Instead of reviewing a book today, I thought I’d depart from the routine and share some great resources for raising and teaching inspired girls. I’ve shared a lot of these resources over on the Read Like a Girl Facebook page (which you should certainly “like” if you haven’t already), but I like the idea of gathering them together in one place.
One disclaimer: While I think these are wonderful resources overall, I don’t necessarily agree with 100% of everything they say. You might not, either, and that’s OK. No resource is perfect, and no resource is right for every family or classroom. And of course, if there are resources you love, feel free to share them in the Comments!
Books, Media, and Toys
The Amelia Bloomer Book List: The American Library Association is my go-to resource for lists of great books for any reader. This annual list, named for a 19th-century feminist, covers books with “significant feminist content” for girls of all ages.
A Mighty Girl: A crazy-comprehensive listing of inspiring books, movies, toys, games, and other fun-time options for raising strong girls. Also has a book club, parenting resource center, and more.
Unshelved Book Club: Unshelved is a snarky web comic about library services. Every week, the authors do a Book Club strip with reviews of books they’ve enjoyed. They almost always include at least one great book for girls, and they cover a wide range of genres and age groups.
Health and Body Image
girlshealth.gov: This is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ official website on girls’ health. It’s designed to be used directly by girls, but it’s also a good resource for adults who need age-appropriate information to share with their girls.
Center for Young Women’s Health: Run by the world-class Boston Children’s Hospital, this site is for teen girls. Like girlshealth.gov, it’s designed to be used directly by girls but is also useful for adults.
Both these sites cover a full range of health topics–not just basic info like nutrition and exercise, but also info on mental health, body image, and emotions.
Hobbies and Careers
American Girl Magazine: No, I didn’t forget the link–I recommend the print magazine. It’s geared toward tweens and is full of great crafts, writing and art prompts, personal advice, and stories of real-life inspired girls. Even better is what’s missing: angst about boys, obsession over fashion and makeup, and ads (except for one or two plugs for the latest American Girl doll).
Girls Who Code: This nonprofit seeks to close the gender gap in the tech and engineering sectors. They offer workshops, mentoring, and other support for high school girls who are interested in careers in those fields.
History and Culture
Women’s History Month: The Library of Congress, National Endowment for the Humanities, Smithsonian Institution, and other venerable organizations sponsor this Web presence for Women’s History Month. The site is a treasure trove of links to online exhibits, archives, and other educational resources.
CNN Heroes: Every year, the cable news giant sponsors a campaign to highlight and honor the work of people who make a positive difference in the world. The nominees always include several women and a “Young Wonders” group whose personal stories make for inspiring reading.
Just for Grown-Ups
TED: TED is a conference series that promotes “ideas worth spreading.” While tickets to their events are notoriously difficult to acquire, their website is open-access. Search “girls” from the homepage for inspiring talks, or just browse around the site for profiles of inspiring women, girls, and people who advocate for them.
SimpleMom: This site highlights doable ways to build an inspiring home environment through intentional living. It’s not just about girls, but it’s one of my favorite parenting resources. The Simple Living Network also includes sites on kids, homeschooling, nutrition, and crafts.
Read Like a Girl 