On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment was certified, giving women the right to vote. The fight for women's suffrage had ended in the United States, but the battle for equality in all arenas continued—and remains ongoing. These four titles discuss women's fight for the ballot and for equality in America, as well as women's suffrage worldwide. Hand them to young readers for Women's Equality Day and throughout the year. Then, refer to the resources at the bottom for further reading.

Women’s Equality in America: Examining the Facts by Nancy Hendricks. Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781440879463. 
Gr 7 Up–This timely, detailed book provides a comprehensive overview of topics, issues, and resources relating to women’s equality throughout American history, spanning from the lead-up to the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention to the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade. VERDICT An excellent resource on women’s equality that, through its effective structure, encourages multiple practical classroom applications.

Good Girls Don’t Make History by Elizabeth Kiehner. illus. by Micaela Dawn. Quatro/Wide Eyed Editions. ISBN 9780711265424; pap. $17.99. ISBN 9780711271647. 
Gr 6-9–Told in flashbacks between present and historical vignettes, the book details the evolution of the women’s rights movement and the fight for the right to vote. Historical figures such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, and Emmeline Pankhurst are brought to life, and Kiehner follows the trajectory of history, from the Seneca Falls Convention through the ratification of the 19th Amendment that banned sex-based voter discrimination in the 20th century. VERDICT Middle schoolers seeking to get their feet wet with historical nonfiction will appreciate this work.

Citizen She!: The Global Campaign for Women’s Voting Rights by Caroline Stevan. tr. from French by Michelle Bailat-Jones. illus. by Elina Braslina. Helvetiq. ISBN 9783907293720. 
Gr 5-7–Stevan’s latest title gives context and explores the history of feminism and universal suffrage. From a fictional, but realistic narrative of generational patriarchal misogyny to descriptive quick biographies of women around the world, the text explains how arduous the fight for equal voting rights has been up until present day. VERDICT An accessible nonfiction read about equal voting rights for middle grade readers.

The Bodyguard Unit: Edith Garrud, Women’s Suffrage, and Jujitsu by Clément Xavier. illus. by Lisa Lugrin. Lerner/Graphic Universe. ISBN 9781728445656. 
Gr 7 Up–The British suffragettes employed an exhaustive variety of tactics to gain visibility for the cause of granting women the right to vote. Among these were dramatic protests that involved violent clashes with police. Partly in response, suffragette leaders engaged the help of Edith Garrud, a jujitsu master, to teach them self-defense. VERDICT Well-balanced and easy to understand, a unique and involving lens through which to consider an essential moment in modern history.

Further reading

The following list contains more books and resources on Women's Equality Day for young readers:

Booklists and Resources for Women’s Equality Day and Year-Round

4 Picture Books About Women Taking Their Daughters and Granddaughters to the Polls

12 Picture Books and Middle Grade Titles For Women’s Equality Day

Women and the Vote | By the Book

An Uncomfortable Truth: 12 books that discuss the 19th Amendment and the limits of women’s suffrage