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Biographies & Autobiographies for Kids

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Best biographies and autobiographies for children

Our world and our history are full of inspiring people and their stories. Through biographies and autobiographies for children those stories are brought to life with captivating imagery, memorable anecdotes and age-appropriate honesty. Young readers today have access to a huge number of wonderful biographical titles and collections, so whether your child would like to read about singers, sufragists or scientists you'll have plenty of options to choose from.

Biographical stories inspire the next generation

According to a new survey of 1,000 UK children aged 6‐16, when asked “Who, if anyone, would you most like to be when you grow up?” one quarter (25%) of young people answered that they’d like to be a scientist, closely followed by athlete (17%) and artist or designer (16%).

Three‐quarters of respondents agree they want a career in which they can be creative, with a further 73% stating they want a career where they can help people. Just under a fifth (16%) stated they would like to be an environmentalist or climate change activist.

‘ Young people today are often accused of only wanting fame and fortune ,' says Katie Cotton, Group Publisher for the Little People, BIG DREAMS books at the Quarto Group. 'I’m delighted that this research has shown something that we know already: they’re more inspired by people working hard to make a difference in our world .’  

Our favourite biographies and autobiographies for kids

Boy: Tales of Childhood  by Roald Dahl

(£6.99, Puffin)

Roald Dahl's best-selling autobiography, which covers his childhood years, is packed with sad, idyllic, funny, unpleasant and incredibly vivid stories. The perfect autobiography read for primary school children (who will also enjoy the sequel, Going Solo ).

Counting the Stars: The Story of Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician  by Lesa Cline-Ransome

(£13, Simon & Schuster)

An informative and inspiring picture book biography of the remarkable mathematician Katherine Johnson, one of the NASA "human computers" whose work was critical to the first US space launch in the 1960s. 

Becoming: Adapted for Younger Readers by Michelle Obama

(£14.99, Puffin)

Adapted for children aged 10+, with a special introduction. Michelle Obama's life story, "in all its messy glory", encourages readers to think about their own life and how they will become themselves as they grow up and keep growing and changing.

Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille  by Jen Bryant

(£13.99, Random House)

When Louis Braille lost his sight as a child there were no books for him to read. And so he invented his own alphabet that could be read by touch, a system so ingenious that it is still used by the blind community today. A beautiful picture book portrait of one of the world's greatest inventors.

Portrait of an Artist: Frida Kahlo  by Lucy Brownridge

(£10.99, Wide Eyed Editions)

A colourful, thoughtful art book for children, telling the story of Mexican artist's Frida Kahlo's life through her masterpieces. The text is accompanied by stunning, detail-packed original imagery from award-winning illustrator Sandra Dieckmann. 

Greta's Story: The Schoolgirl Who Went On Strike To Save The Planet  by Valentina Camerini

(£6.99, Simon & Schuster)

On 20 August 2018 fifteen-year-old Greta Thunberg didn't attend school but went on strike in front of Sweden’s parliament building. This KS2 biography introduces children to the climate activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee who has inspired millions with her campaign.

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr

(£6.99, Harper Collins Children’s Books)

Judith Kerr's semi-autobiographical classic fictionalises her Jewish family's experiences of escaping Nazi Germany in the days before WWII. Told from the point of view of ten year old Anna, this account of life as a child refugee is extremely moving and highly recommended.

The Extraordinary Life of Alan Turing by Michael Lee Richardson

Alan Turing started life as a quiet boy who loved maths and become a mathematician and codebreaker who helped save millions of lives in the Second World War by building a machine to decode secret enemy messages. The Extraordinary Lives series profiles modern and historical figures and is packed with figures and illustrations.

Emmeline (First Names)  by Haydn Kaye

(£6.99, David Fickling Books)

The First Names series of biographies is designed for young readers and packed with illustrations. Emmeline brings Emmeline Pankhurst's fight to get the vote for British women to life with witty, engaging details (including why she hated school, the fact she took lessons in stone throwing and what she thought when her daughter spat at a policeman!).

David Attenborough (Little People, BIG DREAMS)  by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara  

(£9.99, Frances Lincoln Children's Books)

A boy who spent hours in the library and created his own mini animal museum became the world's most famous broadcaster and conservationist, and this is his story. All the Little People, BIG DREAMS books are beautifully illustrated and packed with fascinating details about inspiring individuals from all walks of life.

Malala's Magic Pencil  by Malala Yousafzai

(£7.99, Puffin)

In this warm picture book read for KS1 the youngest-ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize tells her inspiring, brave story and encourages children to believe in themselves and recognise that their voices can make a difference. The illustrations are gorgeous and make the difficult subject matter very accessible for younger kids.

The Missing: The True Story of My Family in World War II  by Michael Rosen

(£6.99, Walker Books)

A personal, sensitive account of the Holocaust by one of the UK's best-loved children’s authors, Michael Rosen. Through prose, poetry, maps and pictures he shares the true story of his search for the relatives who “went missing” during the Second World War and the shocking and heart-breaking information he uncovered.

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark  by Debbie Levy

(£12.99, Simon & Schuster)

US Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spent her life disagreeing with inequality, arguing against unfair treatment and standing up for what’s right for people everywhere. This biographical picture book explains what she achieved through the lens of her many famous dissents, or disagreements.

The Diary of Anne Frank (Abridged for young readers)  by Anne Frank

(£7.99, Puffin)

This abridged edition offers younger readers their first introduction to the extraordinary diary of an ordinary girl. With beautiful line drawings, family photographs and an afterword to explain why the Diary ends so abruptly, this version of one of the world's most widely known books is suitable for younger children who want to read Anne's words for themselves.

The Story of Marie Curie: A Biography Book for New Readers by Susan B Katz 

(£5.08, Rockridge Press)

Marie Curie was told she couldn't be a researcher because she was a woman but she is now recognised as one of the most celebrated scientists in history, who changed the world with her discoveries in physics and chemistry. Colour illustrations, a glossary and a quiz present the details of her life in bite-sized chunks for newly-confident readers.

Through My Eyes  by Ruby Bridges 

(£13, Scholastic Press)

In November 1960, the world watched as six-year-old Ruby Bridges joined an an all-white school and faced angry mobs of parents who refused to send their children to school with her. An icon of the civil rights movement, in Through My Eyes Ruby writes for children and chronicles each dramatic step of this pivotal event in history in her own words.

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Best biography anthologies for children

Each of these collections is packed with biographical detail about remarkable people and their extraordinary lives. Inspire your child with stories of inspiring individuals from the past and present and challenge them to be part of building a better future for everyone.

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Top 10 Autobiography Books

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Home > Book Lists > KS2: New Extraordinary Biographies

New Extraordinary Biographies - KS2

Collect all the  'Extraordinary Lives ' books. This series of beautifully illustrated biographies, for kids aged 7 and up, will help you to explore significant historical and cultural moments, from International Women's Day to the moon landing anniversary, with your class. Inspire today’s young readers to be extraordinary too and check out the KS2: Biography Writing Resource Pack.

The Extraordinary Life of Alan Turing by Michael Lee Richardson

The man whose maths saved millions of lives. Alan Turing was a mathematician, scientist and codebreaker who helped defeat the Nazis in the Second World War with his incredible decoding of secret messages from enemy soldiers. Discover his life story in this beautifully illustrated book, from his childhood as a quiet boy who loved maths, to becoming one of the most important scientists and codebreakers in history.

The Extraordinary Life of Anne Frank

Her words have become some of the most important in modern history: discover the incredible life story of Anne Frank, whose bravery has inspired so many.

Her incredible story comes to life in this beautifully illustrated book, with narrative biography, timelines, facts and quotes.

The Extraordinary Life of Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart broke flying records, wrote best-selling books, launched a fashion label and fought for the rights of female pilots everywhere. Her disappearance, in the midst of her attempt to circumnavigate the globe, is one of history's greatest unsolved mysteries, and today she is remembered as not only the first female pilot to cross the Atlantic Ocean, but for being a bold, brace and adventurous woman who fought tirelessly for what she believed.

The Extraordinary Life of Freddie Mercury by Michael Lee Richardson

Farrokh Bulsara was a young boy who loved music and was known for being quiet and kind, even when people made fun of his unusual teeth. Farrokh grew up to be Freddie Mercury, an incredible musician who could command audiences with his charisma and talent, and who would one day say that those teeth were the very reason he was able to sing with such amazing range. From his childhood in Zanzibar to the formation of rock band Queen, to their record-breaking Live Aid performance, discover the journey Freddie Mercury took to becoming one of the world's most influential musicians.

The Extraordinary Life of Greta Thunberg by Devika Jina

Greta Thunberg  is an activist best known for calling attention to the devastating effects of climate change on our planet. A bold voice even against people that want to silence her, Greta has become a source of inspiration for millions of people who want to work towards tackling the climate crisis. From taking part in school strikes and owning that her Asperger syndrome is her superpower, to crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a powerful stand against carbon emissions, this is the incredible story of a schoolgirl who is changing the world.

The Extraordinary Life of Katherine Johnson

In 1969 history was made when the first humans stepped on the moon. Back on earth, one woman was running the numbers that ensured they got there and back in one piece.

As a child, Katherine Johnson loved maths. She went on to be one of the most important people in the history of space travel. Discover her incredible life story in this beautifully illustrated book complete with narrative biography, timelines and facts.

The Extraordinary Life of Mahatma Gandhi by Chitra Soundar, Dàlia Adillon (Illustrator)

From growing up in India and studying in London to becoming a political activist in South Africa and taking on the battle for independence in India, Mahatma Gandhi's legacy has lived on well beyond his years. Read the life story of this brilliant, strong-willed and influential man in this beautifully illustrated biography, complete with timelines and facts.

The Extraordinary Life of Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai is:

A student A campaigner An inspiration

Discover what it took for one incredible girl to become the voice of so many, in this beautifully illustrated book that brings Malala's extraordinary story to life.

The Extraordinary Life of Mary Seacole by Naida Redgrave

Mary Seacole is now known for her medical work in the Crimean war, and as a brilliant woman who combated the racial prejudice she experienced in her lifetime. But for a long time her story was lost. From growing up in Kingston, Jamaica as the daughter of a doctress to helping soldiers in the war, discover the details of the amazing life that Mary Seacole led in this beautifully illustrated biography filled with real-life stories, timelines and facts.

The Extraordinary Life of Michelle Obama

She is a role model and feminist icon. Born and raised in Chicago, she studied and worked hard to become a lawyer, and then took to the international stage as First Lady. This beautifully illustrated biography tells the extraordinary story of Michelle Obama's life, perfect for young readers everywhere.

The Extraordinary Life of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela is known for dedicating his life to fighting for equality in South Africa and overthrowing racial segregation. He grew up hearing the elders' stories of his ancestors' fighting in the wars of resistance, and he dreamed of fighting for the freedom of his people. His childhood wish was granted when he became the first black president of South Africa, and an icon for hope, change and equality.

The Extraordinary Life of Neil Armstrong

One little boy who loved the idea of flying became the first person to set foot on the moon.

On 20 July 1969 Neil Armstrong made history, his 'giant leap for mankind'. From his childhood playing with model planes to becoming one of the most famous astronauts of all time, discover the incredible story of Neil Armstrong's life in this beautifully illustrated book, complete with narrative biography, facts and timelines.

The Extraordinary Life of Rosa Parks by Sheila Kanani

Rosa Parks, the woman known for refusing to give up her seat on the bus, triggered a great shift in the fight for civil rights. Raised in Alabama, Rosa Parks knew all about the racism of her society from an early age. Discover how she became the brilliant activist we know today, in this beautifully illustrated biography which includes timelines  and facts to bring her extraordinary story to life

The Extraordinary Life of Serena Williams by Shelina Janmohamed

Serena Williams began playing tennis when she was just a child, and is now an Olympic champion who's won more Grand Slam singles titles than anyone else. Throughout her life she's battled many things, from life-threatening illnesses and sports injuries to sexism and racism in the tennis world. Now she's an icon in sport, fashion and activism, an inspiration to every young person who has dared to dream big.

The Extraordinary Life of Stephen Hawking

Stephen Hawking  was:

A physicist A cosmologist An author One of the cleverest people who ever lived.

Discover more about the life of a man who is known for his incredible contribution to science in this beautifully illustrated book.

The Extraordinary Life of Steve Jobs

The story of a modern creative genius. Ever heard of the iPhone? Steve Jobs, raised in California, was the co-founder of Apple, creator of the iPhone. He also played a major role in making Pixar what it is today. His technology transformed the way we live, and gave us objects we now cannot imagine living without. Get ready to discover his incredible story and the secrets of his success in this real-life account of his life and work.

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• Best for Learning for Kids

Best Memoirs for Kids and Teens

Kids crave authentic stories, and what's more authentic than the story of a life written by the person who lived it? These compelling memoirs and autobiographies reveal the challenges and triumphs of ordinary people, often in extraordinary situations -- from war, poverty, and physical disability to athletic stardom, social activism, and the search for love and acceptance. These books can help build empathy, make kids feel less alone in their struggle, and inspire young readers as they see what people went through to get where they are. For more stories of kids' lives, check out our Coming-of-Age Books and Books with Stories of Extraordinary Women .

Just Help! How to Build a Better World

Inspiring portrait of service urges kids to give back.

My Journey to the Stars

Exciting memoir rockets future astronauts to space.

Chasing Space Young Reader's Edition

Stellar memoir of an elite athlete and astronaut's journey.

Mo'ne Davis: Remember My Name: My Story from First Pitch to Game Changer

Inspirational memoir of Little League history maker.

Real Friends

Painfully honest, hopeful memoir of coping with frenemies.

Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'round: My Story of the Making of Martin Luther King Day

Lyrical memoir in verse traces fight for MLK Day.

Charming, funny comics memoir of growing up deaf.

Just Pretend

Making fantasy fiction helps tween cope in heartfelt memoir.

Funny, moving memoir is great for younger comics fans.

This Is Your Time

Powerful true tale of girl who desegregated school in 1960.

A First Time for Everything

Delightful details of the author's first Euro trip and kiss.

Be Prepared

Smart, funny account of summer camp discomfort.

Becoming Kareem: Growing Up On and Off the Court

Thoughtful memoir by basketball star and civil rights icon.

The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor

Inspiring memoir teaches kids to dream big.

Brown Girl Dreaming

Captivating poems depict coming-of-age in tumultuous 1960s.

Colin Kaepernick: Change the Game

Super Bowl QB's early years make engaging memoir.

The Dumbest Idea Ever

Funny, affecting memoir of growing up crazy for comics.

Grace, Gold & Glory: My Leap of Faith

Inspiring autobiography by Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas.

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World

Inspiring memoir of teen Nobel laureate shot by Taliban.

Permanent Record: Young Readers Edition

Exciting spy memoir hits digital privacy, exposing secrets.

Other great lists from our editors

• Biographies
• Books with Stories of Extraordinary Women
• How to Raise a Reader
• How to Raise an Optimistic Human in a Pessimistic World

13 Inspiring Illustrated Biographies That Introduce Kids to Diverse Heroes

By olugbemisola rhuday-perkovich.

I enjoyed reading biographies from an early age — the idea that a person’s life was important enough for a book intrigued me, and I was thrilled and inspired whenever I found small similarities or points of connections between my own experiences and those of the larger-than-life figures on the pages. Readers of all ages can find much to consider, relate to, and celebrate in these transcendent stories of people who’ve had an impact on our lives and culture. These are some of my favorite illustrated biographies and memoirs for young book-lovers.

Picture Books

Preaching to the Chickens: The Story of Young John Lewis

by Jabari Asim, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

There is something extra special for young readers when they are able to get a glimpse into the early lives of contemporary icons, and Asim’s story of the future civil rights activist and congressman's early attempts at preaching — literally to the chickens on the family farm — is touching and inspirational. As readers witness John Lewis developing the skills needed to captivate the notoriously inattentive birds, they'll see how the politician and National Book Award-winning author became the powerful orator he remains today.

Turning Pages: My Life Story

by Sonia Sotomayor, illustrated by Lulu Delacre

There is much to admire and enjoy in Sonia Sotomayor’s biography for young readers. Not only does it trace her life through her childhood and law career into becoming the first-ever Latina Supreme Court Justice, but it also traces her love of reading and shows how books were inextricable with her life trajectory. Books helped her cope with her father’s death and her childhood diabetes; they also inspired her to reach for her dreams in a world full of possibilities.

by Maia Shibutani, Alex Shibutani and Dane Liu, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel

This luminous picture book highlights the amazing and important contributions of many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who've impacted our world through their achievements. Young readers get to explore thirty-six motivating stories through gorgeous illustrations including the paths of Olympic ice dancing medalists Alex and Maia Shibutani, disabled hero Daniel Inouye, and astronaut Kalpana Chawla.

I am I. M. Pei

by Brad Meltzer, illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos

This installment of the Ordinary People Who Change The World series explores the story of world-renowned architect, I. M. Pei, and how he became one of the most famous architects of all time. With immersive illustrations, readers get to know his award-winning work, such as the famous pyramid at the Louvre and the John F. Kennedy Library. With lively dialogue and a 3D pop-up of the pyramid, young readers will be inspired to dream big after reading.

Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille

by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Boris Kulikov

As a student, Louis Braille was frustrated by the lack of books for people with visual impairments, and began his mission to develop an accessible reading system by modifying a military coding technique. "Although many Braille biographies stress his disability, Bryant’s portrayal subtly emphasizes his creativity and celebrates him as an inventor, making this an excellent addition for STEM collections,” The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books points out in its starred review of the book.

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read

by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, illustrated by Oge Mora

Mary Walker should be a household name, and this beautifully illustrated picture book gets us one step closer to just that. Born into slavery in 1848, Walker was freed at age 15 and went on to work numerous jobs and raise a family in the South. At the youthful age of 116, Walker achieved her goal of learning to read — knowledge she used for the last five years of her long and storied life. Her biography will spark conversations about persistence and everyday heroes.

Middle Grade

Buzzing with Questions: The Inquisitive Mind of Charles Henry Turner

by Janice N. Harrington, illustrated by Theodore Taylor, III

Awarded as a Best STEM Book by the Children’s Book Council and National Science Teaching Association in 2020, Buzzing with Questions spotlights Charles Henry Turner — the first African American entomologist. Born with an insatiable curiosity about the world of insects, Turner sought answers and persevered amid racial prejudice in the scientific community, going on to make significant discoveries and contributions to the field.

Rad Women Worldwide: Artists and Athletes, Pirates and Punks, and Other Revolutionaries Who Shaped History

by Kate Schatz, illustrated by Miriam Klein Stahl

Following the success of Rad American Women A-Z , Schatz and Stahl are back with the even more impressive Rad Women Worldwide . Among Venus and Serena Williams, Malala Yousafzai, and other familiar names are those of less well-known but history-making women like Nanny of the Maroons, Kalpana Chawla, Junko Tabei, and Queen Hatshepsut. These short, illustrated biographical portraits will inspire young people of all genders to do a little digging into these hidden figures of ancient and modern times, and perhaps be inspired to make a little history of their own.

A Poem for Peter: The Story of Ezra Jack Keats and the Creation of The Snowy Day

by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher

This beautiful, critically acclaimed biography-in-verse focuses on Keats’s development of the character of Peter, the main character in his beloved picture book The Snowy Day . Illustrated in a style similar to Keats’s mixed-media collage, the book recounts Keats’s life and commitment to anti-Semitism as the son of Polish-Jewish immigrants in Brooklyn, New York, and offers parallels between his personal experience and the significance of his revolutionary work including and promoting children of color in kids’ literature.

Lifting as We Climb: Black Women's Battle for the Ballot Box

by Evette Dionne

The most repeated stories of the suffrage movement center on familiar white suffragists such as Susan B. Anthony and Alice Paul. In Lifting as We Climb , Evette Dionne unearths the histories of extraordinary Black women and women’s groups whose fight for freedom was not only tied to their gender but also to their race. Including women such as Mary Church Terrell, who founded the NAACP, and journalist Ida B. Wells, a leader in both the suffrage and anti-lynching movements, this much-needed historical correction tells the essential stories of women left out of our textbooks.

Young Adult

Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March

by Lynda Blackmon Lowery, illustrated by PJ Loughran (as told to Elspeth Leacock and Susan Buckley)

For her activism, Lowery was jailed nine times before her 15th birthday, and was the youngest marcher in the 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. This illustrated memoir of Lowery’s commitment to nonviolent resistance, even when faced with violence like what law enforcement exhibited on “Bloody Sunday,” is both sobering and inspiring.

March Trilogy

by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell

With the release of the third volume in this stirring and historic trilogy, Congressman John Lewis made history once again as the author of the first graphic novel ever to win a National Book Award. My own daughter tore through these firsthand accounts of young people’s involvement in the civil rights movement, and was inspired by the connections Lewis makes to present day events. Readers can watch Congressman Lewis, who continues to speak out on important issues today accept his award here .

The Complete Persepolis

by Marjane Satrapi

This riveting graphic novel-memoir of Satrapi’s childhood in Tehran and coming of age in the midst of tremendous political upheaval is now considered a modern classic. With humor and poignancy, Satrapi skillfully threads the personal challenges and triumphs of her adolescence with the history and cultural life of Iran. Adapted to film in 2007, Persepolis has become a high school classroom staple. This edition includes both Persepolis and Persepolis 2 . Reading guides with discussion questions and additional reading suggestions for each volume can be found here ( Persepolis ) and here ( Persepolis 2 ).

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2016 and updated in 2020.

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