Picture Book Biographies

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There are people we want our kids to read about from a young age. Great Christian saints, thinkers and leaders who demonstrated a commitment to excellence, explorers who explored, inventors who invented—any good role model for impressionable young people is who we want them reading about, and picture book biographies are a great way to introduce them.

Sure, high school students will get more out of a text-based treatment of the life of Abraham Lincoln, but 2nd graders won't. They want pictures to draw them in, to help them see the same world Abe saw, to give them a sense of splitting rails or debating Stephen Douglas right beside him. If it's Lewis and Clark they're learning about, if they can see the pine forests and the bears and the Indians, they're far less likely to forget the story of the Voyage of Discovery than if they're just reading it.

We aren't talking about books that take liberties with historical fact, or that emphasize pictures at the expense of reality. Plenty of kids' book authors seem to think that truth is a moot consideration when writing for the chronologically impaired, but we understand just the opposite to be the case: we need to be particularly careful about what our children read when they haven't even reached an age to discern between fact and conjecture.

Nor do we see pictures as somehow better than words. The Bible wasn't written in visible images, and when you're writing about real people who really lived and did real things, you can't rely solely on illustrations to communicate the facts of their existence and achievements. We're only saying that sometimes its better to show what you're trying to convey, rather than relying wholly on language.

It's not essential that youngsters know all the ins and outs of history. At the same time, when they do need to study figures and events of the past, if they already have some idea of what was going on they'll have much less difficulty putting the pieces together. Introducing them to important and fascinating people through text and pictures is a much better way to get kids thinking about history, and one likely to help them retain the information rather than forgetting it as soon as they finish the last page.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

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Hardcover

	Abraham Lincoln (hardcover) by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire; edited by Rea Berg 75th Anniversary from Beautiful Feet Books Biography for 1st-6th grade 1940 Caldecott Medal winner in Biographies (Location: BIO) $21.95
	Adoniram Judson: A Grand Purpose by Renee Meloche from YWAM Publishing for 2nd-4th grade in Heroes for Young Readers (Location: BIO-HERO)
	America's Ethan Allen by Stewart H. Holbrook; illustrated by Lynd Ward 9th printing from Houghton Mifflin Picture Book Biography for 4th-6th grade 1950 Caldecott Honor Book in Biographies (Location: BIO) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Amy Carmichael: Rescuing the Children Heroes for Young Readers by Renee Taft Meloche from YWAM Publishing Biography for 2nd-4th grade in Heroes for Young Readers (Location: BIO-HERO)
	Anselm of Canterbury Christian Biographies for Young Readers by Simonetta Carr from Reformation Heritage Books for 2nd-6th grade in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
	Athanasius Christian Biographies for Young Readers by Simonetta Carr from Reformation Heritage Books for 2nd-6th grade in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
	Augustine of Hippo Christian Biographies for Young Readers by Simonetta Carr from Reformation Heritage Books for 2nd-6th grade in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
	Bach's Goldberg Variations by Anna Harwell Celenza & JoAnn E. Kitchel from Charlesbridge Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Music Appreciation (Location: ELE-MUSAP) $16.95
	Beethoven by Reba Paeff Mirsky from Follett for 2nd-5th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Between the Lines How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art Gallery by Sandra Neil Wallace; illustrated by Bryan Collier from Simon and Schuster for 2nd-6th grade in Oversized Biographies $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Building on Nature The Life of Antoni Gaudi by Rachel Rodriguez, illustrated by Julie Paschkis from Henry Holt and Company for 4th-7th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Captain Cook: Pacific Explorer by Ronald Syme from William Morrow & Company for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Charles Dickens The Man Who Had Great Expectations by Diane Stanley & Peter Vennema from William Morrow & Company Picture Book Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Charlotte Bronte and Jane Eyre by Robert Van Nutt, Stewart Ross 1^st edition from Viking Press for 4th-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Choosing Brave How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement by Angela Joy, illustrated by Janelle Washington from Roaring Brook Press for 1st-4th grade 2023 Robert F. Sibert Honor Book in Biographies (Location: BIO) $19.99
	Columbus: The Triumphant Failure by Oliver Postgate & Naomi Linnell from Franklin Watts for 2nd-5th grade in Age of Exploration (1450-1700) (Location: HISA-16EXP) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	David Livingstone: Courageous Explorer by Renee Meloche, illustrated by Bryan Pollard from YWAM Publishing for 2nd-4th grade in Heroes for Young Readers (Location: BIO-HERO)
	Duke Ellington by Andrea Davis Pinkney 1^st edition from Hyperion/Madison Press for 3rd-6th grade 1999 Caldecott Honor Book in Biographies (Location: BIO) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	El Cid Soldier and Hero by Maria De Vivanco, illustrated by Laszlo Gal from Golden Press Biography for 3rd-7th grade in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
	Galileo by Leonard Everett Fisher from Macmillan for 2nd-5th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue by Anna Harwell Celenza & JoAnn E. Kitchel from Charlesbridge Picture Book Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Music Appreciation (Location: ELE-MUSAP)
	Girl From the Tar Paper School Barbara Rose Johns and the Advent of the Civil Rights Movement by Teri Kanefield from Abrams Books for Young Readers for 1st-4th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Good Queen Bess The Story of Elizabeth I of England by Diane Stanley & Peter Vennema from HarperCollins Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $18.99
	Grandfather Gandhi by Arun Gandhi First Edition from Atheneum for 3rd-5th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Great Little Madison by Jean Fritz 1^st edition from G.P. Putnam's Sons for 4th-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $9.00 (2 in stock)
	Harvesting Hope The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull 1^st edition from HMH Books for Young Readers for 3rd-5th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Haydn's Farewell Symphony by Anna Harwell Celenza & JoAnn E. Kitchel from Charlesbridge Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Music Appreciation (Location: ELE-MUSAP) $16.95
	Heroes Great Men Through the Ages by Rebecca Hazell from Abbeville Press for 1st-5th grade in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH)
	Heroes of God by Katie & Dan Montgomery from Augsburg Fortress for 3rd-6th grade in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH)
	How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightning by Rosalyn Schanzer from HarperCollins for 2nd-4th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	How Sweet the Sound The Story of Amazing Grace by Carole Boston Weatherford, Illustrated by Frank Morrison from Atheneum for 1st-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $17.99
	I, Matthew Henson Polar Explorer by Carole Boston Weatherford 1^st edition from Walker Books for 3rd-5th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Ignatius of Antioch The Man Who Faced Lions Heroes of the Faith by Dr. Sinclair Ferguson from Banner of Truth Trust for 3rd-6th grade in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
	Irenaeus of Lyons The Man Who Wrote Books Heroes of the Faith by Dr. Sinclair Ferguson from Banner of Truth Trust for 3rd-6th grade in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID) $14.00
	It Can't Be Done, Nellie Bly! by Nancy Butcher 1^st edition from Peachtree Publishers, Ltd. for 4th-6th grade in Clearance: Biographies (Location: ZCLE-BIO)
	Joan of Arc by Josephine Poole from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Biography for 2nd-5th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Joan of Arc The Lily Maid by Margaret Hodges, illustrated by Robert Rayevsky 1^st edition from Holiday House Picture Book Biography for 2nd-5th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Joan of Arc: Heroine of France by Ann Tompert 1^st edition from Boyds Mill Press for 1st-5th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	John Calvin Christian Biographies for Young Readers by Simonetta Carr 1^st edition from Reformation Heritage Books for 2nd-6th grade in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID) $18.00
	John Owen Christian Biographies for Young Readers by Simonetta Carr from Reformation Heritage Books for 2nd-6th grade in Church History for Kids (Location: XCH-KID)
	Journey to Freedom by Charles W. Carey Jr. from Child's World for 2nd-4th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Juan Ponce de Leon by Tamara Green from World Almanac Library for 2nd-4th grade in Age of Exploration (1450-1700) (Location: HISA-16EXP) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Karl, Get Out of the Garden! by Anita Sanchez from Charlesbridge in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $17.99
	Librarian Who Measured the Earth by Kathryn Lasky from Little, Brown & Company Biography for 2nd-5th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $18.99 $12.00 (2 in stock)
	Lights! Camera! Alice! The Thrilling True Adventures of the First Woman Filmmaker from Chronicle Books for 2nd-5th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $9.00 (2 in stock)
	Martin Luther by May McNeer & Lynd Ward from Abingdon Press for 4th-8th grade in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)
	Mary Slessor: Courage in Africa Heroes for Young Readers by Renee Meloche from YWAM Publishing for 2nd-4th grade in Heroes for Young Readers (Location: BIO-HERO)
	My Fellow Americans by Alice Provensen 1^st edition from Harcourt Children's Books for 2nd-5th grade in American History Reference (Location: HISA-REF) $5.00 (3 in stock)
	Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom by Chris Van Wyk from Flash Point for 3rd-5th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Peter the Great by Diane Stanley from William Morrow & Company Biography for 3rd-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $17.99 $12.00 (2 in stock)
	Picture Book of Davy Crockett by David Adler from Holiday House Picture Book Biography for 2nd-4th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Play's the Thing by Ruth Turk from Carolrhoda Books, Inc. for 4th-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Poem for Peter The Story of Ezra Jack Keats and the Creation of The Snowy Day by Andrea Davis Pinkney from Penguin Putnam in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $18.99
	Poor Richard in France by F. N. Monjo, illustrated by Brinton Turkle from Henry Holt and Company for 2nd-5th grade in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	Prince Henry the Navigator by Leonard Everett Fisher 1^st edition from Atheneum for 2nd-5th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Right Word Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant from Eerdmans for 1st-4th grade 2015 Caldecott Honor Book, 2015 Robert F. Sibert Medal winner in Biographies (Location: BIO) $18.99
	River of Words Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant First Edition from Eerdmans for 1st-4th grade 2009 Caldecott Honor Book, Sibert Medal in Biographies (Location: BIO) $18.00
	Seeds of Change Wangari's Gift to the World by Jen Cullerton Johnson 1St Edition from Lee & Low Books for 3rd-5th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Sieur de La Salle New World Adventurer by John Paul Zronik from Crabtree Publishing for 3rd-8th grade in Age of Exploration (1450-1700) (Location: HISA-16EXP) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Story of Sitting Bull by Jill C. Wheeler; illustrated by Liz Dodson from ABDO Publishing Co. for 2nd-5th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO)
	Ten Kings and the Worlds They Ruled by Milton Meltzer 1^st edition from Orchard Books Picture Book Biography for 3rd-7th grade in Biography Anthologies (Location: BIO-ANTH) $16.00 $15.00 (1 in stock)
	Thomas Harriot Science Pioneer by Ralph Staiger 1^st edition from Clarion Books for 4th-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $7.50 (2 in stock)
	Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges, Compiled and Edited by Margo Lundell from Scholastic Inc. for 1st-4th grade 2000 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award in Biographies (Location: BIO) $17.99
	William Carey: Bearer of Good News Heroes for Young Readers by Renee Taft Meloche from YWAM Publishing for 2nd-4th grade in Heroes for Young Readers (Location: BIO-HERO)
	William Shakespeare Scenes from the Life of the World's Greatest Writer by Mick Manning & Brita Granstrom from Frances Lincoln for 1st-4th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	World Explorer: Robert Falcon Scott by Joan Bristow from Garrard Publishing Company for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS)

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