Biography Picture Books

Everyone, even we adults, can enjoy reading a good picture book. The older students can benefit from books such as biography picture books. They can get the same background knowledge from a picture book as they get from an encyclopedia and have a lot more fun while reading. A picture book speaks to our visual sense and our hearing sense.

I would like to encourage you to try these books with your older students. Let them choose what they want to read from a wide variety of books. For instance in the book Young Pele: Soccer’s First Star, I found this story extremely interesting, not because I love soccer, but because of the way he learned to play.

Here are some picture book biographies for older readers, Biographies tell the story behind the making of a famous person as well as the history from that time period.

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read

by Rita Lorraine Hubbard,

illustrated by One Mora

Imagine learning to read at the age of 116! Discover the true story of Mary Walker, the nation's oldest student who did just that, in this picture book.

Link to purchase

https://bookshop.org/a/55491/9781524768287

Young Pelé: Soccer's First Star

by Cline-Ransome, Lesa,

illustrated by James Ransome

Here is the story of the boy who with great determination, lightning speed, and amazing skill overcame tremendous odds to become the world champion soccer star Pelé.

https://bookshop.org/a/55491/9780375871566

The Boy on Fairfield Street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Seuss

by Kathleen Krull

illustrated by Steve Johnson

This is the first picture book biography of Dr. Seuss, written especially for his young fans who want to know what made him tick.

https://bookshop.org/a/55491/9780375855504