March is Women’s History Month, and what better way to celebrate than by honoring the incredible women who reached for the stars—literally! 🚀✨

From astronomers who uncovered the secrets of the universe to astronauts who walked in space, women have played a vital role in shaping space exploration. Their contributions deserve to be told, shared, and celebrated—not just this month, but all year long!

So, I dove into my book collection (and did some research!) to highlight inspiring reads about the trailblazing women who defied expectations and made history among the stars. 

Oh, and I didn’t stop there! Keep reading for some fun STEM activities to bring these stories to life in your classroom. 🚀✨

🔭 Famous Astronomers Who Changed the Game

📖 The Fire of Stars: The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars Are Made Of – Kirsten W. Larson
Meet Cecilia Payne, the woman who figured out what stars are made of (spoiler: mostly hydrogen and helium!). This stunning picture book tells the story of her groundbreaking discovery and how she changed astronomy forever.

📖 What Miss Mitchell Saw – Hayley Barrett
Ever wondered who America’s first professional female astronomer was? Meet Maria Mitchell, the woman who discovered a comet and paved the way for women in science. This beautifully illustrated book brings her inspiring story to life.

📖 Comet Chaser: The First Professional Woman Astronomer – Pamela S. Turner
Imagine being told that science wasn’t for you—only to prove everyone wrong! That’s exactly what Caroline Herschel did. From overcoming personal struggles to becoming a world-famous astronomer, her story is a must-read for young scientists.

💡 Did You Know?
Maria Mitchell once said:

“We reach forth and strain every nerve, but we seize only a bit of the curtain that hides the infinite from us.”

🧑‍🚀 Astronauts Who Broke Barriers

📖 I Am Sally Ride – Brad Meltzer
Part of the I Am series, this book tells the story of Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. Sally was a fierce and determined kid who didn’t let anyone tell her what she could or couldn’t do.

📖 Mae Among the Stars – Roda Ahmed
Meet Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space! Even when others tried to push her toward nursing, Mae followed her dreams. A perfect read-aloud for younger audiences who love space.

📖 To The Stars! The First American Woman to Walk in Space – Carmella Van Vleet & Dr. Kathy Sullivan
This book follows Kathy Sullivan, one of the first female astronauts and the first American woman to perform a spacewalk. Young readers will love her story of adventure and perseverance.

📖 The Astronaut with a Song for the Stars: The Story of Dr. Ellen Ochoa
Ellen Ochoa dreamed of being an engineer and became the first Latina in space! Not only that—she later became the director of the Johnson Space Center.

🚀 Fun Fact: Ellen Ochoa is also an accomplished flute player. How cool is that? 🎵

🛠 Behind-the-Scenes Heroes: The Women Who Made NASA Possible

📖 Sew Sister: The Untold Story of Jean Wright and NASA’s Seamstresses – Elise Matich
Thank you to Becky Wolfe at The Indianapolis Children’s Museum for introducing me to this beautiful book! Did you know NASA had seamstresses? This book highlights the incredible Jean Wright and the women who sewed the heat-resistant fabric for space shuttles. 

📖 Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 – Helaine Becker
Without Katherine Johnson, the Apollo 13 mission might not have made it home. This book showcases her brilliant math skills and how she used them to save astronauts in distress.

📖 Margaret and the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Saved the First Lunar Landing – Dean Robbins
Ever heard of Margaret Hamilton? She wrote the computer code that made the first moon landing possible! This book is a must-read for future coders and problem-solvers.

🚀 Hands-On STEM Space Activities

Want to take these stories beyond the book? Here are some fun, interactive activities to try!

🚀 1. Straw Rockets

• Use NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab guide to build straw rockets.
• Measure flight distances and analyze the mean, median, and mode!
• Let students design their own rocket templates for extra creativity.

🌍 2. Sally’s Pix: What Would You See from Space?

• Check out some of Sally Ride’s photographs from space.
• Ask students: What do you see? How do you think Sally felt looking at Earth?
• NASA’s Sally Ride EarthKAM is a great place to start!

🧵 3. Sewing Like NASA’s Seamstresses

• After reading Sew Sister, let students practice simple stitching using styrofoam trays and plastic needles.
• Talk about why precise stitching was crucial for NASA’s space shuttles.

🧤 4. Astronaut Gloves Challenge

• Have students try to build with Legos or staple papers while wearing big winter gloves.
• Discuss how astronauts adapt to working in bulky suits.

🎨 5. Women in Space Mission Patches

• Astronauts design mission patches for each spaceflight.
• Have students create their own patches honoring women who changed space exploration.
• Look at real NASA mission patches for inspiration!