22 current picture book biographies of fascinating people

Biographies for the picture book series abound, so we’ve picked out recent titles that caught our reviewers’ attention and became stars in the first months of 2024. Click the link to read the full review!

It’s only July, and it’s already been a record year for picture book biographies and narrative nonfiction featuring famous people. We’ve picked out recent titles that caught our reviewers’ attention and became stars in the first months of 2024. Use the links for the full reviews!

ALEXANDER, Lori, isn’t that? Cactus Queen: Minerva Hoyt founded Joshua Tree National Park. illustrated by Jenn Ely. Astra/Calkins Creek.
Size 1-3– A lively picture book biography with ties to Earth Day and Women’s History Month. Highly recommended.

CONSTRUCTION, Ann. The Bard and the Book. illustrated by Marta Sevilla. Peachtree.
Size 5-10– A comprehensive book about the playwright and a group of people who saved him from complete oblivion. A sharp-tongued, witty and entertaining must-have for every library shelf.

BURNS, Loree Griffin. A long line: marching caterpillars and the scientists who followed them. illustrated by Jamie Green. MIT Kids.
Size 3-5–Burns’ writing style invites readers into a captivating narrative full of wonder and discovery.

CLINE-RANSOME, Lesa, that’s all. Fighting with Love: The Legacy of John Lewis. illustrated by James E. Ransome. S. & S. /Paula Wiseman.
Size 1-3– This highly recommended volume is a thorough biography of John Lewis and an asset to any bookshelf on civil rights and collections on African Americans who have fought for the good of their country.

Crews, Nina. Extraordinary Magic: The Life of Storyteller Virginia Hamilton. Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano.
Size 1-3– Buy this beautiful biography as an introduction to Hamilton’s work or as encouragement for future artists. With each page, readers will be inspired to follow their own magic.

DAY, Nicholas. Nothing: John Cage and 4’33”. illustrated by Chris Raschka. Holiday House/Neal Porter.
Size 1-5– A beautifully written and illustrated story about a man who wanted people to explore the void, a necessity in today’s busy world. A great read-aloud and a must-have for any library collection.

FINKLEIN, Norman H. Amazing Abe: How Abraham Cahan’s newspaper gave Jewish immigrants a voice. illustrated by Vesper Stamper. Holiday home.
Size 1-3– A recommended addition to library collections with a focus on immigration, little-known historical figures, and the central role of language and the written word in shaping the immigrant experience.

HOYT, Megan. A Great Idea: How William J. Wilgus Created Grand Central Terminal. Illustration by David Szalay. HarperCollins.
K-Gr. 4– Whether readers are railroad and construction fans or not, this is the living biography of a building and the man who believed in it from the beginning. Extraordinary.

KIM, Cheryl. Wat Seizes His Chance: The Life and Legacy of Basketball Hero Wataru Misaka. illustrated by Nat Iwata. Lee & Low.
K-Gr. 4–Readers of all ages, especially basketball lovers, will enjoy Wat’s triumphs.

KING, I’m Coretta Scott. Coretta: The autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King. illustrated by Ekua Holmes. Macmillan/Godwin.
GR3-5– A beautiful book that introduces children to the triumphs and tragedies of one of the most ardent advocates of the civil rights movement.

LAPATI, Joan. Courage for Glory: The Story of Civil War Soldier Rosetta Wakeman. Eerdmans.
Size 3-6-Epic is an overused word – most of the time. It can hardly describe the tremendous work and vision behind this sensational, gripping nonfiction work that is truly a picture book for young readers and adults.

LU, I’m Julie. Mr. Pei’s Perfect Forms: The Story of Architect IM Pei. illustrated by Yifan Wu. HarperCollins/Quill Tree.
Preschool-Grade 3– A fascinating and beautifully illustrated biography of one of our most famous architects.

MCDANIEL, Daniela B. Go Out and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller. illustrated by April Harrison. Penguin/Dial.
K-Gr 4– A must buy not to be missed – what a wonderful person and what a precious life.

GRASSLANDS, Hello Michelle. Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin. illustrated by Jamiel Law. HarperCollins.
Size 4-6– In this stunning picture book biography, Meadows goes into enough detail that readers understand the nuances of Baldwin’s life without being completely overwhelmed.

MEDINA, Uma. Daughter of the light-footed people: The story of the indigenous marathon winner Lorena Ramírez. Illustration by Natalia Rojas Castro. S. & S. /Atheneum.
Size 1-4–This is a powerful introduction to ultramarathon runner Lorena Ramírez of the indigenous Rarámuri people of Mexico. An exceptional addition to any collection.

PEPPER, Annette Bay. The stories of Pura Belpré. Illustration by Magaly Morales. Vintage Spanish. SP
Size 1-4– A biographical text that teaches the importance of inclusion, heritage and self-awareness in the stories you read. A must-have for the biography shelf.

ROCCO, Hayley, that’s all. Wild Places: The Life of Naturalist David Attenborough. illustrated by John Rocco. Putnam.
Size 1-3– A must have for every library. Children will enjoy learning about the “voice of nature”.

ROGERS, I am Kim. I Am an Osage: How Clarence Tinker Became the First Native American Major General. illustrated by Bobby Von Martin. HarperCollins/Heartdrum.
Preschool-Grade 3– The incredible life story of Clarence Tinker, the first Native American major general of the United States, is an excellent addition to nonfiction collections for young readers.

RUSSELL-BROWN, Katherine. Little Melba and her big trombone. Translated from English by Rita Elena Urquijo-Ruiz. Illustrations by Frank Morrison. Lee & Low. SP
K-Gr 4– A biographical read about a young woman who overcame many obstacles thanks to her love of music. Perfect for aspiring musicians and enthusiasts and of course also for the non-fiction shelf.

SANCHEZ VEGARA, Maria Isabel. Tenzing Norgay. illustrated by Bandana Tulachan. Quarto/Frances Lincoln.
K-Class 2– Well researched and carefully presented, this is a high-quality introductory biography for young readers.

BLACKSMITH, Emma Bland. The Fabulous Fannie Farmer: Culinary Scientist and America’s Chef. illustrated by Susan Reagan. Astra/Calkins Creek.
Size 1-3– This book rightly grants Hall of Fame status to a woman who insisted on precision when it came to making a recipe successful every time – and not wasting anything. For the biography shelf.

STONE, Tanya Lee. In memory of Rosalind Franklin: Rosalind Franklin and the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA. illustrated by Gretchen Ellen Powers. Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano.
K-Gr. 4– While the book’s technical vocabulary and complex scientific concepts will pose little challenge to younger readers, older students who enjoy learning about obscure historical figures and have an interest in science will be inspired by Franklin’s resilience.