10 Children's Books about Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died last night, and many Americans...including myself...are feeling heartbroken.  Justice Ginsburg was a strong, powerful woman on the Supreme Court of the United States and a champion of the people.  Throughout her life, she was a strong advocate for the civil rights of women, people of color, the LGBT community, and people with disabilities.  Keep reading to learn more about Justice Greenburg and to discover 10 children's books about her.

A compilation of 10 biographical children's books written about the life, career and accomplishments of Chief Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Disclosure: Affiliate links to Amazon are included in this post.

10 Children's Books about Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933 to 2020)

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levi

Get to know celebrated Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg—in the first picture book about her life—as she proves that disagreeing does not make you disagreeable! Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has spent a lifetime disagreeing: disagreeing with inequality, arguing against unfair treatment, and standing up for what’s right for people everywhere. This biographical picture book about the Notorious RBG, tells the justice’s story through the lens of her many famous dissents, or disagreements.

🍎 Author: Debbie Levi
🍎 Illustrator: Elizabeth Baddeley
🍎 Publisher: Simon and Schuster
🍎 Date: September 20, 2016
🍎 Pages: 40

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levi


Who Is Ruth Bader Ginsburg? by Patricia Brennan Demuth

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is famous for her stylish collars (called jabots) and her commanding dissents. This opera-loving New Yorker has always spoken her mind; as a young lawyer, RBG advocated for gender equality and women's rights when few others did. She gained attention for the cases she won when arguing in front of the Supreme Court, before taking her place on the bench in 1993. Author Patricia Brennan Demuth answers all the questions about what makes RBG so notorious and irreplaceable.

🍎 Author: Patricia Brennan Demuth
🍎 Illustrator: Jake Murray
🍎 Publisher: Penguin Workshop
🍎 Date: December 3, 2019
🍎 Pages: 112

Who Is Ruth Bader Ginsburg? by Patricia Brennan Demuth


The Story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Biography Book for New Readers by Susan B. Katz

In this chapter book for kids ages 6-8, you’ll learn about how Ruth Bader Ginsburg became the second woman ever to serve as a judge on the Supreme Court of the United States. Before she fought for equal rights and made history, Ruth was a curious kid who loved to read about strong women who were making important changes. In school, Ruth wished girls could have as many opportunities as boys. She soon learned that by studying and working hard, she could change her life―and the world. Of all the Ruth Bader Ginsburg children’s books, this one really lets you explore how she went from a Jewish girl during World War II to one of the most celebrated leaders in America.

🍎 Author: Susan B. Katz
🍎 Illustrator: Micah Player
🍎 Publisher: Rockridge Press
🍎 Date: March 3, 2020
🍎 Pages: 62

The Story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Biography Book for New Readers by Susan B. Katz


I Look Up To... Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Anna Membrino

It's never too early to introduce your child to the people you admire! This board book distills Ruth Bader Ginsburg's excellent qualities into deliciously illustrated little baby-sized bites, with text designed to share and read aloud. Each spread highlights an important trait and is enhanced by a quote from RBG herself. Kids will grow up hearing the words of this influential woman and will learn what YOU value in a person!

🍎 Author: Anna Membrino
🍎 Illustrator: Fatti Burke
🍎 Publisher: Random House for Young Readers
🍎 Date: October 2, 2018
🍎 Pages: 22

I Look Up To... Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Anna Membrino


Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Case of R.B.G. vs. Inequality by Jonah Winter

To become the first female Jewish Supreme Court Justice, the unsinkable Ruth Bader Ginsburg had to overcome countless injustices. Growing up in Brooklyn in the 1930s and '40s, Ginsburg was discouraged from working by her father, who thought a woman's place was in the home. Regardless, she went to Cornell University, where men outnumbered women four to one. There, she met her husband, Martin Ginsburg, and found her calling as a lawyer. Despite discrimination against Jews, females, and working mothers, Ginsburg went on to become Columbia Law School's first tenured female professor, a judge for the US Court of Appeals, and finally, a Supreme Court Justice.

🍎 Author: Jonah Winter
🍎 Illustrator: Stacy Innerst
🍎 Publisher: Harry N. Adams
🍎 Date: August 8, 2017
🍎 Pages: 48

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The Case of R.B.G. vs. Inequality by Jonah Winter


Becoming RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Journey to Justice by Debbie Levy

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a modern feminist icon—a leader in the fight for equal treatment of girls and women in society and the workplace. She blazed trails to the peaks of the male-centric worlds of education and law, where women had rarely risen before. Ruth Bader Ginsburg has often said that true and lasting change in society and law is accomplished slowly, one step at a time. This is how she has evolved, too. Step by step, the shy little girl became a child who questioned unfairness, who became a student who persisted despite obstacles, who became an advocate who resisted injustice, who became a judge who revered the rule of law, who became…RBG.

🍎 Author: Debbie Levy
🍎 Illustrator: Whitney Gardener
🍎 Publisher: Simon and Schuster for Young Readers
🍎 Date: November 5, 2019
🍎 Pages: 208

Becoming RNG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Journey to Justice by Debbie Levy and Whitney Gardener


No Truth Without Ruth: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Kathleen Krull

Ruth Bader Ginsburg may be one of the most respected women in the United States, but her recognition is nothing short of hard-won. For years before becoming a justice of the Supreme Court, Ruth had to fight the notion that being female meant that she was less smart, less qualified, and less worthy of attention than her male counterparts. Throughout college, law school, and her work life, she faced discrimination—because she was a woman. But it was in her fight for equality as a lawyer that she made an imprint on American history, by changing the way the law dealt with women's rights and by showing people that unfairness to women wasn’t just a female problem—that it negatively affected men and children, too. In this inspiring picture book from award-winning author Kathleen Krull and artist Nancy Zhang, readers will learn about Ruthless Ruthie—a warrior for equality, a defender of justice, and a trailblazer for girls everywhere.

🍎 Author: Kathleen Krull
🍎 Illustrator: Nancy Zhang
🍎 Publisher: Quill Tree Books
🍎 Date: February 23, 2021
🍎 Pages: 48



Dissenter on the Bench: Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Life and Work by Victoria Ortiz

Dramatically narrated case histories from Justice Ginsburg's stellar career are interwoven with an account of RBG’s life—childhood, family, beliefs, education, marriage, legal and judicial career, children, and achievements—and her many-faceted personality is captured. The cases described, many involving young people, demonstrate her passionate concern for gender equality, fairness, and our constitutional rights.

🍎 Author: Victoria Ortiz
🍎 Illustrator: Victoria Ortiz
🍎 Publisher: Clarion Books
🍎 Date: January 25, 2022
🍎 Pages: 208

Dissenter on the Bench: Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Life and Work by Victoria Ortiz


Ruth Objects: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Doreen Rappaport

When Ruth was a young girl, her mother encouraged her to read, be independent, and stand up for what she thought was right. Ruth graduated first in her class at Cornell University and tied for the top of her graduating class at Columbia Law School. But she faced prejudice as both a woman and a Jew, making it difficult to get a job. Ruth eventually found work as a law clerk, and her determination, diligence, and skill led to a distinguished career as a lawyer. In 1993, she became the second woman ever appointed to the United States Supreme Court. As a Supreme Court justice, Ruth has inspired fierce admiration and faced fervent opposition for her judgments in high-profile cases, many of which have involved discrimination. She has been lauded for her sharp wit and boldness, even when her opinions differ from that of the majority. As a student, teacher, lawyer, and judge, Ruth often experienced unfair treatment. But she persisted, becoming a cultural icon, championing equality in pay and opportunity. Her brilliant mind, compelling arguments, and staunch commitment to truth and justice have convinced many to stand with her, and her fight continues to this day.

🍎 Author: Doreen Rappaport
🍎 Illustrator: Eric Velasquez
🍎 Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
🍎 Date: February 11, 2020
🍎 Pages: 48

Ruth Objects: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

After reading through this list of books, can you think of any other books about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg that other teachers should know about? Has Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had a significant impact on your life? If so, add them in the comment section below!

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