Why am I passionate about this?
I love getting lost in books because I get to experience more adventures than I could possibly fit into one lifetime. Books invite the exploration of limitless possibilities—for everyone. When a book can fire my imagination, make me feel a connection, or just make me think deeply—that’s magic, whether it was meant to be fiction or not. I want to write books that do that for others. For this list specifically, I wanted to pick books that encourage girls to embrace the notions that they are allowed to dream really big dreams, that the goals they set for themselves are worth pursuing, and that we all deserve room to be our authentic selves.
Amika's book list on encouraging girls to pursue self determination
Why did Amika love this book?
I like this book because it encourages girls to dream and dream big! You’re a superhero with your own sense of style? Cool. Having an amazing ocean adventure? Awesome. This book encourages girls to hold onto their dreams despite pressure from others who wish they would conform. Dreams are where some of my best ideas come from and I’ve always thought that it’s a shame to dream about the mundane. The more fantastical, the better! Dreams can be the start of a real-life great idea. I like this book because it invites girls to think about who they are and imagine all the possibilities for themselves.
1 author picked A Girl Like Me as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.
"[A] rallying cry for girls to reject limitations others might place on them and their dreams."—starred,The Horn Book Magazine
"Once I dreamed I swam / the ocean / and saw everything deep,
cool / and was part of the waves. / I swam on by the people / onshore /
hollering, / 'A girl like you needs to / stay out of the water / and be dry /
like everyone else.'"
Empower young readers to embrace their individuality, reject societal limitations, and follow their dreams. This inspiring picture book brings together a poem by acclaimed author Angela Johnson and…
- Coming soon!