We grew up reading fairy tales, but in this day and age, girls don’t need to get inspirations from princesses in distress who have to wait for a charming prince to come and rescue them. Girls can take care of themselves and this is what they need to learn.

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls is an inspiring collection of short biographies of hundred extraordinary women from around the globe from Elizabeth I to current trailblazers such as Serena Williams. And yes, our very own Malala is also there to make us proud again.

Written by Elena Favilli, an award-winning journalist and Francesca Cavallo, an award-winning writer and director, the book’s dedication conveys their message to the girls of today: “To the rebel girls of the world: Dream bigger, aim higher, fight harder, and, when in doubt, remember you are right.”

From ancient philosophers, pirates and inventors, to modern activists, war heroes, lawyers, ballerinas and sports stars, these are truly inspirational figures belonging to different nationalities, ethnicities and professions. And their tales too carry all the good, the bad and the hardships that they face and overcame, giving the readers the message that anything is possible for those who dream big. And this is the kind of message our girls need today.

Though written with a young audience in mind, the book is not just for girls, but for people of all ages and both the genders. An interesting fact about this book is that the writers raised the money for the publishing of this book through crowdfunding, with contributions from over 70 countries and it is the most funded original book in the history of crowdfunding. Artists from different countries collaborated to provide the sketches for each story, giving the book an interesting visual variety.

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls is an ideal bedside table companion.

Available at Paramount Books

Published in Dawn, Young World August 26th, 2017