Books to Feed The Feminist Soul

40 nourishing reads for grown-ups and kids

PSSSST….Speaking of books, before I get to my recommendations, I just learned that Barnes & Noble is running a really excellent promotion for their members on ALL preorders including my book, Sexism & Sensibility: Raising Empowered, Resilient Girls in the Modern World!**

WHEN: Wednesday, July 10 through Wednesday, July 17

WHAT: For B&N Members, 25% Off the List Price on preorders, including eBooks & Audiobooks. Additional 10% off physical preorders for Premium Members

HOW: Use coupon code PREORDER25 at checkout (coupon code should be in all caps, no space)

** If you’re interested in my book, now is a GREAT time to buy it! Remember, though, to save your order confirmation for some exciting preorder bonuses to come!**

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Photo by Gaman Alice on Unsplash

Without further ado, I give you my random but well-loved book recommendations. Because parents should always put on their own oxygen masks first, I’ll start with a few favorites that have nourished my adult soul. I hope you like them!

FOR THE ADULT SOUL

These are various kinds of nonfiction, most of which have the narrative flow of a novel.

• We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Pass this tiny 64-page book/essay onto your teenage daughter when you’re done)

• Recollections of My Non Existence by Rebecca Solnit (Memoir. I love everything Solnit writes)

• Blow Your House Down by Gina Frangello (Memoir)

• The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill LePore (Pop culture, biography, history from 2015. Still one of my favorites!)

• Girlhood by Melissa Febos (Reporting, memoir, and scholarship)

• Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall (Feminist theory, cultural criticism)

• Touched Out: Motherhood, Misogyny, Consent and Control by

  Amanda Montei
  (Memoir and cultural criticism)

• The Soul of a Woman by Isabel Allende (Memoir and feminist theory)

Of course, many of you have reached out to say I must read Miranda July’s All Fours: A Novel. Believe me, it’s on my TBR!

FOR THE CHILD SOUL

Sex Positive Books

• The Family Book, by Todd Parr (ages 3-6)

• What Makes a Baby, by Cory Silverberg (ages 3-7)

• What's the Big Secret? by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown (ages 4-8)

• My Mom's Having a Baby! by Dori Hillestad Butler (ages 3-9)

• It's Not the Stork! by Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley (ages 4-8)

• It's So Amazing, by Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley (ages 7-10)

• It's Perfectly Normal by Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley (ages 10+) 

• Wait, What?: A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up by Heather Corinna , Isabella Rotman (9-14)

• Dating Smarts: What Every Teen Needs To Know To Date, Relate or Wait by Amy Lang

• Sex, Teens, And Everything In Between by Shafia Zaloom

• S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-To-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens and Twenties by Heather Corinna

Body Positive Books

• Amanda’s Big Dream By Judith Matz (age 4+)

• Your Body Is Awesome By Sigrun Danielsdottir (ages 4-7)

• ​The Care and Keeping of You: Book 1 By Dr. Cara Natterson, (for girls ages 8+).

• ​​The Care and Keeping of You: Book 2 (The Book for Older Girls) By Dr. Cara Natterson (for girls 10+) 

• ​​Boy’s Body Book (For boys 9-12) By Kelli Dunham 

• ​Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Puberty―and Shouldn't Be Googling: For Curious Boys by Morris Katz (for boys ages 10-12)

• Period by Natalie Byrne (for tweens and up)

• A Girl's Guide to Puberty & Periods (An illustrated book for girls 9-14) By Marni Sommer et al.

• Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture By

  Virginia Sole-Smith
  (A parenting book that could also have gone in my nourishing adult section)

Empowered Girl Books

(Don’t forget boys need to hear stories about strong, competent, adventurous girls too!)

• Little Feminist Board Book Set by Lydia Ortiz (Ages 0-3)

• Amazing Grace By Mary Hoffman (ages 3-5)

• The Paperbag Princess By Robert Munsch (ages 4-7)

• Billie Jean! How Tennis Star Billie Jean King Changed Women’s Sports By Mara Rockliff (ages 4-8)

• Chrysanthemum By Kevin Henkes (ages 4-8)

• Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly By Alan Madison (ages 4-8)

• Freedom Soup By Tami Charles (ages 6-8)

• Madam President The Extraordinary, True (and Evolving) Story of Women in Politics By Catherine Thrimmesh (ages 6-9 years)

• One Crazy Summer By Rita Williams Garcia (ages 8-12 years)

• Feminist AF: A Guide to Crushing Girlhood By Brittney Cooper et al (ages 13-18)

BIOGRAPHY SERIES:

• Ordinary People Change the World By Brad Meltzer (ages 4-8)

• Who Was...? By various authors (ages 8-12)

Let me know if these books have graced your bookshelves, too, and leave any other fabulous feminist favorites you have in the comments so everyone can benefit!

Happy reading feminist friends!