(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best girls & women books for children

Update:


Thank you all for your suggestions!! I bought a few of the ones mentioned here as well as some others. I went a little overboard, but I figure I can space out the gifts for later in the year, and some are for her little brother too.

1. Nancy Drew (1-5) I LOVED these when I was younger, they're such a classic and Nancy's take charge attitude taught me so much.
   
   
2. Little Pea (for her brother) A cute little kids book about a young pea who has to eat all of his candy for dinner, so he can have veggies for dessert! It's so charming and silly and is a fun reversal for kids who don't want to eat their veggies :)
   
   
3. The Planets in Our Solar System (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science) Thanks for the suggestion /u/tectonicus!
   
   
4. The Daring Book for Girls - a fun reference for knowledge and classic kids games, always ideas for fun stuff to do!
   
   
5. Getting To Know The World's Greatest Artists - These art history books for kids gave me such a decent foundation in art history that when I finally took it in college I got my first A+ at a university level. Not to mention, having that knowledge made my time at art museums for field trips and such so much more relevant as I grew up! Also, I give these books full credit for my success in Jeopardy studio auditions :)
   
   

• >Van Gogh
  
• >Monet
  
• >O'Keefe
  
• >Da Vinci
  
• >Rockwell
  
• 
  
  
  
  
  (She's French born, so I made sure to include some American artists in there too.)
  
  

6. The Paper Bag Princess - another one of my favorites that my dad used to read to me when I was younger. I loved it because when the Dragon strikes, it's the princess who has to outsmart him to save the bratty prince :)
   
   
7. The Magic School Bus Lost In The Solar System, and The Magic School Bus On The Ocean Floor. Classics! Thank you /u/tectonicus, /u/mariposamariposa, and /u/caemin!
   
   
8. The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak - couldn't tell too much about this one, but it's supposed to be very clever and leave a lot to the kid's imagination, fun to read out loud!
   
   
9. Annie Oakley: Young Markswoman (Childhood of Famous Americans). Another book I enjoyed as a girl about a young woman who who "broke the mold" - stepping outside of social boundaries and working hard at something she was incredibly talented at.
   
   
10. The Way Things Work - This one looks great!
    Thank you /u/mariposamariposa, and /u/moration!
    
    
    Edit: For the commenters saying I should just give her princess stuff if that's what she likes - I have and will continue to. This year I spent over 100 hours making her an Elsa from Frozen dress for her birthday. This should be proof enough that I encourage and share her enthusiasm. http://imgur.com/a/ga9DQ

reading is awesome!

Thanks for the contest!! I love children's books. I have two on my Under $6 wishlist that I just absolutely love.

• The Velveteen Rabbit is an amazing story about this toy rabbit who spends his life loving a little boy. He loves so much that he becomes real! It's a really cute story, and the moral is that love will make you real--more substantial and worthwhile. I'll go ahead and be picky about it--I'd like either a used hardback copy in very good or like-new condition, or a new paperback :) I prefer hardback, but paperback is only $1.50 with prime shipping, so you could gift multiple people!
  
• Je t'aimerai toujours is the French version of Love You Forever. It's a really really sweet book about this little boy growing up and causing his mom a lot of grief, but every night she goes to him and sings "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living, My baby you'll be." Well, he grows up, and his mom gets old and sick, and one day she knows she's going to die. She calls her grown up boy and tries to sing the song to him, but she's too weak. Instead he picks her up and sings to her "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my Mommy you'll be." It's so touching and sad and I absolutely love it! I prefer this book new (it's only a paperback, and used children's books can be kind of dingy). It's $6.25 with prime shipping :)
  
  I also have some YA books on my Under $6 wishlist (First Test and Page), but I wasn't sure if they counted as children's books.
  
  Thanks again for the contest! Reading is amazing and awesome and wonderful, and I love children's books :)

The week after Labor Day would be better if you want solitude but the backcountry campsites probably won't be crowded either week.

Do not underestimate the impact of humidity on your body. Early September still feels like Summer, with temperatures frequently in the mid 80's and daytime humidity levels of 70% to 90% for a heat index that is consistently in the 90's. Sometimes the weather pattern is nearly tropical, with brief afternoon rain showers where it seems like the sky is dripping water rather than actually raining.

The only thing about the terrain to note is that the Green River is flanked by bluffs. If you choose trails that take you down to the river and back up to the top you will be covering a lot more hill climbs than you might expect.

Don't skip the cave unless you are uncomfortable underground. It's 400+ miles of awesomeness. The big group tours are touristy but a good option if you don't want to spend much time. The Intro to Caving tour (a whole afternoon, all gear provided by NPS) is pretty amazing.

My favorite sensory memory at Mammoth Cave is sitting at the bench outside the Historic Entrance, feeling the cool air rush out of the cave opening like an air conditioner on full blast.

I like to read about the parks before I visit. One of my favorite books about Mammoth Cave was one I read with my kid. Believe it or not, the American Girls books (tie-in products for the series of historical dolls) are often really good about capturing multiple sides of history with nuance. I recommend Menace at Mammoth Cave: A Kit Mystery, even for adults. It focuses on the time that the park was being built by CCC workers and the community of residents that was displaced by the creation of the park, with plenty of natural and historical info worked into the plot.

Enjoy your trip!

You have so much wonderful reading ahead of you! I am almost a tiny bit jealous. :-)

Try Tamora Pierce's novels for sure. They are all good, but her earlier books are geared more towards young readers than some of her newer ones. Personally, I would start with the [Protector of the Small] (http://www.amazon.com/First-Test-Protector-Small-1/dp/0375829059/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407034954&sr=1-1&keywords=first+test) series. If you like it, you can go back and read the two earlier Tortall series (the Song of the Lioness series and the Wild Magic series). If you like it but find it a little juvenile, read the [Daughter of the Lioness] (http://www.amazon.com/Tricksters-Choice-Daughter-Lioness-Book/dp/0375828796/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407035106&sr=1-1&keywords=tricksters+choice) series and the [Beka Cooper] (http://www.amazon.com/Terrier-Legend-Beka-Cooper-Book/dp/0375838163/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1407035135&sr=1-1&keywords=becca+cooper) series instead.

For the Arthurian element, definitely consider the Mists of Avalon, which is the Arthurian myth retold from all female POVs, including Morgaine (aka Morgan Le Fay).

However, without a shadow of a doubt, my all time favorite fantasy novel with a female POV is the Deed of Paksenarrion, by Elizabeth Moon. It's actually a trilogy published as an omnibus edition and is one of my all-time favorite books. I have read it a million times and I still feel the same sense of joy when I get ready to start reading it again. Honestly, I can't really describe the impact this book has had on me, especially as a woman who loves fantasy and sci-fi. I hope you will give it a try!

*edited to add links and fix a few embarrassing typos!

My comic book - MIRAI

Thank you so much to everyone on this sub who helped me navigate the KDP process, you have all been so helpful! xxoo

Actually, it's already peaked at #24 on the Children's Manga eBook bestsellers list (and in the top 200 in a couple of other Manga categories). Honestly, I'm just so happy that it's out there, as it had been sitting on my computer collecting digital dust for over 6 years!

The first issue is about a young Australian girl surviving her homestay in Japan. She learns about life and herself (and gains some new friends in the process).

This is probably not everyone's cup of tea here, so if you could please consider sharing it with the manga fan in your life, I'd be really grateful. And you'll be the recipient of countless digital hugs from me!

It's free to Amazon Prime members and less that $2 in most other territories. I hope you all enjoy it. And please know, I'm truely thankful to the support I've received from this sub!

I feel like if your daughter and I were the same age we would be best friends, she sounds exactly like how I was at her age.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen is wonderful, I read it at about her age. No sex.

John Green's books are amazing, but Looking For Alaska has a blow job part, and The Fault In Our Stars has sex. They are in no way explicit however, and I really would recommend that she read them, at least eventually, maybe at 12, because they're beautifully written and, I think, teach really valuable lessons (in fact, the blow job scene is awkward and uncomfortable and juxtaposed with a conversation that is emotionally intimate to demonstrate that you don't need sex and physical contact for emotional connection.)

I also remember reading Artemis Fowl when I was her age.

Other recommendations:
A Face in Every Window by Han Nolan

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

Cul de Sac Moon by Kimberley Clarke (my high school English Lit, Creative Writing and English AP teacher)

And when I was your daughter's age I was really, REALLY into The Royal Diaries series, my favourite being The Lady of Ch'iao Kuo and Elizabeth I.

EDIT: OH! And if she liked The Hunger Games I think she will LOVE The Giver series by Lois Lowry. And Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events might keep her occupied for a week or two, as well as the Chronicles of Narnia.

From Amazon reviews:

> In this book Sally, Min, Olivia, and Zola are in the middle of a shakey make-up from a pervious fight when they meet Mr. Mojo, a man who claimes to be there fairy godmother. They're confused, how can they have two fairy godmothers? But soon Mr. Mojo shows them ways to achieve their futures that are much different than Clearence "Lenny" Tearence's ways. Mr. Mojo seems to think that they're on the right track. Should the four girls trust him? Or is he just luring them closer towards there dommed futures. This book was a funny ending to a great series. I'm kinda sad this is where it ended. Like the other four books it was filled with comedy, friendship, and Lenny's funny outfits. If you're a fan of the rest of the series, make sure to add this book to your collection. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Sounds like a winner

Not a comic, but she might like this book series when she's older and by 3rd grade ish she can read this series, it's a mix of comic panels/words so it's super easy to read. Batman Lil' Gotham is cute, not sure if it's age appropriate it's been a while since I read them lol.

You could get her to watch some of the cartoons like Teen Titans Go, Superman: The Animated Series (more cheerful than the Batman cartoon but I haven't seen all the episodes yet so maybe there's darker ones later), Justice League Action, Krypto the Superdog, DC Superhero Girls are shows I've seen that I think are safe in terms of content and not super scary, but you might want to watch them beforehand to make sure. The cartoons are what got me into DC lol, comics can be pretty annoying to keep up with & have to read online as to what happened in what universe. Plus they're simplified enough and explain shit so kids aren't confused as to wtf is going on for the most part.

Personally, my favorite fictional character is Daenyrs Targarian from A Song of Ice And Fire/Game of Thrones. I love her because she lost everything but she is absolutely ruthless in getting her way. She has a natural strength and confidence that only a Mother of Dragons can have. I would love this coloring book Awesome contest!

Therapy definitely sounds like a good plan, and in the meantime, you might get her a book about social skills to discuss together, like Growing Friendships, The Survival Guide for Making and Being Friends, or Friends: Making Them & Keeping Them. There are also some social skills workbooks out there as well such as Let's Be Friends: A Workbook to Help Kids Learn Social Skills and Make Great Friends. Best of luck to you and your daughter!

I really hoped the thumbnail would appear for this post! Come on, NYT gallery ....

Anyhow, though I didn't know who they were until recently, as a child I was instantly drawn to books illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon. I had to have every book I found featuring their art, including novels by Isabel Allende. I loved to read, but I'm sure I read more because of the artists' work. Other favorites I wished were illustrated by the couple — they made characters complex, dignified and multiethnic, overall more like the world I knew than the one reflected by most book covers.

Image Google "Leo and Diane Dillon art" for more excellence.

Pink Princess Rules the School by Alyssa Crowne, The Rescue Princesses
by Paula Harrison, The Perilous Princess Plot
by Sarah Courtauld, Frogged by Vivian Vande Velde, A Princess Primer by Stephanie True Peters, Princess Handbook
by Susanna Davidson, The Perfectly Royal Princess Handbook by Caitlin Matthews, Rainbow Magic Fairy Series by Daisy Meadows (I know it's not Princesses, but still it's fairies which I think is close). There's some Sophia the First books based on the T.V. show which is really nice for this age also. The Secret Lives of Princesses by Philippe Lechermeier is a really beautiful book with a lot of diversity. Even if the text is a bit advanced for your six-year-old, she will love the illustrations and it shows princesses from all over the world.

1.) This [Workout DVD]
(http://www.amazon.com/Tracy-Anderson-Method-Post-Pregnancy-Workout/dp/B008DL4IZQ/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=39MD4F4AQ4MXM&coliid=IBHX7FVYXEOG0) would help me sweat to get rid of baby weight.

2.) [ICE CREAM] (http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-ICE-21-Frozen-Yogurt-Ice-Sorbet/dp/B003KYSLMW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3S72V8PR4PYO1&coliid=IUHB38XALOEBE)

3.) No picnic would be complete without [a picnic basket] (http://www.amazon.com/Household-Essentials-Willow-Picnic-Service/dp/B000P4UUQK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376949246&sr=8-1&keywords=picnic+basket).


4.) I desperately want to go to the [Aran Islands] (http://www.amazon.com/Muckross-Button-Cardigan-Medium-Heather/dp/B008B5VD2K/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1376949608&sr=8-12&keywords=aran+sweater).

5.) We had an awesome squiggly sprinkler like this one


6.) [This] (http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Elegance-EZ-Female-Urinal/dp/B004ANM6C8/ref=sr_1_79?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1376950560&sr=1-79&keywords=camping) because peeing in the woods is the worst.

7.) Nothing is better than [fun shaped pancakes] (http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-Nonstick-Bear-Pancake-Pan/dp/B001LUMNJO/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1376950868&sr=8-12&keywords=bear), especially cute bear shaped pancakes.


8.) [This] (http://www.amazon.com/Im-Gonna-Be-500-Miles/dp/B000T1EJ0W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376950942&s=dmusic&sr=1-1) is on every road trip mix I've ever made.

9.) I have had to throw away so many of these because I always forget I have it!


10.) [BABY COWS!!!] (http://www.amazon.com/Beanie-Boos-Daisy-The-Cow/dp/B005SSA798/ref=reg_hu-rd_add_1_dp)

BONUS #1 – Mickey says [Happy Birthday] (http://www.amazon.com/Lenox-Mickeys-Happy-Birthday-You-/dp/B0019FEC7C/ref=sr_1_43?ie=UTF8&qid=1376952067&sr=8-43&keywords=june+birthday)

BONUS #2 - [Total wild guess] (http://www.amazon.com/Gemma-Gymnastics-Fairy-Rainbow-Magic/dp/0545202582/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1376952611&sr=8-4&keywords=gemma)

Some of the best memories are made in flip flops.

Thanks for the fun contest!!

I specialize in teaching reading skills to students aged 7 - 18 years. For a ten year old girl who likes drama and romance, an appropriate and engaging book series would be Gail Carson Levine's Enchanted series (Ella Enchanted, Fairest, and The Two Princesses of Bamarre - they all have age-appropriate love stories.)

Another good age-appropriate book would be The Girl Who Drank the Moon, which also has magic, witches, and some romance.

Thanks, UPS! (My dad is a UPS man :]) He's pretty cool though!

And I would love this Tangled book It's on my Disney Wishlist! Thank you for the contest!! :)

My parents gave me this book when I was 7 years old. It wasn't mentioned again until 2 years later when my dad started quizzing me on sex organs at the dinner table. Great dinner conversation or BEST dinner conversation?

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson, definitely. It's also about mental illness and eating disorders, but toxic friendship is central.

In a MG vein, Gail Carson Levine's Fairest and Shannon Hale's The Book of a Thousand Days also have a toxic friendship element, though in both cases it's muddied by the power differential between mistress and servant.

Slightly different premise, but reminds me of Brave Irene, a favorite when I was little. :)

Not One Damsel in Distress was published in 2000, but fits the general theme.

Edit: Some other possibilities:

• The Maid of the North: Feminist Folk Tales from Around the World
  
• Changing Woman and Her Sisters: Stories of Goddesses From Around the World
  
• The Serpent Slayer and Other Stories of Strong Women

I'd say you could give them books by Dianna Wynne Jones Vivian Van Verde, Ursula LeGuin, or Jane Yolen.

but there's all kinds of folktakes and fairytales they might like with legitimately strong women and girls.

If you want to go the book route, I highly recommend this one!: https://smile.amazon.com/Beautiful-Stacy-McAnulty/dp/0762457813/

My daughter looooooooves it (she's 2.5).

My mom approached it with me by giving me this book and pointing out the section about masturbation. (I guess she must have seen me touching myself at some point before that.) I think this kind of method is good for parents who are easily embarrassed and nervous about having "the talk" with their kid.

What books have you been reading lately?

I just finished Ronia, the Robber's Daughter which I picked up in preparation for the anime. After that I started reading Garth Nix's new book Clariel. The Old Kingdom has been one of my favorite series since I first read it ~12 years ago.

Brave Irene by William Steig

More details here and here, plus a video :-)

Insightful? Meh... I'll leave that to someone else and just recommend something we've all probably read at some point or another: Ronia the Robbers Daughter

That's a different cover than is on our copy.
But ours could totally be Arya and Bran playing in the Wolf's Wood.

Brave Irene by William Steig?

In addition to the other commentors

Kiki's Delivery Service book 1 out of 6, the others were never localized.

Castle in the Sky is based on Gulliver's Travels

The Cat Returns, a manga.

Ponyo is based on The Little Mermaid. Many iterations of this story but why not read a collection of Hans Christian Andersen stories.

The Wind Rises with Jiro's biography and Paul Valéry's poems.

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

Ronia the Robber's Daughter if you've seen the co-produced Ghibli TV show.

My parents never had the talk with me either but did give me this book which helped a ton. It talks about sex, periods, drugs, really everything. Also the title isn't obviously about sex and so it might be less awkward to give it to her.

Holy shit the kindle version is literally $2! How can you not!?