Story Time: My Name is Not Isabella

Pick up Jennifer Fosberry's My Name is Not Isabella and save it for a day when you have all girls at your babysitting co-op shift. On that, pull out this short gem-of-a-book and read it aloud. At least once.

Isabella is a character with a big imagination, but her heroes are real women who did really extraordinary things. The book includes short biographies of the featured heroines: Sally Ride, Annie Oakley, Rosa Parks, Marie Curie, and Elizabeth Blackwell. What I love most of all about this book is the admiration for mothers. Yes, all of these women did wonderful things, but the story makes it clear that mothers are extraordinary for their everyday sacrifices and work. And that's a message that girls haven't heard enough over the last 40 years.

This line says it all: "A mother is a person who uses love and wisdom to raise children to be caring, accomplished adults." That's a goal worthy of any amazing girl.

You'll love Mike Litwin's bright, colorful illustrations that accompany the text as well. Check out his website for animations about Isabella.