Why Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls Isn’t Just for Girls (or Bedtime)

Let me tell you what this book is not.

It's not about princesses waiting in towers or perfect girls who never mess up. Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls is about fire. Grit. Curiosity. And the kind of dreams that don’t whisper, but they roar

So, what's in it then?

Each story in this gem by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo reads like a bedtime fable, but instead of talking animals or fairy godmothers, you get real women - scientists, surfers, spies, queens, coders, dancers, rebels, rule-breakers. Some names you know (hello, Frida), others will knock the wind out of you with how quietly powerful they are.

What kids will find in Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls is a parade of real-life heroes. And not the kind who leap buildings or shoot lasers. These are women who changed the world with their voices, minds, fists, and feet—sometimes all at once.

We’re talking about astronauts, activists, chess champions, pirates, poets, surgeons, spies, soccer stars, and scientists. Yep, all in one book. Each story is a microdose of inspiration—short enough to be bedtime-friendly, but strong enough to leave an aftertaste of “Whoa. I want to be like her.”

So what keeps kids hooked?

Short + punchy stories – Each woman’s life is distilled into a one-pager that reads like a mini-adventure. Think “history meets bedtime” with none of the boring parts.

Real-life plot twists – These aren’t sugar-coated biographies. Kids will read about risks, rejections, and rebels who got knocked down but refused to stay there.

Epic visuals – Every page pops with artwork by a different female illustrator. The visuals alone are enough to keep flipping till the end.
Names they’ve never heard… but will never forget – Sure, there’s Malala and Michelle Obama, but also lesser-known legends like Nzinga the warrior queen or Yusra Mardini, the Olympic swimmer who escaped war.

And best of all? Kids don’t feel like they’re being taught—they feel like they’re being let in on something powerful. The stories invite curiosity. “Who’s this? How did she do that? Wait, she was only 14?”

Writing style

Crisp, confident, and perfectly bite-sized for kids who want quick inspiration before lights out (or even for adults who’ve had a long day and need a little spark of “yes, you can”).

Each illustration is done by a different female artist from around the globe, like a secret gallery hidden between the pages. It’s as much a visual treat as it is a literary one.

Whether you read it aloud with your kid, gift it to your niece, or sneak in a story on your lunch break, this book leaves you with one clear thought: the world has always been full of rebel girls. Now we just know their names.