What Makes a Picture Book Bio Stand Out?

by Carol Hinz, Associate Publisher of Millbrook Press and Carolrhoda Books

I love picture book biographies, both because of the fascinating range of people featured and because of the wide range of approaches authors use in writing them. Would I have known about Isatou Ceesay’s efforts to clean up her community in the Gambia if it weren’t for One Plastic Bag? Would I have had any idea how Cherokee values shaped Mary Golda Ross’s career as an aerospace engineer without Classified? Would I have been aware that a Mexican American teen girl with a passion for woodworking made a gift for President Roosevelt during the Great Depression if not for the forthcoming Piece by Piece?

Picture book bios are a mainstay of children’s nonfiction, but there are a lot of them, which can make it hard to stand out from the crowd. What elements does a picture book bio need to be successful?

Give readers crucial context for current events with must-have biographies. Dive into the stories behind important leaders and the experiences that defined them, from politicians making headlines today to under-celebrated historical figures and celebrities.

Books provide the perfect gateway to conversations that educate and empower students for Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month, September 15 – October 15. From picture books and biographies to YA fiction, you’ll find great reads for everyone on your radar below.

Who are the headline-makers that readers want and need to know about? The Gateway Biographies series introduces readers to noteworthy figures in pop culture, politics, history and more. Take a look at the newest additions to the Gateway Biographies series below, featuring the life stories of three influential public figures that will inspire readers to stand up, speak out, and take action.

In Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer, Cherokee author Traci Sorell and Métis illustrator Natasha Donovan trace Ross’s journey from being the only girl in a high school math class to becoming a teacher. Ross continued onward to earn an engineering degree, join the top-secret Skunk Works division of Lockheed, and become a mentor for Native Americans and young women interested in engineering. Find out how Ross’s passion for math and the Cherokee values she was raised with shaped her life and work.

Today author Traci Sorell shares her experience writing Classified and why the story of Mary Golda Ross is so important.