Spotlight On... Biographies for Kids

--by Hanje Richards

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When I was in elementary school, I loved reading biographies. Here are some great biographies for young readers that include artists, authors, political activists, and performers. All the books we chose are beautifully illustrated and tell the stories of fascinating people.

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Biographies, in addition to being interesting in and of themselves, are also helpful for school reports, so be sure to take a look at all the books that we have in the Juvenile Biography section; so next time you need one, you will know exactly where to go.

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Chuck Close Up Close - Through interviews conducted with Close as well as an analysis of his technique, acclaimed authors Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan explore the ways in which an artist's life and work intertwine. Close's remarkable larger-than-life portraits are the result of a carefully constructed system that finds its roots in both his struggle to overcome severe learning difficulties as a child and immense physical challenges later in life. With full-color reproductions of Close's work, as well as additional material on portraits and portraiture, plus a glossary and bibliography, this is an engaging and accessible study of an extraordinary artist, the subject of over one hundred one-man shows, including a retrospective exhibition at New York's Museum of Modern Art.

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Claudette Colwin: Twice Toward Justice - Based on extensive interviews with Claudette Colvin and many others, Phillip Hoose presents the first in-depth account of an important yet largely unknown civil rights figure, skillfully weaving her dramatic story into the fabric of the historic Montgomery bus boycott and court case that would change the course of American history.

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I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee - Harper Lee is a mysterious figure who leads a very private life in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, refusing to give interviews or talk about the novel that made her a household name. Lee’s life is as rich as her fiction, from her girlhood as a rebellious tomboy to her days at the University of Alabama and early years as a struggling writer in New York City.

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Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Martin Luther King, Jr. - This picture-book biography is an excellent and accessible introduction for young readers to learn about one of the world’s most influential leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Doreen Rappaport weaves the immortal words of Dr. King into a captivating narrative to tell the story of his life. An unforgettable portrait of a man whose dream changed America — and the world — forever.

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My Name is Celia/Me Llamo Celia - This bilingual book allows young readers to enter Celia Cruz's life as she becomes a well-known singer in her homeland of Cuba, then moves to New York City and Miami where she and others create a new type of music called salsa.

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Poet Slave of Cuba: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano - Born into the household of a wealthy slave owner in Cuba in 1797, Juan Francisco Manzano spent his early years by the side of a woman who made him call her Mama, even though he had a mama of his own. Denied an education, young Juan still showed an exceptional talent for poetry. His verses reflect the beauty of his world, but they also expose its hideous cruelty.

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A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams - In this picture book biography of William Carlos Williams, Bryant's engaging prose and Sweet's stunning mixed-media illustrations celebrate the amazing man who found a way to earn a living and to honor his calling to be a poet.

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Sir Charlie: Chaplain, The Funniest Man in the World - Everyone knew Charlie — Charlie Chaplin. When he was five years old, he was pulled onstage for the first time, and he didn't step off again for almost three-quarters of a century. Escaping the London slums of his tragic childhood, he took Hollywood like a conquistador with a Cockney accent. With his gift for pantomime in films that had not yet acquired vocal cords, he was soon rubbing elbows with royalty and dining on gold plates in his own Beverly Hills mansion. He was the most famous man on Earth — and he was regarded as the funniest.

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Strongest Man in the World - Strongman and circus owner Louis Cyr captured the world’s imagination with his remarkable feats of strength and mammoth proportions. Set in Quebec at the turn of the 20th century, this visual biography features the celebrity in his old age, recalling his glory days for his young daughter. In vivid detail, he recounts his adventures traveling through Europe performing feats of strength that astounded audiences and remain unsurpassed today.

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The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain - Through annotated illustrations, journals, maps, and dreamscapes, Peter Sís shows what life was like for a child who loved to draw, proudly wore the red scarf of a Young Pioneer, stood guard at the giant statue of Stalin, and believed whatever he was told to believe. But adolescence brought questions. Cracks began to appear in the Iron Curtain, and news from the West slowly filtered into the country. Sís learned about beat poetry, rock ’n’ roll, blue jeans, and Coca-Cola. He let his hair grow long, secretly read banned books, and joined a rock band. Then came the Prague Spring of 1968, and for a teenager who wanted to see the world and meet the Beatles, this was a magical time. It was short-lived, however, brought to a sudden and brutal end by the Soviet-led invasion. But this brief flowering had provided a glimpse of new possibilities — creativity could be discouraged but not easily killed.

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Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa - As a young girl growing up in Kenya, Wangari was surrounded by trees. But years later when she returns home, she is shocked to see whole forests being cut down, and she knows that soon, all the trees will be destroyed. So Wangari decides to do something — and starts by planting nine seedlings in her own backyard. And as they grow, so do her plans. This true story of Wangari Maathai, environmentalist and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, is a shining example of how one woman’s passion, vision, and determination inspired great change.

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You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer - Amelia Bloomer, a rebellious reformer and early women's rights activist, invented bloomers (baggy pantaloons worn with a short skirt over them), thus liberating women from the dangerous and oppressive clothing of the mid-nineteenth century.

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Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree - Zora Neale Hurston, African-American author and folklorist, wrote movingly about her strong bond with her mother and the trauma of her mother's death when Zora was nine years old. Miller's picture-book biography tells the story of the child's sorrow. Though he dramatizes Zora's clash with her father, who tried to subdue her spirit, the focus here is on the inspiration her mother gave Zora to go everywhere and give everything a voice and listen to the people's stories. When her mother dies, Zora climbs high in the chinaberry tree as her mother taught her; she reaches for the newborn sky and jumps at the sun.