51 Amazing & Inspiring Biographies for Kids

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors? by Tanya Lee Stone shares the inspiring story of Elizabeth Blackwell, who decided she wanted to be a doctor despite the fact that women were not doctors in that time. After 28 medical schools rejected her, she was finally accepted, graduated at the top of her class and become the first female doctor. She later opened a women's hospital and women's medical school, inspiring other women to become doctors.

This book will inspire girls to never give up, chase their dreams and believe in themselves. It also shows that anything in life is possible.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Daisy Gordon Low was a girl unlike most in the late 1800s. She traveled the world and wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty. In Here Come the Girl Scouts, by Shana Corey, we learn how Daisy founded the Girl Scouts of America giving girls the foundation to not only swim and camp, but to grow up with the qualities that make good citizens.

Daisy was a fighter and advocate. She put her heart and soul into the Girl Scouts and helped thousands of girls live better and more adventurous lives. Trust your heart and follow your beliefs to do good for others.

Lisa R:  I picked up this book by Vashti Harrison recently at a friend's house and, although it is intended for school-aged kids, I couldn't put it down. The one page biographies of significant black women in history covers both well known names (think Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Maya Angelou) as well as a number of incredible women that I couldn't believe I had never heard of before. The stories are well written and the book includes a reference section at the end for those who want to learn more. Truly a wonderful book for everyone.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Malala's Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai is Malala's personal journey of wanting boys and girls to have equal rights in her country, for everyone to attend school if they choose, for war to end and everyone to have enough food.

Despite many men trying to stop girls from attending school, Malala spoke up and became the voice of those who couldn't. Malala has spread her message of hope and education to millions across the world.

Malala is an inspiration to people by sharing her story, preaching hope and education and standing up for what she believes in.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  The Water Princess by Susan Verde is based on the true story of model Georgie Badiel. Georgie grew up in Burkina Faso with no access to clean water. She and her mother had to walk 4 miles daily, carrying buckets of unclean water back to their village to boil so it was usable.

Georgie formed the Georgie Badiel Foundation to help bring clean water to the one billion people who do not have access to it.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Deborah Heiligman tells the story of Paul Erdos, who loved math as a little boy and grew up to be a genius and one of the best mathematicians in the world. Paul also grew up with everyone doing everything for him. As an adult, he didn't know how to do laundry, cook or even butter his bread.

This book shows it is important to do what you love, but it is also imperative to learn life-long skills for independent living.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Jackie Mitchell signed with the Chattanooga Lookouts and played against the New York Yankees in 1931. She pitched to Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig and struck them both out. This book from Jean L.S. Patrick will delight any sports fan to believe in your abilities and know with dedication, hard work and practice, anything is possible. It also sends the message that no one person is better than anyone else.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Mary Blair was a gifted artist and color expert extraordinaire. In Pocket Full of Colors by Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville, we learn Mary's journey as artist for Disney, illustrator and designer. Walt Disney loved her work so much he hired her to design the It's a Small World ride for the 1964 World's Fair.

Mary's creative talent with colors was beautiful and magical. Mary's success and work lives on today in books and through Disney, as she received the title of Disney Legend.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Girl Running by Annette Bay Pimentel is the inspiring story of Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon in 1966, after her application was denied. She ran the course in just over 3 hours (with blisters) as spectators cheered wildly for her. She was later declared the Boston Marathon female winner for 1966, 1967 and 1968. Women were officially allowed to register in 1972.

This book will motivate children with a passion for running or sports. Bobbi was tireless, even training in nurse's shoes. She inspired countless women to run in her quest for female sports equality.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  This is the true story of how one young boy defied the odds and persevered to save his village. A Malawi village in Africa had a severe drought and crops began to fail. William Kamkwamba, age 14, decided to study science books about renewable energy at the library to create a solution. With help from friends, he built a windmill from junkyard scraps which produced wind power to harness electricity. He also used wind power to pump water so crops could grow year round.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  One Giant Leap by Don Brown is the story of Neil Armstrong and how he became the first man to walk on the Moon. But before he became an astronaut, he was a little boy with big dreams who loved planes and got his pilot's license at age 16. After reading the book, watch the actual footage of Armstrong on the Moon via YouTube.

This book is great for kids who love science and space. It reinforces kids to dream big and with hard work, their dreams can come true.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  As a little boy, Tony Sarg was fascinated with making things move. In Balloons Over Broadway, Melissa Sweet tells his story of his start with marionettes to working on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and creating the first-ever giant balloons we still see today floating down the streets of New York City.

With ingenuity, knowledge and talent, Sarg worked hard with other talented people to create these masterpieces for the country to enjoy every Thanksgiving Day. The book, with bold and colorful illustrations, will delight children and make them appreciate parades that much more.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  The story of Albert Einstein, On A Beam of Light, by Jennifer Berne, starts with a young boy who loved to ask questions, was curious about most everything and read as much as he could. His fascination with the universe and his brilliant ideas have helped the world become what it is today. The story teaches kids to ask questions and not be afraid to wonder, think and create new ideas and theories of their own.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Peter Roget had a love of words and started writing his first book at age 8, to the tune of word lists. In The Right Word, author Jen Bryant tells Peter's story of being a shy boy who studied hard and had a love of word meanings. He became a doctor, married and had a family but never lost his passion for words and eventually published his Thesaurus in 1852. It is interesting to learn about the invention of the Thesaurus, something that most people take for granted. Also important is the fact that Roget's passion for words stayed with him for his entire life.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Meghan McCarthy shares the story of how Walter Diemer, an employee at the Fleer Factory, spent months trying different formulas and ingredients to create Dubble Bubble gum, the first Bubble gum. Why is it pink? That is the only color he had on hand. This book demonstrates Walter's tenacity and teaches kids that if you don't succeed the first time, keep trying and don't give up.