This is the book that launched a thousand bedtime routines and honestly, it deserves the hype. The concept—biographies as fairytales—works better than it should, and the illustrations are genuinely beautiful.

It's not perfect. Some parents and kids note that it's more about admiring these women than about empowering kids to see themselves in the stories. And yes, it's a collection of mini-bios, so don't expect deep dives or narrative arcs.

But as an antidote to princess culture and a way to casually introduce kids to women who changed the world? It's excellent. The crowd-sourced Volume 2 selections mean you get beyond the usual suspects (Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie) into lesser-known but equally fascinating figures.

Best used as a dip-in book—one story per night, with conversation—rather than a cover-to-cover read. And it works beautifully as a gift for girls (or boys) who need more role models in their reading diet.