​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)

​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) 

​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) 

​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) 

​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) 

​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) 

​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) 

​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) 

​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) 

​Chelsey Bahlmann Bollinger
Concept books play an important role in early childhood education, introducing young readers to foundational ideas like numbers, shapes, letters, and patterns. From Alice Oehr’s Artichoke to Zucchini to Brendan Wenzel’s Shapes, the books reviewed here use captivating illustrations and playful narratives that make them valuable resources for fostering curiosity and early learning.

​Artichoke to Zucchini: An Alphabet of Delicious Things from Around the World. Alice Oehr. (2024). Scribble.
This picture book, dedicated to foodies, takes readers on an alphabetic adventure exploring a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and food favorites of different cultures and countries. As they go through the ABCs, young children in the United States will recognize many food items such as apple, banana, and carrot, but will also find unknowns such as agar jelly, borlotti beans, and capsicums. For each letter of the alphabet, Alice Oehr provides a descriptive paragraph listing the foods pictured in the boldly colored and textured illustrations, rendered in a blend of pencil, pastel, cut paper, and digital collage. These visually stunning images are sure to keep readers engaged while also serving as a fun way to learn about the alphabet and various foods from around the world. (PreK-Gr 2)

​Cinnamon Bun, I Love You 1. Amy Schwartz. (2024). Beach Lane.
Amy Schwartz guides young readers through counting to ten in a story that follows toddlers and their caregivers as they engage in various activities with large, colorful numerals and a corresponding number of images on the verso pages and a simple rhyming couplet including the phrase “I love you” and a playful scene of the adult and child interacting on the recto page. For example, for 1, a woman affectionately says, “Cinnamon bun, I love you one” while she shares a bun with a toddler on a park bench, and for 5,  a man having a picnic lunch on a blanket with a child says, “Forks and knives, I love you five.” The book ends with ten toddlers sitting around a table eating heart-shaped cookies. (PreS Up) 

​Colors (Hello Hello). Brendan Wenzel. (2024). Chronicle.
In this beautifully crafted board book, Brendan Wenzel’s stunning artwork, created with cut paper, colored pencil, oil pastels, markers, and digital techniques, and rhythmic text introduce young readers to different colors on double-spread pages featuring a vibrant array of creatures in the animal kingdom as he continues his mission as an animal advocate while subtly raising awareness about wildlife conservation. For example, “Hello BLUE, cool, deep, and bright,” and “Hello RED, so full of life.” In the back matter, an informative list of the more than 60 featured animals, organized in the order of their appearance, each marked with a symbol indicating its conservation status (from near-threatened to critically endangered) fosters an early understanding of environmental stewardship. (PreS Up) 

Counting Winter. Nancy White Carlstrom. Illus. by Claudia McGehee. (2024). Eerdmans.
Nancy White Carlstrom’s lyrical text and Claudia McGehee’s scratchboard-and-watercolor illustrations capture the serene yet lively essence of winter in scenes featuring various animals that bring the wonders of the winter season to life through poetic language and vibrant imagery. Beginning with “One red fox walks / across the white snow / quietly / stalking winter,” the story unfolds as readers can count from one to twelve animals before a surprise ending. The back matter of this picture book, which offers a rhythmic, sensory-rich way to engage young readers with both numbers and nature during the winter season, includes profiles and fun facts about the featured animals, an author’s note, and an illustrator’s note. (PreK-Gr 2)

​​Five Speckled Frogs (Sing Along with Me!). Illus. by Yu-hsuan Huang. (2024). Nosy Crow.
This sturdy interactive board book includes movable components to manipulate as young readers engage with the playful verse of the popular nursery rhyme “Five Speckled Frogs” and count down from five to zero while arrows guide them through playful interactions on each page. A scannable QR code provides easy access to instrumental and vocal versions inviting readers to join in a sing-along as the pages are turned. Yu-hsuan Huang’s vibrant illustrations make Five Speckled Frogs a captivating early childhood book to be enjoyed again and again. (PreS Up) 

​Fun with Shapes (Math All Around). Katie Peters. (2024). Lerner.
This engaging nonfiction book from Lerner’s Pull Ahead Readers series uses repetition and photographs of children drawing various shapes that help young children build confidence as they have fun reading and learning about shapes. Katie Peters incorporates key features including a table of contents, section headings, a vocabulary list, and an index that introduce young readers to elements of informational texts. Teachers will find Fun with Shapes especially useful as a supplemental resource for lessons on basic geometric shapes. With its clear structure and approachable language, this book serves as a versatile tool in both literacy and math instruction for young learners. (PreK-Gr 2) 

​Go and Get with Rex. David LaRochelle. Illus. by Mike Wohnoutka. (2024). Candlewick.
In this playful story, Jack, Jill, and their dog, Rex, play a game called "Go and Get." On the count of three, the narrator tells them to find an item that starts with a specific letter. The book cleverly incorporates onomatopoeia and speech balloons to help readers guess the items they bring back. Rex, the ever-creative thinker, always brings back the same box but manages to make it work in unexpected ways. For example, when on the hunt for the letter S, the “hisssssssssss!” coming from a sack clues readers that Jack has found a slithering SNAKE and the “sssssspray!” from Jill’s animal cage makes it easy to identify a smelly SKUNK. However, the “Quack! Quack!” from Rex’s box suggests it contains ducks which begins with D not S. Rex makes it clear that the ducks are SISTERS and that Sisters does start with the letter S. The cartoon-like gouache illustrations add a whimsical touch, and the letter being focused on is highlighted in a bright color to emphasize it for readers just beginning to learn the alphabet. (PreK-Gr 2) 

​Little Fish’s Opposites (Little Fish). Lucy Cousins. (2024). Candlewick.
“Hello! I am Little Fish, / swimming in the sea. / Today I’m learning / opposite. Come / along with me.” Lucy Cousins’ playful board book with a rhyming text and her signature bold and colorful illustrations features Little Fish and his aquatic friends’ exploration of the concept of opposites like big and small, happy and sad, inside and outside, and light and dark. Each pair of opposites is illustrated with fish found in various environments, making the learning experience both fun and visually engaging for young children. For toddlers who are fascinated by the underwater world, Little Fish’s Opposites, like other books in Cousins’ Little Fish series, offers a child-pleasing way to build early language and cognitive skills. (PreS Up) 

​A Mischief of Mice. Christie Matheson. (2024). Sourcebooks Jabberwocky.
Christie Matheson’s picture book mystery is brimming with an array of collective nouns for animals and watercolor illustrations that capture the enchanting details of a woodland in the fall. The mystery begins when a mischief of mice suddenly disappears, sparking concern among a scurry of squirrels, who worry that another group of animals  such as a skulk of foxes or a parliament of owls, might be responsible for their disappearance. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, the squirrels embark on a journey through the woods, questioning various animal groups in hopes of finding clues. It is not until the squirrels encounter a sleuth of bears which cleverly points out a clue that they crack the case and locate the missing mice. Young readers will enjoy exploring the appended “Collection of Collective Nouns” section with interesting facts about the 12 animal groups in the story.  (PreK-Gr 2) 

​On Powwow Day. Traci Sorell. Illus. by Madelyn Goodnight. (2024). Charlesbridge.
Traci Sorell, a member of the Cherokee Nation, and Madelyn Goodnight, from the Chickasaw Nation, beautifully capture the energy and spirit of a Powwow Day in this interactive counting board book. Young readers are drawn into the vibrant colors and sounds of the celebration through vivid imagery and rhythmic onomatopoeia as they count from one to ten and are prompted to look for specific visual elements. For example, 2 “Two drumsticks beat on the family drum. BAM! BAM! Which part is bright orange?” Consider pairing this counting book with Sorrell and Goodnight’s Powwow Day (2022), the heartwarming picture book about the healing power of a family’s participation in this annual event celebrating Indigenous heritage and community that inspired this board book. (PreS Up) 

​Shapes (Hello Hello). Brendan Wenzel. (2024). Chronicle.
In this Hello Hello board book, Brendan Wenzel introduces 46 different animals, including many classified as near threatened, vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered, cleverly depicted within shapes. He uses illustrations, created with a vibrant mix of cut paper, colored pencil, oil pastel, marker, and digital techniques, and simple text (for example, “Hello tree frogs in a TRIANGLE,” “Hello servals in a CIRCLE,” and “Hello parrots in a PEAR,”) to engage readers in a visually striking way to provide a dual learning experience as readers not only become familiar with the names of these animals but also with different shapes. As in other books in the series, the underlying message of the book is one of awareness and connection. In the author's note, readers are encouraged to simply "get to know" these animals and say "hello," fostering a sense of care and responsibility to ensure these creatures remain with us for generations to come. (PreS Up)