The books in this category tell the life stories of real people, some famous and others less well known. In many of these books the focus of the biography is the person's contribution to making a better world; in many there is also the theme of obstacles that had to be overcome in order for the person to succeed.
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All Books in the Biography Category
Say It with Music: A Story about Irving Berlin Written by Thomas Streissguth This book tells the story of Irving Berlin. Berlin was a struggling immigrant who used songwriting as a way to support himself and transform his life from rags to riches. [Grade Level: 3 - 6]
Shirley Chisholm Written by Jill S. Pollack Shirley Chisholm's rise to prominence in the U. S. political arena is depicted in this addition to the First Book series. The readable, large-print text focuses on the varied political aspects of Chisholm's career, including her election as the first black woman to Congress and her run for the presidency. [Grade Level: 3 - 5]
The Story of Ruby Bridges Robert Coles (Author), George Ford (Illustrator) The story of a young girl who confronted the hostility of the white community when she became the first African-American in Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans in 1960. [Grade Level: K - 3]
Survivors: True Stories Of Children In The Holocaust Mara Bovsun (Author), Allan Zullo (Author) These are the true-life accounts of nine Jewish boys and girls whose lives spiraled into danger and fear as the Holocaust overtook Europe. In a time of great horror, these children each found a way to make it through the nightmare of war. Some made daring escapes into the unknown, others disguised their true identities, and many witnessed unimaginable horrors. But what they all shared was the unshakable belief in—and hope for—survival. [Grade Level: 5 & Up]
Through My Eyes Ruby Bridges (Author), Margo Lundell (Author) Ruby Bridges recounts the story of her involvement in the integration of her school in 1960. [Grade Level: 3 - 6]
The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights Written by Russel Freedman This book is a chronological account of one of the nation's greatest African-American vocalists, from her childhood in Philadelphia through her acclaimed U.S. and European concert tours in the 1920s and 1930s. Though Anderson did not set out to be a political activist, her prominence put her in a position to expose the injustices of segregation. Anderson’s historic 1939 Easter concert at the Lincoln Memorial—a response to the Daughters of the American Revolution's refusal to allow her to appear at Constitution Hall—is a milestone in both musical and civil rights history. The book includes archival photographs and a selected bibliography and discography. [Grade Level: 4 - 9]
