Picture Book Biographies

Picture Book Biographies

Picture book biographies are excellent choices for introducing students of all ages to a particular author or historical figure. Many times they are also good examples of research, characters who persevere in the midst of adversity, interesting historical anecdotes, and just plain good stories—true stories.

The Criteria

Essentially, a good picture book biography gives us all the things a good novel-length biography does:

• well-researched information on the person in question.
• a well-rounded look at that person, ideally placed in his or her historical context.
• documented sources for any direct quotations.
• a bibliography for further reading.
• a quality book that stands on its own even if we aren’t interested in doing “research” but just want to read a good book.

To all that, a good picture book biography adds something unique: the pictures! In today’s world, those may be actual photographs, collage-style art, cartoon-style drawings, realistic art, or any other artistic style.

A good picture book biography often hones in on one particular element of a person’s life: a specific event, a running theme throughout his or her life, a certain skill. In contrast to novel-length biographies, a picture book biography is more of a snapshot. And the subject matter covers the gamut from the invention of bubble gum or neon paint to spiritual leaders or major historical figures. All in all, picture book biographies are good places to start (for any age group!) to find out about a person of interest. If you still need more information, then it’s time to track down a longer work.

The Books

Picture book biographies are found in libraries mixed in with other biographies in the juvenile section. Look for them under the last name of the subject of the book (as opposed to the author). The push for informational texts in schools under Common Core has benefited the picture book world; outstanding and interesting picture book biographies are becoming more common and easier to find. They are also winning awards in categories other than nonfiction. Nonfiction awards to note include the Orbis Pictus Award for nonfiction for children and the Sibert Award, also awarded to nonfiction books for children.

Titles to Note (reviewed here on Redeemed Reader)

• A Splash of Red: the Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
• The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
• A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
• William Shakespeare & His Globe by Aliki
• The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Suzy) by Barbara Kerley and illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham
• The Pilot and the Little Prince: The Life of Antoine de Saint-Exupery by Peter Sis
• Pilipinto’s Happiness: The Jungle Childhood of Valerie Elliott by Valerie Shepard (an interview), and the newly revised version, Pilipinto.
• Interesting Picture Book Biographies (Librarians’ List)