We love picture book biographies and learning about inspirational people and the path they have taken in their lives. So we are excited to share this list of new biography books for kids!

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Colors of Awesome!

Written by Eva Chen and illustrated by Derek Desierto

This large, colorful board book introduces young readers to 24 bold women who have inspired the world. Each two page spread features a different color and highlights women who are often associated with that color. In addition to a cute cartoon illustration, each woman has a small blurb about her and the inspirational things she has done. The back of the book includes an inspirational message for kids reading the book to let their own colors shine.

We are Golden

Written by Eva Chen and illustrated by Sophie Diao

This large board book introduces readers to 27 inspirational people of Asian descent who have changed the world. Each person is introduced with a small blurb about their accomplishments and a colorful cartoon illustration. Each two page spread includes a quote from one of the featured people as well. The end of the book includes an inspirational message to the reader to see their own power and believe in it too.

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Katie Ledecky

Written by Shana Corey and illustrated by Jen Bricking

This Little Golden Book biography introduces readers to Katie Ledecky and her journey to the Olympics. The text shares important moments from her childhood and highlights the important characteristics that made her a champion. The adorable cartoon illustrations show her as a child learning how to swim, and then as a teenager balancing life as an Olympic champion and as a typical teen. This is an inspirational read for young kids who want to follow in Ledecky’s footsteps and achieve their dreams.

Lionel Messi

Written by Roberta Ludlow and illustrated by Nomar Perez

This Little Golden Book biography shares the life story of Lionel Messi and his incredible successes on the soccer field. The text shares memorable events and achievements in his life, from his childhood in Argentina to his career on soccer fields around the world. The colorful illustrations show him playing on soccer fields throughout his life and highlight the joy he feels on the field.

Muhammad Ali

Written by Frank Berrios and illustrated by Ken Daley

This Little Golden Book biography introduces young readers to the life and accomplishments of Muhammad Ali. The text follows from his childhood in Kentucky, through his early days in boxing, and his later years speaking out about things he knew were wrong. The easy to read text is accompanied by brightly colored illustrations that show Muhammad Ali through all the stages of his life.

Go, Wilma, Go!

Written by Amira Rose Davis and Michael G. Long and illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow

This inspirational book shares the remarkable story of Wilma Rudolph. After winning gold medals at the 1960 Olympics, she tours Europe and recognizes the incredible differences between how black people are treated in Europe and in her hometown in Tennessee. When she returns home, the town wants to host a “Wilma Rudolph Day” but she refuses to attend unless black people are allowed to take part. The beautiful illustrations are created by cut paper collage, and they highlight the differences between Europe and America at the time. The back of the book includes a long author’s note including more information about Wilma Rudolph and her incredible accomplishments.

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Lucy! How Lucille Ball Did it All

Written by Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville and illustrated by Brigette Barrager

Introduce little ones to the hilarious Lucille Ball and her rise to the Queen of Comedy. The book follows her from her childhood through adulthood, highlighting big achievements and memorable events in her life. The cartoon illustrations are mostly done in black, white and gray, with pops of blue and peach. The back of the book includes an author’s note providing more information about Ball’s life, as well as a bibliography of sources used.

Bridges Instead of Walls: The Story of Mavis Staples

Written by Mavis Staples, Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Steffi Walthall

Introduce young kids to Mavis Staples and her inspirational story in this colorful biography. The lyrical text explores the Staples family story, while the brightly colored illustrations highlight the incredible power of Mavis Staples’ singing and her big emotions from memorable moments in her life. The end of the book includes recommendations for viewing and listening, as well as a timeline of her life.

She Sells Seashells: Mary Anning, an Unlikely Paleontologist

Written by Heidi E.Y. Stemple and illustrated by Emily Paik

This picture book biography shares the life story of Mary Anning, the woman whose work would lead to the creation of paleontology. The book starts during Mary’s childhood in England in the early 1800s, where she would unearth fossilized seashells and sell them in her family’s shop. But when she discovered fossilized bones, she became the world’s first paleontologist. The adorable cartoon illustrations show young Mary happily discovering bones and fossils, even as men in the world of science debated her findings and left her out. The back of the book includes more information about her life, and the “seashells” that she discovered.

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Charles & Ray: Designers at Play

Written by James Yang

This picture book biography explores the work of Charles and Ray Eames, two iconic designers of the mid-century modern design movement. Charles was an architect and Ray was a painter, and they used their unique visions to problem solve and create interesting pieces. The simple text follows them as they use trial and error to create their pieces, and the colorful illustrations are full of interesting colors and shapes with a nostalgic feel. The back of the book contains a note from the author with more information about the designers and their work.

June Valentine and the Magical Shoes

Written by Eva Chen and illustrated by Derek Desierto

This incredible book follows a young girl named Juno Valentine who is searching for her favorite pair of shoes. When she stumbles into a forgotten corner of her closet, she finds herself surrounded by a magical closet full of shoes from history. As she tries on each pair, she introduces readers to famous women from history. In the end, she takes inspiration from each of the women to spruce up her own shoes. The back of the book includes a blurb about each of the women featured in the book.

The Story of Audrey Hepburn

Written by Natasha Wing

This colorful chapter book biography introduces young readers to Audrey Hepburn and her work as an actress and a humanitarian. The book is full of interesting information about Hepburn’s life, with large colorful illustrations and tons of quotes, timelines, and colorful tables for kids to explore. The layout of the book uses lots of nonfiction text features like bold headings, captions, and bold text, making it great for beginning readers. In the back of the book, there is a quiz about Hepburn’s life, questions for readers, a glossary, and more.

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Queer and Fearless: Poems Celebrating the Lives of LGBTQ+ Heroes

Written by Rob Sanders and illustrated by Harry Woodgate

This anthology of poems tells the stories of 17 heroes of the queer community. From Harvey Milk and Jose Sarria to Pauline Park and Pete Buttigieg, each person has a two page spread featuring a poem about them, a sidebar with more detailed paragraphs examining their accomplishments, and a colorful full page illustration. The back of the book includes a glossary of terms used throughout the book, an explanation about pronouns, and explanations of the types of poems used in the book. This is a great way to teach kids about inspirational people, as well as the different types of poetry.

Athletes Who Changed the Game: Fearless Firsts

Written by James Buckley Jr. and Ellen Labrecque and illustrated by Steffi Walthall

This compilation introduces readers to inspirational athletes who overcame odds against them to achieve their goals. From the first MLB pitcher born with one hand to the first woman to play with an NHL team, there are tons of inspirational stories in these pages. Each featured athlete is introduced in a one page essay detailing their background and their successes, as well as a large, colorful illustration. The back of the book includes a timeline of the historic firsts in the book, and an index breaking down the essays by sport.

Kid-Ventors

Written by Kailei Pew and illustrated by Shannon Wright

This fascinating book dives into the inventions of 35 young inventors who saw a problem and decided to fix it. The book begins with a table of contents showing the many categories explored in the book such as Inventions to Help Others, and Inventions for Fun. Each featured kid-ventor is highlighted in a thorough entry exploring the problems they saw, and how they solved them. It also includes a cute cartoon illustration, quotes from the inventor, fun facts about the inventor, and information about their age and location.There is also important information throughout the book about patents, prototypes, and more.

What are your favorite new biography books for kids? Share them in the comments below!

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