90 of Our Favorite Picture Books To Teach Biography Writing
Here is a list of our favorite biography books to teach reading, research, and writing skills. We invested a lot of time, money, and resources in developing this list. Also, be sure to also check out our biography writing unit on TpT. It’s one of out favorite units of writing to teach. Oh, and our students love it, too!
Historical Biographies
The Eye that never Sleeps by Marrissa Moss
Mary Walker Wears the Pants by Cheryl Harness
Elizabeth Started All the Trouble by Doreen Rappaport
A Time to Act by Shana Corey
Eliza by Margaret McNamara
I Dissent by Debbie Levy
Heart on Frie by Ann Malaspina
Superstars of History by R.J. Grant
Ten Days a Madwoman by Deborah Noyes
Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library by Barb Rosenstock
Fred Korematsu Speaks Up by Laura Atkins
The Big Book of Dummies, Rebels, and other Geniuses by Jean-Bernard Pouy
Author and Poet Biographies:
Thomas Paine and the Dangerous Word by Sarah Jane Marsh
Some Writer by Melissa Sweet
A River of Words by Jen Bryant
Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen by Deborah Hopkinson
John Ronald’s Dragons by Caroline McAlister
Noah Webster’s Fighting Words by Tracy Nelson Maurer
Noah Webster and his Words by Jeri Chase Ferris
Balderdash by Michelle Markel
Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein by Linda Bailey
Enormous Smallness by Matthew Burgees
William Shakespeare by Mick Manning
The Right Word by Jen Bryant
Will’s Words by Jane Sutcliffe
Pablo Neruda Poet of the People by Monica Brown
The Pilot and the Little Prince by Peter Sis
The Important Thing About Margaret Wise Brown by Mac Barnett
Inventors and Scientists
Steve Jobs Insanely Great by Jessie Hartland
Women in Science by Rachel Ignotofsky
Now and Ben by Gene Barretta
Superstars of Science by R.G. Grant
The Girl with the Mind for Math by Julia Finley Mosca
Starstruck by Kathleen Krull
Grace Hopper Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark
Six Dots by Jen Bryant
Counting on Katherine by Helaine Becker
Electrical Wizard by Elizabet Rusch
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
Star Stuff by Stephanie Roth Sisson
The Boy who Loved Math by Deborah Heiligman
On a Beam of Light by Jennifer Berne
Starry Messenger by Peter Sis
Athletes
Charlie Takes his Shot by Nancy Churnin
Silent Star by Bill Wise
Miss Mary Reporting by Sue Macy
Martina and Chrissie by Phil Bildner
There Goes Ted Williams by Matt Tavares
Henry Aaron’s Dream by Matt Tavares
The William Hoy Story by Nancy Churnin
Women in Sports by Rachel Ignotofsky
Game Changes by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Sisters and Chapions by Howard Bryant
Nadia The Girl who Couldn’t Sit Still by Karlin Gray
Musicians
Irving Berlin by Nancy Churnin
The Music in George’s Head by Suzane Slade
Shake, Rattle, and Roll by Holly George-Warren
The Music of Life by Elizabeth Rusch
Artists
Frida Kahlo and her Animalitos by Monica Brown
Through the Window by Barb Rosenstock
Lights! Camera! Alice! by Mara Rockliff
Claude Monet Sunshine and Waterlilies by Steven Packard
Mary Cassatt Family Pictures by Jane O’Connor
Vincent van Gogh Sunflowers and Swirly Stars by Brad Bucks
Henri matisse Drawing with Scissors by Keesia Johnson
Pierre Aguste Renoir Paintings that Smile by True Kelley
Henri’s Scissors by Jeanette Winter
The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock
Dorothea’s Eyes by Barb Rosenstock
Maya Lin by Jeanne Walker Harvey
Women
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elana Favilli
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls 2 by Elana Favilli
Bad Girls Throughout History by Ann Shen
Dead Feminists by Chandler O’Leary
Little Leaders by Vashti Harrison
Little Dreamers by Vashti Harrison
Girls Think of Everything by Catherine Thimmesh
Rad American Woman A-Z by Katie Schatz
Rad Woman Worldwide by Katie Schatz
Just Being Audrey By Margaret Cardillo
Bon Appetit by Jessie Hartland
For the Right to Learn by Rebecca Langston - George