The essential reading list of books that celebrate women for all ages

Great for all ages, there are now three editions of this excellent series of bedtime stories, each packed with real-life adventures of 100 fearless women from all over the world. Travel to the Altai Mountains with Aisholpan Nurgaiv, hear the extraordinary courage of Chinese feminist revolutionary Qiu Jin, take to the stage with outspoken Afghan rapper Sonita Alizadeh, and discover many more stories – each illustrated by female artists from across the globe.

One of the most well-known heroines in Chinese folklore today, the ancient story of Hua Mulan and her bravery has been told for centuries. When her elderly father is conscripted to fight in the army, Mulan defies tradition and laws, disguises herself as a boy and secretly takes his place. Colourfully illustrated in the style of Chinese ink paintings, this bilingual book is a great one for young learners.

All about the power of sisterhood, in this rework of the Chinese legend Ten Brothers, the sisters each possess a special talent that they use to protect each other – from speed- riding a scooter to karate to cooking. When the youngest sister is taken by a dragon, the others work together to save her.

Falling Leaves author Adeline Yen Mah reworks her autobiographical account of growing up as an unwanted daughter for a younger audience in A Chinese Cinderella. Heroine Jung-ling’s mother died in childbirth, her stepmother is malicious, her father disinterested and her sisters disloyal, but through determination, and with the support of her aunt and grandfather, she goes on to greatness.

Women in Science profiles women throughout history who killed it in the male-dominated fields of science, tech, engineering and maths. From the first female and two-time Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie to Qing dynasty scientist Wang Zhenyi, it’s a great choice for kids with an interest in STEM subjects.

Journalist and author Xinran has built her career on giving a voice to unheard women across China. In this collection of heart-wrenching, real-life stories, Xinran goes behind the scenes in the lives of ten mothers who were forced to give up their daughters as a result of the one-child policy, archaic traditions or economic necessity.

A mainstay on book club reading lists for the past three decades, Amy Tan’s classic The Joy Luck Club follows the lives and relationships of eight Chinese immigrant mothers in the United States and their American-born daughters as they navigate generational and cultural differences.