Throughout the history of the United States, women have braved many challenges, exemplified by freedom fighters such as Harriet Tubman, suffragists such as Susan B. Anthony and courageous women astronauts like Sally Ride. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the women's rights movement in America.

Celebrate Women's History Month with your young reader and one of these activities.

* U.S. Postal Service introduces historic American women in a new poster: "Women Putting Our Stamp on America." The poster is listed in a free catalog from the National Women's History Project, 7738 Bell Road, Department P, Windsor, CA, 95492-8518. Visit its Web site at www.nwhp.org for information about programs in Maryland, to find links to other sites with topics about women, or to test your women's history IQ with a quiz.

* Look at pictures of famous women in books, newspapers and magazines and select a historic American who has put her stamp on America. Read more about her life and contributions.

* Help your child make a list of qualities that make a woman strong, memorable and influential. Look through magazines and cut out pictures of women with these qualities and let your child make a collage using the words and pictures.

* Look up your family tree and make a chart of ancestors. Tell your child more about grandmothers or great-grandmothers. The Woman's Industrial Exchange in Baltimore will display an exhibit about grandmothers and their stories. Have a snack in and learn about women in the workplace. Call 410-685-4388.

-- Susan Rapp,

Village Reading Center

Pub Date: 03/17/99