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Biographies for Kids

Read true stories of historical figures, musicians, scientists, inventors, authors, artists, athletes, and trailblazers of all sorts!

King County Library System

25 items

  • The Indestructible Tom Crean

    Heroic Explorer of the Antarctic

    Thermes, Jennifer,
    This book shows the incredible true stories of Crean's time on the Discovery, Terra Nova, and Endurance expeditions. When the Endurance becomes trapped in the frozen sea and sinks, it is up to Crean and others to go for help.
    Book, 2023New York : Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2023.
  • Courage in Her Cleats

    the Story of Soccer Star Abby Wambach

    Chaffee, Kim,
    Abby Wambach didn't want to be left out of any competition, especially soccer. Darting down fields and booting balls ... into goals, Abby worked her way up from competitive youth player to U.S. Women's National Soccer star.
    Book, 2023Salem, MA : Page Street Kids, 2023.
  • Introduces young readers to Queen Elizabeth II and her four-legged canine companion Susan, a Pembroke Welsh corgi full of love and tail wags, showing how this pair forged an unbreakable bond from princess-hood to queendom.
    Book, 2023New York : Godwin Books, Henry Holt and Company, 2023.
  • The Brilliant Calculator

    How Mathematician Edith Clarke Helped Electrify America

    Lower, Jan,
    This book tells the story of Edith Clarke, the innovator who solved an electrical mystery and built the first graphing calculator- an accomplishment that helped her become of the first woman electrical engineer in America.
    Book, 2023New York : Calkins Creek, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, [2023]
  • Born Reading

    20 Stories of Women Reading Their Way Into History

    Krull, Kathleen,
    "Girls who read have become women who lead." From Cleopatra to Marley Dias, these entries, organized by birthdate, focus on a wide variety of women who stood out because they were empowered by a love of reading.
    Book, 2023New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, [2023]
  • The Bone Wars

    the True Story of An Epic Battle to Find Dinosaur Fossils

    Kurtz, Jane,
    The true story of the race between two paleontologists to find dinosaur fossils. They met, bonded over their shared love of fossils, and became friends. Until Marsh discovered an error in Cope's work, and the Bone Wars began!
    Book, 2023New York : Beach Lane Books, [2023]
  • The stories of six daring, groundbreaking Black ballet dancers leap off the pages of this beautifully illustrated nonfiction picture book.
    Book, 2023Chicago : Sunbird Books, [2023]
  • All Rise

    the Story of Ketanji Brown Jackson

    Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956-
    Ever since she was a child, Ketanji Brown Jackson rose to the top. She learned the value of education from her parents. She didn't let anything stop her and rose from Harvard to federal judge to Supreme Court Justice.
    Book, 2023New York : Crown Books for Young Readers, [2023]
  • "Be proud. Be seen. Writer and organizer Alice Wong's life and legacy is explored in this biography for early readers. Her work for disability representation and accessibility is presented in a simple, age-appropriate way.
    Book, 2024Ann Arbor, Michigan : Cherry Lake Publishing, [2024]
  • One Wish

    Fatima al-Fihri and the World's Oldest University

    Yuksel, M. O.,
    The story of Fatima al-Fihri, a trailblazing woman who founded the oldest existing and continually operating university in the world. She wanted a school for all, where anyone could study and become whatever they wanted.
    Book, 2022New York : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, [2022]
  • Call Me Miss Hamilton

    One Woman's Case for Equality and Respect

    Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956-
    This tells the story of Mary Hamilton who was found to be in contempt of court when she would not respond to questions from an Alabama judge who used only her first name while calling white people Mr., Mrs., or Miss.
    Book, 2022Minneapolis : Millbrook Press, 2022.
  • A timely and important picture book that introduces readers to Wong Kim Ark, who challenged the Supreme Court for his right to be an American citizen.
    Book, 2021New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2021.
  • Song for Jimi

    the Story of Guitar Legend Jimi Hendrix

    Smith, Charles R., Jr., 1969-
    The story of guitarist Jimi Hendrix's career told in verse.
    Book, 2021New York : Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, [2021]
  • Make Meatballs Sing

    the Life & Art of Corita Kent

    Burgess, Matthew,
    Deeply influenced by her religious beliefs and fired up by the social justice causes of her day, Corita Kent lived a remarkable life as a nun, educator, designer, artist, and activist.
    Book, 2021Brooklyn, New York : Enchanted Lion Books, 2021.
  • Paper Son

    the Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist

    Leung, Julie,
    An inspiring picture-book biography of animator Tyrus Wong, the Chinese-American immigrant responsible for bringing Disney's Bambi to life.
    Book, 2019New York : Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, [2019]
  • Dancing Hands

    How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln

    Engle, Margarita,
    Teresa, a young pianist, was forced to flee to the US after a revolution in Venezuela. But this was during the US Civil War. She kept playing and eventually President Abraham Lincoln wanted her to play at the White House!
    Book, 2019New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2019.
  • Rise

    From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou

    Hegedus, Bethany,
    African American writer, performer, and activist Maya Angelou transformed a childhood of trauma and emotional pain to become one of the most inspiring voices of our lifetime. Poet of the people!
    Book, 2019New York, NY : Lee & Low Books Inc., [2019]
  • Hedy Lamarr became a movie legend, but her true loves were always science and engineering. During World War II, Hedy collaborated on a technology called frequency hopping, designed to prevent the enemy from jamming torpedos.
    Book, 2019New York : Sterling Children's Books, [2019]
  • The story of William Lewis, a blacksmith from Tennessee who rented himself to earn money to buy his family out of slavery.
    Book, 2018New York : Lee & Low Books Inc., [2018]
  • The great-grandchildren of Nelson Mandela ask their grandmother fifteen questions about the former South African president, from his activism work, his Nobel Peace Prize, and his time in prison.
    Book, 2018Minneapolis, MN : Mandela Legacy, 2018.