These picture book biographies and collective biographies for young readers of all ages showcase women in sports. The range of sports is vast, from soccer and basketball to mountaineering and parkour, and much in between. And these women aren't just athletes—they are champions for many causes, from civil rights to gender equality. Reading about their determination, both in sports and in life, may encourage young readers to similarly face any challenges in front of them. Share these titles for Women's History Month and all year.
 

Picture Book Biographies 

Fastest Woman on Earth: The Story of Tatyana McFadden by Francesca Cavallo. illus. by Luis San Vicente. Undercats. (Paralympians: Bk. 1). ISBN 9781953592040. 
K-Gr 2–This first installment in a series that will highlight Paralympic athletes features Tatyana McFadden—known as the fastest woman on earth. VERDICT A great introduction to an accomplished athlete that also showcases a nontraditional family; this work will empower kids.

Courage in Her Cleats: The Story of Soccer Star Abby Wambach by Kim Chaffee. illus. by Alexandra Badiu. Page Street. ISBN 9781645676294. 
Gr 2-4–Soccer star Abby Wambach did not become a champion overnight. This picture book biography chronicles her successes, failures, and never-give-up spirit that drove her to the Olympics. VERDICT Add to collections where sports bios are popular.

Perfect Match: The Story of Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton by Lori Dubbin. illus. by Amanda Quartey. Lerner/Kar-Ben. ISBN 9798765603000. 
Gr 1-3–A nonfiction picture book about Althea Gibson, the Black American tennis player, and Angela Buxton, a Jewish British tennis player, whose friendship led to them playing doubles at Wimbledon in 1956. VERDICT Recommended for history, sports, and biography collections looking for excellent picture books that diversify their offerings for this age group.

Swimming Toward a Dream: Yusra Mardini’s Incredible Journey from Refugee to Olympic Swimmer by Reem Faruqi. illus. by Asma Enayeh. Page Street. ISBN 9781645679837. 
PreS-Gr 3–A short picture book biography of Yusra Mardini, a present-day Olympic swimmer and Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency. Although it discusses some traumatic experiences, the book emphasizes resilience and hope and provides examples for handling difficult situations, such as practicing even when things are hard and taking “one breath at a time” when stressed. VERDICT Add this biography to the shelves and include in themed read-alouds.

Marvelous Mabel: Figure Skating Superstar by Crystal Hubbard. illus. by Alleanna Harris. Lee & Low. ISBN 9781620149560. 
Gr 1-4–This picture book biography shares the life of ice skater Mabel Fairbanks, a tenacious and creative pioneer who faced heavy challenges on her road to becoming America’s first Black figure skating star, and who had an impact on many skaters who came after her. VERDICT Every twist and turn is captured and the movement is dynamic in this book; a pleasure to read and to share. Highly recommended for early nonfiction collections.

Unbeatable Betty: Betty Robinson, the First Female Olympic Track & Field Gold Medalist by Allison Crotzer Kimmel. illus. by Joanie Stone. Harper. ISBN 9780062896070. 
Gr 1-5–Long before Wilma Rudolph or Florence Griffith Joyner, there was Betty Robinson, the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field. Born in Riverdale, IL, in 1911, she was only 16 when she won the gold in Amsterdam for the 100-yard dash. VERDICT A great choice for women’s history lesson plans, gym teachers, or to teach the character trait of determination. Pair with Kathleen Krull’s Wilma Unlimited or Pat Zietlow Miller’s The Quickest Kid in Clarksville for a dashing good time.

[Read: Power of Persistence: Publishers Embrace Women’s History, Inspiring Young Readers]

Ping-Pong Shabbat: The True Story of Champion Estee Ackerman by Ann D Koffsky. illus. by Abigail Rajunov. little bee. ISBN 9781499816099. 
K-Gr 3–Estee works hard to become one of the best ping-pong players in the United States at the young age of 11. As Estee continues to advance as a player, she earns a spot in the U.S. National Table Tennis Championships—a dream come true. However, when faced with the ultimatum to either play on Shabbat or give up her spot in the championship round, Estee inspires the world by remaining true to her beliefs. VERDICT A compelling story of a young girl remaining true to herself, this will inspire readers and athletes of all faiths.

Flying High: The Story of Gymnastics Champion Simone Biles by Michelle Meadows. illus. by Ebony Glenn. Holt. ISBN 9781250205667. 
PreS-Gr 3–This picture book biography of elite gymnast Simone Biles follows a pattern of setbacks and triumphs. A canceled field trip resulted in her first visit to a gymnastics facility; the disappointment of missing the cutoff for the national team fueled the efforts that led to her Olympic fame. VERDICT A good addition to the biography section and an excellent book to hand to readers always asking for gymnastics titles.

Daughter of the Light-Footed People: The Story of Indigenous Marathon Champion Lorena Ramírez by Belen Medina. illus. by Natalia Rojas Castro. S. & S./Atheneum. ISBN 9781665931427. 
Gr 1-4–This is a striking introduction to ultramarathon runner, Lorena Ramírez, who belongs to the Indigenous Rarámuri people of Mexico. The book follows Ramírez as she runs 60 miles, all while wearing the traditional shoes and clothing of her people. VERDICT An exceptional addition to all collections.

Fearless Heart: An Illustrated Biography of Surya Bonaly by Frank Murphy with Surya Bonaly. illus. by Anastasia Magloire Williams. Triumph. ISBN 9781629379340. 
K-Gr 3–This illustrated biography of French figure skater Surya Bonaly is told in poems (“Her Dawn,” “Her Dream,” “Her Rise,” etc.) with artwork as vibrant and glittery as an Olympic routine. VERDICT A tad uneven, but with standout illustrations; a good choice for libraries where books about groundbreaking athletes such as Raven Wilkinson (Leda Shubert’s Trailblazer) and Misty Copeland (her own Firebird) are popular.

[Read: Score Big! | Sports Series Nonfiction]

 Go, Wilma, Go!: Wilma Rudolph, from Athlete to Activist by Amira Rose and Michael G. Long Davis. illus. by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow. Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781547612093. 
Gr 1-3–In the 1960 Olympic Games held in Rome, Rudolph took home three gold medals for the United States. Throughout the text, the authors thoughtfully explore Rudolph’s athletic victories as well as her hardships as a child and in her adult life. VERDICT An engaging and insightful biography of an American hero—highly recommended for purchase.

 Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life in the Mountains by Anita Yasuda. illus. by Yuko Shimizu. HarperCollins/Clarion. ISBN 9780063242418. 
Gr 2-5–“Junko’s hill was her entire world” opens this biography of an amazing mountaineer. At age 10, after climbing Mount Chausu, Junko Tabei found her passion. As an adult in Tokyo, she joined a mountaineering club that accepted women and spent her weekends climbing. VERDICT Tabei’s life and ­accomplishments are ­succinctly delivered with engaging text and brilliant illustrations to celebrate this trailblazing woman. Strong first buy.
 

Collective Biographies for Older Readers

Run Like a Girl: 50 Extraordinary and Inspiring Sportswomen by Danielle Brown. ­Button Bks. ISBN 9781787081574. 
Gr 3-5–This brightly colored, informative title for older elementary readers showcases 50 female athletes to inspire the next generation of Olympians. Most of the featured sportswomen are British, with a large percentage being athletes with disabilities. VERDICT A well-formulated biographical overview, highlighting talented athletes who don’t fall into molds easily. A general purchase.

Mia and Friends: Mia Hamm and the Soccer Sisterhood that Changed History by Karlin Gray. illus. by Micheline Hess. First Second. ISBN 9781250823670. 
Gr 2-4– Readers follow Mia Hamm as she catches the eye of the national coach and joins the national team at age 15. The increasing popularity of women’s soccer is traced through the Women’s World Championship competitions in 1991 and 1995, the Olympics in 1996, and the record-breaking attendance at the 1999 Championship. VERDICT An immersive look at the world of women’s soccer that makes for an enjoyable read for those who are sports fans, and even those who are not.

[Read: These Girl Athletes Rule | Read Woke]

Breaking Through: How Female Athletes Shattered Stereotypes in the Roaring Twenties by Sue Macy. National Geographic. ISBN 9781426336768. 
Gr 4-8–Macy chronicles the emergence of American women into collegiate, amateur, and professional sports during the 1920s despite harsh and powerful critics. The lively narrative, organized in five chapters, describes the challenges, injustices, and victories women experienced as they competed for the first time in baseball, biking, diving, swimming, tennis, and track and field. VERDICT A fascinating and credible overview of women in American sports in the 1920s. A win for most public and school library collections.

 Inaugural Ballers: The True Story of the First US ­Women’s Olympic Basketball Team by Andrew Maraniss­. Viking. ISBN 9780593351246. 
Gr 8 Up–A winning look at the creation and legacy of a team that went from underdogs to unstoppable. Maraniss places the 1976 groundbreaking first American women’s Olympic basketball team firmly in historical and political context, following the rise of basketball from its inception to the fluctuations of its popularity for women throughout the 1900s (corresponding to social norms about what was acceptably “ladylike”) to the backlash, detractors, and misogyny that marked the Olympic team’s rise to success. VERDICT An inspirational look at remarkable athletes breaking boundaries. An exceptional read and an essential purchase.

A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women’s Soccer—and Beyond by Elizabeth Rusch. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. ISBN 9780063220904. 
Gr 10 Up–Touching on the passage of Title IX and specific sporting events, such as the World Cup and the Olympics, the book profiles the contributions of women who not only sought equal pay but also to raise awareness that their games were advertised less, sponsored unequally, and that simple accommodations at home and abroad were subpar to men. VERDICT This work profiles women’s equality in sports like a book about women’s suffrage or education provides a perspective on the historical and contemporary vantage point of those topics. All are important.

Game Changers: Stories of Hijabi Athletes from around the World by Charlene Smith. illus. by Natalya Tariq. Orca. ISBN 9781459838048. 
Gr 4-7–Introductions to various female Muslim athletes from around the world are presented in this volume that focuses on the significance of the hijab for them. VERDICT For collections requiring more on the hijab and its importance to devout Muslim women, this book is an ideal addition; those seeking comprehensive biographical information on female Muslim athletes will need to look elsewhere.

[Read: 15 Middle Grade Nonfiction Titles About Dynamic Women for Women’s History Month and Beyond]

Thrill Seekers: 15 Remarkable Women in Extreme Sports by Ann McCallum Staats. Chicago Review. ISBN 9781641604802. 
Gr 5-8–This collective biography profiles 15 extreme sports female athletes, who have reached the highest levels of competition in their chosen sport. The featured sports include wingsuit diving, iceberg diving, parkour, downhill mountain biking, and ultra running. VERDICT A useful collection of light reading that serves as an introduction to extreme sports; recommended for libraries looking to liven up their sports collections.

 We Got Game! 35 Female Athletes Who Changed the World by Aileen Weintraub. illus. by Sarah Green­. Running Pr. ISBN 9780762497805. 
Gr 5-8–Weintraub’s collection of biographies provides both quick overview and intriguing insight into the lives of 35 inspiring female athletes. The collection spans a variety of sports from wheelchair racing to UFC fighting. VERDICT A thoughtful and inspiring purchase for upper elementary and middle grade readers that will foster curiosity, questions, and further memoir reading.