Girls’ books are often easy to spot because they’re covered in pink.  Here are some pretty and pink picture books, along with a few chapter books, that – for the most part – follow that suite.

Let’s begin with the chapter books that are good for ages 8 through 12.  The Quail Club, by Carolyn Marsden, is a beautifully dispersed story of cross-culture appreciation. Olivia has recently moved to America from Thailand and wants desperately to fit in with others.  She finds friends who start a quail club of hatching baby quail.  But when their schoolteacher announces an upcoming talent show, Olivia (or Oy as her friends call her) wants to perform a native dance from her country.  The leader of her club wants her to do an American dance with her.  The culminating resolution to this charming story is both enlightening and enriching.

The Sisters Club, by Megan McDonald, and with illustrations sprinkled throughout by Pamela A. Consolazio, is a story about three sisters raised in an acting family.  These sisters, ages 8, 10 and 12, form a club dealing with acting and the theater.  The story, told through the middle sister, Joey, is humorous, engaging and entertaining as the three become embroiled in sisterhood and the calamities that surround them.

Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls: Moving Day, by Meg Cabot, is all about how 9-year-old Allie deals with moving from her comfortable, cozy life with friends and school that she knows in the suburbs to a 100-year-old house in the city.  The author knows how to spin a teen story full of lively dialogue and rich in upper-elementary age life.  This is the first book in this fun series with several books that follow – all dealing with life before teeanage-dome.  The newest in this series is “Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls: The New Girl”.

Now for the picture books which are good for ages 4 through 7: Fanny and Fanny and Annabelle, both by Holly Hobbie, are books that celebrate imagination and inventiveness.  Fanny wants her mother to buy her a “Connie” doll but her mom refuses. So Fanny must rely on her own invention and creates Annabelle.  Even though this doll is far from perfect, Fanny adores her and appreciates her own ability to construct her. The illustrations are of Ms. Hobbie’s caliber and she includes a paper doll for you to make at the back of the book.

Celestine, Drama Queen, by Penny Ives, is a bit of a prima-Dona as she believes she is destined to be a big star.  But when she gets stage fright at the last minute, help is on the way.  Celestine and her duck friends are drawn with the delight of her life.  And how she overcomes this dilemma will ring true to many.

Purplicious and Goldilicious, are both by Victoria Kann. “Purplicious” was also co-authored and illustrated with her sister, Elizabeth Kann.  These books follow the popular “Pinkalicious” book that the sisters wrote.  “Goldilicious” is the most recent vibrant colored book that involves a unicorn with a golden horn that can twirl, roller-skate and also create havoc. Will this beautiful horse bring magic to a little girl in need of something enchanted?

Tea for Ruby, by Sarah Ferguson, and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser, has to be one great book on teaching manners!  And what young person couldn’t use more lessons on this subject?  Ruby cannot believe she has just been invited to have tea with the Queen!  As she begins to prepare for this magnificent opportunity, everyone around her reminds her how to act, eat, and talk.  These reminders are pleasantly addressed and the delightful illustrations of a little girl who seems to look a bit messy all of the time makes this book a perfect read-aloud as well as a wonderful teaching devise. And watch for the surprise ending!

Harriet Dancing, by Ruth Symes, and illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church, is about Harriet, the hedgehog, who desires to do what she feels she must.  When she sees butterflies dancing, she stops and also dances until she is criticized. This is a story of following your heart and gaining acceptance.  Priscilla, Superstar!, by Nathaniel Hobbie, and illustrated by Jocelyn Hobbie, follows this theme as well as making the best of a difficult situation and managing to even enjoy it.  Priscilla wants to be the lead in the school play but ends up with the part of being the Wind.  But she makes the most of the part and enjoys it more than if she’d obtained the lead.  The lyrical rhythm of the text propels Priscilla to the end.

And the last of the picture books deal with Princess Bess Gets Dressed, by Margery Cuyler, and illustrated by Heather Maione.  Little Bess has to wear the most puffed-up, ruffley, velvelty clothes throughout her day. Each segment of her day demands a different outfit.  But at the end of this rhyming story, you’ll find what she likes to wear best.  The glittery cover and the imaginative expressions of Bess and her companions are amusing and contain a reflection of her personality.

The last three books contain information of achieving your desires as a girl.  Girlforce, by Nikki Goldstein, is a guidebook full of information for healthy eating, exercise, make-up and more.  Scholastic retro-book series has 2 books out for girls.  The Girls’ Book of Excellence covers many areas from perfect posture to interpreting your dreams.  The Girls’ Book of Glamour also covers many chapters from how to make your own bubble bath to having a good night’s sleep.  So if this list of books doesn’t celebrate girls, I don’t know what will!