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Brilliant Biographies for Kids

Read to inspire with these wonderful biographies, auto-biographies, and memoirs for kids. For this list, picture books will be listed first followed by books for older kids.

User from New Westminster Public Library

44 items

  • Forest Fighter

    the Story of Chico Mendes

    Ganeri, Anita, 1961-
    A picture book that tells the important story of Chico Mendes, who led the fight to protect the Amazon rainforest and demand fair treatment for the people whose livelihoods depended on it.
    Book, 2022Northampton, MA : Crocodile Books, and Imprint of Interlink Publishing Group, Incorporated, 2022. — EASY 333.720 GAN 2022
  • To Boldly Go

    How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights

    Dalton, Angela,
    Tells the true story of how Nichelle Nichols used her platform as Lieutenant Uhura on Star trek to inspire and recruit a new generation of diverse astronauts and many others in the space and STEM fields.
    Book, 2023New York, NY : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, [2023] — EASY 921 DAL 2023
  • Up, Up, Ever Up!

    Junko Tabei : a Life in the Mountains

    Yasuda, Anita
    Anita Yasuda's evocative picture book biography about Junko Tabei, the first woman to summit Everest.
    Book, 2024New York, New York : Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, [2024] — EASY 796.522092 YAS 2024
  • A Plate of Hope

    the Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen

    Frankel, Erin
    A biography about chef José Andrés, who, through his World Central Kitchen organization, is fulfilling a vision to feed people in need all over the world.
    Book, 2024New York, NY : Random House Studio, [2024] — EASY 641.5092 FRA 2024
  • Digging for Words

    José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built

    Kunkel, Angela Burke,
    In Bogotá, Columbia, young José eagerly anticipates Saturday, when he can visit the library started by José Alberto Gutiérrez, a garbage collector, and take a book home to enjoy all week. Includes note about Gutiérrez's life and Bogotá
    Book, 2020New York : Schwartz and Wade Books, [2020] — EASY 921 KUN 2020
  • Young readers can meet their favorite superstar, gifted singer-songwriter Taylor, who shares her inspirational journey to superstardom and shows why she believes everyone should have the chance to be who they want to be.
    Book, 2024London : Kingfisher, [2024] — EASY 782.42164 BAK 2024
  • The Heartbeat Drum

    the Story of Carol Powder, Cree Drummer and Activist

    Havrelock, Deirdre,
    Powerfully written and joyfully illustrated, The Heartbeat Drum is a radiant celebration of preserving Indigenous traditions, finding your voice, and speaking out.
    Book, 2024New York : Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2024. — EASY 921 HAV 2024
  • The uplifting true story of Minda Dentler, the first female wheelchair athlete to complete the Ironman World Championship triathlon.
    Book, 2024Naperville, Illinois : Sourcebooks eXplore, an imprint of Sourcebooks Kids, [2024] — EASY 796.42092 DEN 2024
  • Ellie

    An Inspiring Story About Inclusivity and Growing Up With Down Syndrome

    Goldstein, Ellie,
    When Ellie Goldstein was born with Down's Syndrome, doctors claimed she could do nothing. Today, she's a supermodel, gracing the covers of Vogue and Glamour, dancing and speaking up for others. This is the story of her 'can do' attitude and…
    Book, 2024London : Starshine Books, 2024. — PIC Gol
  • The uplifting true story of Elizabeth Quocksister, a strong Indigenous woman and community leader, who dedicated her life to protecting her language and cultural traditions. Also available in eBook format.
    Book, 2024[Surrey, British Columbia] : Heritage House Publishing, 2024. — EASY 971.1004 HEA 2024
  • Daughter of the Light-footed People

    the Story of Indigenous Marathon Champion Lorena Ramírez

    Medina, Belen
    From the copper canyons of Mexico her swift footsteps echo. Clip clap, clip clap. Experience a 60-mile run with indigenous athlete Lorena Ramirez, who captured the world's attention when she won an ultramarathon in Mexico wearing a skirt and rubber…
    Book, 2024New York, New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, [2024] — EASY 796.42 MED 2024
  • Becoming a Ballerina

    the Story of Michaela Mabinty DePrince

    Obuobi, Laura,
    A picture book biography of Michaela Mabinty DePrince, a Sierra Leone-born orphan turned ballerina.
    Book, 2025New York, NY : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2025] — EASY 792.8092 OBU 2025
  • Rumi

    Poet of Joy and Love

    Kheiriyeh, Rashin,
    Even the greatest poet was once a child. And so it was with Persion mystic and poet, Rumi. Written by award-winning Iranian-American artist Rashin Kheiriyeh, this narrative nonfiction picture book has been published to honor his life and the 750th…
    Book, 2024New York : North-South Books, 2024. — EASY 921 KHE 2024
  • On April 19, 1907, a hundred thousand people lined up to watch the eighth running of the Boston Marathon. At the start of the race, more than one hundred runners surged forward, and at the end, Tom Longboat won it in an record-breaking four minutes,…
    Book, 2019Toronto : Scholastic Canada Ltd., 2019. — JUV 796.424 MAC 2019
  • Go Show the World

    a Celebration of Indigenous Heroes

    Kinew, Wab, 1981-,
    Including figures such as Crazy Horse, Net-no-kwa, former NASA astronaut John Herrington and Canadian NHL goalie Carey Price, Go Show the World showcases a diverse group of Indigenous people in the US and Canada, both the more well known and the…
    Book, 2018Toronto, Ontario : Tundra Books, 2018. — EASY 970.17 KIN 2018
  • Shark Lady

    the Daring Tale of How Eugenie Clark Dove Into History

    Keating, Jess
    At 9 years old, Eugenie Clark developed an unexpected passion for sharks after a visit to the Battery Park Aquarium in New York City. At the time, sharks were seen as mindless killing machines, but Eugenie knew better and set out to prove it.…
    Book, 2017Naperville, Illinois : Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, [2017] — EASY 597.3 KEA 2017
  • Stand as Tall as the Trees

    How An Amazonian Community Protected the Rain Forest

    Gualinga, Patricia,
    One activist's story shows how indigenous communities can fight to protect their sacred lands -- and win.
    Book, 2023Watertown, MA : Charlesbridge Publishing, 2023. — EASY 333.75 GUA 2023
  • Six Dots

    a Story of Young Louis Braille

    Bryant, Jennifer
    Louis Braille was just five years old when he lost his sight. He was a clever boy, determined to live like everyone else, and what he wanted more than anything was to be able to read. Even at the school for the blind in Paris, there were no books…
    Book, 2016New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2016. — EASY 686.282 BRA 2016
  • Queen of Physics

    How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom

    Robeson, Teresa, 1964-
    When Wu Chien Shiung was born in China 100 years ago, girls did not attend school. But her parents named their daughter "Courageous Hero" and encouraged her love of science. This biography follows Wu as she battles sexism at home and racism in the…
    Book, 2019New York, NY : Sterling Children's Books, [2019] — EASY 530.092 ROB 2019
  • Contenders

    Two Native Baseball Players, One World Series

    Sorell, Traci,
    The true story of John Meyers and Charles Bender, who in 1911 became the first two Native American pro baseball players to face off in a World Series, teaches important lessons about resilience, doing what you love in the face of injustice, and the…
    Book, 2023New York, NY : Kokila, 2023. — EASY 796.35764 SOR 2023