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EARL: Early Childhood Education

This guide is intended for students in the Early Childhood Education program. It will help you locate children's picture books in the Library collection, and conduct research using our online databases.

Biographical Picture Books About Girls and Women

Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride

Author: Pam Muñoz Ryan; Brian Selznick (Illustrator)
Published: 1999
Location: Bethlehem
A fictionalized account of the night Amelia Earhart flew Eleanor Roosevelt over Washington, D.C. in an airplane.

Before She Was Harriet

Author: Lesa Cline-Ransome; James E. Ransome (Illustrator)
Published: 2017
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"A lush and lyrical biography of Harriet Tubman, written in verse. An evocative poem and opulent watercolors come together to honor a woman of humble origins whose courage and compassion make her larger than life"--Publisher's description.

Dirt on Their Skirts

Author: Doreen Rappaport; Lyndall Callan (Illustrator); Earl Lewis (Illustrator); E. B. Lewis (Illustrator)
Published: 2000
Location: Bethlehem
Margaret experiences the excitement of watching the 1946 championship game of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League as it goes into extra innings.

Hiromi's Hands

Author: Lynne Barasch
Published: 2007
Location: Bethlehem
A biography of Hiromi Suzuki, a Japanese American girl who, with her father's guidance, defies tradition and trains to become a sushi chef at her family's restaurant in New York City.

The Librarian of Basra

Author: Jeanette Winter
Published: 2005
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"Alia Muhammad Baker is a librarian in Basra, Iraq. Now war has come, and Alia fears that the library will be destroyed forever ...this true story about a librarian's struggle to save her community's priceless collection of books reminds us all how, throughout the world, the love of literature and the respect for knowledge know no boundaries"--Publisher's description.

Me... Jane

Author: Patrick McDonnell
Published: 2011
Location: Bethlehem
"Holding her stuffed toy chimpanzee, young Jane Goodall observes nature, reads Tarzan books, and dreams of living in Africa and helping animals. Includes biographical information on the prominent zoologist"--Publisher's description.

Moses

Author: Carole Boston Weatherford; Kadir Nelson (Illustrator)
Published: 2006
Location: Bethlehem
Describes Tubman's spiritual journey as she hears the voice of God guiding her north to freedom on that very first trip to escape the brutal practice of forced servitude.

Mother to Tigers

Author: George Ella Lyon; Peter Catalanotto (Illustrations)
Published: 2003
Location: Bethlehem
Tells the story of how Helen Frances Theresa Delaney Martini cared for baby zoo animals, started the first zoo nursery and became the first woman zookeeper at the Bronx Zoo.

My Name Is Gabriela/Me Llamo Gabriela

Author: Monica Brown; John Parra (Illustrator)
Published: 2005
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
Gabriela Mistral loved words, sounds and stories. Born in Chile, she would grow to become the first Nobel Prize-winning Latina woman in the world. As a poet and a teacher, she inspired children across many countries to let their voices be heard.

This Little Trailblazer

Author: Joan Holub; Daniel Roode (Illustrator)
Published: 2017
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"This book highlights memorable female trailblazers from history with rhyming descriptions of their accomplishments"--Publisher's description.

Viva Frida

Author: Yuyi Morales (Illustrator); Tim O'Meara (Illustrator)
Published: 2014
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"With spare text and vibrant illustrations, this book examines Frida Kahlo's creative process"--Publisher's description. In English and Spanish.

Picture Books About Self-Esteem

Hair Dance!

Author: Dinah Johnson; Kelly Johnson (Contribution by)
Published: 2007
Location: Bethlehem
"Kelly Johnson's stunning photographs of girls wearing a range of hairstyles and the lyrical words of Dinah Johnson's poem celebrate African American hair in all its radiant variety"-- Publisher's description.

I Like Myself!

Author: Karen Beaumont; David Catrow (Illustrator)
Published: 2004
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
In rhyming text, a little girl expresses confidence and joy in her uniqueness, no matter her outward appearance.

Isabella: Girl on the Go

Author: Jennifer Fosberry; Mike Litwin (Illustrator)
Published: 2012
Location: Bethlehem
"While playing in the backyard, Isabella imagines herself all over the world as a warrior, archaeologist, queen, and astronomer"--Publisher's description.

Keep Climbing, Girls

Author: Beah E. Richards; R. Gregory Christie (Illustrator); LisaGay Hamilton (Introduction by, Intro and Notes by)
Published: 2006
Location: Bethlehem
The only way to make a bid for a girl's equality is to climb right up to the uppermost bough of the very tallest tree. The dynamic ode to girl power was written by noted Afro-American actor, poet and playwright Beach E. Richards.

My Feminist ABC

Author: duopress labs; Irene Pizzolante (Illustrator)
Published: 2018
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"In this book, colorful artwork introduces young readers to female and human values, as well as some famous feminists from history"--Publisher's description.

Picture Books about Identity

10,000 Dresses

Author: Marcus Ewert;Rex Ray (Illustrator)
Published: 2008
Location: Bethlehem
"Bailey longs to wear the beautiful dresses of his dreams, but is ridiculed by his unsympathetic family, which rejects his true perception of himself. Then Bailey meets Laurel, an older girl who is inspired by Bailey's imagination. The two of them begin making dresses together, and Bailey's dreams come true"

Amazing Grace

Author: Mary Hoffman; Caroline Binch (Illustrator)
Published: 1991
Location: Bethlehem
Although a classmate says that she cannot play Peter Pan in the school play because she is black, Grace discovers that she can do anything she sets her mind to do.

It's Okay to Be Different

Author: Todd Parr
Published: 2001
Location: Bethlehem
"Illustrations and brief text describe all kinds of differences among people, such as 'It's okay to be a different color,' 'It's okay to need some help,' 'It's okay to be adopted,' and 'It's okay to have a different nose'"--Publisher's description.

The Name Jar

Author: Yangsook Choi
Published: 2003
Location: Bethlehem
"After Unhei moves from Korea to the United States, her new classmates help her decide what her name should be"--Publisher's description.

Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly

Author: Alan Madison; Kevin Hawkes (Illustrator)
Published: 2007
Location: Bethlehem
Velma starts first grade in the shadow of her memorable older sisters, and while her newfound interest in butterflies helps her to stand out, it also leads to an interesting complication.

Picture Books about Sex Roles

Drum Dream Girl

Author: Campbell Geeslin; Ana Juan (Illustrator)
Published: 2004
Location: Bethlehem
"This story follows a girl in the 1920s as she strives to become a drummer, despite being continually reminded that only boys play the drums, and that there has never been a female drummer in Cuba. The book includes notes about Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, who inspired the story, and 'Anacaona,' the all-girl dance band she formed with her sisters"--Publisher's description.

Elena's Serenade

Author: Campbell Geeslin; Ana Juan (Illustrator)
Published: 2004
Location: Bethlehem
In Mexico, a little girl disguised as a boy sets out for Monterrey determined to master the art of glassblowing, and in the process, experiences self-discovery along the way.

Mama's Coming Home

Author: Kate Banks; Tomek Bogacki (Illustrator)
Published: 2003
Location: Bethlehem
Papa prepares dinner and the boys set the table as they, the dog, and the cat eagerly await Mama's return home after work.

Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress

Author: Christine Baldacchino; Isabelle Malenfant (Illustrator)
Published: 2014
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
"A young boy faces adversity from classmates when he wears an orange dress at school"--Publisher's description.

Oliver Button Is a Sissy

Author: Tomie dePaola
Published: 1979
Location: Bethlehem
His classmates' taunts don't stop Oliver Button from doing what he likes best.

The Sissy Duckling

Author: Henry Cole; Harvey Fierstein (Illustrator)
Published: 2002
Location: Bethlehem
"Elmer the duck is teased because he is different, but he proves himself by not only surviving the winter, but also saving his Papa"--Publisher's description.

Teddy's Favorite Toy

Author: Christian Trimmer; Madeline Valentine (Illustrator)
Published: 2018
Location: Bethlehem
"Teddy's favorite toy has the best manners, and the sickest fighting skills, and the ability to pull off a number of fierce looks. But when his toy goes missing, it turns out there's another woman around who's pretty fierce--it's Teddy's mom, and she will stop at nothing to reunite Teddy with his favorite toy"--Publisher's description.

Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys

Author: Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard; E. B. Lewis (Illustrator)
Published: 2000
Location: Bethlehem
In the post-Civil War South, a young African American girl is determined to prove that she can go to school just like her older brothers.

Picture Books about Girls' Friendships

Each Kindness

Author: Jacqueline Woodson; E. B. Lewis (Illustrator)
Published: 2012
Location: Bethlehem
"When Ms. Albert teaches a lesson on kindness, Chloe realizes that she and her friends have been wrong in making fun of new student Maya's shabby clothes and refusing to play with her"--Publisher's description.

My Best Friend

Author: Mary Ann Rodman; E.B. Lewis (Illustrator)
Published: 2005
Location: Monroe
Six-year-old Lily has a best friend all picked out for play group day, but unfortunately the differences between first-graders and second-graders are sometimes very large. Awards note: A Junior Library Guild selection.

The Other Side

Author: Jacqueline Woodson; Earl Lewis (Illustrator); E. B. Lewis (Illustrator)
Published: 2001
Location: Bethlehem & Monroe
Two girls, one white and one black, gradually get to know each other as they sit on the fence that divides their town.

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