From Cockpits to Calculations: Stories of Women Who Changed Air & Space History
To mark the 50th anniversary of the International Women’s Air & Space Museum in Cleveland, we’re setting our sights on the skies and beyond! Women have fearlessly redefined what is possible in aviation and space exploration—whether taking flight into the sky, solving complex calculations on the ground, or walking in zero gravity—and in the process have pushed through untold barriers and broken numerous glass ceilings. Preserving and sharing their courageous stories is vital to inspiring the next generation of boundary-breakers. The Children’s Book Council has curated this vibrant collection of titles for kids and teens to honor the brave aviators, groundbreaking engineers, and pioneering astronauts who paved the way. Sharing these inspiring stories with young readers ensures that these monumental legacies continue to spark curiosity and wonder, proving that no horizon is out of reach.
Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, by Pam Muñoz Ryan; illustrated by Brian Selznick (Scholastic / Scholastic Press) — History, Construction / Transportation, Biography / Memoir, Friendships, ages 7–12.
Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier, by Jim Ottaviani; illustrated by Maris Wicks (Macmillan / First Second) — History, Construction / Transportation, Biography / Memoir, Friendships, ages 9–Teen (12+).
At the Mountain’s Base, by Traci Sorell; illustrated by Weshoyot Alvitre (Penguin Young Readers / Kokila) — Biography / Memoir, History, Construction / Transportation, Careers / Hobbies, ages 3–9.
Blast Off!: How Mary Sherman Morgan Fueled America into Space, by Suzanne Slade; illustrated by Sally Wern Comport (Astra Publishing / Calkins Creek) — Biography / Memoir, Technology / Inventions, STEM / STEAM, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 7–12.
Born to Fly: The First Women’s Air Race Across America, by Steve Sheinkin; illustrated by Bijou Karman (Macmillan / Roaring Brook Press) — History, Construction / Transportation, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Biography / Memoir, ages 9–Teen (12+).
Brave Harriet: The First Woman to Fly the English Channel, by Marissa Moss; illustrated by C.F. Payne (HarperCollins / Clarion Books) — Biography / Memoir, Construction / Transportation, Action / Adventure, History, ages 5–9.
Caroline’s Comets: A True Story, written & illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully (Holiday House) — Biography / Memoir, History, Science / Nature, Technology / Inventions, ages 5–9.
Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer, by Traci Sorell; illustrated by Natasha Donovan (Lerner Publishing Group / Millbrook Press) — Biography / Memoir, BIPOC Characters and Creators, Science / Nature, Technology / Inventions, ages 7–12.
Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13, by Helaine Becker; illustrated by Dow Phumiruk (Macmillan / Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)) — Biography / Memoir, Science / Nature, Technology / Inventions, History, ages 5–9.
Daredevil: The Daring Life of Betty Skelton, written & illustrated by Meghan McCarthy (Simon & Schuster / Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books) — Biography / Memoir, Construction / Transportation, History, Careers / Hobbies, ages 3–9.
Ellen Takes Flight: The Life of Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, by Doreen Rappaport; illustrated by Oliver Dominguez (Hachette Book Group / Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) — Biography / Memoir, STEM / STEAM, BIPOC Characters and Creators, History, ages 5–9.
The Fearless Flights of Hazel Ying Lee, by Julie Leung; illustrated by Julie Kwon (Hachette Book Group / Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) — Biography / Memoir, Construction / Transportation, BIPOC Characters and Creators, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 3–9.
Fearless Flyer: Ruth Law and Her Flying Machine, by Heather Lang; illustrated by Raúl Colón (Astra Publishing / Calkins Creek) — Biography / Memoir, Technology / Inventions, Construction / Transportation, History, ages 7–12.
Fly Girls Young Readers’ Edition: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History, by Keith O’Brien (HarperCollins / Clarion Books) — History, Biography / Memoir, Sports / Games / Recreation, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 9–Teen (12+).
Fly High!: The Story of Bessie Coleman, by Louise Borden, Mary Kay Kroeger; illustrated by Teresa Flavin (Simon & Schuster / Aladdin) — Biography / Memoir, BIPOC Characters and Creators, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Construction / Transportation, ages 9–12.
Fly, Girl, Fly!: Shaesta Waiz Soars around the World, by Nancy Roe Pimm; illustrated by Alexandra Bye (Beaming Books) — Biography / Memoir, Construction / Transportation, Careers / Hobbies, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 3–9.
Galaxy Girls: 50 Amazing Stories of Women in Space, by Libby Jackson; illustrated by The Students of London College of Communication (HarperCollins / Harper) — Biography / Memoir, History, STEM / STEAM, Science / Nature, ages 9–Teen (12+)
How to Hear the Universe: Gaby González and the Search for Einstein’s Ripples in Space-Time, by Patricia Valdez; illustrated by Sara Palacios (Penguin Young Readers / Knopf Books for Young Readers) — Biography / Memoir, Science / Nature, Technology / Inventions, STEM / STEAM, ages 5–9.
I am Sally Ride, by Brad Meltzer; illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos (Penguin Young Readers / Rocky Pond Books) — Biography / Memoir, Science / Nature, Technology / Inventions, Careers / Hobbies, ages 5–9.
Lighter than Air: Sophie Blanchard, the First Woman Pilot, by Matthew Clark Smith; illustrated by Matt Tavares (Candlewick Press) — Biography / Memoir, Technology / Inventions, Construction / Transportation, History, ages 5–9.
Look Up!: Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer, by Robert Burleigh; illustrated by Raúl Colón (Simon & Schuster / A Paula Wiseman Book/Beach Lane Books) — Biography / Memoir, History, Science / Nature, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 5–9.
Love Is in the Air: The Story of Aviation Pioneer Nancy Harkness Love, by Dee Romito; illustrated by Vivian Mineker (Simon & Schuster / Aladdin) — Biography / Memoir, Construction / Transportation, History, Careers / Hobbies, ages 3–9.
Mae Among the Stars, by Roda Ahmed; illustrated by Stasia Burrington (HarperCollins) — BIPOC Characters and Creators, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Careers / Hobbies, Social Emotional Learning, ages 3–9.
Margaret and the Moon, by Dean Robbins; illustrated by Lucy Knisley (Penguin Young Readers / Dragonfly Books) — Biography / Memoir, Science / Nature, Technology / Inventions, Math, ages 5–9.
Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist, by Sylvia Acevedo (HarperCollins / Clarion Books) — Biography / Memoir, BIPOC Characters and Creators, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, STEM / STEAM, ages 9–Teen (12+).
Skyward: The Story of Female Pilots in WWII, written & illustrated by Sally Deng (Flying Eye Books) — Historical Fiction, War / Conflict / Violence, Construction / Transportation, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, ages 7–12.
Taking Off: Airborne with Mary Wilkins Ellis, written & illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully (Candlewick Press / Margaret Ferguson Books) — Biography / Memoir, Construction / Transportation, War / Conflict / Violence, History, ages 5–9.
Women Aviators: 26 Stories of Pioneer Flights, Daring Missions, and Record-Setting Journeys, by Karen Bush Gibson (Chicago Review Press) — Biography / Memoir, History, Construction / Transportation, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism, Teen (12+).
Women in Space: 23 Stories of First Flights, Scientific Missions, and Gravity-Breaking Adventures, by Karen Bush Gibson (Chicago Review Press) — Biography / Memoir, Technology / Inventions, Careers / Hobbies, STEM / STEAM, Teen (12+).
Wood, Wire, Wings: Emma Lilian Tod Invents an Airplane, by Kirsten W. Larson; illustrated by Tracy Subisak (Astra Publishing / Calkins Creek) — Biography / Memoir, Technology / Inventions, History, Construction / Transportation, ages 7–12.
For more girl power reads, check out our Black Women: Breaking Barriers, Building Legacies and Curiosity in Action: Women and Scientific Discovery blog posts!
