A Cornucopia of Picture Book Biographies

​Deborah L. Thompson
 
The bounty of picture book biographies presented in this column is a literary feast for readers. There was a wealth of titles published in 2024 from which to choose, and those reviewed here introduce readers of all ages to a diverse group of fascinating people including an Indigenous marathon runner, a chef who feeds the world, and a master storyteller/librarian. 

​Comet Chaser: The True Cinderella Story of Caroline Herschel, The First Professional Woman Astronomer. Pamela S. Turner. Illus. by Vivien Mildenberger. (2024). Chronicle.
This “true Cinderella story” of Caroline Herschel (1750-1848), the world's first professional woman astronomer, has no prince charming or fairy godmother, but it does have William, the charming, favorite brother/fairy godfather who rescues Caroline, whose mother has relegated her to being the family’s servant in Hanover, Germany. After William moves to England, he invites Caroline to live with him, and she becomes an accomplished musician and astronomer. Using telescopes hand-crafted in their home, William discovers the planet Uranus, and together they identify two moons circling Uranus, two new moons of Saturn, and 2,400 nebulae. On August 1, 1786, Caroline discovers a comet, and goes on to find seven more. Pamela S. Turner’s crisp text, which includes numerous quotations, is enhanced by Vivien Mildenberger’s exquisite illustrations. The back matter includes additional information about Caroline Herschel, a glossary, sources of quotations, and a bibliography. (PreK Up)

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​Daughter of the Light-Footed People: The Story of Indigenous Marathon Champion Lorena Ramírez. Belen Medina. Illus. by Natalia Rojas Castro. (2024).  Atheneum.  
There are marathons (footraces that are 26.219 miles in length) and then there are ultramarathons that can be fifty, sixty, or a hundred miles or more. This picture book biography of ultramarathoner Lorena Ramírez (b. 1995), a member of the Rarámuri community of Copper Canyon in Chihuahua, Mexico, tells how she, unlike other marathoners with their fancy gear and gadgets, runs in huaraches made of rubber tires and a skirt sewn by her mother. Lorena grew up traversing the cracked ground of canyons, ascending and descending steep mountains, and crossing over high bridges in inclement weather through night and day. Natalia Rojas Castro’s colorful, digitally rendered illustrations and Belen Medina’s lively, rhythmic text with well-placed onomatopoeia—"swish, swoosh,” “clip, clap,” “drip, gulp”—capture the challenges young Lorena faces as she reaches the finish line of a 60-mile race and celebrates her victory as a daughter of the “light-footed people.” Back matter includes more about Lorena and the Rarámuri community and a list of sources. (PreK Up) 

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​Determined Dreamer: The Story of Marie Curie. Deborah Hopkinson. Illus. by Jen Hill. (2024). Balzer + Bray.
Deborah Hopkinson and Jen Hill have collaborated to create an accessible picture book biography of Marie Sklodowska Curie (1867-1934). Born in Warsaw, Poland, Marie could read at the age of four. Although Marie graduated from high school as the first in her class and dreamed of being a scientist, finances prevented her from continuing her education until, at the age of 24, she entered the University of Paris where she studied physics and chemistry and met and married Pierre Curie. In 1898, Marie and Pierre discovered two new elements—polonium and radium. In 1903, Marie earned her doctorate in physics (becoming the first woman in France to do so). In the same year, along with her husband and one other scientist, Marie was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics (becoming the first woman to do so). In 1911, Marie Curie also won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (becoming the first person to be awarded two Nobels). Back matter includes an author’s note, a timeline, source notes for quotations, a bibliography, and suggested reading. (PreK Up) 

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​Fighting with Love: The Legacy of John Lewis. Lesa Cline-Ransome. Illus. by James E. Ransome. (2024). Paula Wiseman.
In this compelling picture book biography of civil rights icon John Lewis (1940-2020), Lesa Cline-Ransome’s informative text evokes the environment of love that surrounded John as he grew up in Jim Crow Alabama, where his parents, siblings, and church family taught him that only love overpowers hate. John took Rev. Martin Luther King’s lesson about standing for truth and justice he heard on the radio with him to Nashville, Tennessee, where he attended seminary. John’s participation in sit-ins at lunch counters helped to desegregate Nashville. This was just the beginning of John’s lifelong fight against injustice that included participating in the Freedom rides, speaking at the 1963 March on Washington, and marching with others toward a phalanx of law officers at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, in 1965. James E. Ransome’s collage-like illustrations were created with found, painted, and purchased paper and pencil drawings. Back matter includes a photograph of Lewis standing on the Edmund Pettus Bridge fifty years after the 1965 march, an author’s note, a timeline, quote sources, and a selected bibliography. (PreK Up) 

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​Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller.  Breanna J. McDaniel. Illus. by April Harrison. (2024). Dial.
Storytelling was in the DNA of Augusta Baker (1911-1998). Stories her grandmother told of Brer Rabbit, dragon slayers, and other characters who used their smarts to extricate themselves from trouble fed her imagination. Augusta took her love of words and stories to college where a class on folktales made her realize that the tales she had heard from her grandmother needed to be retold. Augusta’s calling for sharing stories led to her first job as children’s librarian at the 135 Street Branch of the New York Public Library in Harlem. Appalled by the lack of books featuring positive Black characters and interests, Augusta advocated for better books for young readers. Her efforts influenced such future literary luminaries as James Baldwin and Walter Dean Myers. As her career advanced from NYPL to Sesame Street to the University of South Carolina, Augusta continued promoting storytelling and reading. April Harrison’s illustrations of mixed media, acrylic and pens add zing to Breanna J. McDaniel’s well-written text. Back matter includes a timeline, citations, an author’s note, and photographs. (PreK Up) 

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​Ida B. Wells Marches for the Vote.  Dinah Johnson. Illus. by Jerry Jordan. (2024). Christy Ottaviano.
This picture book biography of Ida B. Wells (1862-1931) is an engrossing read about Wells’ fight to enfranchise Black women. When the 15th Amendment passed in 1870, only Black men were given the right to vote. Black women, just as white women, were still excluded. In Chicago, Wells organized the Alpha Suffrage Club to lead the fight for Black women’s right to vote locally and nation-wide. In 1913, she went to Washington, D.C., to participate in a parade for women’s suffrage, but there was a problem. The women were marching to enfranchise white women only.  Alice Paul, the organizer of the march, did not want Black women marching along with the white women. Ida B. Wells courageously timed her entrance into the parade just as the Illinois delegation marched by. She joined the white women and marched with them. “It was the right thing to do.” Back matter includes an author’s note, archival pictures of Wells and her daughters, a timeline, and source lists. (PreK Up) 

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​A Plate of Hope: The Inspiring Story of Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen. Erin Frankel. Illus. by Paola Escobar. (2024). Random House Studio.
This picture book biography of José Andrés (b. 1969) is a feast for the senses because of Erin Frankel’s lively text with a healthy sprinkling of Spanish words and phrases, and Paola Escobar’s vivid digital art. José acquired his love of cooking from helping his father cook the Sunday paella in Spain and from memories of his mother’s flan. No matter where he was, José wanted to tell stories with the food he made. After immigrating to the United States, award-winning chef and restaurateur Andrés thought about how to help more hungry people while volunteering at the DC Central Kitchen. After feeding victims of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, he created the World Central Kitchen. José Andrés and his volunteers have set up kitchens and served more than 300 million “plates of hope” to hungry people affected by natural and human-made disasters worldwide. Back matter includes an author’s note with photographs and a bibliography. (PreK Up) 

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​Skybound!: Starring Mary Myers as Carlotta: Daredevil, Aeronaut, and Scientist.  Sue Ganz-Schmitt. Illus. by Iacopo Bruno. (2024). Calkins Creek.
Mary Myers (1849-1932) dreamed of flying high in the sky, which was unusual for a female in the mid-1800s. Fortunately for her, ballooning had captivated America. At the age of 21, Mary met and married Carl Myers, a fellow balloon enthusiast, who was also a scientist and engineer. Mary and Carl experimented with making balloon material—an explosive undertaking—and tested different ballon shapes to discover which ones were the most aerodynamic. Her chance to soar above the earth came after the aeronaut who piloted their first balloon wanted to do only acrobatics, not science. With her new stage name, Carlotta, Mary made her first balloon flight after only a ten-minute session on how to pilot the balloon. Mary/Carlotta made a career of piloting balloons for scientific research and, of course, to entertain. Iacopo Bruno’s vintage ink illustrations complement Sue Ganz-Schmitt’s lively and sometimes ironic text. Back matter includes more information about Mary/Carlotta, “the Lady Aeronaut,” a detailed timeline, a selected bibliography and suggested readings, and archival photographs. (PreK Up) 

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​The Soldier’s Friend: Walt Whitman’s Extraordinary Service in the American Civil War. Gary Golio. Illus. by E. B. Lewis. (2024). Calkins Creek.
Many recognize Walt Whitman (1819-1892) as one of America’s greatest poets, but few know that Whitman served as a nurse, a confidant, a scribe, and a reader to injured soldiers during the Civil War. In searching for his wounded brother, Whitman saw countless numbers of men who were dying or dead. He found his brother, who had a non-life-threatening injury, but there were others in critical condition far away from family and loved ones. In 1863, Whitman was put in charge of the wounded soldiers in Washington, D. C. He was a friendly face that boosted the patients’ spirits, and he held the hands of those who were dying. Gary Golio intersperses quotes from Whitman’s poems and some of his famous quotes in this captivating text. E. B. Lewis’ watercolor illustrations, especially his portraits of Whitman, capture the solemn mood of the times. Back matter includes notes on Whitman, archival photographs, and a list of sources and resources. (PreK Up) 

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Deborah L. Thompson is a Professor Emeritus at The College of New Jersey where she taught literacy and children’s literature.