9 Books With Positive Role Models For Girls

In a world of pretty pink princesses, fairy tales, and fiction that often cast women in subordinate roles, it's not always easy to find strong and positive female role models for our daughters. But they do exist! Here, fellow moms share books that have female characters for young girls to be inspired by.

Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables

Laura W. reaches for "the classics" from her own youth to inspire her daughters with positive female role models. Her favorite feisty feminine heroine is the leading lady of Anne of Green Gables: 11-year-old Anne Shirley.

Rosie Revere, Engineer
amazon.com

Rosie Revere, Engineer

Watching Rosie persevere is made even more fun by the rhyming words in this colorfully illustrated book. Rosie Revere, Engineer ($9) is sweet enough to be read to young children and there are even more books from the author that will empower your little lady — check out Ada Twist, Scientist ($10) and Sophia Valdez, Future Prez ($10).

The Strictest School in the World

The Strictest School in the World

Sylvia H. recommends The Strictest School in the World by Howard Whitehouse. "The heroine is a girl who likes to build flying machines," she says. She says it is a good read for moms to recommend to daughters looking for female inspiration in navigating life's common rites of passage for teens.

Nancy Drew

Nancy Drew

The perennial classic Nancy Drew by Carolyn Keene is what Jessica B. highly recommends. She says this go-getter sleuth has been inspiring for girls for decades.

Little House on the Prairie

Little House on the Prairie

Also reaching to the classics, Aaryn P. recommends the Little House Collection nine-book set by Laura Ingalls Wilder for moms wanting their daughters — and sons — to find inspiring females in fiction. Her 9-year-old daughter "loved every single book," she says.

Allana The First Adventure: Song of the Lioness

Allana The First Adventure: Song of the Lioness

Books by author Tamora Pierce, especially Allana The First Adventure: Song of the Lioness, are top of the list for Circle of Moms member Melanie R. It's not often in fairy tales that the "female character is on a journey to knighthood," she says.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

Cyndi S. recommends Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume. The leading character, Margaret Simon, "speaks her mind" and offers her coming-of-age anxieties and concerns as a 12-year-old.

The Chronicles of Narnia

The Chronicles of Narnia

Julia R. recommends The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. "The female characters are pretty strong and positive," she says.

American Girl Saige Books

American Girl Saige Books

Dawn B. recommends the American Girl doll book collection — specifically the American Girl of 2013 Saige book set — because all the books in the series "reference life happenings, overcoming obstacles through perseverance and determination." "They are great books for girls," she says. "They are very inspiring and a good book, since life hands you these obstacles quite often."