Staff Selects: Stories about Inspiring Girls and Women

Growing up, I loved to listen to stories about girls that were laugh-out-loud funny, did incredibly exciting things, or went on amazing adventures. Sometimes all three at once! The characters or real-life people in these stories weren’t limited by expectations and really sparked my imagination. 

So, if you’re on the hunt for audiobooks with inspiring female protagonists that will appeal to girls (and boys alike), then Yoto has a brilliant selection of stories and biographies.

Here are some of my favourite cards:

Sulwe (5-8 years)

Written and narrated by award-winning actress, Lupita Nyongo, Sulwe tells the story of a little girl who feels very different from everyone around her, not just at school with her peers, but with her family too. Sulwe highlights the impact of colourism on self-esteem but is also a whimsical and magical story. In just 13 minutes listeners will know, as Sulwe learns, how beautiful she is – inside and out.

Matilda (5-8 and 8-12 years)

Roald Dahl’s Matilda regularly features in the top 10 children’s books of all time and for good reason. Matilda is amazingly brave, clever and determined to stand up for herself and those around her. Kate Winslet brings Matilda, her kind teacher, Miss Honey and her absolutely terrifying headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, to life in this modern fairytale.

Anne of Green Gables (8-12 years)

Anne Shirley is an eleven year old orphan who is sent to live with an elderly brother and sister, who are expecting a boy to help them on the farm. Oops! Anne really wants Green Gables to be the place she calls home. She’s fearless, funny, and completely different from anyone her new town has encountered before, but somehow she fits right in. Anne of Green Gables is one of those characters that people in the story can’t help wanting to be best friends with and listeners will too.

 

The Extraordinary Life of Mary Seacole (5-8 and 8-12 years)

Mary Seacole was a Jamaican doctress, who spent her life and career practising medicine, often in challenging and dangerous circumstances. This card tells all the details of her amazing story and is a great introduction to Mary Seacole’s Extraordinary Life. Perfect for listeners who are learning about her at school or are new to her story.

 

Disney Classics: Mulan (5-8 years)

The story of Mulan is one of legend. To save her elderly father from being sent to battle, Mulan disguises herself as a man and joins the army, becoming a warrior and eventually returning to her family as a national hero. Read by Miyuki Wanatanabe, this abridged retelling of the classic Disney film is full of excitement and action.