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75 Best Picture Book Biographies for Kids, 2024

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I love introducing kids to ordinary people who did amazing things by reading picture book biographies for kids. Don’t you? These biographies for kids are inspirational narrative nonfiction texts that are written like a story, appealing to children with beautiful illustrations.

I chose these books after reading thousands of picture books and understanding what children like because my background isn’t only in book reviews but in education. Plus, I’m a parent of two. I update this book list with the best newly published books, with the most recent update in November 2023.

A reading strategy I like to use with children reading nonfiction is connecting to background knowledge. As you read these biographies, both picture books for preschool and elementary ages, as well as biographical story collections for upper elementary and middle school, help your kids connect to what they’re reading. 

autobiography books for kindergarten

Start with prompts like:

How are you like or not like this person?

Do you know someone who is like this person?

What other biographies or famous people does this person remind you of?

Reading biographies is informative and instructive. We learn more about people which helps us learn more about ourselves– who we are and who we want to be.

The Best Picture Book Biographies for Kids

Table of Contents:

Artists and Musicians

Famous americans.

  • More Picture Books & Biography Collections

STEM (Scientists, coders, engineers, and mathematicians)

autobiography books for kindergarten

Stand as Tall as the Trees : How an Amazonian Community Protected the Rain Forest written by Patricia Gualinga and Laura Resau, illustrated by Vanessa Jaramillo ACTIVIST Beautifully crafted with emotional resonance, get inspired by this true story of Patricia Gualinga’s life. Paty is a Kichwa girl who lives deep in the rain forest of Ecuador; a place alive with “trees towering, vines winding, and frogs singing” and the mystical beings who rule the forest — the Amazanga. Paty moves to the noisy city for her education. But when Paty’s forest home is destroyed by a greedy company, she helps her people gather, unite, and protest, making the destructive company leave the forest! Heartfelt writing and luminous illustrations make this a memorable biography (autobiography) that shows how one person can make a difference in the world!

autobiography books for kindergarten

Contenders: Two Native Baseball Players, One World Series by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Arigon Starr Learn about two Native baseball players who loved the game but endured huge racism from everywhere — name calling, derogatory chants, and more. Charles Bender and John Meyers were groundbreaking athletes. You’ll read their history and how they got to the 1911 World Series. Interesting and important.

Picture Book Biographies About Athletes

More Picture Book Biographies & Collections

autobiography books for kindergarten

Melissa Taylor, MA, is the creator of Imagination Soup. She's a mother, former teacher & literacy trainer, and freelance education writer. She writes Imagination Soup and freelances for publications online and in print, including Penguin Random House's Brightly website, USA Today Health, Adobe Education, Colorado Parent, and Parenting. She is passionate about matching kids with books that they'll love.

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Is this available as a printable list by any chance?! 🙂

I’ll work on it for you and email it to you!

Wow, just wow. Thank you. I was googling and googling for a specific kind of pb bio, and nothing was coming up. Found 3 of what I was looking for in your list

I’m so happy to hear this list was helpful!

What an amazing list! Thank you so much for sharing!

Glad it’s helpful!

autobiography books for kindergarten

20 Biography Books For Kids To Help Them Dream Big

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Brandie DeRusha

With her MA in English from Rutgers University-Camden, Brandie spends her days chasing around her toddlers and writing. She loves to pair wine with her reading; preferably a Brontë, or an Elliot, or a Woolf novel. Depending on the mood. She currently lives in Florida with her husband, two kids and furry beast.

View All posts by Brandie DeRusha

Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, I forgot how to dream for my life. It was in between those “you can do anything you put your mind to” platitudes from my mother, to “you’ll never make any money if you get a degree in art” realities — also from my mother. As a good child, I believed everything people would say about my potential. If I expressed interest in writing or journalism, they would scoff at me that it was “too hard” for me; if it was acting or dancing, it was “too competitive.” Clearly it was confusing and sent me into an adolescent identity crisis. Who could I be if I couldn’t be who I was?

Now, as a grown up and a mother, I realize that in order to live our truth…we must follow our curiosity. We must embrace our curiosity. We must be allowed to explore. To get things wrong. To find out how we individually interpret the world around us. That will help us make the world a better place.

Thankfully, the way has been paved before us by millions of amazing people who refused to internalize the negative messages about their dreams. People who were so into what they were doing that nothing else mattered except that one thing. Who knew that what their heart was saying was the way without someone’s expectations of them.

Here are stories of 20 people who made their own way and changed not only their lives but ours. 20 stories of people who followed their curiously, followed their love, and led the way for us to be a better society. These 20 biography books for kids can help your kids dream big.

20 of the Best Biography Books for Kids

autobiography books for kindergarten

The Story of Harriet Tubman by Christine Platt

Before she became known for her fight to free people from enslavement, she was a little girl who was sad to see her family be separated. Tubman is going to be a key person in most kids’ history classes — so this book also gives a timeline of her life, with age appropriate discussion questions. And if you love this, the series also has Barack Obama, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and Benjamin Franklin biographies, and more.

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autobiography books for kindergarten

Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jen Bryant and Boris Kulikov

This picture book biography tells the story of how Louis Braille lost his sight and invented an alphabet. Young Braille wanted nothing more than to be able to read after an accident causes him to lose his eyesight. His invention gave blind kids all over the world a new way to navigate a world that wasn’t made for them. This book is not only inspiring, it shows children that everyone is capable of doing good things.

autobiography books for kindergarten

Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne and Éric Puybaret

Once there was a boy named Jacques. He loved to explore the oceans. This whimsical and poetic biography of Jacques Cousteau will inspire kids to follow their explorer natures, as well as help them realize that every person who has made history started as a kid with curiosity.

autobiography books for kindergarten

Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote by Tanya Lee Stone and Rebecca Gibbon

From a young age, Elizabeth understood that things weren’t equal in her life. How could only a few people have the right to vote? Voting is the foundation of our democracy. So she went to college, gathered like-minded friends, and made their statements, not stopping until women in the United States won the Right to Vote. She was a girl who saw a problem, and grew up to find the solution.

autobiography books for kindergarten

Turning Pages: My Life Story by Sonya Sotomayor and Lulu Delacre

The first Latina on the Supreme Court, Sonya Sotomayor recollects her life and the steps that brought her there. For her, it was books. Books helped her cope with difficulties in her life, connect with her roots, and helped her see that her future was full of possibilities. In her autobiography, Sotomayor encourages kids everywhere to read, dream, and puzzle for themselves.

autobiography books for kindergarten

Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai and Kera Ascoet

As a girl, Malala wished for a magic pencil. A tool she could use to make everyone happy. To make the world around her a little brighter. As she got older she realized that even if she didn’t have a magic pencil, she could still work hard to make the world a better place. Told in a way that’s appropriate to children, we learn about the struggles that Malala faced to follow her dreams and how even then she held onto a hope for a better future for herself and her friends.

autobiography books for kindergarten

Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People by Monica Brown and Julie Paschkis

Sometimes people create with paint, but for a little boy in a city in Chile, words were better. Pablo wrote poems about all the things he loved. Things he found in nature, things his friends made, and the things he found at the marketplace. He wrote about the people of Chile, their struggles and passions. It all started with a little boy who loved to paint with words.

autobiography books for kindergarten

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle and Rafael López

Millo Castro Zaldarriaga dreamed of drumming. However, girls weren’t allowed to drum on her little island. She dreamed of pounding tall congas and tapping small bongós. One day, she decided to follow her dream — what happened next when her bright music was heard was magic: people dancing and singing and deciding that boys and girls can make music. Showing that both boys and girls can be free to drum and dream, Millo’s story is an inspiration for children everywhere.

autobiography books for kindergarten

The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles and George Ford

Ruby was just a normal 6-year-old until she was chosen to be the first Black person to be enrolled in an all white elementary school. A lot of people didn’t like that idea and said some mean and threatening things. Ruby did what she was told to do, and went to school anyway. How does a little girl change the world? By being brave in the face of racism and injustice.

autobiography books for kindergarten

A Voice Named Aretha by Katheryn Russel-Brown and Laura Freeman

How did a quiet and shy girl from Detroit become the Queen of Soul and the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? She stayed true to herself and her ideals by refusing to play for segregated audiences and never forgetting her roots. She stood up for what was right. Aretha Franklin proved that with passion, perseverance, and R-E-S-P-E-C-T, you can do anything.

autobiography books for kindergarten

Counting the Stars: The Story of Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician by Lesa Cline-Ransome and Raúl Colón

When NASA used mathematicians called “human computers,” one woman stood out among them all. Katherine Johnson was integral in getting John Glen around the world, helping men walk on the moon, and getting Apollo 13 home safely. This book is for girls who love numbers — who don’t let problems stand in the way from the work.

autobiography books for kindergarten

Vincent Can’t Sleep by Barb Rosenstock and Mary Grandpre

Vincent Can’t Sleep is the story of how one of the most beloved and creative artists found his inspiration. When Vincent Van Gogh couldn’t sleep, he’d walk during the night, giving him the inspiration for his famous painting Starry Night . With lovely poetic writing, it tells kids to follow their passion, even if they don’t see the return in their lifetime. (Maybe wait to walk outside at night alone until after they’ve grown up, though.)

autobiography books for kindergarten

Magic Ramen by Andrea Wang and Kana Urbanowicz

“Peace follows a full stomach,” thought Momofuko Ando while working in his lab to find a quick, easy, and tasty way of making ramen soup. He wanted to help those in the long daily lines for soup after WWII. This is the story of one man, his commitment to his cause, and the world’s most popular “easy soup.”

autobiography books for kindergarten

Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills by Renée Watson and Christian Robinson

Florence was a little girl who loved to sing. She also loved her parents, who were formerly enslaved. So when her beautiful singing and dancing inspired patrons and playwrights alike, she knew that she wouldn’t be happy without standing up to the injustice that she saw daily.

autobiography books for kindergarten

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy and Elizabeth Baddeley

“Disagreeing does not make you disagreeable” was something that young Ruth Bader Ginsberg had to learn. This book is the first picture book of Ginsberg’s life. Kids get to see how one girl who stood up for what she believed and became the most beloved Supreme Court justice.

autobiography books for kindergarten

Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos by Stephanie Roth Sisson

“The Earth and every living thing are made of star stuff.” —Carl Sagan. As a boy, Carl Sagan loved learning about the stars. His trip to the 1939 World’s Fair opened up the universe to Carl. A boy who was captured by the wonder of the cosmos became a man who would launch satellites and teach the world about the stars.

autobiography books for kindergarten

Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson and Sean Qualls

Sometimes being told you can’t do a thing gives you all the incentive to do it more, especially if EVERYONE thinks you can’t. Emmanuel Ofosu Yepoah only had one leg — and this is the true story of how he biked across the entire country of Ghana (almost 400 miles!) and went on change the way many people in his country thought about people with disabilities.

autobiography books for kindergarten

She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story by Audrey Vernick and Don Tate

Effa Manley loved baseball. She loved to go Yankee Stadium and see Babe Ruth swing for the fences. Soon she became her own hero by becoming the manager and owner of the Newark Eagles. Effa was the first (and only) woman inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame, because of her work with the Eagles. From a girl growing up in Philly to a Hall of Famer, Manley shows us how to swing for the fences.

autobiography books for kindergarten

Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix by Gary Golio and Javaka Steptoe

Can someone paint pictures with sound? Jimi was a normal kid who loved to paint and listen to music. This is the story of a kid who interpreted the world in his own unique way, and over time learned how to weave music and imagery to become one of the most influential people in the world.

autobiography books for kindergarten

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard and Oge Mora

Mary Walker was born into slavery. She had her first child at the age of 20, lived through a Civil War and two World Wars, and worked many many jobs. Finally, at the young age of 116, Mary Walker learned how to read, proving that it is never too late to follow your dreams and also recognize how incredible life can be.

Want even more after reading this list? Check out historical fiction classics for kids and these picture book biographies of Black leaders and creatives.

autobiography books for kindergarten

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Biographies & Autobiographies for Kids

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A child points to something on the page of an open book, while sitting on a blanket with fall leaves.

The Best Autobiography & Biography Books for Kids

As kids begin to understand the larger world around them, there’s nothing more expansive than learning about the lives of others. So it’s no wonder biographies are a hit with curious young readers. Learning about amazing people who shaped the world through bravery and dedication isn’t just a way to inspire your child’s own dreams—it’s a path to building stronger empathy and relationships. 

That’s why we’ve created this list of the best biographies for kids of all ages and reading levels, from preschool to middle school. Featuring stories of dreamers and doers from all walks of life, these books will have your reader thinking big about their boundless potential!

Book cover for Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi: My First Mahatma Gandhi (Little People, Big Dreams)

By Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

This picture book is a gentle introduction for babies and toddlers to the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. The charmingly illustrated tale tells the story of young Mohandas and his upbringing in India under British rule. All the while, Mohandas dreamed of a world where all living beings were treated with kindness—and dared to chase it into reality. Your toddler or preschool reader will light up as they learn from Gandhi about nonviolence, peace, and unwavering kindness.

Book cover for David Bowie

David Bowie (Little People, Big Dreams)

This one’s for all the diaper-dancers and future rockstars. Even the youngest baby learners will be inspired by the one-of-a-kind Starman and his message of fearless individuality. Young David Jones may have looked like an ordinary boy on the outside, but on the inside, he was full of dreams, music, and creativity. Show your child that gigantic dreams are as close as the karaoke microphone in this motivational depiction of David Bowie’s story. The board book format is sturdy enough for little readers to thumb through on their own—and with the bold, bright illustrations, they’ll want to!

Book cover for Where's Jane?

Where’s Jane?

By Jaye Garnett

If your growing reader is a naturalist-in-training, this wonderfully engaging board book is just what the biologist ordered. Designed for children ages 3 to 5, this board book is a lighthearted introduction to Jane Goodall’s fascinating chimpanzee research. Your reader will be so busy searching for hidden pictures in the illustrations that they won’t realize they’re learning facts well beyond their science curriculum. Vocabulary words and questions on every page also help encourage discussion and develop more advanced communication skills.

Book cover for Dinosaur Lady

Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist

By Linda Skeers

Got an up-and-coming paleontologist in the family? Then this is the biography you’re looking for! Mary Anning was a true scientific pioneer. Every young dino fan will be enraptured by the story of how her earth-shaking scientific career began by hunting for fossils in her own backyard. This fully illustrated picture book invites 4- to 9-year-olds to turn over pages and stones as they advance their exploratory skills .

Book cover for Who what Ruth Bader Ginsburg?

Who Was Ruth Bader Ginsburg? (Who Is/Was)

By Patricia Brennan Demuth

The Who Was … books are among the best biographies for kids, presenting accurate history in an easy-to-read style. Who Was Ruth Bader Ginsburg? introduces kids to one of the renowned legal minds of our time while making her feel accessible, relatable, and wholeheartedly human. This story of Ginsburg’s advocacy for gender equality and women’s rights will empower readers from ages 8 to 11 to stand up for what they believe in as they learn to read independently and think critically.

Book cover for Women Who Dared

Women Who Dared: 52 Stories of Fearless Daredevils, Adventurers, and Rebels

If your 10- to 13-year-old reader loves adventure-packed stories, this book is a must-have. They might’ve heard about Amelia Earhart in school, but they’ll marvel at the lesser-known stories of Russian astronaut Valentina Tereshkova, stuntwoman Helen Gibson, and oceanographer Sylvia Earle in this riveting collection. Each profile is short and readable, yet brimming with value and heart. Try reading one profile with your child before bed each night and watch as they gravitate toward certain adventurers, navigate moral complexities, and relate the stories to their own lives.

Help Your Child Dream Big With Biographies From Literati Book Clubs

Once your kids start learning about the real lives of influential people like the ones above, they’ll realize how endless their own potential really is. You can make sure your reader is always stocked up with the best biographies for kids—along with all the other genres they love—by becoming a Literati Kids Book Club member. We’ll send your child the best-in-class literature suited perfectly to their reading level and interests. The result? A passion for reading, a thirst for learning, and ideas that flow as freely as David Bowie’s melodies. To get started, complete our quick personalization quiz and open the gates to your young reader’s literary adventure today.

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20 fantastic picture book biographies for kids

I love all kinds of picture books, but I particularly love picture book biographies for kids where the life of someone famous is brought to life with spectacular illustrations, interesting and surprising stories, and just enough information.

I’ve been collecting my favorite picture book biography titles for months and am so happy to share some of them with you today (you better believe there are more coming in the next several months – the list is way too long for one post!).

autobiography books for kindergarten

Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating, illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens I’d never heard of Eugenie Clark before this book, but I was immediately fascinated by her story. She fell in love with sharks at an early age when she saw them at an aquarium and wanted to know everything she could about them. But many people thought sharks were ugly, terrifying creatures. Plus, women shouldn’t be scientists anyway. Eugenie spent her life proving the naysayers wrong, both abut sharks and female scientists. (Also check out Swimming with Sharks: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark by Heather Lang, illustrated by Jordi Solano).

John Ronald’s Dragons: The Story of J.R.R. Tolkien by Caroline McAlister, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler I’m certainly familiar with the beloved Lord of the Rings series, but I didn’t know much about J.R.R. Tolkein (and I REALLY didn’t know much about his growing up). So I loved this clever biography about his growing up where he loved dragons, and how much of his young life felt surrounded by dragons, from losing his mother early in his life to fighting in WWI. But until he invented a dragon of his own (which sparked off his Middle Earth writing), he never found one in his actual life.

Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen: The Story of Six Novels, Three Notebooks, a Writing Box, and One Clever Girl by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Qin Leng Before Jane Austen became one of the most famous English writers of all time, she was a quiet girl. And while you might not have noticed her, she probably would have noticed you. And it might have ended up in her writing. This beautiful picture book is a delightful introduction to a woman who disregarded the publishing trends of her time and created a completely new kind of story.

The World is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid by Jeanette Winter I’d never heard of Zaha Hadid before this book, but I instantly loved her story. She grew up in Iraq and wanted to be an architect. But as a Muslim woman, this wasn’t going to be an easy dream to chase. Now, decades later, you can see her buildings all over the world!

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca, illustrated by Daniel Rieley Most of us are probably familiar with Dr. Temple Grandin and I love this introduction to her for young children (all the text is told in rhyme). She was diagnosed with autism as a young child and expected never to talk. But she grew up to become a groundbreaking scientist, thanks to her love of animals and her rare ability to connect with animals.

The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Mary GrandPre Vasya Kandinsky was one of the first abstract artists and this is a beautiful retelling of his story. He had a very proper upbringing and his family expected that his art would also be very proper. But his art was anything but – it came to life, swirling with color and even sound, because throughout his life, he experienced colors as sound and vice versa. (By the way, if the illustrations look vaguely familiar, it’s likely because you recognize Mary GrandPre’s illustrations from the original Harry Potter books).

biographies for kids

On a Beam of Light: A Story About Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky If you’d seen young Albert Einstein riding his bike down the road, you would have probably just seen a boy on a bike, But in his mind, he saw himself traveling at the speed of light. This book is a delightful look into Einstein’s lifelong curiosity and discovery, and perfect for every child who loves to imagine the impossible.

The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life With Chimps by Jeanette Winter This was one of the picture books that really helped me see how AMAZING picture book biographies could be. I love that it begins in her childhood and goesthrough her current work, accompanied by breath-taking illustrations. I also love Me….Jane by Patrick McDonnell as a simpler biography of Jane Goodall.

Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride by Pam Munoz Ryan, illustrated by Brian Selznick I have loved Brian Selznick’s illustrations since I was a child and his black and white drawings bring this amazing story about Amelia Earhart and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to life when, at a White House dinner party, Eleanor and Amelia sneak away to take an evening ride over Washington D.C. in a jet. All while wearing their evening gowns!

The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons by Natascha Biebow, illustrated by Steven Salerno I love picture book biographies that bring to life the inventor of a product children love and use daily. This book does exactly that with the man who invented crayola crayons and I loved every page of it – who knew that so much went into those boxes of 50 cent crayons you can now buy at Target?

Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade  by Melissa Sweet I am legitimately obsessed with this book and I love bringing out my copy every Thanksgiving about the boy who loved puppets and grew up to create the famous balloons that make up the Thanksgiving Day parade. The color and art in this book bring it to life and the end notes and photos and make it even more special.

autobiography books for kindergarten

Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World’s Coral Reefs: The Story of Ken Nedimeyer and the Coral Restoration Foundation by Kate Messner, illustrated Matthew Forsythe Sometimes the changes we want to see in the world seem too big, too overwhelming to tackle. But I love this biography of Ken Nedimyer, founder of the Coral Restoration Foundation, that shows that even one person can make a difference.

Sisters and Champions: The True Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Howard Bryant, illustrated by Floyd Cooper I’ve never watched a professional tennis match, but I was in tears by the end of this gorgeous picture book about Venus and Serena Williams and hard they work and, even more impressively to me, how much they support each other.

Around America to Win the Vote: Two Suffragists, A Kitten, 10,000 Miles by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Hadley Hooper Just over a century ago, two friends, Nell Richardson and Alice Burke set out from New York City to spread the word about giving American women the right to vote. Crammed in a little yellow car, with a kitten along for the ride, they drove 10,000 miles in pursuit of their goal.

The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer’s Bright Ideas and Brand New Colors by Chris Barton, illustrated by Tony Persiani Put neon colors on the list of things I’ve never given a second thought to. Until this book, about two brothers who loved to invent things and discovered neon coloring that’s now used all over the world. Who knew? The black pages with bright neon coloring make this book really pop.

Tree Lady: The Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins, illustrated by Jill McElmurry When I think San Diego, I don’t think dry desert town. But more than 100 years ago, when Katherine Olivia Sessions became the first woman to graduate from the University of California with a degree in science, she moved to San Diego and was horrified by the lack of trees. So she started a movement to transform her new home into the garden oasis we now know it as.

Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson I’ve love everything Kadir Nelson touches and this book is no exception, about the lengths one man goes to in order to gain his freedom. After Henry’s family is sold, he comes up with a daring and dangerous plan to escape north, by having some friends nail him into a box and mailing him to a free state. Unbelievably it works!

Just Being Audrey by Margaret Cardillo, illustrated by Julia Denos I love this beautiful book about Audrey Hepburn and her life, from her early difficult childhood during WWII under Nazi occupation to her emergence as a style icon and her work with UNICEF. Star, particularly, took a shine to this book and I read it to her dozens of times (we also both loved Just Being Jackie about Jackie Kennedy Onassis).

Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia Burrington When Mae Jemison was young she longed to be an astronaut. Her teacher suggested she find something more practical, but her parents encouraged her to work hard and achieve her seemingly impossible dreams. And she did, becoming the first African American woman to travel in space. My girls loved this book and as a parent, it was so encouraging to me to let my own children dream big.

autobiography books for kindergarten

And if you’d like a printable copy of this list that you can take to your library or screenshot on your phone for easy access, just pop in your email address below and it’ll come right to your inbox!

If you liked this list of picture book biographies for kids, you might also like these posts:

  • The Best Picture Books to Read Aloud in a Classroom
  • 10 Children’s Books about Death, Loss and Grief
  • 13 Fantastic Easy Reader Chapter Books

Reader Interactions

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September 17, 2019 at 11:29 am

This is a great list. I am excited to read as many as I can. Picture books really are the best and you can learn a ton!

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September 17, 2019 at 6:28 pm

I love Karlin Gray’s picture book biographies! My favorite isThe Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still about Nadia Comaneci. Gymnastics + beautiful book = yessss

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September 17, 2019 at 7:16 pm

I love the Noisy Paintbox, too! ☺ Another one I love is The Boy Who Loved Math.

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September 17, 2019 at 9:34 pm

Have you ever read any of the Little People Big Dreams series? I am in a different country and these are some of the only biography childrens books I have access to. I am wondering if anyone has experience with them and would recommend them.

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September 18, 2019 at 6:19 am

This list is my love language. Thanks!!

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September 18, 2019 at 3:36 pm

I just discovered Joan Proctor, Dragon Doctor and my daughter loves it.

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September 19, 2019 at 9:54 am

I LOVE these sorts of picture books. I’ve learned SO MUCH about so many different people and things from reading them to my son! Just added all the ones we haven’t already read to our library list! (I am with you on being obsessed with Balloons over Broadway…I really just need to buy that one.)

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October 25, 2020 at 11:42 pm

We love Mr. Ferris and His Wheel!

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March 11, 2022 at 11:45 am

I learned so much from The Day-Glo Brothers – thanks for recommending it!

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March 23, 2024 at 1:38 pm

Nonsense about Edward Gorey is also amazing.

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May 3, 2024 at 12:48 pm

We love this genre and recently read Josephine and Her Dishwashing Machine and the Indestructible Tom Crean. Both were fantastic.

[…] 20 fantastic picture book biographies for kids […]

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Top 10 Biography And Autobiography Books

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls

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No Time For Flash Cards

preschool activities, preschool crafts, and preschool books.

August 22, 2014 | 6 Comments

21 Picture Book Biographies

picture book biographies

All our book lists include affiliate links.

Picture Book Of Amelia Earhart

A Picture Book of Helen Keller by David A. Adler tells the story of this great heroine in a simple way without losing the magnificence of her life. From her illness as a young toddler, to meeting her “miracle worker” Anne Sullivan and earning the first degree ever awarded to any deaf and blind person.  The author doesn’t sanctify Helen though , they talk openly about her tantrums as a child and her naughty behavior. My son ( when he was 3)  sat for this whole book, it opened up a bedtime talk about blindness to which we turned off the light and experienced a little ourselves I am hoping reading this book will open more doors of empathy for my son, to recognize that we are all different with different abilities but are all capable of great things

Picture Book Of Harriet Tubman

The Story of Anne Frank by Brenda Ralph Lewis impressed me. I struggle with how to tell such a horrifying story to young children. I should explain that this book is not geared for preschoolers, it’s a school age book, but still, it’s a daunting task. This book helps break down the facts while including details about this young girl’s personal and family life. This balance of historical facts and Anne’s family life is the key to why this book works. There is so much horror to digest that the little details like how Anne was a bit of a trouble maker and talked too much in class helps to tune the reader back into the very personal story. I think this is a fantastic precursor to reading Anne Frank: The Diary Of A Young Girl , it will give all the needed background for your older child to fully comprehend and appreciate the diary itself.

manfish3

Eleanor: Quiet No More by Doreen Rappaport is an inspiring look at Elanor Roosevelt’s life and legacy. Readers learn about Eleanor’s childhood, being orphaned and sent away to school in England where she experienced independence for the first time. It covers her romance and marriage with FDR in a sweet, loving way that won’t make your child cringe about “mushy” things but they will understand that there were real-life and partnership. There is ample information about her work over the years as a politician’s wife as well as the First Lady. My favorite part of the book was all the fantastic quotes woven into the biography, it connects the reader to her and not just her story.

autobiography books for kindergarten

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Gillian says

August 22, 2014 at 2:28 am

Thanks for this list of books to check out. I’ve added a few to my wishlist!

Margaret Millgate says

August 23, 2014 at 1:51 am

Thank you SO much for sharing this. I didn’t realise you could get Biographies as picture books. What a great way to share history and to give kids inspiration.

Allison McDonald says

August 23, 2014 at 12:09 pm

These are just the tip of the iceberg too – so many great ones out there.

[…] 21 great picture book biographies to study […]

[…] culture and people is in the minority. A few years back it was the other way around. There are picture book biographies. There’s also the “Who was..” […]

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8 Autobiographies By Children Your Child Must Read

What better way to build empathy in children and expand their perspective than with real-life stories written by children. These eight autobiographies are must-read for children 10 years and above.

8 Autobiographies By Children Your Child Must Read

"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate's loot on Treasure Island." - Walt Disney, an American entrepreneur, animator, voice actor and film producer.

Children often display a maturity far beyond their age. Autobiographies or memoirs are beautiful insights for adults, especially parents, to go into their world. These books give a peek into their understanding of the world and its going on. These autobiographies should be read by children to understand the world better, and adults to understand a child's mind better.

Benefits of reading autobiographies

Looking for some books to keep your child occupied when they are at home? The onus of introducing the right books to your child always lies on you. Biographies by young adults are always a source of motivation for young readers. If you want your child to be worldly-wise, make biographies and autobiographies a part of the reading list for your child.

However, there are the other benefits of reading autobiographies too. These are:

Teaches life lessons - Autobiographies are often interesting as these are usually written by people who have found themselves in extraordinary situations or had an interesting life story to tell. There are many life lessons to be learnt on how they dealt with their hardships and overcame their difficulties that shaped their lives. And as autobiographies are true stories, that makes it all the more inspiring.

It acts like a mentor/guide - Sometimes teenagers are reluctant to open up to their parents or listen to their parents. In such situations, introducing books which could deal with a situation the teen is facing could be helpful, it could act like a wonderful mentor or guide.

Your child can view the world from a different perspective - We all tend to get caught up in the day to day nitty-gritty. More so, kids. So introducing autobiographies and biographies is a great way to open up their minds to gain a new perspective.

There have been extraordinary autobiographies written by children who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances - war, denial of equal rights for girls, self discovery and perseverance in abject poverty. For your convenience, we present 8 such autobiographies which showcase the world the author lives in. It is a must-share reading list for your kids.

Here are the examples of a few inspiring autobiographies.

1. I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

"When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful." - Malala Yousafzai

8 Autobiographies By Children Your Child Must Read

About the author: When many preteens may just be bothered about their looks and homework, Malala Yousafzai, in 2009, 11 years at that time wrote an anonymous blog for BBC Urdu about her life under Taliban rule. She was very vocal about human rights, especially education for the girl child which was sometimes denied during the Taliban rule in Pakistan. She survived an assassination attempt when she was shot in her head. She recovered and her voice only grew stronger. She is the youngest person to have received the Nobel Laureate.

About the book: The book is about the importance of education especially the education of the girl child to transform societies. With guns you can kill terrorists, with education you can kill terrorism, she says. Powerful words indeed.

What children can learn from it: I am Malala is an inspiring account about how even one voice is enough to stand up for a cause and change the world.

Parent speak: "Both my daughter and I love this book. Ashita, my daughter is quite forthright and outspoken - the book is an inspiration to look beyond your own world, said Shilpa Prashanth, mother of 11-year-old, Ashita.

2. Hope in a Ballet Shoe by Michaela DePrince

"There are practically no black dancers in ballet, so I need to speak out." - Michaela DePrince

About the author: Often extraordinary circumstances give rise to extraordinary stories and Hope in a Ballet Shoe is one such extraordinary autobiography. Penned by Michaela DePrince, who today is an international ballet dancer with The Dutch National Ballet, and one of the few black ballet dancers. Michaela grows through many atrocities as a child growing up in war-torn Sierra Leone. Dance becomes her salvation - the road to become a professional dancer is not that easy - competitive and racist. A must read for all ages.

About the book: An inspiring first person account of how a victim of war crimes transformed her life through the power of dance.

What children can learn from it: You can negate your childhood trauma and focus on new beginnings.

Parent Speak: " We tend to forget that we lead privileged lives, but perhaps adversity is needed to bring out the best in us, the book gave me goosebumps," said Dhakshinyaa Subramanyam, 12 year old avid reader.

3. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

"I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart." - Anne Frank.

8 Autobiographies By Children Your Child Must Read

About the author: This autobiography needs no introduction. Written by then 13-year-old Jewish Anne Frank in Dutch language while she hid with her family from Nazi occupation in Netherlands. The book is written with surprising candour - about life in isolation, her random thoughts about growing up, war, discrimination, school girl musings about crushes and sexuality.

About the book: Her words on war, humanity and hope for mankind make her diary exemplary. It is hard to believe it is a 13-year-old penning her thoughts.

What children can learn from it: Even in times of adversity, do not lose hope and always look at the bright side.

Parent Speak: "My daughter Muskaan loves 'the diary of a young girl' by Anne Frank. She finds it very interesting as it is one of the major sources of information about the holocaust (the incidents that occurred in Nazi Germany). It is fascinating to her to see these events (the crimes committed against the Jews) through the perspective of a thirteen year old Jewish girl, " said Jyotsna Awasthi.

4. A Long Way Home - Memoirs of a Boy Soldier By Ishmael Beah

"Some nights the sky wept stars that quickly floated and disappeared into the darkness before our wishes could meet them. " - Ishmael Beah

About the author: Another book from the Sierra Leone, from Ishmael Beah is a first person account of what it means to be a boy soldier in a war-torn African country. The writing is clear, the descriptions are gut wrenching and the memoirs gives a perspective that many children across the world are still being robbed of their childhood. Ishmael Beah, since writing the book has won many accolades - he is a UNICEF Ambassador and Advocate for Children Affected by War and a member of the Human Rights Watch Children's Rights Advisory Committee. His memoir has been published in over thirty languages. He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.

About the book: The haunting odyssey is a triumph of human spirit to and the capacity to overcome against all odds.

What children can learn from it: Gain a perspective on civil war, refugee crises, world politics and how it effects innocent lives.

Parent Speak: " My son, 16-year-old, was moved by the book," Arshia Zafar.

5. Soul Surfer By Bethany Hamilton

"I don't need easy, I just need possible." - Bethany Hamilton

About the author: This autobiography is the true story of Bethany Hamilton. The writer was a competitive surfer, and at 14, at the stage when life is beginning for many, thought her life was over, after she got attacked by a shark and lost her arm. She tracks her life, before and after the accident - and her story is awe-inspiring.

About the book: This a is true story about getting your life back on track and achieving your dreams.

What children will learn from it: It is a must read for anyone having doubts about their capabilities or anyone who is going through setbacks. Pick up the book today!

Parent Speak: "As an athlete myself in my school and college days, I was keen to pick up this book for my daughter. We need such stories to be shared," said D. Vishwanath, daughter of teenager Dharti Vishwanath.

6. El Deafo by Cece Bell

"I found that with a little creativity, and a lot of dedication, any difference can be turned into something amazing." - Cece Bell

About the author: A disability can become a superpower! El Deafo is a beautiful graphic novel that deals with being different due to a physical ailment (hearing loss) - it is a loosely based on the author's life. In an interesting quirk - all the characters in the graphic novel are bunnies. Why bunnies? Because they have large ears and extraordinary hearing abilities.

About the book: A graphic novel that deals with the sensitive topic of having a disability and trying to fit in.

What children can learn from it: The book is a great way to tell children that it's okay to be different, and it is what makes us different that also makes us special.

Parent Speak: " As a parent I am always looking for book that teach empathy. Glad I got this for the kids," said Divya Kuldeep.

7. Red Scarf Girl by Ji - Li Jiang

"This is the most frightening lesson of the Cultural Revolution: Without a sound legal system, a small group or even a single person can take control of an entire country. This is as true now as it was then. " ? Ji-li Jiang, Red Scarf Girl

About the author: How do you make sense of the changing political environment? How does one go for being a popular child in school to being betrayed by friends for having an affluent family background in a changing political environment in China. She was inspired by the Diary of Anne Frank and the book is her offering for the world to understand China better.

About the book: Ji-Li-Jiang in this historic memoir talks of the cultural revolution in China in 1966 and how it changed her world.

What children can learn from it: The memoir is a very painful and very personal account of a young girl and is recommended to gain an understanding of Chinese history.

Parent Speak: " I have always been interested in political memoirs. I enjoyed it and so did my daughter Diya," said Mridul Nath

8. Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodsoon

"But on paper, things can live forever. On paper, a butterfly never dies."- Jacqueline Woodson

About the author: Jacqueline Woodsoon grew up with her grandparents as her mother was working. The writer has many other books to her credit and is best known for Brown Girl Dreaming and Miracle's Boys .

About the book: An autobiographical book written in verse about a black girl's experiences of growing up in America in the 1960s. It is a short read, but lyrical and the poetry is beautiful. The verses are in anecdotal style and imagery is stunning.

What children can learn from it: Poignant and endearing, the book is recommended for readers looking beyond the usual authors and to understand black voices and their writings.

Parent Speak: " The poetry is beautiful. My daughter started penning her own poems after reading this book. This one is for the dreamers and the doers," said Naveen Sekhar daughter of 19-year-old Tanisha.

Order online or head out to libraries and book stores and help your child discover these gems. Give them a window to a new world and a new perspective. You can thank us later!

Also read: Top 10 Story Books For Your Toddler This Summer

About the author:

Written by Vidya Nesarikar on 12 March 2020.

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  • --> BIOGRAPHIES

Biographies for Kids

Leonardo da Vinci

A biography is a true story written about someone's life. There are many biographies for kids about famous people that students can read. These are written on a variety of reading levels to meet the needs of all types of readers. Famous people that children enjoy reading about can be people from long ago, such as George Washington or Betsy Ross, or from more recent times, such as Neil Armstrong or Ronald Reagan. Reading and learning about biographies of famous people is essential in school. Children enjoy reading about renowned people's lives, and really learn a lot of life lessons by reading them. Some children can even make life connections to the people they read about, and certainly relate to them. We have short biographies for kids to let children explore the joys of this genre. This type of genre is read during class as a read-aloud activity by the teacher, or in small reading groups facilitated by an instructor.

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The Best Books for Kindergarten

autobiography books for kindergarten

It’s so important to find great books for kindergarteners. Pre-schoolers and kindergarteners are still very open to exploring new interests, and it’s easier to raise a reader when you start young. The best books for kindergarten (especially class readalouds) are picture books — hands down! But if you have an advanced reader who is already getting into chapter books, the options on this list of first grade books and second grade chapter books will come in handy.

a selection of kindergarten books for kids

For this list, I’ve included some of my favorite picture books ever! Many of these picks tackle the kindergarten experience and first-day-of-school jitters , but most of them cover various other topics like growth mindset, self-love, gratitude and so much more.

Join our Patreon community to get the printable version of this li st ! You’ll also get access to other kid lit resources, like our seasonal guides and educator interviews, to inspire you.

20 Funny & Delightful Kindergarten Readaloud Books

Here are 20 great books for kindergarten

Laugh-Out-Loud Funny

If you’re looking for something to make your readers crack up, try these kindergarten picture books:

Giraffe Is Too Tall for This Book

Giraffe Is Too Tall for This Book

Published: October 17, 2023

What happens when a group of animal friends gather for storytime, but one’s too tall to fit? The others try to help, resulting in chaos, laughs, and a surprisingly effective solution. With speech bubbles, this picture book is one step behind graphic novels and perfect for young readers developing a love for the format. I dare you not to be tickled by this interactive new release.

I Want 100 Dogs

I Want 100 Dogs

A girl requests 100 dogs from her parents, but after more negotiation and discussion about what goes into caring for a pet, they whittle the request down to one dog — or was it all a smart bargain by the girl? This playful picture book makes math fun for the pet-obsessed reader and will put a smile on readers’ faces.

Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu

Ra Pu Zel and the Stinky Tofu

Published: January 2, 2024

Ra Pu Zel is not your average Chinese princess. She likes cooking, doesn’t eat in dainty bites, and doesn’t care much for the princess her parents wanted her to mingle with. One day, she gets fed up with all the constant scolding and escapes to a tower. The royal family begs and begs, but she won’t come down. Until a surprising, stinky encounter. This is absolutely delightful to read, and the illustrations are just gorgeous! Hand to kids who can’t get enough of princess stories and fairy tales for a great tale of being yourself even when it isn’t what others expect. 

One Chicken Nugget

One Chicken Nugget

Published: March 7, 2023

Here’s another math picture book that is wickedly funny and will appeal to kindergarten readers as much as it will to older kids. Frank can’t get enough chicken nuggets, so the nugget stand owner, Celeste, starts a contest to double the nuggets day after day for anyone who can finish all of it. Watch out for an ending worthy of kids who love all things farts and burps.

Mr. S: A First Day of School Book

Published: June 13, 2023

This is a fantastic first-day-of-school book about a kindergarten class who’s convinced that their teacher is a sandwich. But is he? I love the suspense and glee in this story and I think it’s a lovely kindergarten readaloud pick.

Growth Mindset & SEL

Teaching kids how to try and try or practice patience is so important, and these sweet picture books help with this:

Bella's Recipe for Success

Bella’s Recipe for Success

Published: July 13, 2021

B ella’s Recipe for Success  is about a girl who can’t seem to figure out what she’s good at. Her brother plays piano excellently and her sister is a brilliant gymnast, but Bella can’t do either of those things well. She decides, though, that she’s going to bake, but it turns out baking isn’t that easy and her first recipe is a bust. But just before she gives up, her abuela steps in to teach her and Bella learns that learning new things — and becoming good at them — takes time and effort. Bella’s Recipe for Success  is a poignant growth-mindset picture book for kids facing new challenges. 

When You Have to Wait

When You Have to Wait

Published: January 9, 2024

Whether it’s standing in long pool lines while you melt in the sun or waiting until you’re grown enough to ride the big girl bike, waiting isn’t fun—especially if all you’re doing is watching the clock. But soon, our girl realizes that she doesn’t have to wait idly and that good things can happen WHILE we wait. I love how gentle and relatable the language in this book is and how it manages to highlight the joys of waiting without being too on the nose. And the illustrations are so sweet!

The Good Egg: An Easter And Springtime Book For Kids (The Food Group)

The Good Egg

Published: February 12, 2019

This is a sweet picture book about an egg who’s always trying to be good and perfect. Eventually, he starts to crack under the pressure.

Together We Ride

Together We Ride

Published: April 26, 2022

I loved this cute picture book about a girl whose father is teaching her to ride a bike. After a slip, she learns that she can get back up and enjoy the ride. This rhythmic picture book has super sparse text and manages to be adorable and moving without saying too much. Great  growth mindset book !

Weird, But Good

If your kindergarteners love a good weird picture book, don’t miss these options:

Pretty Ugly (Toon Books)

Pretty Ugly

Published: February 27, 2024

Anna Van Ogre is always making weird and scary faces and her family keeps warning her that one day one day one of those faces will stick… and one day it happens! This book is sure to generate lots of chatter, and squeals of “eww” as your kids discover what Anna’s scary face is and how she finds her “inner beauty.” If you have many sensitive readers, you might want to skip this one as a class read-aloud as it is a teeny bit horror-esque.

The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn

Teeny Weeny Unicorn

Published: February 6, 2024

I loved this sweet story of a teeny weeny unicorn who realizes that size is relative, and we’re all just the right size. It’s intriguing, beautifully illustrated, and just didactic enough to get the message across.

Pepper and Me

Pepper and Me

Published: January 16, 2024

Definitely an unconventional picture book that will thrill the right kind of reader — all about a girl and her bruise and the warm friendship they develop. Any kid who’s ever had a boo-boo will be intrigued by this.

Creativity & Inspirational

Mary Can!

Published: March 28, 2023

Most of the time, people say “no” or “you can’t” because they dream too small. Young Mary has been told that there are many things she can’t do. Like stay up past bedtime, or be an astronaut or become president. But what she really wants is to sing, and she isn’t about to let anyone tell her she can’t do it! This is a fun and inspiring picture book based on the singer’s life. The writing in this is also great — Blige is a strong storyteller!

To Make

Published: May 31, 2022

This sparse picture book about the creative process is perfect for little makers and the catchy rhyme will make it a memorable read.

Last Stop on Market Street

Last Stop on Market Street

Published: January 8, 2015

Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don’t own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them. This was one of the first picture books I read and fell in love with.

Thank You, Omu! (Caldecott Honor Book)

Thank you Omu

Published: October 2, 2018

Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu’s delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses toward the scrumptious scent. And one by one, Omu offers a portion of her meal. Soon the pot is empty. Has she been so generous that she has nothing left for herself? Mora’s signature art brings this community, gratitude-centered story to life.

Thank You, Day!: A Picture Book

Thank You, Day

Published: September 5, 2023

A child bursting with gratitude shares her thanks for the earth, the sun, and other natural provisions that make life more delightful. I love the language in this book and the simple, casual ways, the narrator thanks her surroundings, “Psst! Sunflowers!… I see you–taller every day!” The illustrations are charming and colorful. Great for older kids ages 4 and up.

Other Recommended Kindergarten Books

Solitary Animals: Introverts of the Wild

Solitary Animals

Published: March 8, 2022

Are you an introvert? Then you’ll love this new picture book about solitary animals in the wild. We learn that some animals are more social and move in packs, while others prefer a more solitary life. The dazzling imagery and animal trivia in this picture book make it a breathtaking read.

The Queen of Kindergarten

The Queen of Kindergarten

Published: May 24, 2022

MJ is more than ready for her first day of kindergarten! With her hair freshly braided and her mom’s special tiara on her head, she knows she’s going to rock kindergarten. But the tiara isn’t just for show—it also reminds her of all the good things she brings to the classroom, stuff like her kindness, friendliness, and impressive soccer skills, too! Like  The King of Kindergarten , this is the perfect book to reinforce back-to-school excitement and build confidence in the newest students.

The King of Kindergarten

The King of Kindergarten

Published: July 2, 2019

The morning sun blares through your window like a million brass trumpets.It sits and shines behind your head–like a crown. Mommy says that today, you are going to be the King of Kindergarten ! Starting kindergarten is a big milestone–and the hero of this story is ready to make his mark! He’s dressed himself, eaten a pile of pancakes, and can’t wait to be part of a whole new kingdom of kids. The day will be jam-packed, but he’s up to the challenge, taking new experiences in stride with his infectious enthusiasm! And afterward, he can’t wait to tell his proud parents all about his achievements–and then wake up to start another day.

Bros

Published March 12, 2024

An impossibly charming picture book that personifies #BlackBoyJoy. This picture book depicts a group of boys who do a lot together, including caring, leading, crying, and glowing. Such an ode to Black boys and all that they are.

There they are: 20 of the best books for kindergarten! Which of these books have you read and loved? Which ones did I miss?

More Kindergarten Book Lists

  • Great books for 1st graders
  • The best chapter books for 1st graders
  • My favorite picture books for older kids

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  • About Afoma Umesi

Afoma Umesi is the founder and editor of Reading Middle Grade where she curates book lists and writes book reviews for kids of all ages. Her favorite genre to read is contemporary realistic fiction and she'll never say no to a graphic novel.

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May 11, 2023 at 2:18 pm

I would add That’s Not my Name by Anoosha Syed and All are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold. I’m not sure I’d recommend The Bad Seed. It’s come under some criticism for having a racist message by contributing to the black = bad trope.

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May 12, 2023 at 2:37 am

Thanks for sharing — I’ll check those two out! 🙂

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autobiography books for kindergarten

Filling the shelves of your classroom library with engaging, imaginative books is an ideal way to encourage students to challenge themselves and read all year long.

Featuring beloved characters like Clifford and Pete the Cat , plus award-winning authors like Kevin Henkes and Cynthia Lord , this distinctive mix of fiction and nonfiction titles will capture the hearts and minds of kindergarteners from the moment they turn the first page.

These beloved classics make a great addition as you build and grow your classroom library as well as your students' love of reading. 

Shop popular titles to fill your shelves below! You can find all books and activities at  The Teacher Store .

autobiography books for kindergarten

Walk with Gandhi

Text: Gabriel Rosenstock Illustrations: Masood Hussain

Categories: Age 10-13 years , Age years 13+ , All FKB Books , Biography , Books for a Cause , Creative Commons , Editor's Picks , Gabriel Rosenstock , Grade 7+ , History , Inspirational , moral , Non-Fiction , Older Children , poetry , Spiritual , Values , Young Adult

An enlightening text on the life of Gandhi, containing enlightening snapshots of Gandhi’s life, with lots of questions for reflection, making it very suitable for school use – social studies, history, art, or English. The Haiku, images, and text reflect the remarkable life of Mahatma (‘great soul’) who brought freedom to India through non-violent protest. …

autobiography books for kindergarten

The Life Story of Ayrton Senna

Sachin Dissanayake

Categories: Age 6-9 years , All FKB Books , Biography , Careers , Cars , Children , Creative Commons , Grade 4 to Grade 6 , Intermediate English , Non-Fiction , Sachin Dissanayake

Ayrton Senna’s life, a race driver and philanthropist, is highlighted in this book for elementary school age children. The book details his early life, race successes and career, and his tragic ending and legacy.  

autobiography books for kindergarten

Sindiwe and the Fireflies

Author: Cheréne Pienaar Illustrator: Jano Strydom

Categories: Age 6-9 years , All FKB Books , Biography , BookDash , Children , Creative Commons , Inspirational , Non-Fiction

Sindiwe and the Fireflies – This is the story of Sindiwe Magona. Born in the village of Gungululu in rural Eastern Cape. Born on August 23 1943, But life was not easy on Sindiwe, she left school in order to work as a cleaner, but no matter difficult her situation was Sindiwe never gave up …

Kali Veerapathiran

Kali Wants to Dance – Biography of Kali Veerapathiran

Author: Aparna Karthikeyan Illustrator: Somesh Kumar

Categories: Age 10-13 years , Age 6-9 years , Biography , Careers , Children , Creative Commons , Culture , Fluent English , Grade 4 to Grade 6 , Inspirational , Storyweaver-Pratham

Kali Wants to Dance is the biography of Kali Veerapathiran born in a fishing Village, with a talent and passion in dancing. But his family does not have enough money to spare for dance classes. And who has heard of boys dancing for a living? “Who has ever learned dance and made any money from it? It’s a …

autobiography books for kindergarten

What is Love – Children’s Biography of Helen Keller

Free Kids Books

Categories: Age 10-13 years , Age 6-9 years , All FKB Books , Biography , Children , Creative Commons , Danielle Bruckert , Diversity and Differences , Editor's Picks , Emotions , Free Kids Books , Grade 4 to Grade 6 , Helen Keller , Intermediate English , Non-Fiction , Older Children

In What is Love – a children’s biography of Helen Keller, an excerpt from Helen Keller’s book, The Story of My Life is included, whereupon she explains beautifully the first time she learns what love is and what her life was like before her teacher arrived, thereafter the book details the biography of Helen Keller …

the story of my life Helen Keller

The Story of My Life – Helen Keller’s Autobiography up to age 21

Helen Keller

Categories: Biography , Classic Books , Diversity and Differences , Fluent English , Grade 7+ , Helen Keller , Non-Fiction , Stories with English Worksheets

Helen Keller’s Autobiography, written at age 22, and details her growing up, before and after meeting Anne Sullivan, and her years in formal education, both special needs education and afterwards when she was accepted into main stream education, with the help of Ms Sullivan’s translation. The book includes letters written by Helen from the age …

The world I live in and the practice of optimism

The World I Live In and Optimism – Helen Keller

Categories: Age 10-13 years , Age years 13+ , All FKB Books , Biography , Classic Books , Fluent English , Grade 7+ , Helen Keller , Non-Fiction , Older Children , Public Domain

In The World I Live In – The Practice of Optimism, Iby Helen Keller explains in an amazing and inspiring set of biographical accounts, along with essays and poems what it is like for her in her world. Helen Keller, being both deaf and blind, seeing the world through her sense of touch, displays an …

Tine Mena biography for children

Tine and the Faraway Mountain – Children’s biography, A story of determination

Author: Shikha Tripathi Illustrator: Ogin Nayam

Categories: Adventure , Age 6-9 years , All FKB Books , Biography , Children , Grade 1 to Grade 3 , Intermediate English , Non-Fiction , Storyweaver-Pratham

In Tine and the Faraway Mountain we follow the story of Tine Mena, a mountineer, who at the age of 25 became the first woman from North-East India to climb Everest. Tine Mena was a young girl from  Mishmi hills of Arunachal Pradesh who heard the calling of the mountains. She had to hide her …

Benjamin Franklin Children's Book

Benjamin Franklin – Interactive Biographies for Kids

Categories: Age 6-9 years , All FKB Books , Biography , Children , Creative Commons , Grade 1 to Grade 3 , Intermediate English , Kiwi Opa , Non-Fiction

Benjamin Franklin was an amazing person, statesman, businessman, author, philanthropist, and inventor, with his achievements from the declaration of independence to contributions to discovering electricity.  This biography tells all the events of his life, interspersed with activities for children to complete. This Benjamin Franklin children’s book is great for a school or home school project. …

dipa karmakar children's book biography

Dipa Karmakar – In Perfect Balance, Biography for children

Author: Sreelata Menon, Illustrator: Sonal Gupta

Categories: Age 6-9 years , All FKB Books , Biography , Children , Creative Commons , Grade 1 to Grade 3 , Intermediate English , Storyweaver-Pratham

In Perfect Balance is the story of Dipa Karmakar – Biography for children, the first female Indian Olympic gymnast. Karmakar is famous for being one of only five women in the world who have ever successfully landed the Produnova vault. The story is inspiring since Dipa had to overcome diversity, having flat feet, not suitable …

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Former Diversity Program Manager at Facebook and Nike Sentenced to Federal Prison for $5 Million Fraud

ATLANTA - Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a former diversity program manager at Facebook and Nike, has been sentenced for stealing more than $5 million based on an elaborate scheme involving fraudulent vendors, fictitious paperwork, and cash kickbacks.

“Furlow-Smiles shamelessly violated her position of trust as a DEI executive at Facebook to steal millions from the company utilizing a scheme involving fraudulent vendors, fake invoices, and cash kickbacks,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “After being terminated from Facebook, she brazenly continued the fraud as a DEI leader at Nike, where she stole another six-figure sum from their diversity program. Her prison sentence reflects the consequences of her decision to orchestrate an intricate scheme to defraud two of her employers for personal profit.”

“As Lead Strategist at Facebook, Furlow-Smiles’ employer put an extreme amount of trust in her, only to have that trust completely violated,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “After she was fired, she carelessly continued her fraudulent schemes at Nike, thinking she was untouchable. As a result, she not only threw away a lucrative career, but will serve time behind bars for her excessive greed.”

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Barbara Furlow-Smiles served as Lead Strategist, Global Head of Employee Resource Groups and Diversity Engagement at Facebook, Inc., now known as Meta Platforms, Inc., doing business as Meta. From January 2017 to September 2021, she led Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs at Facebook and was responsible for developing and executing DEI initiatives, operations, and engagement programs. In her position, Furlow-Smiles had access to company credit cards. She also had the authority to submit purchase requisitions and approve invoices for authorized vendors of Facebook.

Furlow-Smiles used her position at Facebook to cheat and defraud the company. She caused Facebook to pay numerous individuals for goods and services that were never provided and then directed those individuals to kick back the fraudulent proceeds to her, often in cash. Her scheme operated in two ways.

First, Furlow-Smiles linked PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App accounts to her Facebook credit cards and used those accounts to pay friends, relatives, and other associates for goods and services that in truth were never provided to Facebook. To conceal the bogus charges, Furlow-Smiles submitted fraudulent expense reports, falsely claiming that her associates or their businesses had performed work on programs and events for Facebook, such as providing swag or marketing services, when in fact they had not done so.

After these individuals received the payments from Facebook, they returned the vast majority of the money to Furlow-Smiles. They paid these kickbacks in cash and through account transfers to others, including her husband. They paid the cash kickbacks in person and by Federal Express or mail, sometimes wrapping the cash in other items, such as T-shirts. Furlow-Smiles also directed associates to pay one another, or others to whom she owed money, to conceal her involvement in the scheme.

Second, Furlow-Smiles caused Facebook to onboard several vendors that were owned and operated by friends and associates who paid her kickbacks. Furlow-Smiles approved fraudulent invoices for these vendors. After Facebook paid the invoices, Furlow-Smiles directed the vendors to return a portion of the money they received to her.

Furlow-Smiles recruited numerous individuals to participate in the scheme. These individuals included friends, relatives, former interns from a prior job, nannies and babysitters, a hair stylist, and her university tutor. She also caused Facebook to make payments for her benefit to others who did not pay kickbacks. For example, Furlow-Smiles caused Facebook to pay nearly $10,000 to an artist for specialty portraits and more than $18,000 to a preschool for tuition.

After Furlow-Smiles was terminated from Facebook, she worked for Nike from November 2021 to February 2023, serving as Senior Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. In that position, she was responsible for supporting DEI initiatives, developing strategies, and hosting DEI events. She was primarily responsible for a Juneteenth event in New York during her time at Nike.

As she had done at Facebook, Furlow-Smiles circumvented the vendor process at Nike to commit fraud. She linked her Nike corporate card to her PayPal and Venmo accounts. She then paid her associates with PayPal and Venmo, causing fraudulent charges to her Nike card. The associates kicked back portions of the payments to Furlow-Smiles, who submitted fraudulent expense reports to Nike to cover her tracks. The expense reports falsely claimed that the payments were related to the Juneteenth event.

In total, Furlow-Smiles stole more than $4.9 million from Facebook and over $120,000 from Nike based on fictitious charges and fraudulent invoices. She used the money to fund a luxury lifestyle in California, Georgia, and Oregon.

Barbara Furlow-Smiles, 38, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg to five years, three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,981,783.58 to Facebook and $121,054.50 to Nike, for a total of $5,102,838.08. Furlow-Smiles was convicted of wire fraud on December 11, 2023, after she pleaded guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen H. McClain and Bernita B. Malloy prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .

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    These 20 biography books for kids can help your kids dream big. 20 of the Best Biography Books for Kids. The Story of Harriet Tubman by Christine Platt . Before she became known for her fight to free people from enslavement, she was a little girl who was sad to see her family be separated. Tubman is going to be a key person in most kids ...

  5. Biography & Autobiography

    Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 ... Biographies & Autobiographies for Kids. FILTERS Reset Apply. FILTER BY ... Books-a-Million, Indiebound, Target, and Walmart. VIEW FULL PRODUCT DETAIL. Key Features. Description. Standards. Online Resources. Reviews.

  6. 70+ Picture Book Biographies to Inspire Your Kids (& YOU)

    Somewhere between actual biography and tall tale, this picture book tells the story of how fruit trees traveled from the midwest all the way to Oregon and became the orchards that exist there today. 12. A Boy and a Jaguar. The true story of Alan Rabinowitz, as told by himself.

  7. Biographies for Kids (87 books)

    post a comment ». 87 books based on 37 votes: Helen Keller's Teacher by Margaret Davidson, The Heart Has Reasons: Holocaust Rescuers and Their Stories of Courage by Mark K...

  8. The Best Autobiography & Biography Books for Kids

    Mahatma Gandhi: My First Mahatma Gandhi (Little People, Big Dreams) By Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara. This picture book is a gentle introduction for babies and toddlers to the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. The charmingly illustrated tale tells the story of young Mohandas and his upbringing in India under British rule.

  9. 20 fantastic picture book biographies for kids

    Eugenie spent her life proving the naysayers wrong, both abut sharks and female scientists. (Also check out Swimming with Sharks: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark by Heather Lang, illustrated by Jordi Solano). John Ronald's Dragons: The Story of J.R.R. Tolkien by Caroline McAlister, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler.

  10. Autobiography Children's Book Collection

    Epic is the leading digital reading platform—built on a collection of 40,000+ popular, high-quality books from 250+ of the world's best publishers—that safely fuels curiosity and reading confidence for kids 12 and under. Discover new children's books on Epic. With thousands of books and audiobooks there is no limit to what children can ...

  11. The 100 Best Biography And Autobiography Kids Books

    Top 10 Biography And Autobiography Books. 7.0. 01. Pocket Full of Colors: The Magical World of Mary Blair, Disney Artist Extraordinaire. Written by Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville & illustrated by Brigette Barrager. 7.0. #1 in Series. 02. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls.

  12. 21 Picture Book Biographies

    21 Picture Book Biographies. When children read biographies it's like they are walking into a new friend's home. They get immersed in their life and never leave without learning something new. These picture book biographies are incredible tools to teach children about history, about innovation, and empathy. All our book lists include ...

  13. 100+ Best Biographies For Kids

    24. The Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin. This non-fiction book for kids is a great introduction to the extraordinary life of Benjamin Franklin. Considered as one of the founding fathers of America, this biography takes kids on a ride exploring the different aspects of the great leader, innovator, writer and painter.

  14. Amazon Best Sellers: Best Children's Biographies

    Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist (Women in Science Books, Marine Biology for Kids, Shark Gifts) Jess Keating 4.8 out of 5 stars 2,241

  15. Autobiographies for Kids, Children's Autobiography Books, Inspiring

    Autobiographies for Kids - Know the benefits of reading autobiographies for children and students. Eight inspiring children's autobiography books are must-read for children 10 years and above. I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai, Hope in a Ballet Shoe by Michaela DePrince, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, A Long Way Home - Memoirs of a Boy Soldier By Ishmael Beah, Soul Surfer By Bethany ...

  16. Amazon.com: Autobiographies For Kids

    The Story of Katherine Johnson: An Inspiring Biography for Young Readers (The Story of Biographies) Part of: The Story Of: A Biography Series for New Readers (46 books) 165. Paperback. $569. List: $6.99. FREE delivery Sat, May 25 on $35 of items shipped by Amazon. Or fastest delivery Thu, May 23. More Buying Choices.

  17. Biographies for Kids

    Biographies for Kids. Biographies for kids are non-fiction books written on the kids' levels, so they can get a glimpse into a person's life. These stories are used by teachers to support their instruction when teaching about the concept of biographies (and autobiographies), or when they are teaching about a particular person's life ...

  18. 20 Best Books for Kindergarten (Great Readaloud Picks!)

    The Queen of Kindergarten. By Derrick Barnes (Author), Vanessa Brantley-Newton (Illustrator) Published: May 24, 2022. MJ is more than ready for her first day of kindergarten! With her hair freshly braided and her mom's special tiara on her head, she knows she's going to rock kindergarten.

  19. 13 Inspiring Biographies That Introduce Kids to Diverse Heroes

    by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, illustrated by Oge Mora. Mary Walker should be a household name, and this beautifully illustrated picture book gets us one step closer to just that. Born into slavery in 1848, Walker was freed at age 15 and went on to work numerous jobs and raise a family in the South.

  20. 8 Visual and Very Fun Biography Series for Young Readers

    Rookie Biographies Series. by various authors and illustrators. These 32-page, 8" x 8" paperback books are a cross between a picture book and a reader. The spreads include easy-to-read text with three to five sentences on one page and a colorful image with a caption on the opposite page. The books also include a table of contents, index ...

  21. Amazon.com: Autobiography For Kids

    The Story of Jane Goodall: A Biography Book for New Readers (The Story Of: A Biography Series for New Readers) Part of: The Story Of: A Biography Series for New Readers (46 books) 4.8 out of 5 stars. 1,343. Paperback. $6.26 $ 6. 26. List: $6.99 $6.99. FREE delivery Thu, Mar 7 on $35 of items shipped by Amazon.

  22. The Best Books to Get Kindergartners Reading

    The Kissing Hand. Grades Pre-K - K. $5.96 $ 7.95. ADD TO CART. save to wishlist. The perfect first day book—and for any other day students need a little extra love and support—this heartwarming story reassures children that even when they're apart, the love between a parent and a child is everywhere.

  23. Biography

    Author: Sreelata Menon, Illustrator: Sonal Gupta. Categories: Age 6-9 years, All FKB Books, Biography, Children, Creative Commons, Grade 1 to Grade 3, Intermediate English, Storyweaver-Pratham. In Perfect Balance is the story of Dipa Karmakar - Biography for children, the first female Indian Olympic gymnast.

  24. Northern District of Georgia

    For example, Furlow-Smiles caused Facebook to pay nearly $10,000 to an artist for specialty portraits and more than $18,000 to a preschool for tuition. After Furlow-Smiles was terminated from Facebook, she worked for Nike from November 2021 to February 2023, serving as Senior Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.