Picture book biographies are a great way to learn about fascinating figures from the past and present alongside your kids, in an accessible, storytelling format that will keep you turning pages. Find most of these in the juvenile nonfiction section and learn about the ways women have contributed to science, the arts, governance, activism, child development, and other fields - often without recognition - throughout history and how their work shapes our lives today.
Tu Youyou's discovery : finding a cure for malaria
Daemicke, Songju Ma, author.
jBIOGRAPHY Youyou, Tu
"Tu Youyou had been interested in science and medicine since she was a child, so when malaria started infecting people all over the world in 1969, she went to work finding a treatment. Trained as a medical researcher in college and healed by traditional medicine techniques when she was young, Tu Youyou started experimenting with natural Chinese remedies. The treatment she discovered through years of research and experimentation is still used all over the world today"--
Dinosaur lady : the daring discoveries of Mary Anning, the first paleontologist
Skeers, Linda, author.
j560.92 Skeers
"This is the story of a woman who dared to dig, explore, and discover. This is the story of Dinosaur Lady. Marry Anning loved scouring the beach near her home in England for shells and fossils. She fearlessly climbed over crumbling cliffs and rocky peaks, searching for new specimens. One day, something caught Mary's eye. Bones. Dinosaur bones. Mary's discoveries rocked the world of science and helped create a brand-new field of study;paleontology. But many people believed women couldn't be scientists, so Mary wasn't given the credit she deserved. Nevertheless, Mary kept loking and learning more, making discoveries that reshaped scientific beliefs about the natural world. Includes a timeline of Mary Anning's life and fantastic fossil facts!"--Dust jacket.
Her name was Mary Katharine : the only woman whose name is on the Declaration of Independence
Schwartz, Ella, 1974- author.
CATALOGING /
"A picture book biography of Mary Katharine Goddard, a revolutionary media entrepreneur and the only woman whose name appears on the Declaration of Independence"--
Nina : a story of Nina Simone
Todd, Traci N., author.
jBIOGRAPHY Simone, Nina
"A biography of Nina Simone, an acclaimed singer whose music gave voice to the struggle for racial equality during the Civil Rights Movement"--
The fastest girl on Earth! : meet Kitty O'Neil, daredevil driver!
Robbins, Dean, 1957- author.
jE Robbins
A picture book biography follows the life of Kitty O'Neil, the stuntwoman and racecar driver who broke the women's land speed record, becoming a hero to fans everywhere.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T : Aretha Franklin, the queen of soul
Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956- author.
jBIOGRAPHY Franklin, Aretha
"Aretha Franklin was born to sing. The daughter of a pastor and a gospel singer, her musical talent was clear from her earliest days in her father's Detroit church. Aretha sang with a soaring voice that spanned more than three octaves. Her incredible talent and string of hit songs earned her the title "the Queen of Soul." This Queen was a multi-Grammy winner and the first female inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And there was even more to Aretha than being a singer, songwriter, and pianist: she was an activist, too. Her song "Respect" was an anthem for people fighting for civil rights and women's rights. With words that sing and art that shines, this vibrant portrait of Aretha Franklin pays her the R-E-S-P-E-C-T this Queen of Soul deserves"--
The Water Lady : how Darlene Arviso helps a thirsty Navajo Nation
McGinty, Alice B., 1963- author.
jE Mcginty
Cody is worried when his family on a New Mexico Navajo reservation runs out of water, but Darlene Arviso, called "The Water Lady," is on the way with her tanker truck. Includes glossary of Navajo terms and notes about Arviso and life on a reservation.
Out of the shadows : how Lotte Reiniger made the first animated fairytale movie
Robinson, Fiona, 1965- author.
RECEIVED
"An innovative picture book biography about an unsung hero of early animation Lotte Reiniger (1899-1981) was a German film director and animator best known for The Adventures of Prince Achmed, which was released in 1926 and is the oldest surviving animated movie. (It came out a full 11 years before Disney's Snow White!) As a little kid, Reiniger loved reading fairytales and fell in love with puppetry. At school, she learned about paperschnitte, or papercuts, which helped her create her signature style of silhouettes. She grew up to make more than 40 films throughout her long career, most of which were fairytales that used her stop-film animation technique of hand-cut silhouettes. Reiniger is now seen as the foremost pioneer of silhouette animation and the inventor of an early form of the multiplane camera. With art inspired by Reiniger's cut-paper style and a text that uses a fairytale motif that mimics her movies, Out of the Shadows is a sweeping tribute to one of most important figures of animation, whose influence still resonates today. "--
The proudest blue : a story of hijab and family
Muhammad, Ibtihaj, 1985- author.
jE Muhammad
Faizah relates how she feels on the first day her sister, sixth-grader Asiya, wears a hijab to school.
A queen to the rescue : the story of Henrietta Szold, founder of Hadassah
Churnin, Nancy, author.
jBIOGRAPHY Szold, Henrietta
"Henrietta Szold provides a model for social justice, how to work for it, no matter the obstacles. Her determination and spirit remain an inspiration to women all over the world"--
Make meatballs sing : the life & art of Corita Kent
Burgess, Matthew, author.
jBIOGRAPHY Kent, Corita
"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. This story from well-known author Matthew Burgess, vibrantly illustrated by artist Kara Kramer, draws readers into the life of a singular woman whose work and commitment invite us all to seek joy in the everyday, to observe the world with open eyes, and to question and see beyond the existing framework of society. This beautiful biography, made in close collaboration with the Corita Art Center, includes reproductions of Corita's works, a chronology, and author and illustrator notes"--
The girl who could fix anything : Beatrice Shilling, World War II engineer
Rockliff, Mara, author.
j629.13092 Rockliff
This true story follows the story of Beatrice Shilling, a woman whose ingenuity, persistence, and mechanical expertise helped Britain win World War II.
Sweet justice : Georgia Gilmore and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rockliff, Mara, author.
j323.0922 Rockliff
"A picture book biography about Georgia Gilmore, the woman whose cooking helped feed and fund the Montgomery bus boycott of 1956"--
Florence Griffith Joyner
Williams-Garcia, Rita, author.
jBIOGRAPHY Joyner, Florence Griffith
"A chapter book biography of Florence Griffith Joyner, part of the She Persisted series"--
Dolly Parton
Skwish, Emily, author.
jBIOGRAPHY Parton, Dolly
A graphic novel biography of Dolly Parton.
Ida B. Wells, voice of truth : educator, feminist, and anti-lynching civil rights leader
Duster, Michelle, author.
jBIOGRAPHY Wells, Ida B.
"An inspiring picture book biography of Ida B. Wells-who was an educator, journalist, feminist, businesswoman, newspaper owner, public speaker, suffragist, civil rights activist, and women's club leader-as told by her great-granddaughter, Michelle Duster"--
Mae among the stars
Ahmed, Roda, author.
jE Ahmed
When young Mae Jemison is asked by her teacher what she wants to be when she grows up, African American Mae tells her mostly white classmates that she wants to be an astronaut, a dream that her parents wholeheartedly support.
Margaret and the Moon : how Margaret Hamilton saved the first Lunar Landing
Robbins, Dean, 1957- author.
j629.454092 Hamilton
Margaret Hamilton loved numbers as a young girl. She knew how many miles it was to the moon (and how many back). She loved studying algebra and geometry and calculus and using math to solve problems in the outside world. Soon math led her to MIT and then to helping NASA put a man on the moon! She handwrote code that would allow the spacecraft's computer to solve any problems it might encounter. Apollo 8. Apollo 9. Apollo 10. Apollo 11. Without her code, none of those missions could have been completed.
Alicia Alonso dances on
Viña, Rose, author.
jBIOGRAPHY Alonso, Alicia
"As a young girl in Cuba, Alicia Alonso practiced ballet in tennis shoes. Within a few years, she was in New York City, with a promising ballet career. But her eyesight began to fail. When Alicia needed surgeries to save her vision, dancing was impossible, but she wouldn't give up her dream. She found the strength and determination to return to the stage and become a prima ballerina. This is the true story of a woman who overcame her challenges, mastered her art, and inspired others to dance and dream"--
Fall down seven times, stand up eight : Patsy Takemoto Mink and the fight for Title IX
Bryant, Jen, 1960- author.
jBIOGRAPHY Mink, Patsy
A champion of equal rights who helped create a better future for all Americans, this biography of the first Asian American woman elected to Congress showed how she carved her own path to become a historic trailblazer.
She was the first! : the trailblazing life of Shirley Chisholm
Russell-Brown, Katheryn, 1961- author.
jBIOGRAPHY Chisholm, Shirley
"A picture biography of educator and politician Shirley Chisholm, who in 1968 was the first Black woman elected to Congress and in 1972 was the first Black candidate from a major political party (the Democratic party) to run for the United States presidency. An afterword with additional information, photographs, and source lists are included"--
Unbound : the life + art of Judith Scott
Scott, Joyce (Joyce Wallace), 1943- author.
jBIOGRAPHY Scott, Judith
"An introduction to the life and art of Judith Scott, a renowned artist"--
Faith Ringgold : narrating the world in pattern and color
Jackson, Sharna, author.
j709.2 Ringgold
Presents an illustrated look at the life of American painter, writer, mixed media sculptor, and performance artist, Faith Ringgold.
She heard the birds : the story of Florence Merriam Bailey : pioneering nature activist
D'Aquino, Andrea, author, illustrator.
j598.092 Bailey
Tells the story of pioneering birder and activist Florence Merriam Bailey, whose compassionate approach to nature influenced modern bird-watching and inspired a lasting sense of curiosity and respect for the world's feathered creatures.
The girl who drew butterflies : how Maria Merian's art changed science
Sidman, Joyce, author.
jBIOGRAPHY Merian, Maria Sibylla
"Newbery-Honor winning author Joyce Sidman explores the extraordinary life and scientific discoveries of Maria Merian, who discovered the truth about metamorphosis and documented the science behind the mystery in this visual biography that features many original paintings by Maria herself."--
Marjory saves the Everglades
Wallace, Sandra Neil, author.
jBIOGRAPHY Douglas, Marjory Stoneman
"The true story of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who saved the Florida Everglades from development and ruin"--
Saving American Beach : the biography of African American environmentalist MaVynee Betsch
King, Heidi Tyline, 1966- author.
jBIOGRAPHY Betsch, MaVynee
"A biography of MaVynee Betsch, an African American opera singer turned environmentalist who worked to preserve American Beach, Florida as a historical landmark"--
Dear Mr. Dickens
Churnin, Nancy, author.
j823.8 Churnin
"In Eliza Davis's day, Charles Dickens was the most celebrated living writer in England. But some of his books reflected a prejudice that was all too common at the time: prejudice against Jewish people. Eliza was Jewish, and her heart hurt to see a Jewish character in Oliver Twist portrayed as ugly and selfish. She wanted to speak out about how unfair that was, even if it meant speaking out against the great man himself. So she wrote a letter to Charles Dickens. What happened next is history"--
Fastest woman on Earth : the story of Tatyana McFadden
Cavallo, Francesca. author.
j796.0456 McFadden
"This is the story of 17-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden. Born with spina bifida in Russia, Tatyana was raised in an orphanage where she walked on her hands for the first six years of her life. In 1994, she was adopted and moved to the United States, where she started racing and breaking records; and is now considered the best female wheelchair racer of all time, and the fastest woman on Earth." - Amazon.com.
Patricia's vision : the doctor who saved sight
Lord, Michelle, author.
jE Lord
"Born in 1940s Harlem, Patricia Bath dreamed of being a doctor--even though that wasn't a career option for most women. This biography follows Dr. Bath in her quest to become an ophthalmologist and restore sight to the blind. "Choosing miracles" when everyone else had given up hope, she invented a specialized laser for removing cataracts, becoming the first African American woman doctor to receive a medical patent"--
The girl with a mind for math : the story of Raye Montague
Mosca, Julia Finley, author.
jE Mosca
This is a rhyming-text picture book about Raye Montague. After touring a German submarine in the early 1940s, young Raye set her sights on becoming an engineer. Little did she know sexism and racial inequality would challenge that dream every step of the way, even keeping her greatest career accomplishment a secret for decades. Through it all, the gifted mathematician persisted-- finally gaining her well-deserved title in history: a pioneer who changed the course of ship design forever.--Dust jacket.
Selena : Queen of Tejano music
Lopez, Silvia, 1950- author.
jBIOGRAPHY Selena
"Selena Quintanilla's music career began at the age of nine when she started singing in her family's band. She went from using a hairbrush as a microphone to traveling from town to town to play gigs. But Selena faced a challenge: People said that she would never make it in Tejano music, which was dominated by male performers. Selena was determined to prove them wrong."--provided by publisher.
June Almeida, virus detective! : the woman who discovered the first human coronavirus
Slade, Suzanne, author.
j579.2092 Almeida
"Scientist June Almeida's skill in using the electron microscope helped identify viruses, and when she was 34 years old, she discovered the first human coronavirus"--
Danza! : Amalia Hernández and el Ballet Folklórico de México
Tonatiuh, Duncan, author, illustrator.
jE Tonatiuh
"This is a picture book biography for children ages 6-10 about Amalia Hernández (1917-2000), the dancer and choreographer who founded the Mexican Folkloric Ballet, a dance organization that continues to perform today. The author/illustrator is Duncan Tonatiuh"--
At the mountain's base
Sorell, Traci, author.
jE Sorell
"At the mountain's base sits a cabin under an old hickory tree. And in that cabin lives a family -- loving, weaving, cooking, and singing. The strength in their song sustains them through trials on the ground and in the sky, as they wait for their loved one, a pilot, to return from war."--Amazon.
We wait for the sun
Roundtree, Dovey Johnson, 1914-2018, author.
jE Roundtree
The late Civil Rights attorney and activist shares a poignant moment from her childhood beside her wise grandmother, who taught Roundtree the values of self-worth, strength and justice that inspired the co-author's boundary-breaking career.
The oldest student : how Mary Walker learned to read
Hubbard, Rita L., author.
jE Hubbard
"A picture book biography sharing the inspiring and incredible true story of the nation's oldest student, Mary Walker, who learned to read at the age of 116"--
Standing on her shoulders : a celebration of women
Clark-Robinson, Monica, author.
jE Clarkrob
"A stunning love letter to the important women who shape us -- from our own mothers and grandmothers to the legends who paved the way for girls and women everywhere"--
Cubs in the tub : the true story of the Bronx Zoo's first woman zookeeper
Fleming, Candace, author.
jE Fleming
"Readers are told the story of Helen Martini's care for lion and tiger cubs, and her emergence as the Bronx Zoo's first woman zookeeper"--
A thousand glass flowers : Marietta Barovier and the invention of the rosetta bead
Turk, Evan, author, illustrator.
jE Turk
As a child in fifteenth-century Murano, Italy, Marietta Barovier is drawn to her father's workshop and, although glass blowing is men's work, she later revives the lost art of millefiori.
Girl on a motorcycle
Novesky, Amy, author.
jE Novesky
"One day, a girl gets on her motorcycle and rides away. She wants to wander the world. To go... Elsewhere. This is the true story of the first woman to ride a motorcycle around the world alone. Each place has something to teach her. Each place is beautiful. And despite many flat tires and falls, she learns to always get back up and keep riding."--Provided by publisher.
Fly, girl, fly! : Shaesta Waiz soars around the world
Pimm, Nancy Roe, author.
jE Pimm
"The story of how Shaesta Waiz became the youngest woman in history, and the first woman from Afghanistan, to fly around the world in a single-engine aircraft"--