Nonfiction Biographies to Inspire Readers

Introducing children to nonfiction biographies opens a window into the lives of remarkable individuals — giving young readers a unique look at leadership, adventure, and creativity modeled by real people. 

Best of all, biographies for kids offer something to please every age group and interest. Whether your child is inspired by world leaders, sports heroes, artists, or STEM stars, these real-life stories will power their dreams. 

Scientists and Inventors

Every kid is a scientist. Fuel their passion for exploring the scientific world by choosing a biography that mirrors their special interests. Tech types will love A True Book: Steve Jobs, which details Jobs’ most important innovations as well as his early life. 

Budding physicists — and wild hair enthusiasts — will enjoy I Am: Albert Einstein. (Also worth noting: the Nobel Prize winner was expelled from school in his youth. A good reminder to kids and parents that success is a winding road, not a straight line.) 

Meanwhile, any young reader with a scientific bent will love the Bright Minds series, which focuses on scientists of color, including Lewis Latimer, who helped invent the light bulb and telephone, and George Washington Carver, who popularized crop rotation and peanut butter. 

Changemakers 

Does your child want to change the world? Dive into history and enjoy these accounts of changemakers ranging from Abraham Lincoln to Malala Yousafzai. 

Start with Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King Jr., a beautifully illustrated story that delivers Dr. King’s message of peace and brotherhood.

Performing Arts

Is your child a dedicated ballet dancer, musician… or Swiftie? There’s a biography out there to thrill their sensibilities. Maria Tallchief tells the story of the first Native American prima ballerina in the U.S., while Charlie Parker Played Be Bop invites your kid to swing with the Bird and his saxophone.  

Meanwhile, Taylor Swift fans will eat up every page of Taylor Swift: All Access, a biography that’s full of fun facts, stats, and stories. 

Sports Stars

You don’t need to be an athlete (or a devoted team parent) to appreciate the feats of famous sports stars like Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, or Muhammad Ali. All are inspiring for the way they broke barriers, lived their truths, and led others. However, if you do have a sports-inclined kid, they might just get a little extra inspiration from these thrilling tales. 

Mysterious History

Do you have a kid who’s likely to start their own detective agency any day now? They’ll be intrigued by these books for kids who love historical mysteries. 

Go back in time and solve the disappearance of the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic in Unsolved: Amelia Earhart. Or investigate The Curse of the Mummy: Uncovering Tutankhamun's Tomb and develop those critical thinking skills. What caused the string of accidents, illnesses, and deaths that plagued the explorers who unearthed the pharaoh’s tomb? Was it just bad luck…or the curse of the mummy?