Inspire young readers with our top ten fabulous female characters, handpicked from some of our favourite children’s books.

1) Pippi Longstocking

2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the first Pippi Longstocking story (although Pippi herself will always be nine years old of course), so it would be rude not to give her a spot on this list! Pippi is independent, quirky and fun, and loves adventures with her friends, Tommy and Annika. It is hard not to be charmed by Pippi’s warm and fun yet rebellious personality – not to mention her endearing freckles, bright red pigtails and odd stockings!

Get to know Pippi better in her latest adventure, Meet Pippi Longstocking, a gorgeous new edition for young readers with artwork by Ingrid Vang Nyman.

2) Isadora Moon

Half vampire, half fairy, Isadora Moon is totally unique! Isadora is one of our most-loved characters and for good reason – she is proud to be different and is always ready to face challenges and try new experiences, armed with her magic wand. She is perfect for readers who like their magic and sparkle with a bit of bite!

Keep your eyes peeled for our brand new Isadora Moon adventure, Isadora Moon Goes on Holiday! In this story, Isadora wins a holiday for her whole family to enjoy, but when she finds a baby turtle in trouble it is down to Isadora and her new friend Marina the mermaid to help the turtle find a way home.

3) Winnie

Winnie is one of a kind, with her stripy tights and colourful witch’s hat, not to mention her furry friend Wilbur, who she is never seen without. Winnie and Wilbur get themselves into all sorts of trouble in their magical adventures, so it is just as well that Winnie always knows a spell to help them out of any bother! As well as being hilariously good fun, the thing we love the most about Winnie is her loyalty and love for Wilbur.

In their latest adventure, The Bug Safari, Winnie and Wilbur are fascinated by creepy-crawlies in their garden, and decide to shrink to their size. Things don’t go to plan when Winnie realises her magic wand is still human-sized… Can Winnie save herself and Wilbur from this hairy situation?

4) Kitty

Superhero-in-training Kitty is powerful, brave and has awesome cat-like super powers. With her cat crew at her side she is unstoppable! She dreams of being like her superhero mum one day, but she’s still got a lot to learn. In these stories Kitty learns that being a superhero is about more than having special powers, and discovers the importance of using her abilities to help others.

In Kitty and the Sky Garden Adventure, Kitty and her feline friends Pumpkin and Pixie discover a secret garden on a city rooftop, but as news of the garden spreads, not all that visit it choose to respect and care for the space. It’s up to Kitty to save the garden and its beauty from those who seem intent on destroying it.

5) Willow Wildthing

Willow Wildthing is one of the coolest girls we know – she is courageous and brave, and isn’t scared to get grubby! She loves being outdoors in the natural world, and when she enters the wilderness and meets the Wild Things, she discovers her true strength.

Will you be brave enough to enter the wilderness? Find out in the first book in this magical new series, Willow Wildthing and the Swamp Monster.

6) Mickey

Mickey is the type of kid who’s always on the lookout for a code to crack. She’s smart, savvy and never afraid to take on a challenge. When Mickey solves a tricky code which leads to her being recruited by the top secret animal spy agency COBRA, she can really put her skills to the test!

Mickey and the Animal Spies contains real coded messages, can you crack the codes before Mickey does?

7) Ali and Tulip

Medical whizz-kids and twins Ali and Tulip are quick on their feet, and quick to pick up knowledge from their mother who works in the local hospital. When a sinister sleepy-sickness starts to affect their mother and spreads to their school, the girls double up as detectives to solve the mystery!

Join Ali and Tulip in solving the mystery in The Cure for a Crime, a medical mystery series about super-smart kids who find the clues, cure the crime, and save the day!

8) Lubna

Although young, Lubna is an incredibly kind and emotionally-intelligent girl. Lubna lives in a world of tents, where she finds comfort in her Daddy and a pebble, which has become her best friend and confidante. But when Lubna meets a friendless boy called Amir, she realises that he needs her pebble more than she does… Lubna shows the reader the importance of empathy, even in the most difficult of circumstances – a true inspiration.

9) Tyler

In a town where smart speakers are growing spider legs and trying to enslave humanity, Tyler Fitz is head-strong, super geeky and prepared to defeat the eight-legged terrors! There’s no problem Tyler can’t solve, alongside her lovable friends Ashley and Dylan.

Will Tyler stop the smart speakers before they take over? Find out in her hilarious adventure Attack of the Smart Speakers.

10) Tuesday

In the snow-dusted, magical story of The Ice Bear Miracle we meet Tuesday, a brave girl who is just as at home on the ice as on the land, and has taught herself – and her bear Promise – how to ice skate. When Tuesday finds herself in a difficult situation, she faces it head on with bravery and determination. Discover her incredible story in The Ice Bear Miracle.