There are so many incredible biographical books that teach kids about inspirational people. This list of new biography books for kids introduces them to people both living and dead who have made a difference in the world.
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Taylor Swift: Tiny Idols
Written by J.D. Forester and illustrated by Sophie Beer
This adorable board book biography shares the story of Taylor Swift’s life, from childhood through her dominance in the music world. The easy to read text is full of Easter eggs with famous song titles highlighted in the text. The brightly colored illustrations show a cartoon Taylor singing and performing, and surrounded by vibrant patterns and colors.
Adoptees Who Changed the World
Written by Lorri Antosz Benson and illustrated by Juanita Londono-Gaviria
This board book introduces young readers to eight famous adoptees who have made a difference in the world. Each person is featured in a two page spread with simple text, colorful cartoon illustrations, and a quote. This is a fun way to inspire young kids with these determined and inspirational individuals.
Women on a Mission: The Remarkable Heroes Who Put Men on the Moon
Written by Suzanne Slade and illustrated by Molly Magnell
This book introduces readers to more than 10 amazing women who performed key roles during the earliest space missions. The book is broken down into sections focusing on each of the women, their life stories, and their incredible accomplishments. The large colorful illustrations highlight the work that the women did, while the text shares important tidbits about their lives and a quote from each of them. In the back of the book, there is more information about women in the space program, as well as an author’s note.
Related Post: 10 Women Who Changed the World of Science
Jacques Pepin
Written by Candice Ransom and illustrated by Tatsiana Burgaud
This Little Golden Book Biography shares the life story and accomplishments of famous chef Jacques Pepin. The text shares the important moments from Pepin’s childhood that inspired him to make delicious food. It touches on some of the accomplishments throughout his adult life as well. The cute cartoon illustrations show his cooking around the world and working with other famous chefs.
Michelle Yeoh
Written by Angela Song and illustrated by Irene Chan
In this Little Golden Book Biography, young readers are introduced to the life and accomplishments of Michelle Yeoh. The text walks readers through the childhood and adult life of the famous actress, showing how moments in her childhood inspired her to follow her dream and become the actress she is now. The cartoon illustrations highlight the incredible roles that she has played over the years.
![Caitlin Clark: A Little Golden Book Biography [Book]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81V1mp9rSTL.jpg)
Caitlin Clark
Written by Marisa DiNovis and illustrated by Joanie Stone
This Little Golden Book Biography shares the life story and accomplishments of Caitlin Clark. The text shares the moments from her childhood that lead her to become a basketball star, while the cute cartoon illustrations show the young Clark following her dreams.
Selena
Written by Maria Correa and illustrated by Paula Zamudio
This Little Golden Book Biography celebrates the life and accomplishments of Selena. The book follows Selena from childhood to her tragic death, highlighting the highs in her career and how she became a famous singer. The cartoon illustrations show the beautiful singer as she grows up, featuring some of her most famous looks.
Julia Child
Written by Kari Allen and illustrated by Joanie Stone
In this Little Golden Book Biography, young readers are introduced to the world famous chef. The text and illustrations highlight the moments in her life that lead her to a life of food, showcasing the hurdles that she had to overcome and the ways that she made a difference in the world of cooking.
No One Told Sandra Day O’Connor What To Do
Written by Molly Golden and illustrated by Julia Breckenreid
This picture book biography shares the life and accomplishments of Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. The book follows her from childhood through adulthood, showing how she grew to want a career in public service. The soft illustrations use lifelike images of her face as she grew, and the back of the book includes quotes from famous politicians and judges, an author’s note, and key terms used throughout the book.
Related Post: New Biography Books for Kids
Ablaze
Written by Jessica Lawson and illustrated by Sarah Gonzales
The illustrated biography shares the life story and accomplishments of Deanne Shulman, America’s first female smoke jumper. While Deanne was a young girl, she loved being outdoors. As she grew, he love of nature grew as well, encouraging her to join the United States Forest Service, fighting wildfires. The beautiful watercolor and colored pencil illustrations add a lot to the story, showing the hurdles she faced and the determination she showed. The back of the book includes an author’s note and a glossary of terms used throughout the book.
Janie Writes a Play
Written by Heidi E.Y. Stemple and illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight
This story about Jane Yolen’s first story was written by Jane’s own daughter. The book illustrates a story from Jane’s childhood, when she finds the school play too boring, and decides to rewrite it. The illustrations show a young Jane using her passion for stories, song, and dance to recreate the play into a sparkling musical. The back of the book includes a note from the author about her mother and the truth behind the story.
Maya Makes Waves
Written by Maya Cabeira and illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki
Professional surfer Maya Cabeira wrote this book sharing a story inspired by her own life. The young Maya in the book loves to be in the ocean, surfing and experiencing all of the ocean life around her. When she meets a shark, he tells her that the ocean is in trouble from plastic pollution. Maya decides to use her voice to help the creatures of the ocean. The back of the book includes a note from the author and resources for kids to get involved.
A Flea for Justice: Marian Wright Edelman Stands Up for Change
Written by Valerie Bolling and illustrated by Temika Grooms
This picture book biography shares the true story of Marian Wright Edelman and how she grew from a child aware of injustices to an adult who became a lawyer and made a difference. The easy to read text shares the moments that shared her life and inspired her, using quotes from Edelman throughout. The beautiful illustrations highlight the intense emotions felt by Edelman and the people around her as they fought the injustices around them. The book ends with a call to action to readers, as well as a timeline of her life, and more information about her.
Who Needs a Statue?
Written by Eva LaPlante and Margy Burns Knight and illustrated by Alix Delinois
This book questions who deserves a statue, and calls out how underrepresented women and people of color are in statues around the United States. The book then highlights statues in the US Capital building and around the country that share the stories of important women and people of color. The person in each statue is explored through an informative paragraph and colorful illustration, and the back of the book includes more information about the statues highlighted throughout the book.
Related Post: Children’s Books about Inspirational People
Ode to Grapefruit: How James Earl Jones Found His Voice
Written by Kari Lavelle and illustrated by Bryan Collier
This beautiful book shares the true story of James Earl Jones and how he found his voice. The text shares the story of how he overcame his childhood stutter and years of silence through a love of poetry. The beautiful watercolor collage illustrations show the intense emotions that Jones feels, and the triumph he feels when poetry allows him to speak up. The back of the book includes notes from the author and illustrator sharing more information from Jones’ life.
I Am Sally Ride
Written by Brad Meltzer and illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos
This addition to the Ordinary People Change the World series shares the life story and accomplishments of Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. The easy to read text is written in first person, highlighting important moments from Ride’s childhood and her career. The cartoon illustrations are full of fun speech bubbles that will keep young kids interested. The back of the book includes a timeline of her accomplishments, as well as real photos of Sally Ride and her family.
The Glass Pyramid
Written by Jeanne Walker Harvey and illustrated by Khoa Le
This beautiful book shares the story of architect I.M. Pei and his important work renovating the Louvre art museum in Paris. The text shares Pei’s inspiration for the large glass pyramid, as well as the struggles he faced, including discrimination and an angry public who dislikes his plans. The back of the book includes more information about what an architect does, as well as a biography of I.M. Pei and pictures of him. There are also STEM connections for readers to explore and additional resources to learn more.
Birdlore
Written by Jess Keating and illustrated by Devon Holzwarth
This biography shares the life story of Florence Merriam Bailey, who wrote the first field guide to American birds in 1889. The text shares how she became interested in watching birds and noticing their actions, and the beautiful illustrations show her as a child exploring birds in the wilderness, and as an adult wanting to protect birds. The back of the book includes an author’s note with more information about Florence’s life, as well as tips for becoming a bird watcher like her. There is also an illustrated guide of her favorite species.
Finding Rebecca
Written by Shani Mahiri King and illustrated by Nicole Tadgell
This biography shares the life story of Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, America’s first black female doctor. The book starts by sharing why her name and legacy aren’t more well known, and how a group of physicians made it their mission to ensure she got a proper burial over a century later. The rest of the book explores what is known of Dr. Crumpler’s life, with sidebars full of historical facts. The colorful illustrations highlight her life from youth to adulthood, and there are quotes from Dr. Crumpler sprinkled throughout the book.
Small Stories of Great Artists
Written and illustrated by Laurence Anholt
This beautiful anthology introduces young readers to some of the world’s greatest artists through beautifully illustrated stories about real children who met them. Each story’s illustrations pay tribute to the artistic styles of each artist. After the story, there is an introduction to each artist, examples of their work, and questions for the child reading the story. The back of the book includes more information about all of the art shared throughout the book.
What are your favorite new biography books for kids? Share them in the comments below!
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