Picture Book Biographies

Picture book biographies introduce children to people who did amazing things. These narrative nonfiction books are told like a story and have beautiful illustrations. These books will appeal to children as well as adults.

Updated July 24, 2023
Lewisville Public Library
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
A river of words : the story of William Carlos Williams
Bryant, Jennifer.
Paper Book
2009 Caldecott Honor Book An ALA Notable Book A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book A Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book NCTE Notable Children's Book When he wrote poems, he felt as free as the Passaic River as it...
Talkin' about Bessie : the story of aviator Bessie Coleman
Grimes, Nikki
Paper Book
#Includes bibliographical references.#A biography of the woman who became the first licensed Afro-American pilot.
A boy, a mouse, and a spider : the story of E.B. White
Herkert, Barbara
Paper Book
A lyrical biography of E. B. White, beloved author of Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, written by Barbara Herkert and illustrated by Caldecott honoree Lauren Castillo. When young Elwyn White lay in bed as a sickly child, a bold house mouse befriended him. When...
Shark lady : the true story of how Eugenie Clark became the ocean's most fearless scientist
Keating, Jess.
Paper Book
One of New York Times' Twelve Books for Feminist Boys and Girls! This is the story of a woman who dared to dive, defy, discover, and inspire. This is the story of Shark Lady. One of the best science picture books for children, Shark Lady is a must for both teachers and parents alike!
The boy on Fairfield Street : how Ted Geisel grew up to become Dr. Seuss
Krull, Kathleen
Paper Book
Award-winning author Kathleen Krull zeros in on the formative first 22 years of the life of Ted Geisel. This is the first picture book biography of Dr. Seuss, written especially for his young fans who want to know what made him tick. The animals in the zoo that his father ran and his fondness for...
It began with a page : how Gyo Fujikawa drew the way
Maclear, Kyo
Paper Book
* 4 Starred Reviews * * An Indie Next List Pick * "Playful, bold, and, much like its subject, full of grace." --Jillian Tamaki, Caldecott Honor winner for This One Summer "It Began with a Page tells [Gyo Fujikawa's] story beautifully, in picture-book form."...
A poem for Peter : the story of Ezra Jack Keats and the creation of The snowy day
Pinkney, Andrea Davis
Paper Book
A celebration of the extraordinary life of Ezra Jack Keats, creator ofThe Snowy Day. The story of The Snowy Day begins more than one hundred years ago, when Ezra Jack Keats was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. The family were struggling Polish immigrants, and despite Keats's...
Balloons over Broadway : the true story of the puppeteer of Macy's Parade
Sweet, Melissa
Paper Book
From Caldecott Honor artist Melissa Sweet comes the perfect Thanksgiving Day picture book. Let's have a parade! Meet the master puppeteer who invented the first balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Melissa Sweet brings to life the inspirational story of the puppeteer who...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.