5th grade level biography books

20 Biography Books For Kids To Help Them Dream Big

Brandie DeRusha

With her MA in English from Rutgers University-Camden, Brandie spends her days chasing around her toddlers and writing. She loves to pair wine with her reading; preferably a Brontë, or an Elliot, or a Woolf novel. Depending on the mood. She currently lives in Florida with her husband, two kids and furry beast.

View All posts by Brandie DeRusha

Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, I forgot how to dream for my life. It was in between those “you can do anything you put your mind to” platitudes from my mother, to “you’ll never make any money if you get a degree in art” realities — also from my mother. As a good child, I believed everything people would say about my potential. If I expressed interest in writing or journalism, they would scoff at me that it was “too hard” for me; if it was acting or dancing, it was “too competitive.” Clearly it was confusing and sent me into an adolescent identity crisis. Who could I be if I couldn’t be who I was?

Now, as a grown up and a mother, I realize that in order to live our truth…we must follow our curiosity. We must embrace our curiosity. We must be allowed to explore. To get things wrong. To find out how we individually interpret the world around us. That will help us make the world a better place.

Thankfully, the way has been paved before us by millions of amazing people who refused to internalize the negative messages about their dreams. People who were so into what they were doing that nothing else mattered except that one thing. Who knew that what their heart was saying was the way without someone’s expectations of them.

Here are stories of 20 people who made their own way and changed not only their lives but ours. 20 stories of people who followed their curiously, followed their love, and led the way for us to be a better society. These 20 biography books for kids can help your kids dream big.

20 of the Best Biography Books for Kids

The Story of Harriet Tubman by Christine Platt

Before she became known for her fight to free people from enslavement, she was a little girl who was sad to see her family be separated. Tubman is going to be a key person in most kids’ history classes — so this book also gives a timeline of her life, with age appropriate discussion questions. And if you love this, the series also has Barack Obama, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and Benjamin Franklin biographies, and more.

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

This picture book biography tells the story of how Louis Braille lost his sight and invented an alphabet. Young Braille wanted nothing more than to be able to read after an accident causes him to lose his eyesight. His invention gave blind kids all over the world a new way to navigate a world that wasn’t made for them. This book is not only inspiring, it shows children that everyone is capable of doing good things.

Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne and Éric Puybaret

Once there was a boy named Jacques. He loved to explore the oceans. This whimsical and poetic biography of Jacques Cousteau will inspire kids to follow their explorer natures, as well as help them realize that every person who has made history started as a kid with curiosity.

Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote by Tanya Lee Stone and Rebecca Gibbon

From a young age, Elizabeth understood that things weren’t equal in her life. How could only a few people have the right to vote? Voting is the foundation of our democracy. So she went to college, gathered like-minded friends, and made their statements, not stopping until women in the United States won the Right to Vote. She was a girl who saw a problem, and grew up to find the solution.

Turning Pages: My Life Story by Sonya Sotomayor and Lulu Delacre

The first Latina on the Supreme Court, Sonya Sotomayor recollects her life and the steps that brought her there. For her, it was books. Books helped her cope with difficulties in her life, connect with her roots, and helped her see that her future was full of possibilities. In her autobiography, Sotomayor encourages kids everywhere to read, dream, and puzzle for themselves.

Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai and Kera Ascoet

As a girl, Malala wished for a magic pencil. A tool she could use to make everyone happy. To make the world around her a little brighter. As she got older she realized that even if she didn’t have a magic pencil, she could still work hard to make the world a better place. Told in a way that’s appropriate to children, we learn about the struggles that Malala faced to follow her dreams and how even then she held onto a hope for a better future for herself and her friends.

Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People by Monica Brown and Julie Paschkis

Sometimes people create with paint, but for a little boy in a city in Chile, words were better. Pablo wrote poems about all the things he loved. Things he found in nature, things his friends made, and the things he found at the marketplace. He wrote about the people of Chile, their struggles and passions. It all started with a little boy who loved to paint with words.

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle and Rafael López

Millo Castro Zaldarriaga dreamed of drumming. However, girls weren’t allowed to drum on her little island. She dreamed of pounding tall congas and tapping small bongós. One day, she decided to follow her dream — what happened next when her bright music was heard was magic: people dancing and singing and deciding that boys and girls can make music. Showing that both boys and girls can be free to drum and dream, Millo’s story is an inspiration for children everywhere.

The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles and George Ford

Ruby was just a normal 6-year-old until she was chosen to be the first Black person to be enrolled in an all white elementary school. A lot of people didn’t like that idea and said some mean and threatening things. Ruby did what she was told to do, and went to school anyway. How does a little girl change the world? By being brave in the face of racism and injustice.

A Voice Named Aretha by Katheryn Russel-Brown and Laura Freeman

How did a quiet and shy girl from Detroit become the Queen of Soul and the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? She stayed true to herself and her ideals by refusing to play for segregated audiences and never forgetting her roots. She stood up for what was right. Aretha Franklin proved that with passion, perseverance, and R-E-S-P-E-C-T, you can do anything.

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

When NASA used mathematicians called “human computers,” one woman stood out among them all. Katherine Johnson was integral in getting John Glen around the world, helping men walk on the moon, and getting Apollo 13 home safely. This book is for girls who love numbers — who don’t let problems stand in the way from the work.

Vincent Can’t Sleep by Barb Rosenstock and Mary Grandpre

Vincent Can’t Sleep is the story of how one of the most beloved and creative artists found his inspiration. When Vincent Van Gogh couldn’t sleep, he’d walk during the night, giving him the inspiration for his famous painting Starry Night . With lovely poetic writing, it tells kids to follow their passion, even if they don’t see the return in their lifetime. (Maybe wait to walk outside at night alone until after they’ve grown up, though.)

Magic Ramen by Andrea Wang and Kana Urbanowicz

“Peace follows a full stomach,” thought Momofuko Ando while working in his lab to find a quick, easy, and tasty way of making ramen soup. He wanted to help those in the long daily lines for soup after WWII. This is the story of one man, his commitment to his cause, and the world’s most popular “easy soup.”

Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills by Renée Watson and Christian Robinson

Florence was a little girl who loved to sing. She also loved her parents, who were formerly enslaved. So when her beautiful singing and dancing inspired patrons and playwrights alike, she knew that she wouldn’t be happy without standing up to the injustice that she saw daily.

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

“Disagreeing does not make you disagreeable” was something that young Ruth Bader Ginsberg had to learn. This book is the first picture book of Ginsberg’s life. Kids get to see how one girl who stood up for what she believed and became the most beloved Supreme Court justice.

Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos by Stephanie Roth Sisson

“The Earth and every living thing are made of star stuff.” —Carl Sagan. As a boy, Carl Sagan loved learning about the stars. His trip to the 1939 World’s Fair opened up the universe to Carl. A boy who was captured by the wonder of the cosmos became a man who would launch satellites and teach the world about the stars.

Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson and Sean Qualls

Sometimes being told you can’t do a thing gives you all the incentive to do it more, especially if EVERYONE thinks you can’t. Emmanuel Ofosu Yepoah only had one leg — and this is the true story of how he biked across the entire country of Ghana (almost 400 miles!) and went on change the way many people in his country thought about people with disabilities.

She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story by Audrey Vernick and Don Tate

Effa Manley loved baseball. She loved to go Yankee Stadium and see Babe Ruth swing for the fences. Soon she became her own hero by becoming the manager and owner of the Newark Eagles. Effa was the first (and only) woman inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame, because of her work with the Eagles. From a girl growing up in Philly to a Hall of Famer, Manley shows us how to swing for the fences.

Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix by Gary Golio and Javaka Steptoe

Can someone paint pictures with sound? Jimi was a normal kid who loved to paint and listen to music. This is the story of a kid who interpreted the world in his own unique way, and over time learned how to weave music and imagery to become one of the most influential people in the world.

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard and Oge Mora

Mary Walker was born into slavery. She had her first child at the age of 20, lived through a Civil War and two World Wars, and worked many many jobs. Finally, at the young age of 116, Mary Walker learned how to read, proving that it is never too late to follow your dreams and also recognize how incredible life can be.

Want even more after reading this list? Check out historical fiction classics for kids and these picture book biographies of Black leaders and creatives.

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Best Biographies, Autobiographies, and Memoirs for Upper Elementary

3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students don't often automatically grab biographies and autobiographies off the classroom library shelf.  But the inspiring biographies below will have your upper elementary students begging for more!

Written by guest blogger Cindy Koopmans

In my classroom I’ve often found that biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs are a bit of a hard sell.  Besides selecting only the best nonfiction books for my classroom shelves to begin with, this is how I’ve made it work...

Tips for Encouraging Students to Read Biographies, Autobiographies, and Memoirs

When students are looking for a new book to read, I go to the shelves and hand pick a stack of books for them to peruse.  I’ll start the process by asking them what they’ve read lately and what they liked about those books.  This strategy works because it is built on choice and trust.  I’m enthusiastic about books and I never force a book on a kid.  They get to choose what to read.

And when that happens, the conversation I have with one of my lovies goes something like this: “Mrs. K.  This really happened?  This story is like, for real?” 

Me, “Yup.”   

This is the truth:  no matter who we are or how old we are, we are always looking for someone to light the way forward on this dark road called life.  

Even the most jaded of students have the propensity to be inspired by the stories of people who have survived and thrived.  

And that’s why it is so critical to give our students the gift of great nonfiction and allow them a glimpse into other people’s worlds.  When we see how other people navigate the not insubstantial bumps in their personal roads it gives us hope.  

So here you will find a nicely balanced list of great nonfiction books that are tried and true winners for upper elementary students.  There is great variety in this role call.  I’ve included books written about or by creatives, trailblazers, and a few so-called “ordinary” people, who when called upon by fate, did not back down.  They met the challenges they faced head on and triumphed.  

These people found themselves in extraordinarily difficult and, in some cases, harrowing life situations.  The stories are unique, multi-faceted and...well...true!  

As an added bonus, you can trust that these nonfiction books are incredibly well-written.  

Sometimes, just to hook some of my more reluctant student readers, I take a minute out of our precious instructional time.  I’m not doing anything too fancy, I simply introduce a new book and read the first page or two enthusiastically.

If I’m with a particularly apathetic class I’ve been known to climb up on a chair and use lots of over the top hand gestures.  Hey! Whatever it takes, right?  

Anyway, I’m never sorry about taking the time because there is absolutely nothing more exciting than hearing numerous kids blurt out an enthusiastic, “I want to read that one!” 

What just happened here? A waiting list?  Awesome.

These are good books.  Many of these books are showing the wear and tear of being well-loved in my fifth grade classroom.  Others have gotten a thorough vetting before they made this list and are now on an Amazon wish list until I get two nickels to rub together.  You and your students will find them to be deeply satisfying reads.  Get ready for a cupcake shop moment, because you are not going to know which one to pick! 

12 Biographies, Autobiographies, and Memoirs for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Students

Anne frank: the diary of a young girl by anne frank, b.m. mooyaart (translator), eleanor roosevelt (introduction).

It is July 6, 1942, the setting is Amsterdam, and Anne Frank has just received a diary for her birthday.  The rest is history. 

Every year I have at least one student who loves Laurie Halse Anderson's historical fiction books.  If you have students like that in your class, then Anne Frank will absolutely blow their minds.  Introduce them to this classic read, then share the link to the full length movie.   

Some books introduced to students are gifts that they will remember the rest of their lives.  Be that teacher that gives that gift.  Here I just want to say thank you to Mrs. Barclay.  I still have my original copy.

Unbroken: An Olympian's Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive  by Laura Hillenbrand

This book begins with an excruciating description of three men who are floating on a raft in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  Suffice it to say that sharks are predominant in the narrative of the first chapter.  Fifth grade boys?  Gotcha.  Add to the sharks stuff the fact that the main character, Louis Zabarelli, is a former Olympian and you just set the hook.

This recommendation of the young adult adaptation of Louis Zabarelli’s story, but that shouldn’t be a cause for hesitation.  This book graces the shelf of my classroom library, but it isn’t on the shelf very often.  That and it’s worn condition testifies that Louis Zabarelli’s story does hold appeal for upper elementary aged students.  I’ve included the movie trailer for you in case you want more evidence.

Hidden Figures  by Margot Lee Shetterly

This is another worn book in my classroom library.  In fact, I have three copies because it has been that popular. 

You can find some extra resources here if you’re that smart teacher that seeks to intertwine some science lessons into your literature.  If you haven’t seen the movie that was released a few years ago, you can watch the trailer here.

Save time and stress this school year with these   Nonfiction Reading Response Activities that can be used over and over throughout the school year with ANY nonfiction text.   

3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will respond through reading, writing, poetry, speaking, listening, drawing, interviewing, and more.    This is a must have   for any upper elementary teacher that does not want to have to constantly recreate the wheel.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind  by William Kamkwamba

You may want to watch the movie on Netflix, but don’t tell your students it is there until after they read the book.  (And you could use some of these questions and activity ideas for comparing movies to books.)   Another recommendation from my classroom shelves.

I Am Malala  by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick

Look up the word inspiring in the dictionary and you may find Malala Yousafzai’s picture there.  Malala Yousafzai is internationally famous because she and her family stood up to the Taliban’s edict that girls were not allowed to receive an education.  Malala’s father taught her not to back down from what she believed in, even though she knew she was in danger, Malala continued to attend school.  As a result, Malala almost lost her life when she was shot riding the bus home from school. 

Here’s a short video about how Malala, the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17, continues her mission to make a difference in the lives of young women around the world.

A biography of Malala also made this list of books about overcoming obstacles.

Ugly  by Robert Hoge

Do we have a choice in what we allow to define us?  Robert Hoge’s memoir answers this question with a resounding, “Yes!” 

Bullied and misunderstood because of a facial tumor and other disabilities he was born with, Robert Hoge teaches us how to live wholeheartedly and fearlessly despite how we might be judged and treated by the world.  This is the very best kind of story, honestly and simply told by the person who lived through it all. 

Robert was born with disfigurements that made him a baby only a mother could love, except his own mother didn’t want him and still, he made it.  I know I have students who need to hear his story and I’m sure you do too.

Mountains Beyond Mountains  by Tracey Kidder

I was beyond excited when I learned that Tracey Kidder’s book about Dr. Paul Farmer and his work with Partners in Health had been adapted for young readers. 

Tracey Kidder shadows Dr. Paul Farmer whose mission is to provide quality healthcare to the most economically disadvantaged people in the world’s most impoverished populations.  Dr. Farmer’s father exemplified altruism and expected his children to participate in his passion. 

Even though the family didn’t have money, Dr. Farmer made a decision to attend college and pursue medicine.  It was a high school guidance counselor that helped him take the first steps. 

This is a book that I challenge students to read, because it’s...well...challenging!  But a student who  choses to tackle it has not been disappointed.  

My Thirteenth Winter  by Samantha Abel

Samantha Abel was a straight A student with a secret.  She couldn’t remember her locker combination or tell time.  The disconnect caused her to suffer from anxiety attacks.  In her thirteenth winter, Samantha found the strength and the courage to confront her problems.  Consequently, Samantha learned that she had a learning disability called dyscalculia.   Once the disability is discovered and addressed, Samantha’s life begins to change. 

As teachers know, learning disabilities are a discrepancy between intelligence and academic struggle.  It is in that often agonizing struggle that a learning disability is  forced to the surface.  We know what they are, but we don’t really know what causes them. 

A Long Walk to Water  by Linda Sue Park

Linda Sue Park lays out the story in two distinct sections, intermingling fiction and nonfiction.  The book tells the story from the point of view of a young girl, Nya, as she walks all day long to procure water for her family’s needs:  hence the title.  But it is Salva’s point of view story that is truly central to the book.  Salva is one of the “Lost Boys” of Sudan who is walking to escape the violence and constant threat of being conscripted into the Sudanese army.  Spoiler...the two stories come together at the end of the book. 

I spend a lot of time convincing those kiddos who read ahead not to give away the ending and wreck the book for their classmates.  This link will take you to a short video about Salva.

Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland is the first African-American principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre history.  Adapted for young readers, the adult version of this book made the New York Times best-seller list.  This is another excellent autobiography I’ve had to purchase in multiples because it is in demand with my girls. 

Misty Copeland’s grit and determination, added to her passion, led her to a successful career in dance.  It all began so simply. 

She writes,  “My family didn't have very much money, so ballet wasn't even on my radar; I just found it randomly when I was 13 at a Boys & Girls Club. We were practicing on a basketball court in gym clothes with some old socks on. Even though it terrified me at first, I found that I really liked it.”  Find something you love and pursue it with all your heart.  Yes.

Check out these other inspirational biographies of African-Americans.

Lion: A Long Way Home  by Saroo Brierley

An incredible true story that just proves the point that life is often stranger than anything anyone could make up in a million years. 

His book chronicles his struggle to remember where he came from and to reconnect with his family, which he does when he is 25 years old.  You can watch a trailer for the Hollywood Version here.

Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman

Vincent’s younger brother Theo is the pragmatist in the relationship, but still an art lover—he works as an art dealer, which on the face of it could be immensely helpful for Vincent.  But Vincent’s artistic style, that of the Impressionist school, is simply not in fashion and Theo can’t change that fact. 

Despite their personality differences and all the drama Vincent brings to the relationship these brothers remain loyal to the core.  This is a beautiful and touching story of brotherly love and devotion. 

You’ll find it special as a direct result of Deborah Heilgman’s efforts to get the details right: she carefully gleaned information from more than 600 letters Vincent wrote to his brother Theo over his lifetime. 

Deborah Heiligman is the award winning author of Charles and Emma and many other books for children and young adults.

Find more book suggestions for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students here.  

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Living Well + Learning Well

with Alicia Hutchinson

100+ Beautiful Biographies Your Kids Will Love

73   95 100+ Biographies for Kids

This post was originally posted in 2014 with 73 biographies and there been TONS more biographies for kids published since then. As I added to our library, I updated this post again in 2018. I gave this post a THIRD revision in 2020 to add in even more amazing biographies for kids! Here’s the updated list, categorized for easy searching and saving.

Biographies for Kids: Scientists + Mathematicians to Admire

• The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbably Life of Paul Erdos  by Deborah Heiligman

2. Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne

3. The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps by Jeanette Winter

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4.  Rosie Revere, Engineer  by Andrea Beaty

5.   Who Says Women Can’t be Doctors: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell by Tanya Lee Stone

Get the 6 Secrets to a Simpler Mom Life

6.  Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein by Don Brown

7. Electrical Wizard: How Nikola Tesla Lit up the World by Elizabeth Rusch

8. Timeless Thomas: How Thomas Edison Changed our Lives by Gene Berretta

9. Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

10. On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne

11. Summer birds: the Butterflies of Maria Marion by Margarita Engle

12. Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci by Joseph D’Agnese

13. The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of James John Audubon by Jacqueline Davies

14. Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly

15. Caroline’s Comets: A True Story by Emily Arnold McCully

16. Step Right Up: How Doc and Jim Key Taught the World about Kindness by Donna Janell Bowman

17. Look Up!: Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer  by Robert Burleigh

18. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin  by  Julia Finley Mosca 

19. Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World  by  Rachel Ignotofsky

Artists + Musicians to Learn About

20. When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson by Pam Munoz Ryan

21. Mr Cornell’s Dream Boxes by Jeanette Winter

22. Ella Fitzgerald : The Tale of a Vocal Virtuoso by Andrea Pinkney

23. The Iridescence of Birds: Henri Matisse by Patricia MacLaughlan

24. A Splash of Red: the Life and Art of Horace Pippin  by Jen Bryant

25. Duke Ellington: the Piano Prince and his Orchestra  by Andrea Davis Pinkney

26. Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell

27. Henri’s Scissors by Jeanette Winter

28. Becoming Bach by Tom Leonard

29. Viva Frieda by  Yuyi Morales

30. Prairie Boy: Frank Lloyd Wright Turns the Heartland into a Home  by Barb Rosenstock

31. Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle

Biographies for Kids: Heroes from History

29. Thomas Jefferson: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Everything by Maira Kalman

30. To Dare Mighty Things: The Life of Theodore Roosevelt by Doreen Rappaport

31. The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia by Candice Fleming

32. Amelia lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candice Fleming

33. The Lincoln’s: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary  by Candace Fleming

34. Rosa by Nikki Giovanni

35. What to do about Alice? by Barbara Kerley

36. Elizabeth Leads the Way by Tanya Lee Stone

37. Joan of Arc by Diane Stanley

38. Leif the Lucky  by Ingri Daulaire

39. Columbus  by Ingri Daulaire

41. George Washington by Ingri Daulaire

42. Benjamin Franklin by Ingri Daulaire

43. Buffalo Bill  by Ingri Daulaire

44. Abraham Lincoln  by Ingri Daulaire

45. Bard of Avon:William Shakespeare  by Diane Stanley

46. Leonardo Davinci by Diane Stanley

47. Good Queen Bess by Dianne Stanley

48. Peter the Great by Dianne Stanley

49. Cleopatra by Diane Stanley

50. Along Came Galileo  by Jeanne Bendick

51. Joan of Arc: Warrior Saint by Jay Williams

52. Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library by Barb Rosenstock

53. Now and Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Gene Barretta

54. Eleanor by Barbara Cooney

55. A Boy Named FDR  by Kathleen Krull

56. Alexander the Great by John Gunther

57. George Washington’s World by Genevieve Foster

58. The World of Captain John Smith by Genevieve Foster

59. The World of Christopher Columbus and Sons by Genevieve Foster

60. Augustus Caesar’s World by Genevieve Foster

61. Abraham Lincoln’s World by Genevieve Foster

62. Louis and Clark: Explorer’s of the American West by Steven Kroll

63. Encounter by Jane Yolen

64. Picture Book of Daniel Boone by David Adler

65. The Secret Subway by Shana Corey

66. Abraham by Frank Keating

67. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford

68. Brave Clara Barton by Frank Murphy

69. Teedie: The Story of Young Teddy Roosevelt by Don Brown

70. The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans  by Barbara E. Walsh

71. First Mothers  by Beverly Gherman

72. Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford

73. Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero  by Marissa Moss

74. Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson

75. Before She was Harriet   by  Lesa Cline-Ransome 

76. Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  by  Doreen Rappaport 

77. Nelson Mandela   by  Kadir Nelson

78. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History  by Vashti Harrison

Biographies about Writers

79. The Boy on Fairfield street: How Ted Geisel Grew Up to Become Dr. Suess by Kathleen Krull

80. Louisa: the Life of Louisa May Alcott  by Yona Zeldis McDonough

82. Noah Webster and his Words  by Jeri Chase Ferris

81. Going Solo by Roald Dahl

83. The Right Word: Roget and His Thesaurus by Jen Bryant

84. Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise

85. The Power of Her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne by Lesa Cline-Ransome

86. Balderdash!: John Newbery and the Boisterous Birth of Children’s Books by Michelle Markel

87. Malala’s Magic Pencil  by  Malala Yousafzai 

Biographies for Kids About Amazing Athletes

88. Ali an American Champion by Barry Denenburg

90. Brothers at Bat by Audrey Vernick

91. The William Hoy Story: How a Deaf Baseball Player Changed the Game  by Nancy Churnin

92. Charlie Takes His Shot: How Charlie Sifford Broke the Color Barrier in Golf   by Nancy Churnin

93. Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win   by  Rachel Ignotofsky 

Too Cool for Categories: Everyday Folks Who Made a Extraordinary Impact

94. Mr. Ferris and his Wheel by Kathryn Gibbs Davis

95. Iggy Peck, Architect  by Andrea Beaty

96. The Story of Johnny Appleseed  by Aliki

97. The Fairy Ring: Or Elsie and Frances Fool the World by Mary Losure

98. The Great and Only Barnum by Candice Fleming

99. Bon appétit! The Delicious Life of Julia Childs  by Jessie Hartland

100. Daredevil: the Daring Life of Betty Skelton  by Meghan Macarthy

101. Grandfather Gandhi by Arun Gandhi

102. Here come the Girl Scouts by Shana Correy

103. The Man who Walked Between the Towers by Mordecai Gernstein

104. Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet

105. Pocket Full of Colors:  The Magical World of Mary Blair, Disney Artist Extraordinaire by Amy Guglielmo

106. Manjhi Moves a Mountain

107. Alice Waters and the Trip to Delicious by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

108. Courageous World Changers: 50 True Stories of Daring Women of God 

109. Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Dee Romito

110. The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard

My hope is that, as a result of this big ol’ list, you and your children will discover amazing people whose stories should be continued to be shared. Most of all, I want my kids to know that reading and continuing to read will keep expanding their world!

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24 Comments

I love this list and have referenced it many times!!! Has anyone made an excel file of these to check off? Also my daughter loves to listen and so I’m wondering if anyone has found any of these on audiobooks?

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Great list!

Additional picture book biographies that we’ve enjoyed: Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson Small Wonders: Jean-Henri Fabre & His World of Insects by Matthew Clark Smith The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art by Barb Rosenstock Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating Pippo the Fool by Tracey Fern

This list is fantastic! I order the biographies for our library and we were missing several of these. You know it’s a good list when the library already has most of the books and they are regularly checked out!

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This looks like an awesome list! However please note that Rosie Revere Engineer is NOT a biography. It’s a wonderful book about a little girl who wants to be an engineer, but it is NOT about Rosie the Riveter. There is an implication that the character’s great great aunt is the riveter but this is not a biography. Thank you very much for this list, it’s super helpful!

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Thank you so much! I love getting my kids biographies! Great looking list!

This is a goldmine! Thanks so much for compiling this list Alicia! My little bookworm will thank you for this. xo emily

This is incredible! I am always on the hunt for book list and adding in some biographies would be such an excellent learning tool. Like you, life fascinates me and I love reading about them!

http://www.hollandsreverie.blogspot.com

My daughter's class does a book report a month. She has done mysteries, but this month she will be reading the story of olympic gymnast Shaun Johnson. Callie is a gymnast as well (a newcomer)and I love that she will be reading about one of her heroes. You have compiled a great list. Makes me truly miss teaching reading.

Love this list! I'm looking for books to steer my kids to. 😉

Oh how I nerdily love this list! My girls have been reading a lot of biographies about people in the Revolutionary War and they have been loving them! Hooray for raising future biography nerds!!

Love love love this post! Thank you!

What a fun list'. We haven't really done much biography reading at all. This list will be a great place to start!

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The Best Autobiography & Biography Books for Kids

As kids begin to understand the larger world around them, there’s nothing more expansive than learning about the lives of others. So it’s no wonder biographies are a hit with curious young readers. Learning about amazing people who shaped the world through bravery and dedication isn’t just a way to inspire your child’s own dreams—it’s a path to building stronger empathy and relationships. 

That’s why we’ve created this list of the best biographies for kids of all ages and reading levels, from preschool to middle school. Featuring stories of dreamers and doers from all walks of life, these books will have your reader thinking big about their boundless potential!

Mahatma Gandhi: My First Mahatma Gandhi (Little People, Big Dreams)

By Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

This picture book is a gentle introduction for babies and toddlers to the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. The charmingly illustrated tale tells the story of young Mohandas and his upbringing in India under British rule. All the while, Mohandas dreamed of a world where all living beings were treated with kindness—and dared to chase it into reality. Your toddler or preschool reader will light up as they learn from Gandhi about nonviolence, peace, and unwavering kindness.

David Bowie (Little People, Big Dreams)

This one’s for all the diaper-dancers and future rockstars. Even the youngest baby learners will be inspired by the one-of-a-kind Starman and his message of fearless individuality. Young David Jones may have looked like an ordinary boy on the outside, but on the inside, he was full of dreams, music, and creativity. Show your child that gigantic dreams are as close as the karaoke microphone in this motivational depiction of David Bowie’s story. The board book format is sturdy enough for little readers to thumb through on their own—and with the bold, bright illustrations, they’ll want to!

Where’s Jane?

By Jaye Garnett

If your growing reader is a naturalist-in-training, this wonderfully engaging board book is just what the biologist ordered. Designed for children ages 3 to 5, this board book is a lighthearted introduction to Jane Goodall’s fascinating chimpanzee research. Your reader will be so busy searching for hidden pictures in the illustrations that they won’t realize they’re learning facts well beyond their science curriculum. Vocabulary words and questions on every page also help encourage discussion and develop more advanced communication skills.

Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist

By Linda Skeers

Got an up-and-coming paleontologist in the family? Then this is the biography you’re looking for! Mary Anning was a true scientific pioneer. Every young dino fan will be enraptured by the story of how her earth-shaking scientific career began by hunting for fossils in her own backyard. This fully illustrated picture book invites 4- to 9-year-olds to turn over pages and stones as they advance their exploratory skills .

Who Was Ruth Bader Ginsburg? (Who Is/Was)

By Patricia Brennan Demuth

The Who Was … books are among the best biographies for kids, presenting accurate history in an easy-to-read style. Who Was Ruth Bader Ginsburg? introduces kids to one of the renowned legal minds of our time while making her feel accessible, relatable, and wholeheartedly human. This story of Ginsburg’s advocacy for gender equality and women’s rights will empower readers from ages 8 to 11 to stand up for what they believe in as they learn to read independently and think critically.

Women Who Dared: 52 Stories of Fearless Daredevils, Adventurers, and Rebels

If your 10- to 13-year-old reader loves adventure-packed stories, this book is a must-have. They might’ve heard about Amelia Earhart in school, but they’ll marvel at the lesser-known stories of Russian astronaut Valentina Tereshkova, stuntwoman Helen Gibson, and oceanographer Sylvia Earle in this riveting collection. Each profile is short and readable, yet brimming with value and heart. Try reading one profile with your child before bed each night and watch as they gravitate toward certain adventurers, navigate moral complexities, and relate the stories to their own lives.

Help Your Child Dream Big With Biographies From Literati Book Clubs

Once your kids start learning about the real lives of influential people like the ones above, they’ll realize how endless their own potential really is. You can make sure your reader is always stocked up with the best biographies for kids—along with all the other genres they love—by becoming a Literati Kids Book Club member. We’ll send your child the best-in-class literature suited perfectly to their reading level and interests. The result? A passion for reading, a thirst for learning, and ideas that flow as freely as David Bowie’s melodies. To get started, complete our quick personalization quiz and open the gates to your young reader’s literary adventure today.

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Biographies & Autobiographies for Kids

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Also included in Collections

Favorite books for 5th graders

by: The GreatSchools Editorial Team

Print book list

I Am the Ice Worm

by: MaryAnn Easley - (Boys Mill Press, 1996) 127 pages.

This book is sort of a girls’ version of Gary Paulsen’s classic Hatchet. In both stories, a teenage character is stranded in the wilderness following a plane crash. In I Am the Ice Worm , 14-year-old Allison is rescued from the Alaskan wild by an Inupiat trapper, who takes her to his village to stay until she can be reunited with her mother. Allison’s upbringing in an upper-class family in southern California certainly didn’t prepare her for this icy adventure, but she turns out to have courage and adaptability that she didn’t expect. Though Allison may initially seem too “girly” for boy readers, this novel has a great blend of adventure, wilderness and family matters that will captivate boys and girls alike.

Perfect for: Kids who like adventure stories.

Find I Am the Ice Worm at your local library.

by: Gary Paulsen - (Simon & Schuster, 1987) 192 pages.

The story is about Brian, 13, and how he manages to survive 54 days in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash. Brian was flying to visit his father when the pilot dies of a heart attack in mid-flight. Brian crash lands the plane into a small lake and swims out of the wreckage. He has his clothing, a tattered windbreaker and a hatchet (a gift from his mother). The novel takes us through Brian’s days, how he learns patience through his experiences with failures and small successes: building a fire, fishing and hunting, making his shelter a safe one. He endures a porcupine attack, a tornado and being utterly alone for almost two months. This is a tale of adventure but, more importantly, it is a tale of character growth. This edition includes a new introduction and sidebar commentary by the author.

Find Hatchet at your local library.

Kit’s Wilderness

by: David Almond - (Delacorte Press, 2000) 229 pages.

Kit’s family moves to Stoneygate, an old coal-mining town where his family has lived for generations, to be near his ailing grandfather. Here, Kit is invited by an odd neighbor boy to play a game called Death. The game and the town’s haunted history get under Kit’s skin, while the lines between reality and fantasy begin to blur. This multi-generational tale is engrossing and chilling.

Find Kit’s Wilderness at your local library.

by: Roland Smith - (Harcourt, 2007) 246 pages.

When 14-year-old Peak Marcello is caught scaling a skyscraper to place his signature graffiti tag, he is offered a choice: spend three years in juvenile detention or climb Mt. Everest with his long-absent father. Though the choice might be easy, the journey is not. Peak is physically and emotionally challenged by the grueling climb, the weather, and the politics and drama of climbing culture. And the pressure is on, because if Peak can reach the summit before his 15th birthday, he’ll break a world record and gain glory and money. Peak is gripping and surprising, and though it’s written for a middle-grade audience, readers young and old will be sucked in by the sharp writing and memorable characters.

Find Peak at your local library.

Baseball in April and Other Stories

by: Gary Soto - (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1990) 111 pages.

Alfonso is a seventh grader who wishes his teeth were straighter, his hair were cooler, and his abs were more muscular. His parents are preoccupied with earning a living and his older brother, Ernie, has girl troubles. Alfonso meets a girl with ponytails and invites her for a bike ride, but then his bike chain breaks. Will Ernie lend Alfonso his bike? The eleven short stories in this book explore family bonds, falling in love, fears, and insecurities — themes common to all kids as they grow up. They feature Mexican-American families and are full of colorful details from the author’s own experiences growing up in California’s Central Valley.

Perfect for: Tweens navigating life with friends, siblings, and crushes.

Find Baseball in April and Other Stories at your local library.

The Light Princess

by: George McDonald , illustrated by: Maurice Sendak - (Farrar Straus Giroux, 1864) 110 pages.

Just when you think your child might be getting too old for fairy tales, along comes this amazing 19th-century princess story to change both of your minds. Chock-full of puns and mixed with just the right blend of whimsy and ethics lessons, The Light Princess deserves a fresh set of 21st-century eyes. Resoundingly recommended. In 1977 Maurice Sendak created illustrations for a rerelease of this 1864 book.

Perfect for: Kids who like classic stories.

Find The Light Princess at your local library.

The Phantom Tollbooth

by: Norton Juster , illustrated by: Jules Feiffer - (Random House, 1961) 255 pages.

Described by many children as “the best book ever,” this is fantasy at its best. Full of irony and insights, Juster created a masterpiece when he wrote The Phantom Tollbooth . Give this book to your child and let the wave of words and numbers sweep them into a fantastical world. A clever, almost indescribable book that you may already know about, but is too indispensable to keep from mentioning it here.

Find The Phantom Tollbooth at your local library.

Sir Cumference and the First Round Table: A Math Adventure

by: Cindy Neuschwander , illustrated by: Wayne Geehan - (Charlesbridge Publishing, 1997) 32 pages.

This book is the perfect read-aloud to introduce the concepts of circumference, diameter and radius. Students will be exposed to many other geometric shapes as well. Children of all ages will enjoy this mathematical adventure. Sir Circumference and his Knight work to solve a mathematical dilemma. What would be the best-shaped table for Sir Circumference to gather his knights? Will it be a square, rectangle, parallelogram or circle? You must read to find out.

Perfect for: Kids who like numbers.

Find Sir Cumference and the First Round Table: A Math Adventure at your local library.

Bread and Roses, Too

by: Katherine Paterson - (Clarion Books, 2006) 288 pages.

Life in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1912 wasn’t easy. … Born to Italian immigrants, Rosa’s parents and older sister work in the mills. After her father died in a mill accident, Rosa’s mother took in a family of boarders. Even though they needed the money, Rosa’s feisty mother insisted that 12-year-old Rosa attend school rather than work in the mill. … With her unfailing empathy for the young, Paterson combines the thoughts and feelings of a timid child who is torn between the admonitions of an admired teacher who talks against an unfolding mill strike and her earthy Italian mother who, along with Rosa’s older sister, participates wholeheartedly in the strike. … Once again, Paterson displays her gift for bringing the hard past to life for present-day readers.

Perfect for: Kids who like historical fiction.

Find Bread and Roses, Too at your local library.

The Secret Garden

by: Frances Hodgson Burnett - (J.B. Lippincott Company, 1911) 288 pages.

Mary is an orphan who is angry at the world when she arrives at a forsaken mansion on the British moors. As she slowly discovers the secrets of the mansion, including an invalid cousin, an abandoned garden, and a family’s sad history, she begins to hesitantly open her heart. She shows her cousin the garden and his ecstatic encounter with nature is as healing for him as it has been for Mary. The young people flourish along with the garden, as the lonely mansion becomes a loving home.

Want to see the movie? Check out the 1993 adaptation featuring Maggie Smith as Mrs. Medlock.

Find The Secret Garden at your local library.

Island of the Blue Dolphins

by: Scott O'Dell - (Yearling, 1971) 192 pages.

The Newbery Medal winner for 1961, this book could be seen as a precursor to Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet (see below). Karana is a 12-year-old Native American who refuses to abandon her 6-year-old brother when her island, Ghalas-at (off the Southern California coast) is evacuated. Shortly thereafter, he tragically dies after being attacked by wild dogs, and Karana begins her solitary wait for a ship to come for her. She waits 18 years. Karana survives by foraging, fishing in the ocean, defending herself from wild dogs and elephant seals, and hiding from the Aleut tribe. Told from her point of view, we share the details of her day-to-day life, watch the days turn into years, and wait for the ship to carry her off her lonely island. O’Dell based this novel on an actual historical figure, known as The Lost Woman of San Nicolas, who lived on the island from 1835-1853.

Find Island of the Blue Dolphins at your local library.

The Mystery of Rascal Pratt

by: Robbie Scott and Gary Cianciarulo - (Greenwich Mill Pub., 2007) 207 pages.

This is great historical fiction for children. The story takes place in 1866 at the tip of the Marin Headlands in Northern California. Shipwrecks, pirate adventure, bigotry, friendships, local flavor — this book has it all to hold the attention of the tween crowd. The protagonists are Emma, Sue and Harris (all 12 years old) and Rascal Pratt, a self-proclaimed pirate who is older than he looks. Achilles, Sue’s grandfather, a blind, Native American ranch worker, asks Rascal to find the long-lost treasure of Sir Francis Drake, so that he can buy his freedom from the ranch. The action takes place at a lighthouse and the nearby shoreline and ocean. Because of the wonderful period detail found here, this book is a perfect tie-in for “Talk Like a Pirate Day” on September 19!

Find The Mystery of Rascal Pratt at your local library.

Number the Stars

by: Lois Lowry - (Houghton Mifflin Co., 1989) 137 pages.

A brave Danish girl helps smuggle her Jewish friends to safety. Lowry’s sense of timing and choice of details put readers in the middle of the story. A riveting read, but your kids may have questions afterward.

Find Number the Stars at your local library.

On the Wings of Heroes

by: Richard Peck - (Dial Books, 2007) 148 pages.

This book is a funny, poignant book about life on the home front during World War II. There is some violence: a father is knocked out with a wrench, a girl’s hand is caught in a rat trap, and an old lady likes to tell tales of gruesome injuries. Families can talk about the differences between life then and now. What aspects of Davy’s life sound similar to your own? Which are completely different? Does it sound like it was fun to grow up then? Is it more fun now? What else have you seen and read about World War II?

Find On the Wings of Heroes at your local library.

The Shakespeare Stealer

by: Gary Blackwood - (Puffin Books, 1998) 216 pages.

Fourteen-year-old orphan Widge works for a mean and unscrupulous master who goes by the name of Falconer. Ordered to steal the script for Hamlet, Widge is taken to London and forced to attend a performance of the play. Instead of concentrating on stealing the script, he becomes engrossed in the show. Reluctantly, Widge admits his failure to Falconer and is told to return until his mission is accomplished. Nothing goes as planned and a very surprised Widge finds himself an accepted member of the backstage crew. Once a lonely outcast, he has friends and a place to call home for the first time in his life. Will he have the moral integrity to disobey his master or will he betray his new family? Set in Elizabethan London, The Shakespeare Stealer introduces us to Shakespearean stagecraft, life on the streets of London and to the truth behind the youthful appearance of Queen Elizabeth I!

Find The Shakespeare Stealer at your local library.

The Slave Dancer

by: Paula Fox - (Bradbury Press, 1973) 204 pages.

This moderately graphic depiction of the worst of the slave trade, told exclusively from a white boy’s point of view, will raise many questions, both historical and moral. Though the reading level is middle to upper elementary, sensitive children may find it very disturbing.

Find The Slave Dancer at your local library.

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain

by: Peter Sis - (Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2007) 56 pages.

This award-winner shows a child’s view of the Cold War. This serious book deserves time and close attention. There are many big political and philosophical ideas, and mentions of events that may disturb some children, including a plane hijacking, imprisonments and deaths. Families can talk about and compare what was happening in America during that time. Are grandparents available to share their own memories of the Cold War era? Families can also explore the Western cultural touchstones that meant so much to Sis — the Beach Boys, the Beatles. Awards: Caldecott Honor, New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award, Kirkus Reviews Editors’ Choice, School Library Journal Best Book, Parents’ Choice Award Winner, Horn Book Fanfare.

Find The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain at your local library.

The Canning Season

by: Polly Horvath - (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003) 208 pages.

Ratchet loves her selfish mother but receives little in return. Without warning or luggage of any sort, Ratchet’s mother ships her to Maine to spend the summer with two elderly relatives. Tilly and Penpen are un-identical twins who are tremendously eccentric; they are also kind and generous. A laugh-aloud, farcical story evolves from this unlikely premise. Winner of the 2003 National Book Award for Children’s Literature.

Perfect for: Kids who like humor stories.

Find The Canning Season at your local library.

The Pepins and Their Problems

by: Polly Horvath , illustrated by: Marylin Hafner - (Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers, 2004) 192 pages.

Whether it’s waking up to find toads in their shoes or searching for cheese when their cow makes lemonade, the Pepin family’s endless tangles entertain the reader. Lucky for them they have the author, whose insight into their hilarious misfortunes helps guide them in problem solving.

Find The Pepins and Their Problems at your local library.

The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of 5th Grade

by: Kenneth Derby - (Holiday House, 2004) 144 pages.

Tony Baloney is obsessed with David Letterman and is determined to be a guest on his show. This fast-paced, action-packed story is sure to keep the reader amused — top 10 lists and all!

Find The Top 10 Ways to Ruin the First Day of 5th Grade at your local library.

What Would Joey Do?

by: Jack Gantos - (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2002) 240 pages.

Now that Joey’s divorced mom has a new boyfriend, his dad has returned to town to buzz their house on his roaring motorcycle. The fact that his own sick, elderly mother is living with his son and former wife doesn’t deter him at all. When Joey’s mom sends him to be homeschooled with a bratty blind girl with a religious mother whose motto is “What Would Jesus Do?” Joey adopts this motto — with his own modifications. While the premises of Joey’s story – no allies except a small dog and a sick old lady — are harsh, the book is hilarious.

Find What Would Joey Do? at your local library.

by: Kenneth Oppel - (Eos, 2004) 544 pages.

Matt is a cabin boy on board a luxurious airship, the Aurora. Matt meets Kate, who has arranged for a flight on the Aurora so that she can investigate diary entries her grandfather made regarding large, feline creatures with bat-like wings. Soon, the Aurora is attacked by pirates and forced by a storm to land on a tropical island. While exploring the island, Matt and Kate stumble across the bones of one of the “cloud cats” and observe one living in the treetops. But they are captured by the pirates, whose hideout is on the very same island. Will Matt and Kate be able to escape? You won’t want to stop turning the pages until you know the answer! Rich with action, the character development does not suffer. Matt and Kate are likable heroes, the pirates vile and even the airship, Aurora, takes on a personality of its own.

Perfect for: Kids who like mysteries.

Find Airborn at your local library.

Chasing Vermeer

by: Blue Balliett - (Scholastic, 2004) 254 pages.

Mysterious letters, picture puzzles called “pentominoes,” and a stolen painting by the Dutch artist Vermeer unite unlikely friends, Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay, in an effort to solve a mystery.

Find Chasing Vermeer at your local library.

Encyclopedia Brown Cracks the Case

by: Donald J. Sobol - (Dutton, 2007) 128 pages.

Children will enjoy beating Encyclopedia Brown to the solution in each of these 10 short stories. The cases require different knowledge to solve them, so this collection is good for budding history buffs and scientists.

Find Encyclopedia Brown Cracks the Case at your local library.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

by: E.L. Konigsburg - (Simon & Schuster, 1967) 162 pages.

Twelve-year-old Claudia and her younger brother Jamie are running away from the tyranny of unappreciative parents and the drudgery of day-to-day living. Claudia has carefully hand-picked the beautiful Metropolitan Museum of Art as their new home. There they quite unexpectedly stumble upon an unknown statue by none other than Michelangelo…or is it? Winner of the 1967 Newbery Award.

Find From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler at your local library.

The Homework Machine

by: Dan Gutman - (Simon & Schuster, 2006) 160 pages.

Young readers will recognize their classmates and maybe themselves in the key witnesses who describe the events (interrogation-style) leading up to the discovery, use and destruction of a computer that was supposed to make kids’ lives easier. It didn’t.

Find The Homework Machine at your local library.

The Lady Grace Mysteries

by: Lady Grace Cavendish - (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2004)

Series by various authors writing as Lady Grace Cavendish (Random House, 2004-2006). Lady Grace Cavendish is the Nancy Drew of the Elizabethan Age, an independent-minded teenager whose godmother just happens to be Elizabeth I. Court intrigues and rivalries, swashbucklers, unlikely friends and a mystery in each book make these very lively historical novels.

Find The Lady Grace Mysteries at your local library.

Spy Force Mission: In Search of the Time and Space Machine

by: Deborah Abela , illustrated by: George O'Connor - (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2005) 240 pages.

An 11-year-old girl discovers boredom is the least of her problems during the summer she spends at her aunt’s farm. Her secret-agent stories take on a new reality when she happens upon a real spy ring. This story is the ultimate thriller for our age.

Find Spy Force Mission: In Search of the Time and Space Machine at your local library.

Time Stops for No Mouse

by: Michael Hoeye - (Putnam, 2002) 279 pages.

Hermux is a watchmaker who also happens to be a mouse. He is mostly content with his life of order and quiet nights curled up with some cheese and a good book, but that all changes when one Linka Perflinger, aviatrix and daredevil, enters and mysteriously exits the picture.

Find Time Stops for No Mouse at your local library.

Alabama Moon

by: Watt Key - (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2006) 304 pages.

In the piney woods of south Alabama, 10-year-old Moon Blake has been raised by his survivalist father, a paranoid Vietnam veteran. When his father dies, Moon buries him beside his mother, who had softened their harsh existence while she lived. Not long before he died, Moon’s father told him to write him letters after his death — and if Moon burned the letters, the messages would reach him. Pap called these “smoke letters.” … With a wonderful villain and touches of distinctive humor, the author takes his wiry, tough, goodhearted hero through a residence in a boys’ “home,” a true friendship, assorted escapes and into a happy ending. … This debut novel is absolutely first-rate.

Perfect for: Kids who like realism.

Find Alabama Moon at your local library.

Becoming Naomi Leon

by: Pam Munoz Ryan - (Scholastic, 2004) 272 pages.

Naomi Leon Outlaw is many things: a great sister, a kind granddaughter, and an excellent soap carver, but she is having a harder time just being Naomi. Her journey to find her own true voice and reconnect with her father takes her from a trailer park in Lemon Tree, California, to a radish-carving festival in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Perfect for: Kids who have changed as they’ve grown up.

Find Becoming Naomi Leon at your local library.

Homeless Bird

by: Gloria Whelan - (HarperCollins Publishers, 2000) 192 pages.

Set in India, this is a lyrical and compassionate portrait of a survivor. Thirteen-year-old Koly is getting married to someone she has never met. When her new husband turns out to be gravely ill, things take a turn for the worse. Koly finds herself widowed, hopeless and on the streets.

Find Homeless Bird at your local library.

The Liberation of Gabriel King

by: K.L. Going - (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2005) 151 pages.

Frita Wilson works hard to help her friend Gabe to overcome the fear of bullies in fifth grade. This is an inspiring story about friendship and understanding between an African American girl and a white boy.

Find The Liberation of Gabriel King at your local library.

Maniac Magee

by: Jerry Spinelli - (Little, Brown, 1990) 184 pages.

A homeless orphan becomes a legend in a town divided by racism in this sometimes funny, sometimes moving, always exciting story. Jeffrey Magee’s exploits may have made him famous, but reconciling a town filled with hate and finding a decent life for himself may be more than even he can manage.

Find Maniac Magee at your local library.

by: Andrew Clements , illustrated by: Mark Elliott - (Simon & Schuster, 2007) 146 pages.

This is an ear-to-ear-grinningly delightful school story. Parents need to know that there is nothing to be concerned about here and lots to cheer. It’s a story that even reluctant readers can love, about good-hearted children and adults who grow in compassion and understanding. Families can talk about silence and civil disobedience. Why does the silence seem so powerful? How does it change everyone’s perceptions? What do you think of the standoff between Dave and the principal?

Find No Talking at your local library.

by: Eleanor Porter - (Simon and Schuster, 1913) 304 pages.

A tonic in cynical times, this book offers a philosophy of life that can have a big impact on younger children. Playing the Glad Game is worth a try for any family. Like other books of its time, Pollyanna contains a few comments that are considered racist by modern standards: a maid is referred to as “Black Tilly,” and there are several comments to the effect that little boys from India are “heathens” who “don’t know any more than to think that God was in that [idol].”

Find Pollyanna at your local library.

The Wednesday Wars

by: Gary Schmidt - (Clarion Books, 2007) 264 pages.

On Wednesday afternoons half of Holling’s class leaves school early for Catechism class. The other half leaves early for Hebrew School. That leaves Presbyterian Holling alone every Wednesday afternoon with his teacher, Mrs. Baker. Neither of them is happy at the prospect, and Holling is sure Mrs. Baker hates him as a result. At first, Mrs. Baker just has Holling clean erasers, but then decides to make better use of the time by introducing him to Shakespeare. And as events in the larger world during the 1967-68 school year unfold in the background, Holling begins to learn about himself, his family, friends and the mysterious adult world.

Find The Wednesday Wars at your local library.

The View From Saturday

by: E.L. Konigsburg - (Simon and Schuster, 1996) 163 pages.

Main characters not only compete in an academic contest (contest answers included at the back!) but also outwit the class bullies using brains, not brawn. Nadia, Noah, Ethan and Julian, so closely linked in friendship that they call themselves “the Souls,” each narrates a part of the book. Part of the pleasure comes from watching the foursome’s varied life experiences help them succeed as an Academic Bowl Team, and part comes from the suspense generated at the story’s beginning: How does Mrs. Olinski select the children for her team? Only Noah, Nadia, Ethan, and Julian know — and in alternating chapters, each one tells a different piece of the story of how they became friends. The calamitous wedding of Nadia’s grandfather and Ethan’s grandmother, where Noah fills in as best man, is just the beginning. Mrs. Olinski, a paraplegic, proves to be an indomitable coach as the foursome wins one victory after another.

Find The View From Saturday at your local library.

by: Dan and Zaki Gordon - (Delacorte Press, 1997) 170 pages.

Children are encouraged to interact with the exciting story. When melodramatically read aloud, it’s a sure success. The Bugle Boy models brave steadfast friendship. The toys are animated by the power of imagination, and represent characters from various other stories.

Perfect for: Kids who like science fiction and fantasy.

Find Davin at your local library.

The Emerald Wand of Oz

by: Sherwood Smith , illustrated by: William Stout - (HarperCollins Children's Books, 2005) 272 pages.

This book transports the reader back to the enchanted land of Oz, but it is a much different Oz than the one to which Dorothy traveled. Two girls named Dori and Em will try to save Oz from yet another wicked witch.

Find The Emerald Wand of Oz at your local library.

The Five Ancestors: Snake

by: Jeff Stone - (Random House, 2006) 208 pages.

Follow the adventures of 12-year-old Seh (snake), Fu (tiger) and Malao (monkey) in 17th-century China. With the many twists and turns in the plot, you never know who is friend or foe. Even family members are not always who they seem to be.

Find The Five Ancestors: Snake at your local library.

Haroun and the Sea of Stories

by: Salman Rushdie - (Granta Books in association with Viking, 1990) 224 pages.

Rushdie’s only children’s book begins somewhere in Western Asia. Drawing upon the folklore of India and Muslim cultures, the story takes its father and son heroes on a quest from our contemporary world into a magnificently conceived “other” world. In the real world, Rashid Khalifa, the father, has lost his remarkable ability to tell stories, earning the moniker the Shah of Blah. Simultaneously, in the fantasy world, stories are disappearing from the Sea of Stories. Haroun, Rashid’s son, searches for the mysterious cause of his father’s loss and remedy to restore his talent. He encounters situations and characters of great originality, humor and imagination in a fast-moving tale full of word play and clever dialogue.

Find Haroun and the Sea of Stories at your local library.

Molly Moon’s Hypnotic Time Travel Adventure

by: Georgia Byng , illustrated by: Mark Zug - (HarperCollins, 2005) 400 pages.

Molly’s time travels take her to India in the late 1800s. The high-speed novel fascinates readers as the nasty maharaja of Waqt sets about kidnapping Molly at ages 10, 6 and 3, and as a baby.

Find Molly Moon’s Hypnotic Time Travel Adventure at your local library.

Ranger’s Apprentice Book One: The Ruins of Gorlan

by: John Flanagan - (The Penguin Group, 2005) 249 pages.

Will wants to attend Battleschool to serve the kingdom. His small size leads him to be assigned as a Ranger’s apprentice. His bravery and skills eventually fulfill his dream of protecting the kingdom.

Find Ranger’s Apprentice Book One: The Ruins of Gorlan at your local library.

The Scarecrow and His Servant

by: Philip Pullman , illustrated by: Peter Bailey - (Random House, 2005) 229 pages.

This scarecrow is not from a cornfield in Oz. He is from a real cornfield, but he springs to life and goes on many dangerous adventures. The biggest danger is from a family that the reader is sure to find exciting.

Find The Scarecrow and His Servant at your local library.

The Sisters Grimm Book One: The Fairy-Tale Detectives

by: Michael Buckley - (Scholastic, 2007) 284 pages.

Have you read the Brothers Grimm classic book of fairy tales? Did you think they were “just stories”? That is what sisters Sabrina and Daphne Grimm thought until their parents mysteriously disappeared one day. After being shuffled through several foster homes, they end up with a woman named Relda Grimm. Relda claims to be their grandmother and informs the sisters that the fairy tales are actually historical events collected by their ancestors, whose role has always been to maintain the fragile peace between the humans and the Everafters, the proper term for fairy-tale creatures. Daphne, the younger sister, loves Relda and their new life, while Sabrina is skeptical. Everything changes, however, when their grandmother and Mr. Canis, the butler, are kidnapped by a giant and the girls have no choice but to rescue their newfound family.

Find The Sisters Grimm Book One: The Fairy-Tale Detectives at your local library.

The Sisters Grimm Book Two: The Unusual Suspects

by: Michael Buckley - (Scholastic, 2007) 290 pages.

Now that Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are living with their grandmother Relda in Ferryport Landing, New York, the time to start school has arrived. Daphne is in second grade, with Snow White as a teacher, and school could not be more fun. Sabrina, on the other hand, is in sixth grade and quickly discovers that the entire sixth-grade teaching staff is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Not only that, but the majority of the students sleep through every class and have not done their homework. When Sabrina’s homeroom teacher, Mr. Grumpner, is found dead and dangling from a spider’s web, the Grimm family must step in and try to solve the crime before more people get hurt.

Find The Sisters Grimm Book Two: The Unusual Suspects at your local library.

by: David Almond - (Random House, 1998) 182 pages.

Is the creature dying in Michael’s garage a man, a bird, an angel or all three? And what is his connection to Michael’s baby sister, who’s in the hospital with a heart problem? This gorgeously weird novel holds readers entranced in a spell woven of moonlight, owls and poetry. Among the many pleasures of this atmospheric and stunningly beautiful novel are the characters of Michael, a deeply empathetic boy, and Mina, who studies birds and William Blake (and who should be the poster child for home schooling) — and the tender and touching relationship Michael and Mina develop in caring for Skellig and worrying about his baby sister.

Want to see the movie? Check out the 2009 made-for-TV adaptation, Skellig: The Owl Man .

Find Skellig at your local library.

The True Meaning of SmekDay

by: Adam Rex - (Hyperion, 2007) 423 pages.

A rollicking adventure told by young Gratuity Tucci, this is the story of the invasion of Earth by aliens known as the Boov. All Americans are relocated to Florida (but then to Texas, once the Boov figure out the joys of orange juice). Gratuity only wants to find her mom. She sets out on her own, joins forces with a renegade Boovian mechanic named J.Lo, has to figure out how to save the Earth, and then the Boov from the Gorg. Good grief, what a mess! But Gratuity Tucci is a heroine of the most invincible kind: a small, 12-year-old girl. And in the grand tradition of small, 12-year-old girls everywhere, she is completely underestimated by absolutely everyone!

Find The True Meaning of Smekday at your local library.

Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates

by: Mary Mapes Dodge - (TorBooks, 1999) 288 pages.

In this enduring winter classic, Hans and his sister Gretel must find a way to help their desperately poor family survive. Their chance to win the coveted silver skates in a race on the village’s frozen canals could save them all. Continuously in print since 1865, this is a timeless classic of love and loyalty to share with a new generation.

Perfect for: Kids who likes classic stories.

Find Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates at your local library.

by: Jutta Goetze - (Allen & Unwin, 2006) 300 pages.

Snow Wings is a fantasy where evil forces have taken over the world. Six kids must learn to face their fears and work together to save the planet in this page-turner that takes its heroes on alpine adventures involving avalanche rescues, ski races, snow lizards, flying sleighs and magical snowmen. An engaging fantasy mixed with a modern-day thriller.

Find Snow Wings at your local library.

Gorilla Doctors: Saving Endangered Great Apes

by: Pamela S. Turner - (Houghton Mifflin, 2005) 64 pages.

The veterinarians of Rwanda’s Mountain Gorilla Project make house calls — or rather, “forest calls” — tracking down and treating ailing gorillas in the wild. Short chapters present dramatic accounts of real incidents, such as an expedition to untangle a gorilla from an antelope snare or the rescue of an orphaned baby gorilla. Factual information about these endangered animals is included, as well as full-color photos of the gorillas and the doctors. This book will appeal to animal lovers and to kids thinking of careers as veterinarians or naturalists.

Perfect for: Kids who like nonfiction and animals.

Find Gorilla Doctors: Saving Endangered Great Apes at your local library.

by: Lady Hestia Evans - (Candlewick, 2007) 332 pages.

The illustrations, maps and interactive pop-ups in this book will develop a child’s interest in mythology. Add to that a sidebar of mystery on every page, and they will learn the relationships between the characters in no time.

Find Mythology at your local library.

Show; Don’t Tell! Secrets of Writing

by: Josephine Nobisso , illustrated by: Eva Montanari - (Gingerbread House, 2004) 40 pages.

This nonfiction text offers older students the chance to explore the genres of writing in an easy-to-use format. The characters and illustrations were found to be intriguing enough to make students want to finish the book.

Perfect for: Kids who like to write.

Find Show; Don’t Tell! Secrets of Writing at your local library.

The Grapes of Math

by: Gregory Tang , illustrated by: Harry Briggs - (Scholastic, 2001) 40 pages.

Parents and teachers alike, if you want a fun and innovative way to motivate your math students, this book is for you! Tang cleverly teaches problem solving through the use of mind-stretching riddles. Don’t expect the ordinary with this book. Children are taught to look for patterns and solve problems in unexpected ways. In fact, your child will be so engrossed that he won’t even realize the educational value of this book.

Perfect for: Kids who like numbers.

Find The Grapes of Math at your local library.

Do Not Open: An Encyclopedia of the World’s Best-Kept Secrets

by: John Farndon - (DK Publishing, 2007) 256 pages.

The name of the book alone gets readers to pick it up. Once open, they’ll find weird and interesting facts. Readers engage in learning through rich illustrations of the world’s best-kept secrets. This book contains much more than just trivia.

Find Do Not Open: An Encyclopedia of the World’s Best-Kept Secrets at your local library.

Pick Me Up: Stuff You Need to Know…

by: Jeremy Leslie and David Roberts - (DK Publishing, 2006) 352 pages.

Longtime publisher of kid’s information-weighted books and software, Dorling Kindersley (DK) is trying to bring the computer-mesmerized, videogame-addicted, next-generation kids back to books. And this energetic, colorful, oddball compendium of info “you need to know” tackles that objective head-on. … True to DK’s approach, this plump collection of all and everything is illustrated to the extreme, some of its pages dominated with poignant or wacky photos and minimal explanations, others filled with words in the tiniest of type. … Unconventional, yes, but the book is fun and fascinating, and aptly titled. Young readers will pick it up again and again, and undoubtedly learn something they “need to know.”

Perfect for: Kids who like nonfiction and facts.

Find Pick Me Up: Stuff You Need to Know… at your local library.

Emeril’s There’s a Chef in My World! Recipes that Take You Places

by: Emeril Lagasse , illustrated by: Charles Yuen - (HarperCollins, 2006) 210 pages.

Star chef Emeril Lagasse takes readers’ taste buds on a trip around the world in this follow-up book to his two previous kids’ cookbooks (There’s a Chef in My Soup! and There’s a Chef in My Family!). Young chefs will enjoy this lively cookbook that includes more than 70 recipes from every region of the world. The format is friendly with clear ingredient lists and numbered directions. There are pronunciation guides for foreign names, interesting food and cultural facts (for instance, in Ireland, salmon is the most prized fish and thought to have magical powers), and bright and colorful illustrations of the dishes. This book would be a great way to get the whole family into the kitchen and cooking together.

Perfect for: Kids who like to cook.

Find Emeril’s There’s a Chef in My World! Recipes that Take You Places at your local library.

Roald Dahl’s Even More Revolting Recipes

by: Felicity Dahl and Roald Dahl , illustrated by: Quentin Blake and Jan Baldwin - (Viking/Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, 2001) 64 pages.

If the Addams Family had a favorite cookbook, this would be it. Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake have teamed up again to create the companion volume to his first culinary compendium, Roald Dahl’s Revolting Recipes. Aficionados will recognize some of the dishes from Mr. Dahl’s other works, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. While some of the recipes may sound fairly disgusting, none of them really is. The titles alone are enough to fill young and mischievous cooks with glee as they look forward to presenting company with a plate of Soil with Engine Oil or some Boiled Slobbages. Parents, please note: While the dishes are calculated to appeal to younger appetites, the directions may get a bit overwhelming for junior chefs. Adult supervision is the rule rather than the exception here, so get a firm grip on your sense of humor and wade on in. Who knew lizard’s tails could be so tasty?

Find Roald Dahl’s Even More Revolting Recipes at your local library.

Everything Kids’ Environment Book

by: Sheri Amsel - (Adams Media, 2007) 144 pages.

The books in Adams Media’s Everything Kids’ series provide encyclopedic yet entertaining introductions to their topics, and this volume on the environment is no exception. Perfect for the curious child, this guide — filled with eco-friendly activities and puzzles — shows them how to reduce waste, recycle materials and protect plants and animals.

Perfect for: Kids who like science and nature.

Find Everything Kids’ Environment Book at your local library.

A Hot Planet Needs Cool Kids: Understanding Climate Change and What You Can Do About It

by: Julie Hall , illustrated by: Sarah Lane - (Green Goat Books, 2007) 88 pages.

A great find, A Hot Planet Needs Cool Kids features the very latest information about the causes and effects of climate change without being heavy-handed. Through its hands-on activities, eco-hero stories and hopeful message, this book will inspire kids, families and schools to join the fight against global warming.

Find A Hot Planet Needs Cool Kids at your local library.

Hurricane Force: In the Path of America’s Deadliest Storms

by: Joseph B. Treaster - (Kingfisher, 2007) 128 pages.

The author of this book, longtime New York Times reporter Joseph Treaster, was in the New Orleans city hall when Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005. He draws on his experiences covering Katrina and its aftermath to provide younger readers with a first-hand look at the deadly storms we call hurricanes. Along with his eyewitness accounts, there is information about what scientists currently know about how and why hurricanes form, how they are tracked, and how they impact coastal areas. Precautions and planning for future storms are also discussed. Dramatic color photos enhance the solid information presented in this book.

Find Hurricane Force at your local library.

How Basketball Works

by: Keltie Thomas , illustrated by: Greg Hall - (Maple Tree Press, 2005) 64 pages.

Young readers who enjoy basketball will love this book. Beyond the usual retelling of the history of the game (the physical education teacher who nailed the peach baskets to the gymnasium balcony to give athletes something to do in the winter), this book provides information about the rules of the game, how to become a better player, anecdotes about legendary players, how equipment has evolved over time and tips on game strategy. Conversational text is interspersed with lively illustrations, diagrams and photographs. Even reluctant readers might actually take a break from shooting hoops to read this one.

Perfect for: Kids who like sports.

Find How Basketball Works at your local library.

Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself

by: Maxine Anderson - (Nomad Press, 2006) 128 pages.

DIY kids will love this book. Parents will love what they’re learning. Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself begins with an introduction to the Renaissance and a biography of da Vinci, including excerpts from his notebooks and reproductions of his drawings. But the main attraction is the step-by-step instructions for making 19 of da Vinci’s inventions, including a perspectograph, a camera obscura, a hydrometer, invisible ink, walk-on-water shoes, and miniature versions of his helicopter and tank. Adult supervision is recommended where appropriate. For kids who like science and nature.

Perfect for: Kids who like building things.

Find Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself at your local library.

The Dark Is Rising

by: Susan Cooper - (Simon and Schuster, 1973) 224 pages.

This is the second book in a five-book series and actually the best one to start with. Cooper convincingly combines fantasy elements with folklore and mythology. Events coincide with significant dates, such as Will’s birthday, which is close to Christmas and Twelfth Night, and the use of circles to create a link between the Six Signs and the power of the Light add to this story’s mystical aura. Will Stanton meets his destiny on his 11th birthday. He is the Sign-Seeker, last of the immortal Old Ones, who must find and guard the six great Signs of the Light that will overcome the ancient evil that is overpowering the land. This classic fantasy is a bit slow, but enthralling.

Perfect for: Kids who like fantasy stories.

Find The Dark Is Rising at your local library.

Pirateology

by: Captain William Lubber, Dugald A. Steer (Editor) , illustrated by: Anne Yvonne Gilbert, Ian Andrew and Helen Ward - (Candlewick Press, 2006) 32 pages.

The richly detailed Pirateology (the latest of the popular ‘Ology books) is a standout among pirate merchandise, and a treat for both children and adults. This hefty volume centers on the search for treasure left by the “notorious” (i.e., fictional) pirate Arabella Drummond and comes with a host of pirate gear: a compass, maps and scraps of flags, among others. Pirateology is loaded with envelopes to be opened, journals and letters to pore over, and codes to be deciphered. Along the way, children learn about navigation, history, zoology and more. Real pirate lore is seamlessly blended with fictional narrative (even the publishing credits are disguised so as not to break the mood), and the old-fashioned illustrations are top notch. Another notable feature is that the pirate pursued here is female, making this book appeal to readers of both genders.

Find Pirateology at your local library.

My Librarian Is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World

by: Margriet Ruurs - (Boyds Mills Press, 2005) 32 pages.

From camels to elephants to boats and trolleys, this is an inspirational look at the great lengths that some librarians go to to bring books to children around the world.

Perfect for: Kids who like nonfiction.

Find My Librarian Is a Camel: How Books Are Brought to Children Around the World at your local library.

Animals in the House: A History of Pets and People

by: Sheila Keenan - (Scholastic Nonfiction, 2007) 112 pages.

Fascinating facts, historical details, endearing animal photographs and some famous people with their pets are presented in a colorful and inviting format that provides young pet lovers with an abundance of reasons for why we love our furry or feathered friends.

Perfect for: Kids who like history.

Find Animals in the House: A History of Pets and People at your local library.

The Water Horse

by: Dick King-Smith , illustrated by: David Parkins - (Crown Publishers, 1998) 118 pages.

The hook: Here is another sweet animal tale from the author of Babe. Aside from the Water Horse eating a swan, there is little to be concerned about here. Families who read this book could discuss the Loch Ness Monster. Do you think it could be real? Why or why not? How might a story like this have gotten started? Your children might be interested in doing a little research and seeing the supposed photos of the monster.

Want to see the movie? The 2007 adaptation, The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep , is loosely based on the book, but adds in a WWII plot line to lengthen the story.

Find The Water Horse at your local library.

Freak the Mighty

by: Rodman Philbrick - (Blue Sky Press, 1993) 192 pages.

Max, who struggles with a learning disability, is big compared to other kids his age — though he’s not as big as his violent, convict father, who is in prison for killing Max’s mother. Brilliant, tiny Kevin suffers from a crippling disease that causes him to wear leg braces and keeps his body from growing. The two eighth grade outcasts form a powerfully symbiotic friendship, each drawing on the other’s strengths as they face bullies and more serious dangers together. This poignant, often funny book deals with intense subject matter and packs strong messages about friendship, bravery, and accepting those who are different.

Want to see the movie? Check out The Mighty (1998), starring Sharon Stone and Kieran Culkin as Kevin.

Perfect for: Kids who have ever felt different or left out.

Find Freak the Mighty at your local library.

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10 Extraordinary Helen Keller Biographies for Young Readers

Honoring the life of an incredible woman.

June 27 is Helen Keller Day! On this day, we celebrate the life of Helen Keller, activist, writer, educator, and trailblazer. She became deaf-blind at 19 months old after she having a high fever. In her life, with the help of a gifted teacher, Anne Sullivan , Helen overcame incredible odds to learn how to communicate. She dedicated her life to activism, campaigning for labor rights, women’s suffrage, and socialism. Young readers from kindergarten through grade eight will be inspired by reading about her life. Here are some of our favorite Helen Keller books for kids.

Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!

1. I Am Helen Keller by Brad Meltzer (K–3)

We love all the books in Meltzer’s Ordinary People Change the World series, and the Helen Keller installment is no exception.

2. A Picture Book of Helen Keller by David A. Adler (1–3)

This 1990 biography has stood the test of time.  

3.  National Geographic Readers: Helen Keller  by Kitson Jazynka (1–3)

Perfect for developing readers interested in real photos and artifacts from Keller’s life.

4. Helen’s Big World: The Life of Helen Keller by Doreen Rappaport (1–3)

If you’re familiar with Doreen Rappaport’s picture book biographies, you know she has a gift for capturing her subjects in a lyrical, kid-friendly way. This one lives up to those expectations.

5. A Girl Named Helen Keller by Margo Lundell (1–3)

Another solid biography for beginning readers.

6. DK Readers: Helen Keller by Leslie Garrett (2–4)

This easy reader biography is well suited for children who are beginning to read more independently.

7. Helen Keller: Courage in the Dark by Johanna Hurwitz (2–4)

This easy reader biography from a prolific children’s author is a great introduction to Keller.

8. Who Was Helen Keller?  by Gare Thompson (3–7)

The Who Was?  series is fantastic, and the Helen Keller installment doesn’t disappoint.

9. Helen Keller: A New Vision by Tamara Leigh Hollingsworth (4–6)

We love all the additional information and sidebars packed into this biography. Great for a reader who might want multiple entry points into the material.

10. Helen Keller: A Photographic Story of a Life by Leslie Garrett (5–8)

Even though this biography is for older readers, it’s packed with photos, making it a great choice for striving and confident readers alike.

Do you have other favorite Helen Keller books to share? We’d love to hear about them in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out of our favorite women’s history books for kids.

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25 Best Books for 5th Graders: Making Reading Fun for Kids

Best Books for 5th Graders: General Fiction

Best non-fiction books for 5th graders, top rated books for 5th graders on adventure, best fantasy books for 5th graders, best historical fiction books for 5th graders.

Fifth grade is a vital milestone in a child’s life. They are still in elementary school but mentally prepared for middle school. Thus, it is the perfect time to introduce your kids to some advanced reading. All you need is good reading books for 5th graders , and you can enhance your child’s literary horizon. 

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However, check your 5th grader’s reading level and areas of interest; this can help you select the books for them. Usually, 5th graders have advanced reading levels unless they struggle to read due to problems like dyslexia, autism, etc.

In this article, we’ve picked the best 25 books for fifth graders across various niches like fiction, non-fiction, mystery, etc. So, let’s look at some good books to read for 5th graders that your kids will love.

Here are some more online reading games to educate and engage your kids!

25 Books for 5th Graders to Learn and Take Inspiration From

Based on the general reading level, here are some popular books for 5th graders: 

1. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Subject: Prejudice, Self-acceptance, Friendship, Bullying

Amazon Ratings: 4.6/5

Price: $9.67

R.J. Palacio wrote a beautiful piece of children’s literature based on a real-life incident. The book is inspired by an incident when the writer’s son started to cry after seeing a girl with a facial deformity. Palacio attempted to remove his son from the situation so the girl and her family wouldn’t feel hurt, but it worsened the situation. Later, taking inspiration from Natalie Merchant’s song, she penned this book for 5th graders to teach them a valuable lesson on friendship, acceptance, and bullying. 

2. New Kid by Jerry Craft

Subject: Racism

Amazon Ratings: 4.7/5

Price: $8.64

This is a graphic novel that will help your fifth-grader understand how racism still exists in our modern society. The story revolves around a seventh-grade student, Jordan, who experiences a culture shock after enrolling in a private school. This book talks about a critical issue – how American Africans still struggle to fit into society. It also talks about a child’s experience in a new academic environment.

3. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

Subject: Disability, Acceptance

Price: $7.49

This is an excellent book to read for 5th graders because it talks about acceptance and celebrating disability. The book is narrated by Melody, who has cerebral palsy. She is a smart girl, but her inability to express her thoughts physically and verbally makes her an odd one out in the crowd. However, when she enters the fifth grade, she gets a machine to communicate with others. That’s when people realized how intelligent she was.

4. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery 

Subject: Resourcefulness, Determination, and Presence of Mind

Price: $5.99

You can encourage your fifth grader to read this book to enhance their knowledge about the 19th century. This is the story of Anne, a 14-year-old orphan. She is mistakenly adopted by two siblings who want to adopt a boy to help them around their farm. It is a beautiful tale of how she wins everyone’s hearts with her dramatic and intelligent character. She is a determined person who is ready to take on any challenge. Your child will learn a lot from her adventurous story.

5. Nothing’s Fair in Fifth Grade by Barthe Declemente 

Subject: Judging, Bullying, Physical Appearance 

Price: $7.99

Do you want to teach your fifth graders never to judge someone based on their physical appearance? If so, Nothing’s Fair in Fifth Grade is the perfect tool. It is the story of two fifth-graders, Jane and Elise. Elise is a plump girl. Therefore, Jane assumed she had stolen book club money to buy lunch. The story teaches how bullying can impact someone, why children shouldn’t do it, and how those who face or witness it should stand up against bullies. 

6. Accidental Archeologists: True Stories of Unexpected DIscoveries by Sarah Albee 

Subject: Archaeological Stories

Amazon Ratings: 4.5/5

Price: $9.79

If you’re looking for fun books for 5th graders, this is a great find with amazing graphics and gripping adventures. The book will hook children with its simple writing and fantastic science-meets-reality stories from the first page. In addition, children can learn about various historical discoveries from this book, like the discovery of The Rosetta Stone, a fought-over golden Buddha statue, a 5300-year-old mummy, and many more.

7. Do You Know Where the Animals Live? by Peter Wohlleben 

Subject: Animal Science 

Price: $15.59

New York Times bestselling author, Peter Wohlleben, has created a fantastic visual book for young children to learn about animals. Your child will learn about different animals and their habitats in a question-answer style. The book contains questions like – Are worms afraid of the rain? Do fish use farts to communicate? Two pages are dedicated to interesting information and colorful illustrations to answer every question.

8. The Dictionary of Difficult Words by Jane Solomon 

Subject: Improving Vocabulary 

Amazon Ratings: 4.9/5

Price: $16.69

This is a popular book for 5th graders to improve their English vocabulary. You will find some unique and modern English words in this book with clear illustrations. Children will become wordsmiths with over 400 unique word collections like bubble shoot, a moonbow, haberdashery, ichthyologist, Luddite, etc. 

9. What Breathes Through Its Butt? Mind-Blowing Science Questions Answered by Dr. Emily Grossman 

Subject: Science 

Price: $15.39

This is an interactive and fun book for 5th graders or even younger children. It contains everyday science questions such as; why is your elbow called your funny bone? How could you escape the grip of a crocodile’s jaw? Which animal can breathe through its butt? This book’s handwriting, cool emojis, and graphics are engaging and will appeal to kids. 

10. Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women by Catherine Thimmesh 

Subject: Biography 

Price: $9.99

An award-winning author and illustrator collaborate to create this graphical biographic book. It is a fictional narration of real stories, including suspense and thriller. Catherine Thimmesh has successfully made boring and mundane biographies into exciting and innovative stories. Most biographies are of women who have discovered something remarkable in their lives.

11. Trapped in a Video Game by Dustin Brady 

Subject: Virtual Action

Price: $4.99

This is a fun and adventure-loaded book for your enthusiastic fifth grader. The book’s storyline revolves around a 12-year-old boy who likes to play video games with his friend. As they were about to complete a high level in the game, they suddenly found themselves inside it. The book is about how these two friends enter a video game and find their way out.

12. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen 

Subject: Self-Dependence, Confidence, Problem-Solving

Price: $6.10

This book has a strong message of self-dependence. It is the story of a young boy, Brian Roberson, who travels from New York to Canada to visit his grandfather. However, his plane crashes midway, and he finds himself on the banks of a wild lake in Canada. The story follows the adventurous journey of Brian and how he learned to hunt, start a fire, and survive in the wild. All with the one tool Brian has with him – a hatchet. 

13. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George 

Subject: Solitude, Survival, Balance 

Amazon Ratings: 4.8/5

Price: $7.59

This is an illustrated novel based on 12-year-old Sam Gribley. He doesn’t like living in his crowded family apartment. So, he moves to his grandfather’s abandoned farmhouse in the Catskill Mountains. Sam must rely on his survival skills to reach the farmhouse and hunt animals for food. Throughout the story, Sam encounters several challenges. In the end, he decides to balance solitude and his family. 

14. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster 

Subject: Time Management, Boredom 

Amazon Ratings: 4.8/5 

Price: $7.78

This is the story of a boy named Milo, who has a room full of toys and books but is still bored. Then, one day, he sees a magical tollbooth appear in his room out of the blue. Out of boredom, Milo drives through the tollbooth in his toy car and lands in the Kingdom of Wisdom. He travels through the kingdom and rescues two beautiful princesses, Rhyme and Reason. 

He also goes to the Island of Conclusions, which you can reach by jumping. He soon learns life is anything but boring. It is an enjoyable read for 5th graders centered around the love for learning. 

15. Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss 

Subject: Friendship, Family, Forgiveness 

Price: $8.99

New York Times bestseller author, Jennifer Chambliss, has written this book starring Emily and her friend James. After moving to San Francisco, home of her literary idol Garrison Griswold, she discovers that he has been attacked and left in a coma. So, she starts an adventure with her friend to find out who has attacked Griswold. It is an action and suspense-filled book to capture students’ interests. 

16. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry 

Subject: Responsibility 

Price: $6.81

This fantasy story begins when a pilot crashes in the Sahara desert. While fixing his plane, the pilot meets a young and curious boy. The young boy tells the pilot he is a prince who has embarked on an adventure to seek knowledge to understand his planet better. The book is philosophical from a child’s perspective and can help to develop your child’s interest in literature. 

17. The Hobbit by J.R.R. 

Subject: Take Risk, Come out of Comfort Zone

Price: $11.91

This classic book follows Bilbo Baggins, a quiet and respectful hobbit. He goes on an adventure to get a treasure guarded by the dragon Smaug. The kids will enjoy Bilbo’s journey, different characters, and the exciting adventures in the story. 

18. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin 

Subject: Gratitude 

Price: $13.78

The book revolves around a 10-year-old spirited girl, Minli. She is adventurous and loves her family, who struggle to make ends meet. One day, she sets out on a quest to bring good fortune to her family and the village. Along the way, she makes new friends – a dragon, a poor boy, and a prince. The tale of how they find the fortune will engage and entertain your kids and give them a valuable lesson on kindness. 

19. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle 

Subject: Love, Self-value

Amazon Ratings: 4.4/5

Price: $8.49

This is a fantasy story of Meg, whose father has been missing for two days. One night, Meg and her brother meet Mrs. Whatsit, their eccentric neighbor. She learns about The Tesseract, the power to transport to the universe by folding time and space. Meg embarks on a magical journey to find her father along with her brother and classmate. It is a wonderful book about love, individuality, and imagination. 

20. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis 

Subject: Unitedness 

This story revolves around four siblings – Peter, Lucy, Susan, and Edmund. They enter the enchanted land of Narnia from an old wardrobe. Once there, they realize that all of this was destined, and they must now unite with Aslan to defeat an evil queen – the White Witch.

21. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell 

Subject: Redemption, Belongingness 

Price: $6.78

This is a children’s novel about a girl named Karana. She is on a journey of self-discovery as she is stranded alone on the island her tribe used to live on for years. She finds solace among the island’s animals and learns how to survive and care for the world. This is a good book for 5th graders to teach them the importance of hanging out with the people who support you and allow you to grow as a person. 

22. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry 

Subject: Difficulties of Growing Up 

The story revolves around Annemarie, who is 10 years old and lives in Copenhagen with her family in 1943. During World War 2, she risks her life to help her Jewish friend escape the Nazis. This book teaches 5th graders about World War II events in a simple story form. 

23. Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan 

Subject: Love, Struggles, Sacrifice 

Price: $5.34

This is a fictional book for young adults following Esperanza. She is the daughter of a wealthy landowner in Mexico. However, her family meets with a tragedy, and they fly to the United States during the great depression and adjust to their new life as farm workers. The story helps children understand how wealth is never more important than family and friends. 

24. The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis 

Subject: Friendship, Adolescence, Family 

Amazon Ratings: 4.7/5 

This book focuses on the turbulent times during the civil rights movement. It is the story of a 10-year-old African-American boy living with his parents, brother, and sister in Michigan. When his brother gets into trouble, his parents send them to live with their grandparents in Alabama. The book talks about frightening events, strong language, and racism. Thus, it is best to read it with your child. 

25. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly 

Subject: Female Empowerment 

The story is about Callie, who has just turned twelve. She struggles to meet her mother’s and society’s expectations for women in 1899. One day, she borrows her grandfather’s copy of The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. This sparked her interest in Darwin’s theory of evolution and new inventions. So she spent her days cooking and sewing while learning evolution in her free time.

Pick a Book and Get Started!

There you have it; 25 really good books for 5th graders covering different genres. Now, based on your child’s interest and reading level, pick the best ones to improve their vocabulary, and knowledge and develop a reading habit .

Explore more online educational resources for kids that will help with their learning experience and make them smarter.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the best genres for 5th graders to read.

Fifth graders are advanced readers capable of understanding complex texts. Thus, parents and teachers should try introducing different genres like fiction, non-fiction, historical fiction, science fiction, poetry, and more.

What are the benefits of reading for 5th Graders?

Reading is vital for children of all ages. However, fifth-grade students need to read more often because:

• It helps improve their creativity and imagination .
• Develops their vocabulary.
• Boosts memory.
• Enhances concentration and attention span.
• Improves writing skills.
• Reduces stress and relaxes their mind.

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46 Outstanding Books for 5th Graders That Are Lit

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Finding books for 5th graders, and middle schoolers in general, that not only appeal to but challenge our kids can be difficult.

We try to get them fired up about reading and keep their interest level up. Despite what they tell us, often, the problem isn’t that they don’t want to read it’s the books that miss the mark.

“There’s no such thing as a kid who hates reading. There are kids who love reading, and kids who are reading the wrong books.” ―  James Patterson

But with some trial and error, you can find something your fifth-grade reader will enjoy.

This post contains affiliate links. I will earn a commission at no additional charge to you if you make a purchase using my links. Click here to see my full disclosure policy .

How to help your fifth grader choose the right book

Why is your reader reluctant?

• Is the book too hard?
• Do they struggle with a learning disability or other reading skills?
• Is it in the recommended reading list for their grade level but they’re an advanced reader and they’re simply bored?
• The subject matter or genre isn’t one that excites them

Even still, is it the way our society is fast-paced, and wants results right away from a screen?

I know my own kids have struggled with being interested in a book simply because they can “just watch the movie”.

They have the often-made misconception that because the movie has such graphic depictions with sights and sounds the book will be somehow lacking.

As an avid reader my entire life this is soul-crushing.

They miss out on being transported to another place and time so immersive that all else is forgotten. You are there. One with the characters. It’s happening to you.

They will argue this happens with movies.

But only a true book lover will tell you, “Well sort of but not quite”. As good as movies are, it’s a kinda almost.

Especially if you have read both the books and seen the movie. Leaving most book lovers screaming at the screen and completely dissatisfied afterward.

There are exceptions of course. And movies do offer an important place in storytelling.

As they move from young readers in elementary school to read more mature themes they will see, perhaps for the first time, that the best books are the ones where they can identify with personally or recognize their middle school peers.

Perhaps not in location but in feelings and hardships that the main character encounters. Through these great reads, they can learn how to cope with or deal with their own problems.

Empathy and compassion can be developed when individuals realize what it’s like to be in the shoes of others.

How can you encourage your reluctant reader?

• Follow their interests – biography of Jackie Robinson vs George Washington
• Read just for fun – magazines count too!
• Try audiobooks for a great way for struggling readers to enjoy stories
• Encourage trying a completely different genre
• Read aloud together – even older kids really enjoy it
• Read the same book and have discussions like a book club
• Online apps for reading e-books with laptops, tablets, or phones

Recommendations for Fifth Grade Reading Level Books

Since by now, most of you know all about Harry Potter and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and of great popular middle school writers like Jerry Spinelli and Gary Paulson that make all the book lists.

So while I have listed a few books that appear on many other 5th grade reading book lists I have also tried to include many that are not.

I have sorted them into types of books but some criss-cross into different categories so I have tried to list some stand-out attributes that make them great books.

My teens are well beyond fifth grade now but, it’s still about finding the right book.

So I asked them to give me a list of their favorites to add to this post.

My Teenager’s Must-Read Books for 5th Graders

N’s book recommendation.

• Coming of age
• Book 1 of 3
• Award-winning

Q’s Favorite Fifth Grade Book

• Historical Fiction
• Strong female lead
• Social injustice

R’s Top Pick for Chapter Book

• #1 New York Times Bestseller

“A mediation on kindness” R.J. Palacio – description of Wonder by the author

One more expert weighs in. My father taught middle school English for over 25 years.

He continues to teach at the college level for both reading and writing. As a teacher who still gets notes and kudos from former students and parents, I asked him for his top recommendation for the fifth-grade level.

Professor Dad’s Favorite Books for 5th Graders to Read

• Book 1 of 4
• Advanced readers

Best Series Books for Fifth Graders

Percy Jackson & The Olympians

• 5 book series
• New York Times Bestseller for over 600 weeks
• Classic novel
• 7 book series + Trivia book

Little House on the Prarie

• Historical fiction
• 9 book series

Humor Books For 5th Graders

• Graphic Novel
• Apocolyptic adventure
• Netflix series
• Superhero fiction
• Graphic novel
• Book 1 of 15
• Teacher’s Pick

• Action/Suspense
• Social Issues
• Clean reading

Graphic Novels for 5th Graders

• Amazon Editor’s Pick
• Award-Winning

Fantasy Books for 5th Graders

• New York Times Bestseller
• #1 New York Times Best Seller
• Teacher’s Choice

• Award-winning author

Science Fiction Books for 5th Graders

• Sci-fi / aliens
• Mystery/suspense
• Book 1 of 6
• Sci-fi/fantasy
• Mystery/Adventure

• Dystopian fantasy

Non-Fiction Books for 5th Graders

• Nat Geo fun facts
• Format great for reluctant readers
• Picture book

• New York Times bestseller
• Netflix film

General Fiction Books for 5th Grade

• Animal lovers
• Book 1 of 2

• Dog autobiography
• Scholastic Gold

Historical Fiction Books for 5th Graders

• African History
• Military Fiction
• World War I

• Social justice

Mystery Books for 5th Graders

• Time travel
• Historical references
• Recluctant readers
• Book 1 of 10

• Reluctant reader
• Book 1 of 5

Poem Books for Fifth Graders

• Vietnamese History
• Coming-of-Age

5th Grade Reading Books on Social Justice

• Women’s Right’s
• Middle Eastern History
• Nobel Peace Prize Author
• Biographies
• Social Activism
• Book 6 of 7

• Civil Rights
• New York Times best-seller

Best Fifth Grade Books with a Strong Female Lead

• Netflix Series
• Book 1 of 8

Scary 5th-Grade Reading Level Books

His Dark Materials 

• Fantasy/Sci-fi
• Action-thriller
• HBO Original Series
• Social science

• Short-stories collection

Classic Chapter Books for 5th Graders

• Action/Adventure

I hope you and your fifth grader enjoy this selection of 5th grade reading level books.

Which ones have you tried? Did you enjoy them? Which ones do you recommend? Leave us a comment.

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By Shawn McCreesh

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J.D. Vance, Donald J. Trump’s choice for vice president, has not lived an unexamined life. Here are 27 things to know about him, drawn from his best-selling 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy,” and the many other things he has said or written since.

1. His name was not always James David Vance. At birth, it was James Donald Bowman. It changed to James David Hamel after his mother remarried, and then it changed one more time.

2. He longed for a role model. His father left when he was 6. “It was the saddest I had ever felt,” he wrote in his memoir. “Of all the things I hated about my childhood,” he wrote, “nothing compared to the revolving door of father figures.”

3. He had a fraught relationship with his mother, who was married five times. One of the most harrowing scenes in the book occurs when he’s a young child, in a car with his mother, who often lapsed into cycles of abuse. She sped up to “what seemed like a hundred miles per hour and told me that she was going to crash the car and kill us both,” he writes. After she slowed down, so she could reach in the back of the car to beat him, he leaped out of the car and escaped to the house of a neighbor, who called the police.

4. He was raised by blue-dog Democrats. He spent much of his childhood with his grandfather and grandmother — papaw and mamaw, in his hillbilly patois. He described his mamaw’s “affinity for Bill Clinton” and wrote about how his papaw swayed from the Democrats only once, to vote for Ronald Reagan. “The people who raised me,” he said in one interview, “were classic blue-dog Democrats, union Democrats, right? They loved their country, they were socially conservative.”

5. As a teenager, he loved Black Sabbath, Eric Clapton and Led Zeppelin. But then his biological father, who was deeply religious, re-entered his life. “When we first reconnected, he made it clear that he didn’t care for my taste in classic rock, especially Led Zeppelin,” he wrote. “He just advised that I listened to Christian rock instead.”

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