When I’m perusing new children’s books at the library, I’m often drawn to the picture book biographies. These titles pique my interest in learning more about famous figures or discovering someone new to me. Telling a person’s life story through both words and pictures offers a unique, fresh perspective, where the illustrator usually has as much to convey about the subject as the author. If I feel compelled to share a new children’s book with someone, it’s often a picture book biography that I’m particularly excited about.
Picture book biographies are marketed for children, but they have huge appeal for all ages, grownups included. Just because they are cataloged and shelved in the children’s collection doesn’t mean that only kids can enjoy them and discover something (or somebody) new. They can be an accessible and quick introduction to a person’s life, allowing the reader to decide if they want to dive deeper into longer, text-driven biographies. They also often focus on the subject’s childhood and can help us understand how childhood can shape the adult.
Here are some of my favorite picture book biographies released in 2026 so far:
“Seven Million Steps: The True Story of Dick Gregory’s Run for the Hungry” written by Derrick Barnes and Christian Gregory and illustrated by Frank Morrison (subject: Dick Gregory)
“Otherwise Known As Judy the Great” written and illustrated by Selina Alko (subject: Judy Blume)
“Copland: A Story About America” written and illustrated by Veronica Mang (subject: Aaron Copland)
“Blues Boy: The B.B. King Story” written by Alice Faye Duncan and illustrated by Carl Joe Williams (subject: B.B. King)
“Louisa Learns To Write: Louisa May Alcott Creates Little Women” written by Kate Hannigan and illustrated by Sofia Moore (subject: Louisa May Alcott)
“Foote Was First!: How One Curious Woman Connected Carbon Dioxide and Climate Change” written by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Amy June Bates (subject: Eunice Foote)
“Talking Books: Audiobook Inventor Dr. Robert B. Irwin and a New Way To Read” written by Jenny Lacika and illustrated by Ashanti Fortson (subject: Robert B. Irwin)
“Teaching for Change: How Septima Clark Led the Civil Rights Movement To Voting Justice” written by Yvonne Clark-Rhines and Monica Clark-Robinson and illustrated by Abigail Albano-Payton (subject: Septima Clark)
Sadly, once picture book biographies move from the new book display to their permanent location in the children’s biography collection, they can be forgotten or overlooked. I encourage readers of all ages to explore picture book biographies and make the children’s biography collection a regular part of your library visits.
Photo credit: Martha Liu