Short Picture Book Biographies

Short picture book biographies are a great way to introduce yourself to a historical figure.  They quickly allow you to learn the most important events in a historical figure's life and help you to determine if you want to invest more time reading a longer biography about that person.  



If a Bus Could Talk The Story of Rosa Parks
by Faith Ringgold



Read to find out how Rosa Parks' life influenced her brave actions on a public bus in Montgomery, Alabama helping to spark the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.


Published: 1999

Locations: School Library, Amazon

Houdini: World's Greatest Mystery Man and Escape Artist
written by Kathleen Krull
illustrated by Eric Velasquez


How do you become the greatest escape artist of all time? Read Houdini to find out how he used dedication, hard work, and practice to do the impossible? 


Published: 2005

Locations: School Library, Amazon

Roberto Clemente Pride of the Pittsburgh Pirates
written by Jonah Winter
illustrated by Raul Colon


When I was younger, my best friend and I played wiffle ball in my driveway throughout the summer.  We always pretended to be professional baseball players.  I choose someone new everyday, players like Steve Garvey or Pete Rose. But my friend always choose to be Roberto Clemente .  I often wondered why he picked a player who had died before we were born, but after reading this biography I can see why he did. Roberto Clemente was a hard hitting, hard running, hard throwing outfielder that was all around awesome. 


Published: 2005

Locations: School Library, Public Library, Amazon