Please welcome my guest post author today, Paula Yoo! She is the author of Twenty-Two Cents, a picture book biography of microloan creator and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunnus.
Twenty-two Cents: Muhammad Yunus and the Village Bank by Paula Yoo, illustrated by Jamal Akib
Before I started writing books for children, I was a journalist. I wrote for The Seattle Times, The Detroit News, and PEOPLE Magazine.
I learned that being a journalist was not just about digging for the truth and finding the facts. Being a journalist also requires storytelling. How do you compile all the facts, statistics, research, and interview quotes into a compelling and relevant story that captures a reader’s interest and inspires that reader to learn something new?
So when I wrote my first children’s book, I chose to write a biography. A biography was the perfect transitional bridge from journalism to children’s literature for me.
A biography is the story of a person’s life. It provides a natural structure for telling a story. What happened in that person’s childhood to influence their path in life? How did their contributions as an adult affect the world?
Whenever I write a picture book biography, I first immerse myself in READING picture book biographies to inspire me. Below is a list of some of my favorite children’s picture book biographies about a wide range of characters, from the man who created the potato chip to a World War II hero to an Olympic Gold Medalist who overcame a physical disability to musicians, artists, and other unique heroes. These books helped me as I worked on my own biographies, including my latest book TWENTY-TWO CENTS: MUHAMMAD YUNUS AND THE VILLAGE BANK, illustrated by Jamel Akib.
I hope this list inspires children, parents, and teachers to visit their local libraries and explore the biography bookshelves!
Also, given the recent viral #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign to promote diversity in children’s literature, I’ve also included many biographies below featuring diverse historical characters.
I hope you enjoy this list! What are your favorite children’s picture book biographies?
14 Great Picture Book Biographies
Crazy Horse’s Vision by Joseph Bruchac, illustrated by S.D. Nelson
Crazy Horse’s Vision is about the life of the Native American leader Crazy Horse (1840-1877) of the Oglala Lakota who fought to protect the territories of the Lakota people against the U.S. government. I love the book for its lyrical, poetic writing, and vivid artwork by artist S.D. Nelson is of Lakota (Sioux) Indian descent. [biography picture book, ages 5 and up]
Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa by Andrea Davis Pinkney with Scat Cat Monroe, illustrated by Brian Pinkney
Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa is about the life of renowned jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996). She is known as “The Queen of Jazz.” I enjoyed the innovative way this book is laid out as a record album with four “tracks” featuring stories in Ella’s life as told from the point of view of a jazz cat. [biography picture book, ages 5 and up]
George Crum and the Saratoga Chip by Gaylia Taylor, illustrated by Frank Morrison
George Crum and the Saratoga Chip is about the life of George Crum (1828-1914), an African/Native American trapper and guide in the Adirondacks and cook/restaurant owner who created the potato chip. It’s a fun and unique biography about an unusual yet important moment in culinary history. [biography picture book, ages 5 and up]
Hello, I’m Johnny Cash by G. Neri, illustrated by A.G. Ford
Hello, I’m Johnny Cash is about how Johnny Cash (1932-2003) used music to escape not only his difficult childhood but to become one of America’s most famous and influential crossover musicians in rock ’n roll, gospel, and country music. I love how this biography uses free verse poetry to portray how Johnny overcame poverty in his childhood through his gift of music. [biography picture book, ages 5 and up]
It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw by Don Tate, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie
It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw is about the life of former slave Bill Traylor (1854-1949) who became a famous folk artist at the age of 85 when he began to draw pictures based on his memories of his childhood in Alabama. He is now considered one of the central figures in the field of “self-taught” modern art. [biography picture book, ages 5 and up]
The Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story by Ken Mochizuki, illustrated by Dom Lee, and an afterword by Hiroki Sugihara
Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story is about the life of Chiune Sugihara (1900-1986), a Japanese diplomat in Lithuania in 1940, who defied the government to assist thousands of Jews escape the Holocaust. The book is illustrated by one of my favorite artists, Dom Lee, who also illustrated my first book SIXTEEN YEARS IN SIXTEEN SECONDS: THE SAMMY LEE STORY (Lee & Low Books 2005). I love the epic nature of this book – it may be a picture book but its subject is powerful and poignant. [biography picture book, ages 6 and up]
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Mary Azarian
Snowflake Bentley is about the life of photographer Wilson Bentley (1865-1931) who perfected the process of photographing snowflakes on black velvet before they melted. His technological prowess and passion for nature would prove to the world that no two snowflakes were alike. This book won the Caldecott Medal in 1999 for its poetic text and unique carved woodcut artwork and informational sidebars. [biography picture book, ages 4 and up]
Strange Mr. Satie by M.T. Anderson, illustrated by Petra Mathers
Strange Mr. Satie is about the life of eccentric French composer Erik Satie (1866-1925). This book appealed to me especially because I am also a violinist and love any books about classical music composers. This biography is told in a whimsical tone to match Satie’s surreal and eccentric life. [biography picture book, ages 6 and up]
Through Georgia’s Eyes by Rachel Rodriguez, illustrated by Julie Paschkis
Through Georgia’s Eyes is about the life of iconic American painter Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) who was inspired by nature and became known as “the Mother of American Modernism.” I liked this book for its spare and simple yet evocative text, as well as its artwork that honors O’Keeffe’s style. [biography picture book, ages 5 and up]
Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by David Diaz
Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman is an inspirational biography about the life of Olympic Gold Medalist Wilma Rudolph (1940-1994) who overcame infantile paralysis (caused by the poliovirus) as a child to become a gifted track athlete. She transcended her childhood physical disability to win three gold medals in track and field in the 1960 Olympics in Rome and also became a civil rights and women’s rights pioneer. [biography picture book, ages 6 and up]
More Great Picture Book Biographies
The Quickest Kid in Clarksville by Pat Zietlov Miller, illustrated by Frank Morrison
Miller’s story about four girls who want to watch a parade in their hometown wonderfully showcases how Clarksville put on their first event for blacks and whites in the town’s history. Olympic track star Wilma Rudolph made history with her three gold medals, but this picture book — a perfect blend of fiction and biography — shows how she inspired change for the better in everyone, including the four girls in the book who admire her! [picture book, ages 4 and up]
A Little More About Paula Yoo
Paula Yoo is a children’s book author and TV writer/producer. Her latest book, Twenty-Two Cents: Muhammad Yunus and the Village Bank, is a Junior Library Guild “Best Book” selection. Other books include the YA novel Good Enough and IRA Notables Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story and Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story. When she’s not writing, Paula likes to play her violin and hang out with her three cats.
Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story by Paula Yoo
Anna May Wong—the first Chinese American movie star—was a pioneer of the cinema. Her spirited determination in the face of discrimination is an inspiration to all who must overcome obstacles so that their dreams may come true. [picture book biography, ages 6 and up]
Sixteen Years In Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story by Paula Yoo
The inspirational true story of Sammy Lee, a Korean American who overcame discrimination to realize both his father’s desire for him to become a doctor and his own dream of becoming an Olympic champion diver. [picture book biography, ages 6 and up]
Good Enough by Paula Yoo
“Teens living through the pressure of college applications and questioning their futures will sympathize with Patti in this enjoyable, funny but not superficial read.” (Kirkus Reviews) [young adult, ages 14 and up]
To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.
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p.s. Related posts:
Biography Book Lists for Kids
Great Picture Book Biographies of Nobel Peace Prize Winners
Women Inventors That Changed the World Picture Books
Inspirational Role Models Picture Books
5 Picture Book Biographies to Teach Kids Perserverance
Seven Picture Books About Women Who Dared
Great Biographies for Kids From Paula Yoo
Fabulous Flying Females: Books on Female Aviators
Great Books on Jane Goodall for Women’s History Month
African-American Pioneering Female Musicians
5 African Americans Who Excelled in the Arts
Gordon Parks: Black History Month
Abigail Adams: Activist and Influencer
Enslaved Poet: Phillis Wheatley
Suffragist Lost to History: Lucy Stone
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.
My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
There are some really great titles here I ‘ve not read. Love biographies for kids as they have a way of empowering a child.There are several you mentioned I’m going to check out. Thanks!
Hi Patricia,
Paula Yoo has such a great list! I need to read quite a few on her list too! I do highly recommend her book on Muhammad Yunnus, the creator of the microloan! One great idea that can change the world!
Such a great list, thanks for sharing! Picture book biographies are my favorite books to share with my students as they visit the library. I especially love It Jes’ Happened and Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds. Can’t wait to read some of the others on this great list!
Hi Rita,
I must read your two recs now that two of you have raved about them!! On my list!
Like Patricia, I’ve found some favorites and taken note of others I need to look out for – including Paula’s own books – I love Shining Star but I haven’t read Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds yet! Thanks for this great list.
Hi Marjorie,
I need to read Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds too! I need to track down the books on her list!
This is a great list Mia. We loved 22 Cents and I have read and reviewed Wilma Unlimited. Will look out for the rest of the books on this list.
-Reshama
Hi Reshama,
I need to get these books too! Glad you liked Paula Yoo’s list too!
I love your list! My kids and I are studying snow right now and I was intrigued and inspired by Snowflake Bently. The man was obsessed, but it led to some of the most beautiful photographs I have ever seen! I even wrote a learning packet about snow after being inspired:).
Great great list!!
Hi Bekki,
I’m going to link to your Learning Packet About Snow if you don’t mind: http://abetterwaytohomeschool.com/2014/12/snow-days-learning-about-snow-during.html