March has quickly become one of our favorite months here at All About Books. Not only are we getting ready to welcome Spring, but we are also celebrating both National Reading Month and Women’s History Month! We have so many wonderful women working on our team (I am a bit biased). Now is the perfect moment to shine a spotlight on the talented female authors and illustrators whose exceptional work we feature in our catalog and on our website.
This year, the National Women’s History Alliance has named the 2024 National Women’s History theme “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,” which aligns seamlessly with the messages portrayed in children’s books. We believe that equity, diversity, and inclusion are pillars that can be taught in books from birth.
When we recommend books discussing equity, diversity, and inclusion, we typically begin by highlighting the work of Monique Gray Smith. She is an author and storyteller of Cree, Lakota, and Scottish heritage who features Indigenous characters throughout her stories. Her titles My Heart Fills With Happiness, When We Are Kind, and You Hold Me Up embrace kindness, love, empathy, and inclusivity.
We have added two new titles exclusively in Spanish to our 2024 catalog, expanding our diverse collection even further. Gracias, Omu! (Thank You, Omu!) has become a personal favorite of mine and is written and illustrated by award-winning Oge Mora. Her stories show beautiful communities and how they work together to support one another, and Gracias, Omu! perfectly encapsulates that. Soñadores (Dreamers), by Yuyi Morales, is another must-read Spanish title. As a Dreamer herself, this story is inspired by her own story of migrating from Mexico to the United States. The stories she tells in her books encapsulate Mexican folklore accompanied by luscious illustrations.
Countless talented women have shared their skills in writing and illustrating the books featured on our website and catalog. We encourage everyone to celebrate and support female authors and illustrators not only during this month but all year round! Here are a few of our other favorites:
- Fry Bread and the Alma stories, all written and/or illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
- Welcome to the Party by Gabrielle Union
- Think Big, Little One, Dream Big, Little One, Hair Love, and Hair Love ABCs, written and/or illustrated by Vashti Harrison
- Too Many Carrots, Mindful Mr. Sloth, and more from Kady Hudson
- Too Small, Tyson / Tyson, el pequeñito and Grandma’s Tiny House, illustrated by JaNay Brown-Wood
- Brilliant Baby Books, by Dr. Laura Gehl
- Storytelling Math board books, by Grace Lin
