The best books to discover fascinating people

Kathryn Erskine Author Of Mama Africa!: How Miriam Makeba Spread Hope with Her Song
By Kathryn Erskine

Who am I?

Technically, I’m a lawyer and pharmacy technician but I spend my time writing, mostly for kids. I'm inspired by a childhood in different countries as well as what’s currently occurring in our world. I delight in stories for all ages, believing that even adults can enjoy and learn from picture book biographies. At the very least, they provide jumping-off points for further research, and at best they inspire us to achieve the seemingly impossible.

I wrote...

Mama Africa!: How Miriam Makeba Spread Hope with Her Song

By Kathryn Erskine, Charly Palmer (illustrator),

Book cover of Mama Africa!: How Miriam Makeba Spread Hope with Her Song

What is my book about?

Miriam Makeba, a Grammy Award–winning South African singer, rose to fame in the hearts of her people at the pinnacle of apartheid―a brutal system of segregation similar to American Jim Crow laws. Mama Africa, as they called her, raised her voice to help combat these injustices at jazz clubs in Johannesburg; in exile, at a rally beside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and before the United Nations.

Set defiantly in the present tense, this biography offers readers an intimate view of Makeba’s fight for equality. Kathryn Erskine’s call-and-response style text and Charly Palmer’s bold illustrations come together in a raw, riveting duet of protest song and praise poem. A testament to how a single voice helped to shake up the world―and can continue to do so.

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The books I picked & why

Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker's Story

By Joseph Bruchac, Liz Amini-Holmes (illustrator),

Book cover of Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker's Story

Why did I love this book?

Who doesn’t like secret codes? And the Navajo code in World War Two was the ultimate secret code as well as a critical weapon that helped us win the war. In addition to this fascinating piece of history everyone should know, Chester Nez’s life exemplifies how important it is to be proud of your heritage, no matter what others think or how much they try to change you (as in, Indian boarding schools). By combining cultures, you can make a richer life for yourself and those around you—and potentially save the world. The book shows how the code was used and lists part of the code (now declassified) in the backmatter.

Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker's Story

By Joseph Bruchac, Liz Amini-Holmes (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A Junior Library Guild Selection April 2018
2018 Cybils Award Finalist, Elementary Non-Fiction
BRLA 2018 Southwest Book Award
2019 Southwest Books of the Year: Kid Pick
2020 Grand Canyon Award, Nonfiction Nominee
2020-2021 Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award Master List

STARRED REVIEW! "A perfect, well-rounded historical story that will engage readers of all ages. A perfect, well-rounded historical story that will engage readers of all ages."―Kirkus Reviews starred review

As a young Navajo boy, Chester Nez had to leave the reservation and attend boarding school, where he was taught that his native language and culture were useless. But Chester refused…

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Me Llamo Celia/My Name Is Celia: La Vida de Celia Cruz/The Life Of Celia Cruz

By Monica Brown, Rafael López (illustrator),

Book cover of Me Llamo Celia/My Name Is Celia: La Vida de Celia Cruz/The Life Of Celia Cruz

Why did I love this book?

As the title suggests, this biography of the beloved Cuban singer is in both English and Spanish, a gift for those who are bilingual and, indeed, for all of us. The vibrant illustrations are as engaging and rollicking as the text, which sings like the salsa singer herself. It’s also a timely story of immigration since Celia Cruz left Cuba after the revolution, showing how you can love your country and people, but have to leave because of the regime.

Me Llamo Celia/My Name Is Celia: La Vida de Celia Cruz/The Life Of Celia Cruz

By Monica Brown, Rafael López (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Me Llamo Celia/My Name Is Celia as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This bilingual book allows young readers to enter Celia Cruz's life as she becomes a well-known singer in her homeland of Cuba, then moves to New York City and Miami where she and others create a new type of music called salsa. School Library Journal has named My Name is Celia "[a]n exuberant picture-book biography ...a brilliant introduction to a significant woman and her music."

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Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom

By Teresa Robeson, Rebecca Huang (illustrator),

Book cover of Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom

Why did I love this book?

This isn’t just the story of a woman who excelled in physics in a time and culture that devalued the intelligence of women, it’s also about the courage and determination it took to become a leader in her field—a leader who wasn’t recognized because of her gender and heritage. While the men around her received awards for the discoveries she made, she kept working for the love of science. Now she’s recognized as the “queen” of physics. It’s “historical” fiction but it’s also the story of discrimination against people of Asian descent, a contemporary problem, so it’s still very timely.

Queen of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock the Secrets of the Atom

By Teresa Robeson, Rebecca Huang (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked Queen of Physics as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

When Wu Chien Shiung was born in China 100 years ago, girls did not attend school; no one considered them as smart as boys. But her parents felt differently. Naming their daughter "Courageous Hero," they encouraged her love of learning and science. This engaging biography follows Wu Chien Shiung as she battles sexism at home and racism in the United States to become what Newsweek magazine called the "Queen of Physics" for her work on how atoms split. Along the way, she earned the admiration of famous scientists like Enrico Fermi and Robert Oppenheimer and became the first woman hired…

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Malala's Magic Pencil

By Malala Yousafzai, Kerascoët (illustrator),

Book cover of Malala's Magic Pencil

Why did I love this book?

In Malala’s own kid’s eye view of the world, she tells how she yearned for a magic pencil, like the boy in a TV show she watched, so she could magically make the world a better place. One of the fortunate girls in Afghanistan who was sent to school because her parents believed strongly in education for women, she eventually realized she had that magic pencil already. Her words, her voice, could bring change. This is an empowering book for kids to see that they can make a difference in their world from one of the heroes of their time.

Malala's Magic Pencil

By Malala Yousafzai, Kerascoët (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Malala's Magic Pencil as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

** Shortlisted for the Little Rebels Children's Book Award! **

As a child in Pakistan, Malala made a wish for a magic pencil that she could use to redraw reality. She would use it for good; to give gifts to her family, to erase the smell from the rubbish dump near her house. (And to sleep an extra hour in the morning.)

As she grew older, Malala wished for bigger and bigger things. She saw a world that needed fixing. And even if she never found a magic pencil, Malala realized that she could still work hard every day to…

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Sprouting Wings: The True Story of James Herman Banning, the First African American Pilot to Fly Across the United States

By Louisa Jaggar, Shari Becker, Floyd Cooper (illustrator)

Book cover of Sprouting Wings: The True Story of James Herman Banning, the First African American Pilot to Fly Across the United States

Why did I love this book?

This is a story of an epic journey borne of determination and hard work. Despite facing discrimination, challenges to education, and lack of funds, Banning rose, literally, to the sky. The book deals with our history of racism but focuses on how Banning, with his high hopes and grit, was able to fulfill his dream. Floyd Cooper’s artwork will pull you into that place and time, heightening the experience. The backmatter shows the research that went into this book and how Banning’s fascinating story came to light.

Sprouting Wings: The True Story of James Herman Banning, the First African American Pilot to Fly Across the United States

By Louisa Jaggar, Shari Becker, Floyd Cooper (illustrator)

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Sprouting Wings as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The inspirational and true story of James Herman Banning, the first African American pilot to fly across the country, comes to life in this picture book biography perfect for fans of Hidden Figures and Little Leaders. Includes art from a Coretta Scott King award-winning illustrator.

James Herman Banning always dreamed of touching the sky. But how could a farm boy from Oklahoma find a plane? And how would he learn to fly it? None of the other pilots looked like him. Despite the challenges and prejudices that stood in his way, James knew he belonged above the clouds.

In a…

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5 book lists we think you will like!

The best picture books about women breaking barriers
The best picture book biographies of women in STEM
The best children's picture books about human rights and civic engagement
The best children's books to introduce real scientists
The best children’s books about physics

Interested in the Navajo, Chinese Americans, and Latin America?

9,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about the Navajo, Chinese Americans, and Latin America.

The Navajo Explore 18 books about the Navajo
Chinese Americans Explore 43 books about Chinese Americans
Latin America Explore 98 books about Latin America

And, 3 books we think you will enjoy!

We think you will like Mamie on the Mound, My First Book of Quantum Physics, and Hands Around the Library if you like this list.

Book cover of Mamie on the Mound: A Woman in Baseball's Negro Leagues Book cover of My First Book of Quantum Physics Book cover of Hands Around the Library: Protecting Egypt's Treasured Books