Happy Belated National Barbie Day: Fashionably Late, but Forever Fabulous!

Cynthia Ramirez

WNPL had a fantastic time celebrating National Barbie Day on March 9th! To keep the fun going, we’ve curated a must-read list of books showcasing Barbie’s iconic fashion, her trailblazing creator, and the legendary doll that has inspired generations!

Juvenile

Book cover of Barbie Today by Elizabeth Andrews. It features a Barbie doll with long, wavy dark brown hair, wearing a pink glittery gown and a sash that reads "President." The background is pink with a retro-style title in white and pink letters. A label at the top reads "Barbie through the Decades," and a "4D Books" logo is in the top right corner.

Barbie Today by Elizabeth Andrews

“Today, Barbie has taken over global headlines! By transforming to better match the world around her, Barbie remains in the hearts of children. Text on today’s popular and inspiring dolls is paired with a brief history on important cultural events and womens’ roles of the 2010s and early 2020s”-Provided by publisher.

The image is a colorful poster for "Behind the Brand: Barbie." It features a Barbie doll in a gray polka-dot dress, Margot Robbie dressed as Barbie, and various Barbie products like a pink convertible car, dolls, and accessories.

Barbie by Rachel First

“First released in 1959, Barbie was an instant hit. Since then, more than 1 billion dolls have been sold! In this book, fluent readers will learn about Barbie’s history, including who invented this iconic doll, how the brand has grown, how it helps others, and how fans engage with Barbie. Engaging text and crisp, colorful photos draw in readers, while fun facts offer high-interest information. Special features map Barbie’s headquarters, show off popular dolls, profile Barbie’s creator, highlight a fan event, and more. Barbie fans will love reading this history of their favorite doll!” – Amazon

Cover of Barbie You Can Be a Doctor, showing three illustrated girls in a clinic. One holds an X-ray, another in pink sits on an exam table.

Barbie You Can Be a Doctor by Lisa Rojany-Buccieri

“What’s it like to be a doctor? Join Malibu Barbie and Brooklyn Barbie as they help Nurse Mira and Dr. Vargas at the pediatrician’s office! Nurse Mira and Dr. Vargas explain the different things that doctors do at work like performing check-ups, taking x-rays, and removing casts.”

Adult

Renee Rosen blends fact and fiction in this fresh new telling of Ruth Handler’s creation of the Barbie doll.

Let’s Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen

Renee Rosen blends fact and fiction in this fresh new telling of Ruth Handler’s creation of the Barbie doll.

Book cover of Dressing Barbie by Carol Spencer. It features a vintage Barbie doll wearing a colorful floral dress with a full skirt, set against a split yellow and blue background. The title is in white letters across a translucent pink band, with the subtitle in smaller yellow text below.

Dressing Barbie: A Celebration of the Clothes That Made America’s Favorite Doll, and the Incredible Woman Behind Them by Carol Spencer

“If you’ve ever had a Barbie doll, or you know someone who did, chances are that Barbie was dressed in one of the thousands of designs created by Carol Spencer during her unparalleled reign as a Barbie fashion designer spanning more than thirty-five years. Published in commemoration of Barbie’s sixtieth anniversary, Dressing Barbie is a dazzling celebration of the clothes that made America’s favorite doll and the incredible woman behind them.” – Amazon

Cover of Barbie: The World Tour by Margot Robbie and Andrew Mukamal. A woman in a pink tweed outfit lies on a pink background, surrounded by matching pink accessories (bags, shoes, and jewelry). The title and authors’ names appear in bold white text at the bottom right, with the Rizzoli logo below.

Barbie: The World Tour by Margot Robbie

“The book features the looks that brought the Barbie press tour to life, with creations by some of the most recognizable fashion designers of our time. Includes a conversation with Margot Robbie, Andrew Mukamal and Margaret Zhang.”

Written by Abby Skinner