Biographies

From the Newbery Honor-winning author of Genesis Begins Again comes a shimmering picture book that shines the light on Zora Neale Hurston, the extraordinary writer and storycatcher extraordinaire who changed the face of American literature. Zora was a...

Inspired by a true story from Maya Angelou's childhood, this expertly researched and luminously illustrated picture book explores how a beloved mentor helped young Maya rediscover the poetry of self-expression and the power of her voice. Maya Angelou...

Lucy! is a buoyant picture book biography of trailblazer Lucille Ball, the comedy queen who loved to make the world laugh, from authors Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville and bestselling illustrator Brigette Barrager. Lucy was not a proper little...

The inspiring true story of Ernie Barnes, who defined himself on his own terms and pushed the boundaries of "possible," from the football field to the painting canvas. Young Ernie Barnes was bullied for being shy, overweight, and uninterested in sports...

Winner of the Jane Addams Children's Book Award A singular, richly illustrated picture book biography of Bayard Rustin, the gay Black man behind the March on Washington of 1963, by the acclaimed authors of Unspeakable: the Tulsa Race Massacre and Pride:...

This stunning nonfiction picture book tells the inspiring story of Sarah Gerhardt, one of the first female big-wave surfers. Have you ever seen a big wave? One that's twenty, thirty, forty, even fifty feet tall? Here's a better question: Would you ever...

Ida B. Wells, Voice of Truth is an inspiring picture book biography of the groundbreaking journalist and civil rights activist as told by her great-granddaughter Michelle Duster and illustrated by Coretta Scott King Award Honoree artist Laura Freeman...

A beautiful and uplifting non-fiction picture book from Katie McCabe and trailblazing civil rights lawyer and activist Dovey Johnson Roundtree, We Wait for the Sun.In the hour before dawn, Dovey Mae and Grandma Rachel step into the cool, damp night on a...

An awe-inspiring African American woman! A talented seamstress, born a slave, bought freedom for herself and her son. This picture book biography weaves together historical details, vibrant collages, and the words of her own journals to bring to light...

A celebration of a remarkable, overlooked musical great. Born blind into a life of slavery, Thomas Wiggins was dismissed as a "useless burden." But through the loving protection of his family, he went on to become one of the greatest musicians of his...

This autobiographical picture book by the multiple Grammy Award-winning singer Roberta Flack recounts her childhood in a home surrounded by music and love: it all started with a beat-up piano that her father found in a junkyard, repaired, and painted...

Civil rights icon Claudette Colvin teams up with Phillip Hoose--author of the Newbery Honor and National Book Award-winning blockbuster biography Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice--to tell her groundbreaking story in this unforgettable picture book...

"A brilliant introduction to a powerful Black female politician and voting rights activist. Todd and Freeman bring this to life in their creative biography of Georgia-based politician Abrams." --Kirkus Reviews (starred reviews)"Freeman's airbrush-style...

This acclaimed picture book autobiography tells the triumphant story of Sharice Davids, one of the first Native American women elected to Congress, and the first LGBTQ congressperson to represent Kansas.When Sharice Davids was young, she never thought...

From Newbery Honor-winning author Kathryn Lasky comes a nonfiction picture book about the stars! Lasky tells the inspiring true story of astronomer Williamina Fleming, who helped lay the foundations for modern astronomy and overcame impossible odds as an...

Meet Dr. Wu Lien-teh, defeater of the Manchurian plague--in a story authored by his great-granddaughter, an emergency physician who relied on his life-saving invention during a pandemic a century later. More than a hundred years before Covid, a deadly...

Beautifully illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline, an inspirational biography of the Peace rose and its creator digs deep into world history, botany, and the rewards of perseverance. From a young man's experiments in cross-pollination to the rose that became...

This uplifting read-aloud is a heartfelt wish for all children and a timeless introduction to the Grammy Award-winning and multi platinum singer and songwriter. YOU ARE FEARLESS presents Taylor Swift's inspirational journey, encouraging children to be...

The real-life story of a family who planted 1,000,000 trees--yes, it's true!--to fight deforestation in British Columbia. When Kristen Balouch was 10 years old, her parents made a surprising announcement: their whole family was going on a trip to plant...

Learn about the incredible life of Rafa Nadal, the dedicated sportsperson who's tenacity and drive has inspired young athletes across the world. Little Rafa was born in Majorca, Spain. Encouraged by his two uncles, he started playing football and tennis,...