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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Please recommend books about hero girls, for my son

30 replies

wherethewildthingis · 29/07/2017 22:16

Hi, I really want some books to read to my four year old boy which present girls as active, adventurous, heroes. Please could you recommend for me? Thank you

OP posts:
KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 29/07/2017 22:18

Look up Luna Lafeyette aka Moon Girl.

She's kind of awesome.

PhilODox · 29/07/2017 22:20

Rosie Revere, Engineer.
Zita the space girl, but it's too advanced for a 4yo, but awesome.
Hilda is really good, series by Luke Pearson.

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wherethewildthingis · 29/07/2017 22:21

Thank you! I'll get ordering!

OP posts:
noodleaddict · 29/07/2017 22:37

The paper bag princess

happyhev1 · 30/07/2017 12:20

The Night Pirates by Peter Harris. The main character is a boy but the pirates are all girls.

Marglemore · 30/07/2017 12:27

Goodnight stories for rebel girls

SpiritedLondon · 01/08/2017 07:28

Ooh I came on to say Goodnight Stories for Rebel girls but was beaten to the punch.

hungrytillater · 01/08/2017 07:32

There's a series of books I've seen on sale which would be great for that age or a bit older, they are children's stories about famous females scientists/explorers etc. Name of the series has left my head -little explorer or something like that - will google.

NullaG · 01/08/2017 07:32

Sophie and the Shadow Woods by Linda Chapman.

BirdBandit · 01/08/2017 17:38

I cannot recommend "Goodnight stories for Rebel Girls". It starts off well, but has a story about a prep school age child, born male, who transitioned into a girl. The child didn't achieve anything else to warrant entry in this biography of admirable women, so rather leaves the idea that being born male was enough to make her best of the girls.

BirdBandit · 01/08/2017 17:39

Chris Riddell writes wonderful female characters, try Goth Girl.

KatherinaMinola · 01/08/2017 17:42

Katie Morag is brilliant. (She also has a brilliant crofter granny who drives a tractor.)

DandelionAndBedrock · 01/08/2017 17:42

Princess Smartypants?

Waddlelikeapenguin · 01/08/2017 17:47

Princess knight Funke - picture book. Igraine the brave Funke if you want a chapter book

Roseformeplease · 01/08/2017 17:50

Molly Moon, although it might be a bit old for him for a year or two.

Sevendaysinaweek · 01/08/2017 18:11

Really great thing to do OP!

These may not be quite age appropriate but I loved Peter Pan growing up - Wendy is very adventurous! Matilda is great of course. Also Astrid Lindgren has written some great books about girls, Ronia the Robber's Daughter and Pippi Longstocking.

The Charlie and Lola book series is also good.

ThisIsntFunnyDean · 01/08/2017 23:49

Non Fiction, and not exactly what you're after but Heroes for my Son by Brad Meltzer might be of interest.

SpaghettiAndMeatballs · 02/08/2017 07:15

I (Blush) have been re-living my childhood watching The Worst Witch on CBBC - and my six year old (boy) often pulls up a chair to watch beside me - might be a bit advanced maybe?

He also loved Abney and Teal on CBeebies when younger (I think we didn't watch much other than that for about a year) - that's a boy and a girl (well, a doll and a.. well.. er.r.. troll? and a turnip) having adventures - not sure that's available any more.

SpaghettiAndMeatballs · 02/08/2017 07:16

Sorry - I realise you were looking specifically for books - but The Worst Witch is a book, so that's an option.

There's also the classic Alice in Wonderland, Matilda (OK, Dahl has some moments that are less ideal) - trying to think what else we've had with heroines!

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wherethewildthingis · 03/08/2017 20:50

Thanks for all these great suggestions. He is currently loving Rosie revere engineer, and Ada Twist scientist. And ordering them on Amazon has led me to what looks like a brilliant brilliant series -"little people, big dreams"- am definitely going to order one of these! One about Emeline Pankhurst, Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie - they look brilliant!

OP posts:
rumbuba · 04/08/2017 16:43

Also recommending Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls (vol 2 is being crowdfunded right now)
BirdBandit I think the point of that story was that the trans girl had to fight to be accepted at school etc and paved the way for other trans children / teens in their community, hence becoming part of the rebel girl squad.

BirdBandit · 04/08/2017 17:41

A boy (boy's parents) fights to over ride the wishes of the girls, and gets to use their facilities, his desires gets to be a priority over theirs. Hmmm.

That doesn't make him a rebel girl. If there was a book about rebel boys and he/they had fought for acceptance of all forms of masculinity (sex) and widened the perceived notions of male as a gender, to include all the clothes, sexuality etc, then brilliant, applaud that. But that isn't what happened.

Waterlemon · 04/08/2017 17:47

Amazing grace, covers quite a few stereotypes, but might be a bit 'old' for a 4 year old. Probably best for 6+ age group.

Paperbag princess
Princess smarty pants

My naughty little sister stories - society often places boys as the 'naughty ones' and girls as all sugar and spice. These are classics! We love these in my house of boys!

lilywillywoo · 04/08/2017 17:49

Pippi Longstocking, she's fab. Strongest girl in the world , lives on her own with a horse and a monkey

motmot · 04/08/2017 20:57

There's a website called A Mighty Girl (they have a Facebook group too) which has detailed book recommendations by age, topic, fiction or non-fiction, etc. It's American so a lot of the books are too but there are some excellent recommendations in there.