail
Published by Worldreader
Ages 9-12
Zamda is 16 years old, loves eating chips and hates exercising. But when her class starts to prepare for an epic hike to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, she realizes she needs to “go big or go home”. In this novel inspired by the author’s own experience climbing the highest mountain in Africa when she was 19, readers will laugh and sweat with Zamda, as she starts training for the hike of her life.
Sport: Hiking
► Read it here.
Zanele Situ: My Story by Jesse Breytenbach, Andy Thesen, and Liz Sparg
Published by Book Dash
Ages 6-8
As a young girl Zanele Situ was told that she would never walk again. Being in a wheelchair did not stop her. She worked and trained hard and became a winning athlete on the world stage. This is her story.
Sport: Para-athletics
► Read it here.
Our Flag by Hilary Atkinson
Published by Kidza Books and Worldreader
Ages 6-8
Colorful picture books for children learning to read. The stories depict girls and their journey with sports. Through rugby and mountain biking, these empowering stories show girls developing their passion for sports while striving to become professional athletes.
Sport: Rugby
► Read it in English here.
► Leer en español aquí.
The Paralympic Games (Voices Leveled Library) by Vickey Herold
Published by Highlights
Ages 9-12
The book introduces readers to the Paralympic Games, the Olympic Games for the best athletes in the world with a disability. Athletes who are blind, missing limbs, and unable to walk are able to compete in sports similar to those at the Olympic Games.
Sport: Para-athletics
► Read it here.
► Leer en español aquí.
Going for Gold: Brilliant Women of the Olympic Games by Emma Roberts
Published by Worldreader
Ages 9-12
Going for Gold celebrates the incredible achievements of 30 brilliant women from 17 different countries who made history in the Olympic Games. The sportswomen featured include world famous figures like Simone Biles and Serena Wiliams as well as pioneers such as Nawal El Moutawakel, the first Muslim Olympic Medalist, and athletes with phenomenal life stories, like Yusra Mardini from the Refugee Team in Rio 2016.
Sport: Olympic and Paralympic
► Read it here.
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