Female doctors

Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors? The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell
by Tanya Lee Stone
ilustrated by Marjorie Priceman


Lively text and pictures make for an attractive picture book biography for young readers. The spirited layout perfectly fits a girl who became the first female doctor in the United States.






Native American Doctor: The Story of Susan LaFlesche Picotte
by Jeri Ferris


Susan LaFlesche Picotte was born on an Omaha Reservation in Nebraska in 1865. Her father, the Omaha chief Iron Eye, believed that the Omaha needed to learn the ways of the white men if they were going to survive. As Susan grew up, she could see the problems that affected the Omahans, and dedicated her life to helping them. She became the first Native American woman to graduate from medical school and worked tirelessly to better the lives of her people. Her story also illuminates the difficulty of living in two different worlds and bridging that difference despite mistrust and misunderstanding. 

An informative, if slightly dry book, good for straightforward book reports or research projects.






Fabulous Female Physicians
by Sharon Kirsh


This book consists of short profiles of ten women physicians from around the world. These doctors specialized in treating marginalized or poor populations, or handled the treatment of women and children who were often overlooked due to cultural taboos. With the exception of Emily Stowe, Maria Montessori, and Lucille Teasdale, these are women who will be unfamiliar to many readers.

A fast, easy-to-read book, but not very engaging. The black-and-white pictures tend to be small and fuzzy. Still, it might be useful for book reports or oral presentations.