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This list has been prepared by members of the League of Women Voters of the Northampton Area after reviewing many books in local libraries.  With thanks to the collaboration of the librarians at Forbes Library in Northampton, Lilly Library in Florence, and Meekins Library in Williamsburg.  We have chosen twenty books that we believe will have strong appeal to elementary school children and their teachers.  You will find many others in your local libraries, especially in the biography section.

General Interest including for read-aloud

Ballots for Belva:  The True Story of a Woman’s Race for the Presidency, Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, 2008, Forbes, Grades 2-5, Well written appealing picture book about Belva Lockwood who became a lawyer, worked for women’s suffrage, was nominated for president of the U.S. in 1872; story of history and perseverance

Bold and Brave:  Ten Heroes Who Won Women the Right to Vote, Kirsten Gillebrand, Maira Kalman, illustrator, 2018,Forbes, Grades 1-5

Elizabeth Leads the Way:  Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote, Tanya Lee Stone, 2008, Lilly and Forbes, Grades 1-5 Picture book but good for all ages – accurate, well written, appealing illustrations.

I Could Do That!  Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote, Linda Arms White, 2005, Forbes, Grades K-5, Very engaging picture book – good read aloud any age.  About the woman who helped win the vote in Wyoming and then was elected herself.

Lillian’s Right to Vote, Jonah Winter and Shane W. Evans, 2015, Forbes, Grades  1-5, Picture book about Lillian Allen – her march through the history of voting rights in the U.S. until , at the age of 100, she casts her vote for Barack Obama and canvasses her Pittsburgh neighborhood.

Mary Walker Wears the Pants:  The True Story of the Doctor, Reformer and Civil War Hero, Cheryl Harness, 2013, Lilly, Grades 1-5, A very interesting person – mentions suffrage, although not a focus.

Miss Paul and the President:  The Creative Campaign for Women’s Right to Vote, Dean Robbins, 2016, Forbes, Grades K-5, Engaging picture book about the significant role that Alice Paul played and who she was as a feisty woman.

Rabble Rousers, Cheryl Harness, 2003, Lilly, Grades 1-5, American History through the experience of women.  Includes a significant suffrage section.

Remember the Ladies:  100 Great American Women, Cheryl Harness, 2001, Lilly and Forbes, Grades 1-5, Travel through American History from settlement to now through the experiences of famous American Women – very useful and interesting reference – good foundational history book.

Why Couldn’t Susan B. Anthony Vote: and other questions about Women’s Suffrage, Mary Kay Carson,  2015, Forbes, Grades 2-5  – Our best choice of the many Susan B. Anthony books.

Grades K-2

A Lady Has the Floor, Kate Hannigan, 2018, Forbes, Grades K-2, Picture book about Belva Lockwood who was nominated for president of the U.S. in 1872.

Around America To Win the Vote:  Two Suffragists, A Kitten, and 10,000 miles, Mara Rockliff, 2016, Lilly, Grades K-2, Very appealing about the perseverance of two suffragists in their cross country automobile tour to advocate for women’s suffrage – good book for young children.

Friends for Freedom:  The Story of Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass, Suzanne Slade, 2014, Forbes, Grades K-3, Not as good as above but more detail and similar emphasis on their friendship.

Marching with Aunt Susan, Claire Rudolf Murphy, 2011, Forbes, Grades K-3, Picture book story of a real girl, Bessie Keith Pond, who met Susan B. Anthony and was inspired to pursue the vote; very engaging and well written.

Two Friends:  Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass, Dean Robbins, 2016, Forbes, Grades K-2,   Accurate information and a compelling story about friendship and determination.

Grades 3-6

Let It Shine:  Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters, Andrea Davis Pinkney, 2000, Forbes, Grades 2-6, Short biographies of Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells and Harriet Tubman among others. A gorgeous book, well written with especially artistic illustrations.

Ida B. Wells:  Let the Truth Be Told, Walter Dean Myers, 2008, Forbes, Grades 3-5, Very effective picture book;  read aloud  (note lynching info and pictures that are sensitive).

Roses and Radicals:  The Epic Story of How American Women Won the Right to Vote, Susan Zimet and Todd Hasak-Lowy, 2018, Forbes, Grades  4-8.  An excellent overview of the suffrage movement with accurate and interesting details and interpretation of the history.  Good  for grades 5-8.

She Takes a Stand:  16 Fearless Activists Who Have Changed the World, Michael Elsohn Ross, 2015, Forbes, Grades 4-6, Connects modern feminist stories to historical contexts.

You Want Women to Vote, Lizzie Stanton? Jean Fritz,1995, Forbes and Lilly, Grades 4-5, Very well written biography of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, first chapter would be a fine read aloud  for 2-5.

With Courage and Cloth:  Winning the Fight for a Woman’s Right to Vote, Ann Bausum, 2004, Lilly, Grades 4-6 and very useful for teachers.  Well written and interesting with helpful biographies and references; all illustrations are photographs.

LWVMA recommended books on suffrage, history of the LWV and women’s rights for adults, children and teens. For a more complete list of children’s books compiled by the Northampton league, see our list (menu bar: 100th anniversary).

Books recommended by the Northampton 100th Anniversary Book Group

African American Women in the Struggle for the Vote 1850-1920, Rosalyn Terborg-Penn, 1998.  One copy in C/W MARS libraries. Available in paperback $20

Fighting Chance – The Struggle Over Woman Suffrage and Black Suffrage in Reconstruction America, Faye Dudden, 2011, 9 copies in C/W MARS libraries   Available in paperback $33

Massachusetts in the Woman Suffrage Movement ,Barbara F. Berenson, 2018,     19 copies in C/W MARS libraries   available $30

Sojourner Truth:  A Life, A Symbol, Nell Irvin Painter, 1996 48 copies in C/W MARS libraries

The Woman’s Hour:  The Great Fight to Win the Vote, Elaine Weiss, 2019, 66 copies in C/W MARS libraries. Available in Penguin paperback $18. This was the Book Group selection in October 2019, which focuses on the struggle to get Tennessee, the last state needed, to ratify the 19th amendment.

The Women’s Suffrage Movement, Sally Roesch Wagner, editor, 2019, 20  copies in C/W MARS libraries. Available in paperback $18

Why They Marched:  Untold Stories of the Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote , Susan Ware, 2019, 18 copies in C/W MARS libraries.  Available in hardcover $27

Free and open to the public.

I Now Pronounce You Lucy Stone Performance

Date: April 16, 2020 4 p.m. until 5:30 p.m.
Registration: 

Author Talk: Dr. Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins

Date: May 6, 2020 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. Dr. Carolyn Jefferson-Jenkins is the author of The Untold Story of Women of Color in the League of Women Voters Registration: