Biography Books
Note: Biography books can be found by the person's last name in the B section. For example, a biography of Martin Luther King, Jr., will have the spine B KING
Marian Anderson: When Marian Sang by Pam Muñoz Ryan; pictures by Brian Selznick.
Story follows the singing career of Marian Anderson from age six through her historic appearance on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House. Eleanor Roosevelt helped this internationally acclaimed singer break the barrier for African Americans. Includes background on the origin and research of the book.
Louis Armstrong: If I Only Had a Horn: Young Louis Armstrong by Roxane Orgill; illustrated by Leonard Jenkins.
This is the story of the young life of Louis Armstrong from his early fascination with Joe Oliver and the music of New Orleans to his finally playing cornet in the Colored Waif’s Home Band.
Duke Ellington: Duke Ellington by Andrea Davis Pinkney; illustrated by Brian Pinkney.
Celebrates the music of Duke and his orchestra. The story provides background on the Duke’s early life but focuses on the powerful influence of his orchestra and the jazz music he produced. Includes background and discography.
Patricia Polacco: Firetalking by Patricia Polacco.
Polacco recounts the origin of her picture books in her family and life experiences. Not a good student, she always loved art and storytelling.
Frida Kahlo: Frida by Jonah Winter illustrated by Ana Juan.
Book traces the artistic life of Frida Kahlo from childhood. It focuses on her use of art as a means to turn her “Pain into something beautiful” and as an expression of her Mexican heritage, e.g. noting that Kahlo added words to her pictures in the tradition of exvotos.
Paul Gauguin: Paul Gauguin: Getting to know the World’s Greatest Artists written and illustrated by Mike Venezia.
This book (and the rest of the series) focuses more on Gauguin’s paintings than on his life. Includes reproductions of famous works by Gauguin.
Zora Neale Hurston: Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree written by William Miller; illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu.
As a child, Zora followed the free-spirited advice of her mother rather than her father’s urging to be lady-like. Climbing the chinaberry tree, something Zora learned from her mother, became symbolic in Zora’s reaching higher and eventually becoming a noted writer.
- My Dream of Martin Luther King by Faith Ringgold. The author recounts the story of Martin Luther King in the form of her own dream.
- I Have a Dream Speech by Martin Luther King, Jr., forward by Coretta Scott King with paintings by fifteen Coretta Scott King Award and Honor book artists. (305.896 KIN) Illustrations by the award winning artists depict scenes described in the speech and form a history of the Civil Rights Movement.
- Martin's Big Words: the Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport ; illustrated by Brian Collier. Using quotes from King and collage illustrations, the book looks at the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, explaining his work to bring about a peaceful end to segregation.
- Martin Luther King Words by Rosemary Bray; Paintings by Malcah Zeldis. (B KING) "Although this biography has a picture-book format, it is nonetheless a detailed account. Bray relates several important childhood experiences that molded Dr. King, both positive (a warm and supportive family) and negative (pervasive racial discrimination). The key events of his adult life are included, leading to his fatal trip to Memphis to support the Sanitation Workers' strike in the spring of 1968." quote from School Library Journal 1995.