Teaching children the importance of respect and equality is vital and it’s never too soon to begin. However, some things are better learned by getting to the kids’ level and simply reading them a book. Things like gender equality need to be part of children’s upbringing so that hopefully, it will one day be the norm.
Here are the top recommendations by parenting experts for children’s books that teach gender equality;
1. My First Book of Feminism (for Boys)
This book is created so that boys can have a book about feminism that relates to them. It shows the boys in the reader how to be comfortable with their emotions and encourages them to be kinder. The illustrations in the book are done by an illustrator who happens to be a woman. They show girls in power positions, which reflects what feminism stands for.
2. Little Feminist Board Book Set
The Little Feminist Board Book Set provides many books that are suited for children. The books are aimed to promote equality among all genders. The book set is well structured, has fun illustrations, and provides interesting information that all children should have access to.
3. Stories for Boys Who Dare to Be Different
The Stories for Boys Who Dare To Be Different is the best book that promotes gender equality. The author of this book is David LaRochelle, who is a psychologist, writer, speaker, and coach. One of the main reasons I like this book is because it teaches each boy to respect his female counterparts. The author also uses characters in the stories to depict different kinds of boys. He does not paint only one type of boy as being bad.
Mo Mulla, Founder Parental Questions
4. Think Big, Little One
Think Big, Little One is a great book that shares short stories from some amazing female figures. The book aims to teach young girls that they can pursue careers in literally any field without worrying if it is normal or accepted. It covers a wide range of subjects, some well known and others not as much, while touching on many different industries and professions. The book is fun and engaging, and while it doesn’t directly hit on the subject of gender equality, it opens up a world of possibilities that fall in line with the topic.
My First Book of Feminism (For Boys) is another one that I love and would highly recommend. This book is aimed at toddlers and young and aims to lay down an essential foundation for respecting girls while bringing up the need for boundaries.
Letting boys know the importance of equality from an early age is essential and this book provides an informative and fun way of doing just that.
Christine Wang, Founder TheSkiGirl
5. Feminist Baby
This is the book that’s helped me teach equality and gender morals to my two young boys. Now aged 7 and 5. They are never too little to learn about equality, and you cannot beat the fact that younger is better. It becomes part of who they are- not just another topic they are learning in school. We even put some quotes from the book around their room at one time when they were so in love with it that they wanted to hear it every single night. I remember that before the book, we took him to a pet store to get them their first little kitty. He found one that he loved until we told him that it was a girl- and then he didn’t want it! Now that he has been “woke” by this book and many others, he wanted to trade our boy cat in for the girl one he found before! Needless to say, we now have 2 adorable little furballs running around the house.
Heather Keita, Talent Manager grubbycat.com
6. William’s Doll By Charlotte Zolotow
Speaking about a boy who wants a doll, this book beautifully questions gender stereotypes and that too through a small boy whom the whole world, including his father, ridicules for his choices.
7. You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer By Shana Corey
About an early women’s rights activist and social reformer; Amelia Bloomer, this book questions the stereotype of a proper woman and talks of girls as little children.
8. Not All Princesses Dress In Pink By Jane Yolen
A picture storybook for children, this book defies what is normally considered to be a perfect girl or a princess.
Aleesha Dane, Lead Editor at RelaxingSpace
9. Franny’s Father is a Feminist by Rhonda Leet
This story is about Franny, a little girl, and her relationship with her father. He understands that both girls and boys are capable of doing anything. As a result, he pushes her to believe that she can accomplish anything; after all, it is her right. He shows his support for her by playing soccer and ballet. He also teaches her how to repair her bike with tools.
Franny’s father is a true treasure. It’s encouraging to see a father defying stereotypes surrounding gender roles. Franny’s father is her primary caretaker, while her mother works an important job.
Her father exemplifies what it means to be a feminist and how male feminism can assist in the empowerment of young women. There are no limits to what girls and boys can achieve based on their gender.
The author did an excellent job of demonstrating to young readers how feminism affects Franny’s growth through real-life situations. This is primarily due to her father’s willingness to cry and express his feelings. His view is that his daughter has the same rights, freedoms, and opportunities that he did. This book is written in a way that young readers would comprehend, and it includes colorful illustrations to help strengthen the message about the importance of male feminism.
Leo Young, Founder and Editor of OptimizedFamily.com