The #1 New York Times Best Selling book from Founder & CEO of Phenomenal Media, Meena Harris. Illustrated by Marissa Valdez.

Ambitious Girl

When a young girl sees a strong woman on TV labeled as “too assertive “ and “too ambitious,” it sends her on a journey of discovery through past, present, and future about the challenges faced by women and girls and the ways in which they can reframe, redefine, and reclaim words meant to knock them down.

Anyone who’s ever been underestimated or overshadowed will find inspiration in this empowering new picture book.

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Ambitious Girl is on shelves now! 

Local bookstores are vital institutions in our communities, and they urgently need our business right now. To help them during this difficult time, we’ve partnered with some phenomenal independent bookstores around the country. We hope you consider supporting one of these shops.

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More Options To Buy

 

Ambitious Girl is available wherever books are sold!

 
 
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Praise

Ambitious Girl is not just beautiful for its text, it’s also one of the first times I’ve seen the ambition of girls of color centered and celebrated. I look forward to making this book a regular bedtime affirmation in our house.”

- Jessica Alba, Entrepreneur, Advocate, Actress, New York Times bestselling author, and Founder of The Honest Company


Ambitious Girl is such an important children's book, because it defines ambition in different terms than we're used to. We are so often told ambition is a drive toward professional success, but Ambitious Girl knows it's so much more — it's a drive toward owning your life and humanity. When we, especially girls, are taught about ambition it often comes with an inherent competition, that there's only one slot available. I love that this book breaks that myth. I know Meena and her family live by these beliefs, and I'm so grateful she has put it down in beautiful words to share with the rest of us.”

- Kristen Bell, Actor, Entrepreneur, Activist, and New York Times Bestselling Author


“I know a thing or two about being called 'ambitious' as an insult. But ambitious girls fight for change. Ambitious girls lift up their communities. Ambitious girls run for president. Ambitious girls can do anything. This celebration of girls' ambition is timely, inspiring, and much-needed.”

- Secretary Hillary Clinton


“When I learned about the water crisis in my hometown of Flint, I didn’t have many young role models who looked like me. But I did what any ambitious girl would do and took that first step. I love that Ambitious Girl will encourage the next generation of young female activists to speak up and not back down.”

- Mari Copeny, 13-year-old Activist and Philanthropist


“The lessons in Ambitious Girl are just as meaningful to my young kids as they are to me as a grown woman. This book has quickly become a favorite in our household.”

- America Ferrera, Activist, Actor, Producer, and Director 


“In a complex world, Ambitious Girl is a powerful way to talk to kids, especially Black and Brown children, about overcoming stereotypes and owning your confidence. I am so happy to see us represented on the page, and I can’t wait to give this book to every young person in my life—and a few older readers as well!”

- Diane Guerrero, Actor, Activist, and Author


“I love that Ambitious Girl both shows and tells—it shows a girl who looks like my own daughter and tells her, and her brother, that women’s ambition is powerful and something to be celebrated.

- Mindy Kaling, Emmy-nominated Writer, Producer, New York Times Bestselling Author, Actor, and Director


“Have you ever sobbed into a children's book? I have and that book is Ambitious Girl. It was the empowerment and good cry of relief I deserve. I'll be requiring every girl and woman in my life to read it, and I'd love for every boy, man, and being in this world to read it with us too.”

- Liza Koshy, Actress, Creator, Producer


“This wonderful book tells young girls what we have ALL needed to hear but haven’t heard nearly enough: Ambition is good, and girls who are ambitious achieve great things and help others. This delightful book is a must read for every little girl. “

- Padma Lakshmi, Author, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, and ACLU Artist Ambassador for Immigrant and Women’s Rights Project


“Meena writes an ambitious story for persistent girls who are routinely told they don’t matter. Kids deserve books where they can see themselves, their potential for greatness, and the power of dreaming big. Ambitious Girl is one of those treasures of a picture book--it entertains, it educates, it’s a must read.”

- Ibtihaj Muhammad, U.S. Olympic Medalist and New York Times Bestselling Author


“A pep talk, a call to action, and a beautiful story. This book reminds me of so many bedtime conversations my mother and I had when I was growing up. Our girls are powerful and limitless.”

- Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley


“Being ambitious means daring to be different and being willing to break the mold. That can be scary, but with Ambitious Girl by her side, young girls will know they can do anything.”

-Issa Rae, Writer, Producer, Actress


“A nourishing, necessary story for girls to harness their inner heroines, make them come alive off the page, and thrive in real life.”

- Amber Tamblyn, Author and Actress


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Press

Meena Harris's New Children's Book Is Dedicated to Little Girls Who've Been Told They're ‘Too Much

- Harper’s BAZAAR (October 13, 2020)


“With Ambitious Girl, Harris is offering young women the opportunity to figure out what leadership looks like to them.”

- Business Insider (October 13, 2020)


“With Ambitious Girl, Harris aimed to not only provide readers with the language to "name and claim" their dreams and goals, as she says, but with the imagery, too, to encourage their aspirations. The book's cover features a brown-skinned, curly-haired girl with a look of pure joy on her face, a purposeful choice by Harris and illustrator Marissa Valdez to bring much-needed representation into the children's book world.”

- Hello Giggles (October 15, 2020)


[Ambitious Girl] embarks on an exploration of challenges faced by women and girls and ways in which they can reframe, redefine, and reclaim words meant to knock them down.”

- Publisher’s Weekly (October 15, 2020)


Meena Harris’s Newest Book Is Teaching Young Girls Ambition

- Forbes (October 29, 2020)


Op-Ed: What My Aunt Kamala Taught Me About Ambition.

- Elle Magazine (November 10, 2020)


"Meena Harris takes us on a joyful journey of a girl claiming space in the world. [Ambitious Girl is] a great read for any kid who feels newly excited by representation in the U.S. government and have hope for their future to knock down the house.”

- Book Riot (November 20, 2020)


Meena Harris's New Kids' Book Proves There's No Such Thing as Being ‘Too Assertive’.

- Popsugar (January 5, 2020)


"Ambitious Girl will simply be the girl power read for the kids ahead of Inauguration Day.”

- ABC News (January 7, 2020)


‘Ambitious Girl' Reminds Kids: Your Dreams Are Not A Drawback

- NPR’s All Things Considered (January 9, 2020)


Ambitious Girl is a “mighty manifesto for girls. […] Driving the book is a worthy slogan, actually applicable to boys and girls: Don’t let anyone tell you who you are. You tell them who you are.”

- San Fransisco Chronicle (January 12, 2021)


“Harris' empowering picture book about overcoming obstacles [is…] an optimistic and refreshing call to unity and social justice.”

- Booklist (January 13, 2021)


Ambitious Girl: Meena Harris Changes the Narrative with Her New Children’s Book

- Brown Girl Magazine, (January 18, 2021)


Meena Harris talks about diversifying children’s books with ‘Ambitious Girl’

- The Today Show (January 19, 2021)


“Every kid needs a copy.”

-She Knows (January 19, 2021)


Ambitious Girl “couldn’t be timelier.”

- Scary Mommy (January 19, 2021)


In “Ambitious Girl, the newest children’s book from Meena, [a] pint-size protagonist decides to reject the labels of too-this or too-that and embarks on a journey where she learns to not only reclaim words meant to knock her down, but also to take up space and own her power.”

- The Oprah Magazine (January 19, 2021)


Meena Harris Released A New Children's Book All About Ambition

- Romper (January 20, 2021)


Meena Harris wants her new children's book to inspire ambitious women (and girls) everywhere

- Business Insider (January 20, 2021)


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Check out the Ambitious Sweatshirt!

Don't miss the Ambitious hoodie in the Phenomenal shop! We have 2T - YXL sizes available for every ambitious girl in your life.

 
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