great biographies for 3rd graders

20 Biography Books For Kids To Help Them Dream Big

Brandie DeRusha

With her MA in English from Rutgers University-Camden, Brandie spends her days chasing around her toddlers and writing. She loves to pair wine with her reading; preferably a Brontë, or an Elliot, or a Woolf novel. Depending on the mood. She currently lives in Florida with her husband, two kids and furry beast.

View All posts by Brandie DeRusha

Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, I forgot how to dream for my life. It was in between those “you can do anything you put your mind to” platitudes from my mother, to “you’ll never make any money if you get a degree in art” realities — also from my mother. As a good child, I believed everything people would say about my potential. If I expressed interest in writing or journalism, they would scoff at me that it was “too hard” for me; if it was acting or dancing, it was “too competitive.” Clearly it was confusing and sent me into an adolescent identity crisis. Who could I be if I couldn’t be who I was?

Now, as a grown up and a mother, I realize that in order to live our truth…we must follow our curiosity. We must embrace our curiosity. We must be allowed to explore. To get things wrong. To find out how we individually interpret the world around us. That will help us make the world a better place.

Thankfully, the way has been paved before us by millions of amazing people who refused to internalize the negative messages about their dreams. People who were so into what they were doing that nothing else mattered except that one thing. Who knew that what their heart was saying was the way without someone’s expectations of them.

Here are stories of 20 people who made their own way and changed not only their lives but ours. 20 stories of people who followed their curiously, followed their love, and led the way for us to be a better society. These 20 biography books for kids can help your kids dream big.

20 of the Best Biography Books for Kids

The Story of Harriet Tubman by Christine Platt

Before she became known for her fight to free people from enslavement, she was a little girl who was sad to see her family be separated. Tubman is going to be a key person in most kids’ history classes — so this book also gives a timeline of her life, with age appropriate discussion questions. And if you love this, the series also has Barack Obama, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and Benjamin Franklin biographies, and more.

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Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jen Bryant and Boris Kulikov

This picture book biography tells the story of how Louis Braille lost his sight and invented an alphabet. Young Braille wanted nothing more than to be able to read after an accident causes him to lose his eyesight. His invention gave blind kids all over the world a new way to navigate a world that wasn’t made for them. This book is not only inspiring, it shows children that everyone is capable of doing good things.

Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne and Éric Puybaret

Once there was a boy named Jacques. He loved to explore the oceans. This whimsical and poetic biography of Jacques Cousteau will inspire kids to follow their explorer natures, as well as help them realize that every person who has made history started as a kid with curiosity.

Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote by Tanya Lee Stone and Rebecca Gibbon

From a young age, Elizabeth understood that things weren’t equal in her life. How could only a few people have the right to vote? Voting is the foundation of our democracy. So she went to college, gathered like-minded friends, and made their statements, not stopping until women in the United States won the Right to Vote. She was a girl who saw a problem, and grew up to find the solution.

Turning Pages: My Life Story by Sonya Sotomayor and Lulu Delacre

The first Latina on the Supreme Court, Sonya Sotomayor recollects her life and the steps that brought her there. For her, it was books. Books helped her cope with difficulties in her life, connect with her roots, and helped her see that her future was full of possibilities. In her autobiography, Sotomayor encourages kids everywhere to read, dream, and puzzle for themselves.

Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai and Kera Ascoet

As a girl, Malala wished for a magic pencil. A tool she could use to make everyone happy. To make the world around her a little brighter. As she got older she realized that even if she didn’t have a magic pencil, she could still work hard to make the world a better place. Told in a way that’s appropriate to children, we learn about the struggles that Malala faced to follow her dreams and how even then she held onto a hope for a better future for herself and her friends.

Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People by Monica Brown and Julie Paschkis

Sometimes people create with paint, but for a little boy in a city in Chile, words were better. Pablo wrote poems about all the things he loved. Things he found in nature, things his friends made, and the things he found at the marketplace. He wrote about the people of Chile, their struggles and passions. It all started with a little boy who loved to paint with words.

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle and Rafael López

Millo Castro Zaldarriaga dreamed of drumming. However, girls weren’t allowed to drum on her little island. She dreamed of pounding tall congas and tapping small bongós. One day, she decided to follow her dream — what happened next when her bright music was heard was magic: people dancing and singing and deciding that boys and girls can make music. Showing that both boys and girls can be free to drum and dream, Millo’s story is an inspiration for children everywhere.

The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles and George Ford

Ruby was just a normal 6-year-old until she was chosen to be the first Black person to be enrolled in an all white elementary school. A lot of people didn’t like that idea and said some mean and threatening things. Ruby did what she was told to do, and went to school anyway. How does a little girl change the world? By being brave in the face of racism and injustice.

A Voice Named Aretha by Katheryn Russel-Brown and Laura Freeman

How did a quiet and shy girl from Detroit become the Queen of Soul and the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? She stayed true to herself and her ideals by refusing to play for segregated audiences and never forgetting her roots. She stood up for what was right. Aretha Franklin proved that with passion, perseverance, and R-E-S-P-E-C-T, you can do anything.

Counting the Stars: The Story of Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician by Lesa Cline-Ransome and Raúl Colón

When NASA used mathematicians called “human computers,” one woman stood out among them all. Katherine Johnson was integral in getting John Glen around the world, helping men walk on the moon, and getting Apollo 13 home safely. This book is for girls who love numbers — who don’t let problems stand in the way from the work.

Vincent Can’t Sleep by Barb Rosenstock and Mary Grandpre

Vincent Can’t Sleep is the story of how one of the most beloved and creative artists found his inspiration. When Vincent Van Gogh couldn’t sleep, he’d walk during the night, giving him the inspiration for his famous painting Starry Night . With lovely poetic writing, it tells kids to follow their passion, even if they don’t see the return in their lifetime. (Maybe wait to walk outside at night alone until after they’ve grown up, though.)

Magic Ramen by Andrea Wang and Kana Urbanowicz

“Peace follows a full stomach,” thought Momofuko Ando while working in his lab to find a quick, easy, and tasty way of making ramen soup. He wanted to help those in the long daily lines for soup after WWII. This is the story of one man, his commitment to his cause, and the world’s most popular “easy soup.”

Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills by Renée Watson and Christian Robinson

Florence was a little girl who loved to sing. She also loved her parents, who were formerly enslaved. So when her beautiful singing and dancing inspired patrons and playwrights alike, she knew that she wouldn’t be happy without standing up to the injustice that she saw daily.

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy and Elizabeth Baddeley

“Disagreeing does not make you disagreeable” was something that young Ruth Bader Ginsberg had to learn. This book is the first picture book of Ginsberg’s life. Kids get to see how one girl who stood up for what she believed and became the most beloved Supreme Court justice.

Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos by Stephanie Roth Sisson

“The Earth and every living thing are made of star stuff.” —Carl Sagan. As a boy, Carl Sagan loved learning about the stars. His trip to the 1939 World’s Fair opened up the universe to Carl. A boy who was captured by the wonder of the cosmos became a man who would launch satellites and teach the world about the stars.

Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson and Sean Qualls

Sometimes being told you can’t do a thing gives you all the incentive to do it more, especially if EVERYONE thinks you can’t. Emmanuel Ofosu Yepoah only had one leg — and this is the true story of how he biked across the entire country of Ghana (almost 400 miles!) and went on change the way many people in his country thought about people with disabilities.

She Loved Baseball: The Effa Manley Story by Audrey Vernick and Don Tate

Effa Manley loved baseball. She loved to go Yankee Stadium and see Babe Ruth swing for the fences. Soon she became her own hero by becoming the manager and owner of the Newark Eagles. Effa was the first (and only) woman inducted in the Baseball Hall of Fame, because of her work with the Eagles. From a girl growing up in Philly to a Hall of Famer, Manley shows us how to swing for the fences.

Jimi Sounds Like a Rainbow: A Story of the Young Jimi Hendrix by Gary Golio and Javaka Steptoe

Can someone paint pictures with sound? Jimi was a normal kid who loved to paint and listen to music. This is the story of a kid who interpreted the world in his own unique way, and over time learned how to weave music and imagery to become one of the most influential people in the world.

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard and Oge Mora

Mary Walker was born into slavery. She had her first child at the age of 20, lived through a Civil War and two World Wars, and worked many many jobs. Finally, at the young age of 116, Mary Walker learned how to read, proving that it is never too late to follow your dreams and also recognize how incredible life can be.

Want even more after reading this list? Check out historical fiction classics for kids and these picture book biographies of Black leaders and creatives.

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Everyday Reading

20 fantastic picture book biographies for kids

I love all kinds of picture books, but I particularly love picture book biographies for kids where the life of someone famous is brought to life with spectacular illustrations, interesting and surprising stories, and just enough information.

I’ve been collecting my favorite picture book biography titles for months and am so happy to share some of them with you today (you better believe there are more coming in the next several months – the list is way too long for one post!).

Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating, illustrated by Marta Alvarez Miguens I’d never heard of Eugenie Clark before this book, but I was immediately fascinated by her story. She fell in love with sharks at an early age when she saw them at an aquarium and wanted to know everything she could about them. But many people thought sharks were ugly, terrifying creatures. Plus, women shouldn’t be scientists anyway. Eugenie spent her life proving the naysayers wrong, both abut sharks and female scientists. (Also check out Swimming with Sharks: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark by Heather Lang, illustrated by Jordi Solano).

John Ronald’s Dragons: The Story of J.R.R. Tolkien by Caroline McAlister, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler I’m certainly familiar with the beloved Lord of the Rings series, but I didn’t know much about J.R.R. Tolkein (and I REALLY didn’t know much about his growing up). So I loved this clever biography about his growing up where he loved dragons, and how much of his young life felt surrounded by dragons, from losing his mother early in his life to fighting in WWI. But until he invented a dragon of his own (which sparked off his Middle Earth writing), he never found one in his actual life.

Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen: The Story of Six Novels, Three Notebooks, a Writing Box, and One Clever Girl by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Qin Leng Before Jane Austen became one of the most famous English writers of all time, she was a quiet girl. And while you might not have noticed her, she probably would have noticed you. And it might have ended up in her writing. This beautiful picture book is a delightful introduction to a woman who disregarded the publishing trends of her time and created a completely new kind of story.

The World is Not a Rectangle: A Portrait of Architect Zaha Hadid by Jeanette Winter I’d never heard of Zaha Hadid before this book, but I instantly loved her story. She grew up in Iraq and wanted to be an architect. But as a Muslim woman, this wasn’t going to be an easy dream to chase. Now, decades later, you can see her buildings all over the world!

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca, illustrated by Daniel Rieley Most of us are probably familiar with Dr. Temple Grandin and I love this introduction to her for young children (all the text is told in rhyme). She was diagnosed with autism as a young child and expected never to talk. But she grew up to become a groundbreaking scientist, thanks to her love of animals and her rare ability to connect with animals.

The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Mary GrandPre Vasya Kandinsky was one of the first abstract artists and this is a beautiful retelling of his story. He had a very proper upbringing and his family expected that his art would also be very proper. But his art was anything but – it came to life, swirling with color and even sound, because throughout his life, he experienced colors as sound and vice versa. (By the way, if the illustrations look vaguely familiar, it’s likely because you recognize Mary GrandPre’s illustrations from the original Harry Potter books).

On a Beam of Light: A Story About Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky If you’d seen young Albert Einstein riding his bike down the road, you would have probably just seen a boy on a bike, But in his mind, he saw himself traveling at the speed of light. This book is a delightful look into Einstein’s lifelong curiosity and discovery, and perfect for every child who loves to imagine the impossible.

The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life With Chimps by Jeanette Winter This was one of the picture books that really helped me see how AMAZING picture book biographies could be. I love that it begins in her childhood and goesthrough her current work, accompanied by breath-taking illustrations. I also love Me….Jane by Patrick McDonnell as a simpler biography of Jane Goodall.

Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride by Pam Munoz Ryan, illustrated by Brian Selznick I have loved Brian Selznick’s illustrations since I was a child and his black and white drawings bring this amazing story about Amelia Earhart and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to life when, at a White House dinner party, Eleanor and Amelia sneak away to take an evening ride over Washington D.C. in a jet. All while wearing their evening gowns!

The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons by Natascha Biebow, illustrated by Steven Salerno I love picture book biographies that bring to life the inventor of a product children love and use daily. This book does exactly that with the man who invented crayola crayons and I loved every page of it – who knew that so much went into those boxes of 50 cent crayons you can now buy at Target?

Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade  by Melissa Sweet I am legitimately obsessed with this book and I love bringing out my copy every Thanksgiving about the boy who loved puppets and grew up to create the famous balloons that make up the Thanksgiving Day parade. The color and art in this book bring it to life and the end notes and photos and make it even more special.

Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World’s Coral Reefs: The Story of Ken Nedimeyer and the Coral Restoration Foundation by Kate Messner, illustrated Matthew Forsythe Sometimes the changes we want to see in the world seem too big, too overwhelming to tackle. But I love this biography of Ken Nedimyer, founder of the Coral Restoration Foundation, that shows that even one person can make a difference.

Sisters and Champions: The True Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Howard Bryant, illustrated by Floyd Cooper I’ve never watched a professional tennis match, but I was in tears by the end of this gorgeous picture book about Venus and Serena Williams and hard they work and, even more impressively to me, how much they support each other.

Around America to Win the Vote: Two Suffragists, A Kitten, 10,000 Miles by Mara Rockliff, illustrated by Hadley Hooper Just over a century ago, two friends, Nell Richardson and Alice Burke set out from New York City to spread the word about giving American women the right to vote. Crammed in a little yellow car, with a kitten along for the ride, they drove 10,000 miles in pursuit of their goal.

The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer’s Bright Ideas and Brand New Colors by Chris Barton, illustrated by Tony Persiani Put neon colors on the list of things I’ve never given a second thought to. Until this book, about two brothers who loved to invent things and discovered neon coloring that’s now used all over the world. Who knew? The black pages with bright neon coloring make this book really pop.

Tree Lady: The Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever by H. Joseph Hopkins, illustrated by Jill McElmurry When I think San Diego, I don’t think dry desert town. But more than 100 years ago, when Katherine Olivia Sessions became the first woman to graduate from the University of California with a degree in science, she moved to San Diego and was horrified by the lack of trees. So she started a movement to transform her new home into the garden oasis we now know it as.

Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson I’ve love everything Kadir Nelson touches and this book is no exception, about the lengths one man goes to in order to gain his freedom. After Henry’s family is sold, he comes up with a daring and dangerous plan to escape north, by having some friends nail him into a box and mailing him to a free state. Unbelievably it works!

Just Being Audrey by Margaret Cardillo, illustrated by Julia Denos I love this beautiful book about Audrey Hepburn and her life, from her early difficult childhood during WWII under Nazi occupation to her emergence as a style icon and her work with UNICEF. Star, particularly, took a shine to this book and I read it to her dozens of times (we also both loved Just Being Jackie about Jackie Kennedy Onassis).

Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed, illustrated by Stasia Burrington When Mae Jemison was young she longed to be an astronaut. Her teacher suggested she find something more practical, but her parents encouraged her to work hard and achieve her seemingly impossible dreams. And she did, becoming the first African American woman to travel in space. My girls loved this book and as a parent, it was so encouraging to me to let my own children dream big.

And if you’d like a printable copy of this list that you can take to your library or screenshot on your phone for easy access, just pop in your email address below and it’ll come right to your inbox!

If you liked this list of picture book biographies for kids, you might also like these posts:

• The Best Picture Books to Read Aloud in a Classroom
• 10 Children’s Books about Death, Loss and Grief
• 13 Fantastic Easy Reader Chapter Books

Reader Interactions

September 17, 2019 at 11:29 am

This is a great list. I am excited to read as many as I can. Picture books really are the best and you can learn a ton!

September 17, 2019 at 6:28 pm

I love Karlin Gray’s picture book biographies! My favorite isThe Girl Who Couldn’t Sit Still about Nadia Comaneci. Gymnastics + beautiful book = yessss

September 17, 2019 at 7:16 pm

I love the Noisy Paintbox, too! ☺ Another one I love is The Boy Who Loved Math.

September 17, 2019 at 9:34 pm

Have you ever read any of the Little People Big Dreams series? I am in a different country and these are some of the only biography childrens books I have access to. I am wondering if anyone has experience with them and would recommend them.

September 18, 2019 at 6:19 am

This list is my love language. Thanks!!

September 18, 2019 at 3:36 pm

I just discovered Joan Proctor, Dragon Doctor and my daughter loves it.

September 19, 2019 at 9:54 am

I LOVE these sorts of picture books. I’ve learned SO MUCH about so many different people and things from reading them to my son! Just added all the ones we haven’t already read to our library list! (I am with you on being obsessed with Balloons over Broadway…I really just need to buy that one.)

October 25, 2020 at 11:42 pm

We love Mr. Ferris and His Wheel!

March 11, 2022 at 11:45 am

I learned so much from The Day-Glo Brothers – thanks for recommending it!

March 23, 2024 at 1:38 pm

Nonsense about Edward Gorey is also amazing.

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Best Biographies, Autobiographies, and Memoirs for Upper Elementary

3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students don't often automatically grab biographies and autobiographies off the classroom library shelf.  But the inspiring biographies below will have your upper elementary students begging for more!

Written by guest blogger Cindy Koopmans

In my classroom I’ve often found that biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs are a bit of a hard sell.  Besides selecting only the best nonfiction books for my classroom shelves to begin with, this is how I’ve made it work...

Tips for Encouraging Students to Read Biographies, Autobiographies, and Memoirs

When students are looking for a new book to read, I go to the shelves and hand pick a stack of books for them to peruse.  I’ll start the process by asking them what they’ve read lately and what they liked about those books.  This strategy works because it is built on choice and trust.  I’m enthusiastic about books and I never force a book on a kid.  They get to choose what to read.

And when that happens, the conversation I have with one of my lovies goes something like this: “Mrs. K.  This really happened?  This story is like, for real?” 

Me, “Yup.”   

This is the truth:  no matter who we are or how old we are, we are always looking for someone to light the way forward on this dark road called life.  

Even the most jaded of students have the propensity to be inspired by the stories of people who have survived and thrived.  

And that’s why it is so critical to give our students the gift of great nonfiction and allow them a glimpse into other people’s worlds.  When we see how other people navigate the not insubstantial bumps in their personal roads it gives us hope.  

So here you will find a nicely balanced list of great nonfiction books that are tried and true winners for upper elementary students.  There is great variety in this role call.  I’ve included books written about or by creatives, trailblazers, and a few so-called “ordinary” people, who when called upon by fate, did not back down.  They met the challenges they faced head on and triumphed.  

These people found themselves in extraordinarily difficult and, in some cases, harrowing life situations.  The stories are unique, multi-faceted and...well...true!  

As an added bonus, you can trust that these nonfiction books are incredibly well-written.  

Sometimes, just to hook some of my more reluctant student readers, I take a minute out of our precious instructional time.  I’m not doing anything too fancy, I simply introduce a new book and read the first page or two enthusiastically.

If I’m with a particularly apathetic class I’ve been known to climb up on a chair and use lots of over the top hand gestures.  Hey! Whatever it takes, right?  

Anyway, I’m never sorry about taking the time because there is absolutely nothing more exciting than hearing numerous kids blurt out an enthusiastic, “I want to read that one!” 

What just happened here? A waiting list?  Awesome.

These are good books.  Many of these books are showing the wear and tear of being well-loved in my fifth grade classroom.  Others have gotten a thorough vetting before they made this list and are now on an Amazon wish list until I get two nickels to rub together.  You and your students will find them to be deeply satisfying reads.  Get ready for a cupcake shop moment, because you are not going to know which one to pick! 

12 Biographies, Autobiographies, and Memoirs for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Students

Anne frank: the diary of a young girl by anne frank, b.m. mooyaart (translator), eleanor roosevelt (introduction).

It is July 6, 1942, the setting is Amsterdam, and Anne Frank has just received a diary for her birthday.  The rest is history. 

Every year I have at least one student who loves Laurie Halse Anderson's historical fiction books.  If you have students like that in your class, then Anne Frank will absolutely blow their minds.  Introduce them to this classic read, then share the link to the full length movie.   

Some books introduced to students are gifts that they will remember the rest of their lives.  Be that teacher that gives that gift.  Here I just want to say thank you to Mrs. Barclay.  I still have my original copy.

Unbroken: An Olympian's Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive  by Laura Hillenbrand

This book begins with an excruciating description of three men who are floating on a raft in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.  Suffice it to say that sharks are predominant in the narrative of the first chapter.  Fifth grade boys?  Gotcha.  Add to the sharks stuff the fact that the main character, Louis Zabarelli, is a former Olympian and you just set the hook.

This recommendation of the young adult adaptation of Louis Zabarelli’s story, but that shouldn’t be a cause for hesitation.  This book graces the shelf of my classroom library, but it isn’t on the shelf very often.  That and it’s worn condition testifies that Louis Zabarelli’s story does hold appeal for upper elementary aged students.  I’ve included the movie trailer for you in case you want more evidence.

Hidden Figures  by Margot Lee Shetterly

This is another worn book in my classroom library.  In fact, I have three copies because it has been that popular. 

You can find some extra resources here if you’re that smart teacher that seeks to intertwine some science lessons into your literature.  If you haven’t seen the movie that was released a few years ago, you can watch the trailer here.

Save time and stress this school year with these   Nonfiction Reading Response Activities that can be used over and over throughout the school year with ANY nonfiction text.   

3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will respond through reading, writing, poetry, speaking, listening, drawing, interviewing, and more.    This is a must have   for any upper elementary teacher that does not want to have to constantly recreate the wheel.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind  by William Kamkwamba

You may want to watch the movie on Netflix, but don’t tell your students it is there until after they read the book.  (And you could use some of these questions and activity ideas for comparing movies to books.)   Another recommendation from my classroom shelves.

I Am Malala  by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick

Look up the word inspiring in the dictionary and you may find Malala Yousafzai’s picture there.  Malala Yousafzai is internationally famous because she and her family stood up to the Taliban’s edict that girls were not allowed to receive an education.  Malala’s father taught her not to back down from what she believed in, even though she knew she was in danger, Malala continued to attend school.  As a result, Malala almost lost her life when she was shot riding the bus home from school. 

Here’s a short video about how Malala, the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17, continues her mission to make a difference in the lives of young women around the world.

A biography of Malala also made this list of books about overcoming obstacles.

Ugly  by Robert Hoge

Do we have a choice in what we allow to define us?  Robert Hoge’s memoir answers this question with a resounding, “Yes!” 

Bullied and misunderstood because of a facial tumor and other disabilities he was born with, Robert Hoge teaches us how to live wholeheartedly and fearlessly despite how we might be judged and treated by the world.  This is the very best kind of story, honestly and simply told by the person who lived through it all. 

Robert was born with disfigurements that made him a baby only a mother could love, except his own mother didn’t want him and still, he made it.  I know I have students who need to hear his story and I’m sure you do too.

Mountains Beyond Mountains  by Tracey Kidder

I was beyond excited when I learned that Tracey Kidder’s book about Dr. Paul Farmer and his work with Partners in Health had been adapted for young readers. 

Tracey Kidder shadows Dr. Paul Farmer whose mission is to provide quality healthcare to the most economically disadvantaged people in the world’s most impoverished populations.  Dr. Farmer’s father exemplified altruism and expected his children to participate in his passion. 

Even though the family didn’t have money, Dr. Farmer made a decision to attend college and pursue medicine.  It was a high school guidance counselor that helped him take the first steps. 

This is a book that I challenge students to read, because it’s...well...challenging!  But a student who  choses to tackle it has not been disappointed.  

My Thirteenth Winter  by Samantha Abel

Samantha Abel was a straight A student with a secret.  She couldn’t remember her locker combination or tell time.  The disconnect caused her to suffer from anxiety attacks.  In her thirteenth winter, Samantha found the strength and the courage to confront her problems.  Consequently, Samantha learned that she had a learning disability called dyscalculia.   Once the disability is discovered and addressed, Samantha’s life begins to change. 

As teachers know, learning disabilities are a discrepancy between intelligence and academic struggle.  It is in that often agonizing struggle that a learning disability is  forced to the surface.  We know what they are, but we don’t really know what causes them. 

A Long Walk to Water  by Linda Sue Park

Linda Sue Park lays out the story in two distinct sections, intermingling fiction and nonfiction.  The book tells the story from the point of view of a young girl, Nya, as she walks all day long to procure water for her family’s needs:  hence the title.  But it is Salva’s point of view story that is truly central to the book.  Salva is one of the “Lost Boys” of Sudan who is walking to escape the violence and constant threat of being conscripted into the Sudanese army.  Spoiler...the two stories come together at the end of the book. 

I spend a lot of time convincing those kiddos who read ahead not to give away the ending and wreck the book for their classmates.  This link will take you to a short video about Salva.

Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland is the first African-American principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre history.  Adapted for young readers, the adult version of this book made the New York Times best-seller list.  This is another excellent autobiography I’ve had to purchase in multiples because it is in demand with my girls. 

Misty Copeland’s grit and determination, added to her passion, led her to a successful career in dance.  It all began so simply. 

She writes,  “My family didn't have very much money, so ballet wasn't even on my radar; I just found it randomly when I was 13 at a Boys & Girls Club. We were practicing on a basketball court in gym clothes with some old socks on. Even though it terrified me at first, I found that I really liked it.”  Find something you love and pursue it with all your heart.  Yes.

Check out these other inspirational biographies of African-Americans.

Lion: A Long Way Home  by Saroo Brierley

An incredible true story that just proves the point that life is often stranger than anything anyone could make up in a million years. 

His book chronicles his struggle to remember where he came from and to reconnect with his family, which he does when he is 25 years old.  You can watch a trailer for the Hollywood Version here.

Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman

Vincent’s younger brother Theo is the pragmatist in the relationship, but still an art lover—he works as an art dealer, which on the face of it could be immensely helpful for Vincent.  But Vincent’s artistic style, that of the Impressionist school, is simply not in fashion and Theo can’t change that fact. 

Despite their personality differences and all the drama Vincent brings to the relationship these brothers remain loyal to the core.  This is a beautiful and touching story of brotherly love and devotion. 

You’ll find it special as a direct result of Deborah Heilgman’s efforts to get the details right: she carefully gleaned information from more than 600 letters Vincent wrote to his brother Theo over his lifetime. 

Deborah Heiligman is the award winning author of Charles and Emma and many other books for children and young adults.

Find more book suggestions for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students here.  

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Reading Middle Grade

Books for Kids and Grown Ups

Best Picture Book Biographies

Biographies helped build my love for reading and I remember reading Hilary Clinton’s biography as a young teen (I skipped lots of portions and loved the pictures and family stories the most). These picture book biographies can teach kids about history, historical figures, and inspiring examples of people who beat the odds in different spheres of life. What a plus that they have beautiful pictures to look at as they enjoy these stories.

Inspiring Picture Book Biographies to Read

Here are 45 best picture book biographies to have on your radar:

I Color Myself Different

Published: April 5, 2022

When Colin Kaepernick was five years old, he was given a simple school assignment: draw a picture of yourself and your family. What young Colin does next with his brown crayon changes his whole world and worldview, providing a valuable lesson on embracing and celebrating his Black identity through the power of radical self-love and knowing your inherent worth.

Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade

Published: November 1, 2011

2012 Robert F. Sibert Medal Winner

Winner of the 2012 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Everyone’s a New Yorker on Thanksgiving Day, when young and old rise early to see what giant new balloons will fill the skies for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Who first invented these “upside-down puppets”? Meet Tony Sarg, puppeteer extraordinaire! In brilliant collage illustrations, the award-winning artist Melissa Sweet tells the story of the puppeteer Tony Sarg, capturing his genius, his dedication, his zest for play, and his long-lasting gift to America—the inspired helium balloons that would become the trademark of Macy’s Parade.

My Little Golden Book About Betty White

Published: September 28, 2021

This Little Golden Book about Betty White–television star, comedian, animal lover, and game show competitor–is a celebration of the beloved woman! A great read-aloud for young girls and boys–as well as their parents and grandparents who grew up watching Betty on  The Mary Tyler Moore Show  and  The Golden Girls .

Stacey’s Extraordinary Words

Published: December 28, 2021

Stacey is a little girl who loves words more than anything. She loves reading them, sounding them out, and finding comfort in them when things are hard. 

But when her teacher chooses her to compete in the local spelling bee, she isn’t as excited as she thought she’d be. What if she messes up? Or worse, if she can’t bring herself to speak up, like sometimes happens when facing bullies at school? 

Stacey will learn that win or lose . . . her words are powerful, and sometimes  perseverance  is the most important word of all. 

Respect: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul 

Published: August 25, 2020

Aretha Franklin was born to sing. The daughter of a pastor and a gospel singer, her musical talent was clear from her earliest days in her father’s Detroit church where her soaring voice spanned more than three octaves.

Her string of hit songs earned her the title “the Queen of Soul,” multiple Grammy Awards, and a place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. But Aretha didn’t just raise her voice in song, she also spoke out against injustice and fought for civil rights.

Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library

Published: September 12, 2017

Where is our historian to give us our side?  Arturo asked. Amid the scholars, poets, authors, and artists of the Harlem Renaissance stood an Afro–Puerto Rican named Arturo Schomburg. This law clerk’s life’s passion was to collect books, letters, music, and art from Africa and the African diaspora and bring to light the achievements of people of African descent through the ages. When Schomburg’s collection became so big it began to overflow his house (and his wife threatened to mutiny), he turned to the New York Public Library, where he created and curated a collection that was the cornerstone of a new Negro Division. A century later, his groundbreaking collection, known as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, has become a beacon to scholars all over the world.

Joey: The Story of Joe Biden

Published: June 30, 2020

Joe Biden grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the oldest of four children. His parents always encouraged him and his siblings to be independent and strong. The family moved to Wilmington, Delaware, where at twenty-nine, Biden was elected one the youngest United States Senators ever elected. This is his story.

Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice

When Kamala Harris was young, she often accompanied her parents to civil rights marches—so many, in fact, that when her mother asked a frustrated Kamala what she wanted, the young girl responded with: “Freedom!”

As Kamala grew from a small girl in Oakland to a senator running for president, it was this long-fostered belief in freedom and justice for all people that shaped her into the inspiring figure she is today. From fighting for the use of a soccer field in middle school to fighting for the people of her home state in Congress, Senator Harris used her voice to speak up for what she believed in and for those who were otherwise unheard. And now this dedication has led her all the way to being elected Vice President of the United States.

The Noisy Paint Box

Published: February 11, 2014

Vasya Kandinsky was a proper little boy: he studied math and history, he practiced the piano, he sat up straight and was perfectly polite. And when his family sent him to art classes, they expected him to paint pretty houses and flowers—like a proper artist.   But as Vasya opened his paint box and began mixing the reds, the yellows, the blues, he heard a strange sound—the swirling colors trilled like an orchestra tuning up for a symphony! And as he grew older, he continued to  hear  brilliant colors singing and  see  vibrant sounds dancing. But was Vasya brave enough to put aside his proper still lifes and portraits and paint . . .  music?

Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?

Published: December 8, 2020

The chronology and themes of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s meaningful life are presented in a masterfully succinct text, with just a few sentences per page. The fresh, stylized illustrations are sure to captivate young readers and adults alike. With a read-aloud biographical summary in the back, this age-appropriate introduction honors and shares the life and work of one of the most influential civil rights activists of our time.

Baseball Biographies for Kids

Published: May 17, 2022

It’s the bottom of the ninth, bases are loaded, and your team is down by three―who do you want coming up to bat?  Baseball Biographies for Kids  answers this question and more!

Bursting with statistics and impressive feats from the greatest players of the last 60 years, this lineup of inspirational baseball biographies shows you what it takes to be a real MVP. Discover the ultimate dream team as you explore the best pros for each position. You’ll also get quick looks into some truly legendary baseball players and lots of fun facts!

Itzhak: The Boy Who Loved the Violin

Published: May 12, 2020

Before becoming one of the greatest violinists of all time, Itzhak Perlman was simply a boy who loved music. Raised by a poor immigrant family in a tiny Tel Aviv apartment, baby Itzhak was transformed by the sounds from his family’s kitchen radio—graceful classical symphonies, lively klezmer tunes, and soulful cantorial chants. The rich melodies and vibrant rhythms spoke to him like magic, filling his mind with vivid rainbows of color. After begging his parents for an instrument, Itzhak threw his heart and soul into playing the violin. Despite enormous obstacles—including a near-fatal bout of polio that left him crippled for life—Itzhak persevered, honing his extraordinary gift. When he performed on the  Ed Sullivan Show  sat only 13, audiences around the world were mesmerized by the warmth, joy, and passion in every note. Gorgeously illustrated with extensive back matter, this picture-book biography recounts Itzhak’s childhood journey—from a boy with a dream to an internationally acclaimed violin virtuoso.

All the Way to the Top

Published: March 10, 2020

Jennifer Keelan was determined to make a change―even if she was just a kid. She never thought her wheelchair could slow her down, but the way the world around her was built made it hard to do even simple things. Like going to school, or eating lunch in the cafeteria.

Jennifer knew that everyone deserves a voice! Then the Americans with Disabilities Act, a law that would make public spaces much more accessible to people with disabilities, was proposed to Congress. And to make sure it passed, Jennifer went to the steps of the Capitol building in Washington DC to convince them.

And, without her wheelchair, she climbed.

How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion

Published: April 7, 2020

From Ashima Shiraishi, one of the world’s youngest and most skilled climbers, comes a true story of strength and perseverance–in rock climbing and in life. To a rock climber, a boulder is called a “problem,” and you solve it by climbing to the top. There are twists and turns, falls and scrapes, and obstacles that seem insurmountable until you learn to see the possibilities within them. And then there is the moment of triumph, when there’s nothing above you but sky and nothing below but a goal achieved. Ashima Shiraishi draws on her experience as a world-class climber in this story that challenges readers to tackle the problems in their own lives and rise to greater heights than they would have ever thought possible.

A is for Awesome!: 23 Iconic Women Who Changed the World

Published: February 5, 2019

Why stick with plain old  A ,  B ,  C  when you can have  Amelia  (Earhart),  Malala ,  Tina  (Turner),  Ruth  (Bader Ginsburg), all the way to  eXtraordinary You —and the  Zillion  of adventures you will go on? Instagram superstar Eva Chen, author of  Juno Valentine and the Magical Shoes , is back with an alphabet board book depicting feminist icons in  A Is for Awesome: 23 Iconic Women Who Changed the World , featuring spirited illustrations by Derek Desierto.

The Cat Man of Aleppo

Published: April 14, 2020

Aleppo’s city center no longer echoes with the rich, exciting sounds of copper-pot pounding and traditional sword sharpening. His neighborhood is empty–except for the many cats left behind. Alaa loves Aleppo, but when war comes his neighbors flee to safety, leaving their many pets behind. Alaa decides to stay–he can make a difference by driving an ambulance, carrying the sick and wounded to safety. One day he hears hungry cats calling out to him on his way home. They are lonely and scared, just like him. He feeds and pets them to let them know they are loved. The next day more cats come, and then even more! There are too many for Alaa to take care of on his own. Alaa has a big heart, but he will need help from others if he wants to keep all of his new friends safe.

Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant, and Artist

Published: September 24, 2019

Before he became an artist named Tyrus Wong, he was a boy named Wong Geng Yeo. He traveled across a vast ocean from China to America with only a suitcase and a few papers. Not papers for drawing–which he loved to do–but immigration papers to start a new life. Once in America, Tyrus seized every opportunity to make art, eventually enrolling at an art institute in Los Angeles. Working as a janitor at night, his mop twirled like a paintbrush in his hands. Eventually, he was given the opportunity of a lifetime–and using sparse brushstrokes and soft watercolors, Tyrus created the iconic backgrounds of  Bambi . Julie Leung and Chris Sasaki perfectly capture the beautiful life and work of a painter who came to this country with dreams and talent–and who changed the world of animation forever.

My Little Golden Book About Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Published: December 1, 2020

This Little Golden Book is a compelling introduction to an inspiring woman, written for the youngest readers. From a young age, Ruth Bader Ginsburg knew that she wanted to fight for girls and women to have equal rights. She studied and worked very hard and became just the second woman–and the first Jewish woman–to be a United States Supreme Court Justice. This is a terrific read for future trailblazers and their parents!

The Story of Jane Goodall: A Biography Book for New Readers

Published: September 14, 2021

Jane Goodall is a celebrated scientist for her studies of chimpanzees in the forests of Africa. Before she observed chimps and helped save them from losing their home, Jane was a curious kid who loved learning about animals. She showed people that women could be scientists, just like men, and fought to follow her dream of working with wild chimps. Explore how Jane Goodall went from being a young nature lover in England to the most important chimpanzee expert in the world.

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

Published: October 8, 2019

When Wu Chien Shiung was born in China 100 years ago, most girls did not attend school; no one considered them as smart as boys. But her parents felt differently. Giving her a name meaning “Courageous Hero,” they encouraged her love of learning and science. This engaging biography follows Wu Chien Shiung as she battles sexism and racism to become what  Newsweek  magazine called the “Queen of Physics” for her work on beta decay. Along the way, she earned the admiration of famous scientists like Enrico Fermi and Robert Oppenheimer and became the first woman hired as an instructor by Princeton University, the first woman elected President of the American Physical Society, the first scientist to have an asteroid named after her when she was still alive, and many other honors.

The Story of Simone Biles: A Biography Book for New Readers

Published: September 29, 2020

Simone Biles has been called the greatest gymnast of all time, winning five Olympic and 25 World Champion medals by age 22. Before she wowed the world with her incredible gymnastics skills, Simone was an energetic young girl who dreamed of becoming a top gymnast. She trained for hours every day and made many sacrifices to pursue her goals. Explore how Simone Biles went from being a kid growing up in Texas to an Olympic athlete who has won more gymnastics medals than anyone in history.

Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks

Gwendolyn Brooks (1917–2000) is known for her poems about “real life.” She wrote about love, loneliness, family, and poverty—showing readers how just about anything could become a beautiful poem. Exquisite follows Gwendolyn from early girlhood into her adult life, showcasing her desire to write poetry from a very young age. This picture-book biography explores the intersections of race, gender, and the ubiquitous poverty of the Great Depression—all with a lyrical touch worthy of the subject. Gwendolyn Brooks was the first Black person to win the Pulitzer Prize, receiving the award for poetry in 1950. And in 1958, she was named the poet laureate of Illinois. A bold artist who from a very young age dared to dream, Brooks will inspire young readers to create poetry from their own lives

The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver

Published: January 14, 2020

When George Washington Carver was just a young child, he had a secret: a garden of his own.

Here, he rolled dirt between his fingers to check if plants needed more rain or sun. He protected roots through harsh winters, so plants could be reborn in the spring. He trimmed flowers, spread soil, studied life cycles. And it was in this very place that George’s love of nature sprouted into something so much more—his future.

Gene Barretta’s moving words and Frank Morrison’s beautiful paintings tell the inspiring life and history of George Washington Carver, from a baby born into slavery to celebrated botanist, scientist, and inventor. His passion and determination are the seeds to this lasting story about triumph over hardship—a tale that begins in a secret garden.

Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreno Played The Piano for President Lincoln

Published: August 27, 2019

As a little girl, Teresa Carreño loved to let her hands dance across the beautiful keys of the piano. If she felt sad, music cheered her up, and when she was happy, the piano helped her share that joy. Soon she was writing her own songs and performing in grand cathedrals. Then a revolution in Venezuela forced her family to flee to the United States. Teresa felt lonely in this unfamiliar place, where few of the people she met spoke Spanish. Worst of all, there was fighting in her new home, too—the Civil War.

Still, Teresa kept playing, and soon she grew famous as the talented Piano Girl who could play anything from a folk song to a sonata. So famous, in fact, that President Abraham Lincoln wanted her to play at the White House! Yet with the country torn apart by war, could Teresa’s music bring comfort to those who needed it most?

Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille

Published: September 6, 2016

Louis Braille was just five years old when he lost his sight. He was a clever boy, determined to live like everyone else, and what he wanted more than anything was to be able to read.   Even at the school for the blind in Paris, there were no books for him.   And so he invented his own alphabet—a whole new system for writing that could be read by touch. A system so ingenious that it is still used by the blind community today.

It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way

Published: January 1, 2019

Growing up quiet and lonely at the beginning of the twentieth century, Gyo learned from her relatives the ways in which both women and Japanese people lacked opportunity. Her teachers and family believed in her and sent her to art school and later Japan, where her talent flourished. But while Gyo’s career grew and led her to work for Walt Disney Studios, World War II began, and with it, her family’s internment. But Gyo never stopped fighting — for herself, her vision, her family and her readers — and later wrote and illustrated the first children’s book to feature children of different races interacting together.

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré

Published: January 15, 2019

When she came to America in 1921, Pura Belpré carried the cuentos folklóricos of her Puerto Rican homeland. Finding a new home at the New York Public Library as a bilingual assistant, she turned her popular retellings into libros and spread story seeds across the land. Today, these seeds have grown into a lush landscape as generations of children and storytellers continue to share her tales and celebrate Pura’s legacy.

Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles

Published: March 13, 2018

Back in the days of long skirts and afternoon teas, young Joan Procter entertained the most unusual party guests: slithery and scaly ones, who turned over teacups and crawled past the crumpets….  While other girls played with dolls, Joan preferred the company of reptiles. She carried her favorite lizard with her everywhere–she even brought a crocodile to school! When Joan grew older, she became the Curator of Reptiles at the British Museum. She went on to design the Reptile House at the London Zoo, including a home for the rumored-to-be-vicious komodo dragons. There, just like when she was a little girl, Joan hosted children’s tea parties–with her komodo dragon as the guest of honor.

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read

Published: January 7, 2020

In 1848, Mary Walker was born into slavery. At age 15, she was freed, and by age 20, she was married and had her first child. By age 68, she had worked numerous jobs, including cooking, cleaning, babysitting, and selling sandwiches to raise money for her church. At 114, she was the last remaining member of her family. And at 116, she learned to read. From Rita Lorraine Hubbard and rising star Oge More comes the inspirational story of Mary Walker, a woman whose long life spanned from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, and who–with perseverance and dedication–proved that you’re never too old to learn.

Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist

Published: July 7, 2020

Mary Anning loved scouring the beach near her home in England for shells and fossils. She fearlessly climbed over crumbling cliffs and rocky peaks, searching for new specimens. One day, something caught Mary’s eye.

Bones. Dinosaur Bones.

Mary’s discoveries rocked the world of science and helped create a brand-new field of study: paleontology. But many people believed women couldn’t be scientists, so Mary wasn’t given the credit she deserved. Nevertheless, Mary kept looking and learning more, making discoveries that reshaped scientific beliefs about the natural world.

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

Published: December 5, 2017

An important book for all ages,  Little Leaders  educates and inspires as it relates true stories of forty trailblazing black women in American history. Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, politician Shirley Chisholm, mathematician Katherine Johnson, poet Maya Angelou, and filmmaker Julie Dash. Among these biographies, readers will find heroes, role models, and everyday women who did extraordinary things – bold women whose actions and beliefs contributed to making the world better for generations of girls and women to come. Whether they were putting pen to paper, soaring through the air or speaking up for the rights of others, the women profiled in these pages were all taking a stand against a world that didn’t always accept them. The leaders in this book may be little, but they all did something  big  and amazing, inspiring generations to come.

Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson’s Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions

Published: May 3, 2016

You know the Super Soaker. It’s one of top twenty toys of all time. And it was invented entirely by accident. Trying to create a new cooling system for refrigerators and air conditioners, impressive inventor Lonnie Johnson instead created the mechanics for the iconic toy.   A love for rockets, robots, inventions, and a mind for creativity began early in Lonnie Johnson’s life. Growing up in a house full of brothers and sisters, persistence and a passion for problem solving became the cornerstone for a career as an engineer and his work with NASA. But it is his invention of the Super Soaker water gun that has made his most memorable splash with kids and adults.

She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World

Published: May 30, 2017

Throughout United States history, there have always been women who have spoken out for what’s right, even when they have to fight to be heard. In this book, Chelsea Clinton celebrates thirteen American women who helped shape our country through their tenacity, sometimes through speaking out, sometimes by staying seated, sometimes by captivating an audience. They all certainly persisted.   She Persisted  is for everyone who has ever wanted to speak up but has been told to quiet down, for everyone who has ever tried to reach for the stars but was told to sit down, and for everyone who has ever been made to feel unworthy or unimportant or small.   With vivid, compelling art by Alexandra Boiger, this book shows readers that no matter what obstacles may be in their paths, they shouldn’t give up on their dreams. Persistence is power.

Mae Among the Stars

Published: January 9, 2018

A great classroom and bedtime read-aloud,  Mae Among the Stars  is the perfect book for young readers who have big dreams and even bigger hearts.

When Little Mae was a child, she dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering.

She wanted to be an astronaut.

Her mom told her, “If you believe it, and work hard for it, anything is possible.”

Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents’ encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space.

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race

Published: January 16, 2018

Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Christine Darden were good at math… really  good.

They participated in some of NASA’s greatest successes, like providing the calculations for America’s first journeys into space. And they did so during a time when being black and a woman limited what they could do. But they worked hard. They persisted. And they used their genius minds to change the world.

In this beautifully illustrated picture book edition, we explore the story of four female African American mathematicians at NASA, known as “colored computers,” and how they overcame gender and racial barriers to succeed in a highly challenging STEM-based career.

“Finally, the extraordinary lives of four African American women who helped NASA put the first men in space is available for picture book readers,” proclaims Brightly in their article “18 Must-Read Picture Books of 2018.” “Will inspire girls and boys alike to love math, believe in themselves, and reach for the stars.”

Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofusu Yeboah

Published: January 6, 2015

Born in Ghana, West Africa, with one deformed leg, he was dismissed by most people—but not by his mother, who taught him to reach for his dreams. As a boy, Emmanuel hopped to school more than two miles each way, learned to play soccer, left home at age thirteen to provide for his family, and, eventually, became a cyclist. He rode an astonishing four hundred miles across Ghana in 2001, spreading his powerful message: disability is not inability. Today, Emmanuel continues to work on behalf of the disabled.

Thompson’s lyrical prose and Qualls’s bold collage illustrations offer a powerful celebration of triumphing over adversity.

Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13

Published: June 19, 2018

You’ve likely heard of the historic Apollo 13 moon landing. But do you know about the mathematical genius who made sure that Apollo 13 returned safely home?

As a child, Katherine Johnson loved to count. She counted the steps on the road, the number of dishes and spoons she washed in the kitchen sink, everything! Boundless, curious, and excited by calculations, young Katherine longed to know as much as she could about math, about the universe.

The Crayon Man: the True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons

Published: March 19, 2019

What child doesn’t love to hold a crayon in their hands?  But children didn’t always have such magical boxes of crayons.  Before Edwin Binney set out to change things, children couldn’t really even draw in color. Here’s the true story of an inventor who so loved nature’s vibrant colors that he found a way to bring the outside world to children – in a bright green box for only a nickel! With experimentation, and a special knack for listening, Edwin Binney and his dynamic team at Crayola created one of the world’s most enduring, best-loved childhood toys – empowering children to dream in COLOR!

Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist

Published: June 6, 2017

Eugenie Clark fell in love with sharks from the first moment she saw them at the aquarium. She couldn’t imagine anything more exciting than studying these graceful creatures. But Eugenie quickly discovered that many people believed sharks to be ugly and scary―and they didn’t think women should be scientists.

Determined to prove them wrong, Eugenie devoted her life to learning about sharks. After earning several college degrees and making countless discoveries, Eugenie wrote herself into the history of science, earning the nickname “Shark Lady.” Through her accomplishments, she taught the world that sharks were to be admired rather than feared and that women can do anything they set their minds to.

The Tree Lady

Published: September 17, 2013

Katherine Olivia Sessions never thought she’d live in a place without trees. After all, Kate grew up among the towering pines and redwoods of Northern California. But after becoming the first woman to graduate from the University of California with a degree in science, she took a job as a teacher far south in the dry desert town of San Diego. Where there were almost no trees.

Kate decided that San Diego needed trees more than anything else. So this trailblazing young woman singlehandedly started a massive movement that transformed the town into the green, garden-filled oasis it is today. Now, more than 100 years after Kate first arrived in San Diego, her gorgeous gardens and parks can be found all over the city.

The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin

Published: August 29, 2017

When young Temple was diagnosed with autism, no one expected her to talk, let alone become one of the most powerful voices in modern science. Yet, the determined visual thinker did just that. Her unique mind allowed her to connect with animals in a special way, helping her invent groundbreaking improvements for farms around the globe! The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin is the first book in a brand new educational series about the inspirational lives of amazing scientists. In addition to the illustrated rhyming tale, you’ll find a complete biography, fun facts, a colorful timeline of events, and even a note from Temple herself!

Stephen Curry: The Boy Who Never Gave Up

Published: August 16, 2016

The Boy Who Never Gave Up  is the inspiring true story of NBA superstar Stephen Curry. This Fully illustrated picture book biography tells the story of a young boy who many said was too short to play in high school, too weak to play in college and not good enough to play in the NBA.

Against all odds, this small boy who follows his dream, not only makes it to the NBA, but becomes one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball.

Before She Was Harriet

Published: November 7, 2017

We know her today as Harriet Tubman, but in her lifetime she was called by many names. As General Tubman she was a Union spy. As Moses she led hundreds to freedom on the Underground Railroad. As Minty she was a slave whose spirit could not be broken. As Araminta she was a young girl whose father showed her the stars and the first steps on the path to freedom.

An evocative poem and stunning watercolors come together to honor a woman of humble origins whose courage and compassion make her a larger than life hero.

Nelson Mandela

Published: January 2, 2013

In this lush, acclaimed book, award-winning author-illustrator Kadir Nelson tells the story of global icon and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela in poignant free verse and glorious illustrations.

It is the story of a young boy’s determination to change South Africa, and of the struggles of a man who eventually became the president of his country. Mandela believed in equality for all people, no matter the color of their skin. Readers will be inspired by Mandela’s triumph and his lifelong quest to create a more just world.

Published: October 1, 2005

Fifty years after her refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus, Mrs. Rosa Parks is still one of the most important figures in the American civil rights movement. This picture- book tribute to Mrs. Parks is a celebration of her courageous action and the events that followed.

There they are: 45 of the best picture book biographies to read today! Which of these books have you read and loved? What did I miss?

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• About Afoma Umesi

Afoma Umesi is the founder and editor of Reading Middle Grade where she curates book lists and writes book reviews for kids of all ages. Her favorite genre to read is contemporary realistic fiction and she'll never say no to a graphic novel.

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• --> BIOGRAPHIES

Biographies for Kids

A biography is a true story written about someone's life. There are many biographies for kids about famous people that students can read. These are written on a variety of reading levels to meet the needs of all types of readers. Famous people that children enjoy reading about can be people from long ago, such as George Washington or Betsy Ross, or from more recent times, such as Neil Armstrong or Ronald Reagan. Reading and learning about biographies of famous people is essential in school. Children enjoy reading about renowned people's lives, and really learn a lot of life lessons by reading them. Some children can even make life connections to the people they read about, and certainly relate to them. We have short biographies for kids to let children explore the joys of this genre. This type of genre is read during class as a read-aloud activity by the teacher, or in small reading groups facilitated by an instructor.

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• Grades 6-12
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60 3rd Grade Books To Add to Your Classroom Library

Third grade should be a year of awesome books.

Third graders are in the sweet spot between innocent and independent, and it’s such fun to share a wide range of books with them. You’ve got your old standbys, but fresh titles are always needed. Here are 60 recent third grade books we think could become your new favorites to read aloud and offer to students.

1. I’m From by Gary Gray Jr.

This mesmerizing memoir poem of one boy’s school day shows readers that everyone is from a rich, detailed “somewhere.” From the bus driver’s threats to “SIT DOWN” to school “books that don’t click with me,” to buttermilk biscuits and baked beans for dinner, the text overflows with small but meaningful details. We’re definitely adding this to our third grade books inspire students’ own poetry or narrative writing.

Buy it: I’m From on Amazon

2. I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes and Gordon C. James

This inspirational book exudes Black joy  as it celebrates black boys’ resilience, creativity, perseverance, and kindness. There are so many concrete examples to which all students can connect, and the language is guaranteed to leave readers energized and inspired. Read this one every year!

Buy it: I Am Every Good Thing on Amazon

3. Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina

It’s moving day for Daniela’s best friend and neighbor, Evelyn Del Rey. Daniela narrates their final moments together in heart-wrenching detail as she lists all the reasons she’ll miss her friend. We love this story for discussing characters’ emotional responses to events, and as a writing mentor text when studying narrative voice.

Buy it: Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away on Amazon

4. The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

We just can’t stop reading this one again and again. Encourage students to find their voices and connect with one another.

Buy it: The Day You Begin on Amazon

5. My Baba’s Garden by Jordan Scott

This gorgeous title is perfect for conversations about kindness and as a narrative-writing mentor text . A young boy spends lots of time at his grandmother’s tiny house, enjoying her delicious cooking and helping in her garden. When her house is torn down and she moves in with the boy and his parents, he tries to repay her kindness by evoking happy memories.

Buy it: My Baba’s Garden on Amazon

6. The Walking School Bus by Aaron Friedland and Ndileka Mandela

It’s too dangerous for siblings Shaka and Nandi to walk alone to school when their father gets a new job. They’re so disappointed not to be able to attend that they think up a community-based solution: They encourage lots of local children to travel together as a walking “school bus.” Add this to your third grade books to read aloud and spend time thinking and discussing as a group. The back matter gives more information about kids’ real-life obstacles in getting to school.  

Buy it: The Walking School Bus on Amazon

7. The One Day House by Julia Durango

Wilson longs to help Gigi fix up her house, even though she reassures him his company is more than enough. One day, with the support of his community, he’s able to realize his intentions.

Buy it: The One Day House on Amazon

8. The Very Last Castle by Travis Jonker

This traditional tale with a twist stars Ibb, the one girl brave enough to investigate who actually lives in the old castle that stands in the middle of town. Rumors run rampant, but the truth surprises everyone.

Buy it: The Very Last Castle on Amazon

9. The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Faizah admires her older sister on her first day of hijab—both for wearing her “proudest” color blue with strength and beauty and for resisting the hurtful words of others. This inspirational story is written by the first female Muslim American Olympic medalist.

Buy it: The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family on Amazon

10. Drawn Together by Minh Lê and Dan Santat

Remind students about the many forms of communication with this gorgeous, almost wordless title. A boy and his grandfather speak different languages, but they connect through art.

Buy it: Drawn Together on Amazon

11. Hurricane by John Rocco

John Rocco’s disaster stories are so fun to read aloud, and they’re fantastic for inspiring kids’ own narrative writing . When a hurricane tears through the area, a young boy’s favorite spot, the neighborhood dock, is wrecked. Can it be rebuilt? This would be fun to share as part of a weather unit too.

Buy it: Hurricane on Amazon

12. Still This Love Goes On by Buffy Sainte-Marie and Julie Flett

This gorgeous illustrated version of a song by an award-winning Cree singer-songwriter will take your breath away. Share it as part of a study of indigenous cultures, to practice determining themes, or to inspire student poetry. (We also just really want to see a school chorus concert with kids singing this song!)

Buy it: Still This Love Goes On on Amazon

13. Copycat: Nature-Inspired Design Around the World by Christy Hale

Tanka poems, stunning photos, and fascinating back matter give kids an introduction to biomimicry—design that imitates nature. This is a unique addition to your third grade STEM books, for sure.

Buy it: Copycat: Nature-Inspired Design Around the World on Amazon

14. Counting in Dog Years and Other Sassy Math Poems by Betsy Franco

We love third grade books that do double duty. These funny poems will also help kids practice math concepts like multiplication and fractions.

Buy it: Counting in Dog Years and Other Sassy Math Poems on Amazon

15. The Great Banned-Books Bake Sale by Aya Khalil

Kanzi, star of the book The Arabic Quilt: An Immigrant Story , is shocked to find an entire display of diverse books gone from her school library. Her class learns that the books have been banned by their district, and they decide to take action. They plan a bake sale and protest. Share this title to educate students about the issue of book banning and to share a relatable example of kid-powered activism.

Buy it: The Great Banned-Books Bake Sale on Amazon

16. Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion by Shannon Stocker

This story of defying expectations is one of our new favorite third grade books to spark classroom discussion. Don’t miss the author’s note: It explains how the author, also a disabled musician, used her own experiences and real-life conversations with the book’s subject to make sure her writing was authentic.

Buy it: Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion on Amazon

17. The Next President: The Unexpected Beginnings and Unwritten Future of America’s Presidents by Kate Messner

Here’s a creative and empowering take on an informational book about presidents. What were future presidents doing when their predecessors took office? Students can begin to think about where great leaders start and explore their own potential.

Buy it: The Next President on Amazon

18. Butterflies Belong Here: A Story of One Idea, Thirty Kids, and a World of Butterflies by Deborah Hopkinson

A girl who is a recent immigrant finds her voice through environmental activism. When she notices there are no monarch butterflies in her community, she leads efforts to plant a monarch way station. Share this story to help kids find their own passions, make plans, and create change.

Buy it: Butterflies Belong Here on Amazon

19. Respect: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul by Carole Boston Weatherford

This title packs powerful messaging into sparse text and gorgeous artwork in a way that reminds us of Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport. This is an excellent addition to a collection of biography mentor texts. Mentions of Aretha’s performances at multiple presidential inaugurations tie this title to election conversations too.

Buy it: Respect: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul on Amazon

20. Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built by Angela Burke Kunkel

Parallel stories tell of a Colombian garbage collector who salvages discarded books and a young boy who waits all week for library day. This narrative nonfiction title is a heartwarming celebration of the power of books to both transport and connect readers.

Buy it: Digging for Words: José Alberto Gutiérrez and the Library He Built on Amazon

21. Show and Tell! Great Graphs and Smart Charts: An Introduction to Infographics by Stuart J. Murphy

Today’s kids are living in a visual world. Introduce bar graphs, pie charts, pictographs, and line graphs with fun illustrations and examples. Great for launching a math unit about representing data.

Buy it: Show and Tell! Great Graphs and Smart Charts on Amazon

22. Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond

This unique and captivating book is one for every social studies classroom! Get students thinking about connections across history, science, geography, and the arts through the lens of the color blue.

Buy it: Blue on Amazon

23. Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes by Wab Kinew

This book offers brief introductions to a variety of notable figures in history, sports, medicine, and more. The author’s note gives a helpful context.

Buy it: Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes on Amazon

24. If You’re a Kid Like Gavin by Gavin Grimm and Kyle Lukoff

This OwnVoices story of transgender activist Gavin Grimm is empowering and important for all kids. Gavin made headlines for bravely speaking out about his right to choose which bathroom to use at school. Teachers will find the language so useful for building a classroom community in which transgender individuals—and all individuals—can be supported and celebrated.

Buy it: If You’re a Kid Like Gavin on Amazon

25. Made for Each Other: Why Dogs and People Are Perfect Partners by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent

This impeccably organized and focused title is perfect for introducing an author’s message in nonfiction. Bonus: adorable dog photos!

Buy it: Made for Each Other: Why Dogs and People Are Perfect Partners on Amazon

26. Breaking Through the Clouds: The Sometimes Turbulent Life of Meteorologist Joanne Simpson by Sandra Nickel

Joanne Simpson was the first woman to receive a doctorate in meteorology. Her research changed the world’s understanding of clouds. Expand kids’ understanding of the field of weather studies with this fascinating biography.

Buy it: Breaking Through the Clouds on Amazon

27. Starstruck: The Cosmic Journey of Neil deGrasse Tyson by Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer

“America’s Astrophysicist,” the charismatic Neil deGrasse Tyson started out as a regular city kid focused on friends and fun—and on learning as much about the stars as he possibly could. We love how this biography shows that not all scientists are introverts.

Buy it: Starstruck: The Cosmic Journey of Neil deGrasse Tyson on Amazon

28. Killer Underwear Invasion! How To Spot Fake News, Disinformation & Conspiracy Theories, by Elise Gravel

Put this one at the top of your pile of third grade books about media literacy. One of our favorite authors takes on the timely topics of fake news, confirmation bias, fact vs. opinion, and credible sources. The outlandish examples and silly illustrations make this important content memorable for kids.

Buy it: Killer Underwear Invasion!  on Amazon

29. The Water Lady: How Darlene Arviso Helps a Thirsty Navajo Nation by Alice B. McGinty

Every day Darlene Arviso drives kids to school and then uses her school bus to deliver clean water to families of the Navajo Nation. This powerful true story, along with the author’s note, will give classrooms lots to discuss. It could easily inspire wonder, research, and activism too.

Buy it: The Water Lady: How Darlene Arviso Helps a Thirsty Navajo Nation on Amazon

30. Wait! What? series by Dan Gutman

When we learned that Dan Gutman had a biography series, we knew we’d love it. These titles introduce famous historical personalities from a kid-centered perspective. Each book is formatted as a conversation between two siblings who try to one-up each other with interesting facts about the book’s subject that go beyond “stuff your teacher wants you to know.” Add these to your third grade biography books collection for the kids who say biographies are boring!

Buy it: Wait! What? series on Amazon

31. The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale by Jon Klassen

This retold Austrian folktale is moderately creepy, but it has heartwarming messages about friendship too. A girl named Otilla runs away from home. She happens upon a grand abandoned house in the forest and befriends a skull that lives there, proving her loyalty when the skull’s skeleton body comes looking for it. The afterword is especially interesting to share with third graders when you study folktales. The author talks about how he arrived at this particular retelling and the power of folktales to be uniquely shaped by each person who enjoys them.

Buy it: The Skull: A Tyrolean Folktale on Amazon

32. City of Dragons series by Jaimal Yogis and Vivian Truong

Set in present-day Hong Kong, this graphic novel series stars Grace, who’s given a mysterious egg that hatches into a water dragon she calls Nate. Grace and her new friends have to protect Nate from unsavory characters. The mix of Chinese mythology with modern themes like making new friends and teamwork make these ideal third grade books.

Buy it: City of Dragons series on Amazon

33. Locker 37 series by Aaron Starmer

Wouldn’t it be perfect if there was a way to fix any problem that’s ruining your school day? At Hopewell Elementary, select students can rely on Locker 37, a magical trove of helpful tools. Fast-paced and relatable, these are excellent third grade books to keep your students reading.

Buy it: The Magic Eraser (Locker 37 #1) on Amazon

34. Dragons in a Bag series by Zetta Elliott

When his mom drops him off with Ma, a mysterious character from her own childhood, Jaxon has no idea he’ll travel into the world of magic and end up in charge of baby dragons. We love this urban fantasy series.

Buy it: Dragons in a Bag series on Amazon

35. Best Wishes series by Sarah Mlynowski and various authors

We love this author’s other magic-themed series ( Whatever After and Upside-Down Magic ) so we’re definitely adding this new set of stories starring diverse characters to our third grade books. In each title, a girl in distress receives a magic bracelet in the mail that promises to grant wishes.

Buy it: Best Wishes series on Amazon

36. Just Harriet series by Elana K. Arnold

Many reviewers compare these quiet titles to Beverly Cleary’s beloved Ramona series. Harriet Wermer loves to puzzle over mysteries during her summer stay on Marble Island. She also, it turns out, tends to stretch the truth … often. This can make it hard to get adults to listen to her. Share these titles with your third graders who love relatable, endearing characters.

Buy it: Just Harriet series on Amazon

37. The Magnificent Makers series by Theanne Griffith

This series stars third graders Violet and Pablo as they take science-themed adventures that include transport by magical science instruments to a challenge-filled Maker Maze, a guide that reminds us of Miss Frizzle, and fun project directions for home. As a neuroscientist and a mom, this author knows what will get kids excited about reading and science!

Buy it: Magnificent Makers series on Amazon

38. Julieta and the Diamond Enigma by Luisana Duarte Armendáriz

A father-daughter pair navigates a Paris art heist in this fast-moving story packed with tons of interesting background information for kids. It’s perfect for third grade readers who love mysteries, travel adventures, and plucky, determined main characters. It would also be a popular chapter book for a class read-aloud.

Buy it: Julieta and the Diamond Enigma on Amazon

39. The Magnificent Mya Tibbs series by Crystal Allen

These sweet stories will take students to small-town Texas, where 9-year-old Mya navigates the ups and downs of family life and school with plenty of spunk. A great series for a third grade library.

Buy it: The Magnificent Mya Tibbs series on Amazon

40. Marya Khan series by Saadia Faruqi

This series opener from the author of the popular Yasmin early reader series is ideal for third graders. In the series opener, Marya is desperate for an over-the-top awesome birthday party like her neighbor Alexa. She can’t resist telling her classmates about it … even before getting the OK from her family.

Buy it: Marya Khan series on Amazon

41. Marcus series by Kevin Hart

Tap into kids’ love of YouTube and videography with this fast-paced and fun series. Marcus takes an after-school film class and starts dreaming of turning his cartoon drawings into a hit movie. These books will have kids wondering: Could they be famous one day? Written by actor and comedian Kevin Hart.

Buy it: Marcus Makes a Movie and Marcus Makes It Big on Amazon

42. The Unicorn Rescue Society series by Adam Gidwitz

In this engaging and highly readable series, Elliot and Uchenna join their odd teacher, Professor Fauna, on quests to protect mythical creatures.

Buy it: The Unicorn Rescue Society series on Amazon

43. A Boy Called Bat series by Elana K. Arnold

Meet Bat, an unforgettable third grade boy on the autism spectrum, as he tries to show his mom that a baby skunk can be the perfect pet. Also check out Bat and the Waiting Game and Bat and the End of Everything .

Buy it: A Boy Called Bat on Amazon

44. Once Upon a Tim series by Stuart Gibbs

This new series from a favorite author is readable, quirky, and fun. Tim, a smart-aleck peasant, finds himself wrapped up in a royal rescue scheme. This could make a great student book club choice. Keep an eye out for the sequel too.

Buy it: Once Upon a Tim series on Amazon

45. Jada Jones series by Kelly Starling Lyons

We adore Jada Jones for her realistic kid voice and her love of everything STEM. This series reflects common childhood dilemmas and drama with fresh-feeling details and plenty of heart. Also check out the Miles Lewis series by the same author.

Buy it: Jada Jones series on Amazon

46. The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza by Mac Barnett

Your collection of third grade books should definitely include a hysterical crowd-pleaser like this one. A cat launches a space expedition to save the moon from hungry rats. It’s weird and adventurous and sure to be passed all around the class.

Buy it: The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza on Amazon

47. Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face series by John Dougherty

These British imports, recently re-released with updated illustrations, will appeal to students who like wacky humor. Stinkbomb and his messy little sister Ketchup-Face get themselves into madcap adventures in this fun series of third grade books.

Buy it: Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face series on Amazon

48. Fantastic Frame series by Lin Oliver

This five-book series about a magical golden frame that transports time travelers into the historic world of famous paintings has a lot to offer: full-color illustrations, modern characters, a bit of art history, tons of adventure—and the thrill and tension of a ticking clock!

Buy it: Fantastic Frame series on Amazon

49. Family Fletcher series by Dana Alison Levy

The hilarious but realistic antics of the two dads and four adopted brothers in the Fletcher family make for enjoyable tales for your latest third grade books.

Buy it: Family Fletcher series on Amazon

50. Iggy series by Annie Barrows

LOL-worthy series alert! Iggy Frangi has a long list of complaints against him—and plenty of smart responses to explain away his behavior.

Buy it: Iggy series on Amazon

51. Lucy McGee series by Mary Amato

Mary Amato definitely understands upper elementary peer dynamics, and her books are surefire hits with third graders. Meet spirited Lucy McGee, star of this accessible illustrated chapter book.

Buy it: Lucy McGee series on Amazon

52. Big Foot and Little Foot series by Ellen Potter

A young Sasquatch named Hugo and a young boy build an unlikely friendship despite their differences.

Buy it: Big Foot and Little Foot series on Amazon

53. The Last Kids on Earth series by Max Brallier

The relatable characters in these hybrid graphic novels navigate real-life kid emotions, even during apocalyptic turmoil. Plus, there’s a good dose of oozing zombie grossness to hook reluctant readers.

Buy it: The Last Kids on Earth series on Amazon

54. Sparks! series by Ian Boothby and Nina Matsumoto

Readers will cheer for the masquerading feline stars of this graphic novel—great for students who love Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man books.

Buy it: Sparks series on Amazon

55. The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

When Evan finds a peculiar new Little Free Library on his walk to school, it launches him and his best friend into a (slightly) spooky mystery. Why are all the books from the town library that burned down decades ago? Add this to your third grade books for reading aloud or book clubs. Its alternating perspectives make it perfect for talking about character traits, motivations, and relationships. 

Buy it: The Lost Library on Amazon

56. Saving Winslow by Sharon Creech

No one can pack so much emotion into a slim novel like Sharon Creech. Louie’s efforts to nurse a sickly newborn donkey back to health turn into much more in this delightful testament to hope and healing.

Buy it: Saving Winslow on Amazon

57. Packing for Mars for Kids by Mary Roach

This new young readers edition of the bestselling adult nonfiction title could add some variety to your classroom read-aloud time or catch the attention of advanced readers. Surviving as a human in outer space is a complicated endeavor, as this science journalist explains with plenty of wit in chapters like “Toilet Training for Adults” and “Roommates for Very Small Rooms.” We plan on using excerpts as mentor texts for informational writing too.

Buy it: Packing for Mars for Kids on Amazon

58. Wonderland by Barbara O’Connor

If you loved Wish , prepare to be equally as drawn in by Barbara O’Connor’s newest set of compelling characters—including Henry the dog—in this coming-of-age story.

Buy it: Wonderland on Amazon

59. The Wild Robot series by Peter Brown

These tales about a robot marooned on a futuristic island will mesmerize your students. They offer plenty of material for discussions about perspective-taking too.

Buy it: Wild Robot series on Amazon

60. Cress Watercress by Gregory Maguire

Add this rich and complex animal story to your third grade read-aloud books or share it with just the right student reader. A young rabbit must cope with his missing Papa and a big move to a new home. This is an instant classic.

Buy it: Cress Watercress on Amazon

What third grade books have you discovered recently? Come share in our We Are Teachers Helpline group on Facebook.

Want more articles like this be sure to  subscribe to our newsletters . plus, check out our book lists for other elementary grade levels here:.

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3 Creative Ideas for Teaching Biographies Your Students Will Love

There is so much power in teaching our students about history using biographies. We can all learn from the success and failures of others. But biographies often get a bad rap of being dry and boring. It doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, through this genre, our students can practice many different reading skills and strategies. That’s why I use graphic organizers that will allow my students to recall information from the biographies in creative ways. I am excited to share these 3 creative ideas for teaching biographies using fun and exciting graphic organizers I know your students will love!

Teaching Biographies can be Exciting

When teaching biographies in my classroom I like to immerse my students into the lives of the person they are learning about. From decorating the classroom to dressing up like the person we are studying, the possibilities are endless. This really helps to “bring the person to life” and make the learning more engaging and realistic for our students.

No matter what biography you are focusing on, these 3 creative ideas for teaching biographies are going to be so fun your kids will be begging for more!

1. EXTRA! EXTRA!

Read all about it in this year’s edition of the 3rd grade Daily Times. And that’s the hook! One of my favorite ways to immerse my students into learning is to turn them all into little reporters. At the end of our biography unit, we create a newspaper. It includes articles about each of the people of influence we focused on. I can’t tell you how excited my students get when they hear they will be writing and “publishing” a newspaper!

I like to put students in groups of 3 or 4. Then, give each one a person they will be focusing on. As a group, they must choose graphic organizers to will help them record information about their person. They can read an article that I provide, get information from a book, or research the person on a safe search site.

After reading the information about their person, they use the graphic organizers they chose to record important information about the person. This is the “interview” for the article.

Pulling it all Together

Next, it’s time to put the information from the graphic organizers all together. They will write all of the information in one article that will be included in our newspaper. The newspaper can be tangible if you want your students to assemble it and include their own drawings. But, it can also be digital with each group focusing on specific slides. This can then be projected on a whiteboard or viewed on a tablet or computer.

Not only is it a great way for students to learn from informative text, but it also gives you a fun and easy way to assess their learning. Sharing the newspaper in the school library is sure to be a hit. Teachers or librarians can read the newspaper articles to classes when they visit the library. So cool!

This really is such a great way for me to teach biographies in an easy way my students love!

2. The Life and Times…

This is a fun timeline activity that begs to be interactive! When teaching biographies, I love to use timelines because it gives students a concrete visual of when key events took place. This helps students better able to identify with the life of the person they are studying.

For example, if we are focusing on Amelia Earheart, I create a huge timeline that goes around my classroom. We start at the beginning and focus each day on an aspect of her life. We add information to the timeline as we go, and this is where those awesome graphic organizers come into play.

With a cause and effect graphic organizer, I can ask my students to think critically about events in the life of Amelia Earheart. Then we can discuss how those events shaped her future. As we learn about other things that are happening in the world, we can add those to the timeline as well.

I can’t tell you how awesome it is to get those “lightbulb” moments! I love when students make connections between world events and the person they are studying.

The end of our timeline activity concludes with a flipbook with all the information we have learned about Amelia Earheart. My kids really love this activity because they are allowed to get up and walk around. They take their clipboards to make notes from the timeline to help them complete the information for the flipbook. It’s a great way for them to show off their learning when they take it home.

3. Pick a Person

This is a really fun way to build excitement when teaching biographies. I put the names of all the people I want my students to choose from when working on their biographies. Then, after arranging my class into 4 or 5 groups, it’s time for the choosing ceremony. Each team gets to reach inside a basket and draw the name of a person. This will be the person they will be responsible for reporting on at the end of the unit.

Next, each group has to do some research on the person of influence they will be focusing on. This could mean a special trip to the library for the group to check out a book, some safe search research on the computer, or even a look through our biographies section of our class book boxes. I think this is a great way to give your students a little independence and responsibility they will be overjoyed to get.

Graphic organizers are so great for biographies because there is so much information available out there. It can feel overwhelming for kids to try to organize their thoughts and recall important facts and details about the lives of the people we are studying. They are a great way to get our students to really focus on what’s important and what they want to include in their presentations.

The Presentations

Now, it’s time for the really fun part! I give my students some time to think about how they could present their information to the class. Some groups like to use technology and create a video slideshow, a recorded skit, or even a self-made news clip featuring their famous person. Other groups may want to get creative and make a poster with visual images representing the information they learned about the person they are focusing on.

If a free choice scenario isn’t your cup of tea, consider making a list of presentation options you would be comfortable with. By giving students some choice in their final presentation you really get to see them tap into strengths and creativity. No matter how you choose to have your students present the information, chances are they will have a blast doing it!

Grab Your Free Biography Graphic Organizers

I have put together my favorite graphic organizers to use when teaching biographies and you can grab them for free! Just join the Keep ’em Thinking community to get access to the Free Resource Library. You can find these biography graphic organizers and lots more!

Just sign-up below and grab your free graphic organizers today!

Teaching Biographies is a Breeze

Teaching biographies really is a breeze! With customizable graphic organizers to help your students, they will not only focus on the information they are learning but recall it.

And . . . if you need some ready-to-use biographies check out the Keep ’em Thinking store . You can find a variety of biography resources that are perfect to use with the graphic organizers.

Be sure to save these creative ways for teaching biographies ideas to your favorite Pinterest teacher board so you can come back any time for even more fun and exciting biography activities!

• Read more about: Critical Thinking , Picture Books , Reading and ELA , Thinking Skills , Writing

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Women Leaders

• Abigail Adams - Wife of President John Adams, Abigail paved the way for future First Ladies to speak out on issues.
• Susan B. Anthony - A woman's rights leader in the 1800's who led the fight for women's suffrage.
• Marie Antoinette - Queen of France during the French Revolution, she was beheaded by revolutionaries.
• Clara Barton - A nurse during the Civil War, Clara founded the American Red Cross.

• Nellie Bly - Investigative journalist who became famous for traveling around the world in 72 days.
• Ruby Bridges - The first African-American child to attend an all-white elementary school in the South.
• Rachel Carson - A marine biologist who is considered the founder of environmental science.
• Cleopatra VII - The last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.
• Hillary Clinton - Presidential candidate, senator, and wife of President Bill Clinton.
• Marie Curie - Won the Nobel Prize in physics for her work on radioactivity.
• Princess Diana - The famous Princess of Wales who spent much of her time working for charity.
• Dorothea Dix - She helped the mentally ill and worked as the Superintendent of Army Nurses during the Civil War.
• Amelia Earhart - The first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

• Queen Elizabeth I - Queen of England for 44 years during a time when the British Empire expanded and the arts flourished.
• Queen Elizabeth II - Longest ruling British monarch.
• Anne Frank - A young Jewish girl who wrote about her experiences while hiding from the Nazi's during World War II.
• Jane Goodall - Jane is a scientist known for her studies of chimpanzees in the wild.
• Hatshepsut - One of the most powerful and successful pharaohs of Ancient Egypt.
• Helen Keller - Being both deaf and blind, Helen learned how to read Braille and talk.
• Joan of Arc - Led the French against the English during the Hundred Years War while still a teenager.
• Frida Kahlo - Mexican artist who inspired "Fridamania" in the 1970s. Her art is considered part of Mexico's national cultural heritage.
• Mary Todd Lincoln - Wife of President Abraham Lincoln, Mary stood by her husband's side during the Civil War.
• Annie Oakley - Sharpshooter and famous entertainer during the American wild west.
• Ellen Ochoa - Astronaut and scientist.

• Rosa Parks - Rosa was a civil rights activist famous for not giving up her seat on the bus.
• Molly Pitcher - Molly took over the firing of a cannon during the Revolutionary War when her husband was wounded.
• Sacagawea - Sacagawea assisted Lewis and Clark on their expedition west working as a guide and interpreter.
• Sally Ride - The first American woman astronaut to travel to space.
• Eleanor Roosevelt - Wife of President Franklin Roosevelt, Eleanor was an active first lady who worked for human rights.
• Sonia Sotomayor - The first Hispanic and Latina member of the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Elizabeth Cady Stanton - A leader in the fight for women's suffrage.
• Martha Stewart - A business entrepreneur who built a major brand and business empire writing books and hosting TV shows.

• Harriet Beecher Stowe - Wrote the book Uncle Tom's Cabin which exposed the terrible reality of slavery to people in the North.
• Maria Tallchief - The first Native American prima ballerina.
• Mother Teresa - A Catholic nun who spent her life helping the sick, needy, and helpless people of the world.
• Margaret Thatcher - The first woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
• Sojourner Truth - An escaped slave who fought for the end of the slavery and women's rights.
• Harriet Tubman - An escaped slave who became a leader in the Underground Railroad helping more slaves to escape from the South.
• Queen Victoria - She was Queen of England for over 63 years. Her reign is often referred to as the Victorian Era.
• Madam C.J. Walker - Known as the first woman self-made millionaire.
• Martha Washington - Wife of President George Washington and the original First Lady of the United States.
• Ida B. Wells - A journalist and civil rights activist, Ida B. Wells led a campaign against lynching.
• Oprah Winfrey - Became one of the most successful businesswomen in the world through her TV show The Oprah Winfrey Show .
• Empress Wu - The only woman to take the title of Emperor of China.
• Malala Yousafzai - Activist who fought for the education of women in Pakistan.

• ELEMENTARY TEACHING , INTEGRATED CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES

Teaching Biographies To Elementary Students (Grades 1-5) in 2024

Teaching biographies can feel intimidating at first, but once you have a solid understanding of the genre, a roadmap of how to teach it, and teaching resources and activities, it’s easy! This post will equip you with all of that and more! You’ll feel prepared (and maybe even excited) about teaching biographies (especially if you are using this biography project and these biography activities )!

The Benefits Of Students Reading Biographies

There are so many benefits of teaching biographies and autobiographies! Readers are transported into that person’s life. They learn all about the person’s achievements, struggles, culture, life lessons, and personality. Biographies can also teach us about the world through the eyes of the subject while allowing the reader to make connections to them. Most students can find biographies they enjoy when they find people to read about that connect with their likes and dislikes to top it off. 

How To Introduce The Biography Genre To Students

The easiest way to introduce and teach biographies is by gathering as many biographies and autobiographies as possible from your classroom library, school, and public library. Make sure that all the books you collect are around your student’s reading levels. This idea works for any theme.

Then, set out the books you collected on each of your students’ tables and have them explore. Ask them to write down what they notice. What do all the books have in common? Have students write down their findings on chart paper. 

Next, have each table share with the class what they noticed. They should come up with some ideas like: 

• They are all about people.
• The person accomplished something big.
• They all include essential dates or a timeline of the person’s life.
• They included real pictures or illustrations of the person.
• The books all tell factual information, and there are no made-up stories.

Lastly, tell students that books with these characteristics are called biographies or autobiographies. Be sure to tell students the difference between biographies and autobiographies too. Create an anchor chart to hang up for students to reference throughout your biography unit! 

4 Ideas For Biography Mini Lessons

After introducing biographies, try one of these mini-lesson ideas for teaching biographies! 

• Have students pick a person they are interested in learning more about. Then have them find books about the person and complete a research project about that person to present to the class. You could even take it a few steps further and have students share what they learned in costume as the person they researched in a wax museum activity! 
• Have students create a social media page of the person they learned about in their biography
• Have students read about a person of interest, and then write journal entries as that person. 
• You could make it seasonal! Around fall, have students paint a pumpkin like a person they read about and present important events or accomplishments as they share their pumpkin. In spring, students could make biography flowers where the center was a photo of the person, and the petals are important events and accomplishments. 

Strategies For Using Mentor Texts To Model Reading Biographies

Teaching biographies is simple when you use these strategies!

First, pick any biography or autobiography mentor text and read it aloud. Ok, maybe not ANY. Be sure to choose one that will be engaging to your students. Think about the things they enjoy and go from there. I love picture books because students can generally read them in one session. (Make sure you preview the text first and mark with sticky notes to remember to stop and discuss during the read-aloud!)

Stop at important dates, accomplishments, life lessons, or significant life events to discuss. I even stop to discuss any figurative language or text features included. This will help students with both reading and writing! Students generally have TONS of connections to share during biography read alouds that lead to great conversations. 

How To Teach Students To Write Biography Reports

One way to help students learn how to write biographies is to write their first one about themselves! Students can brainstorm what should be included in their biography by creating a timeline that includes important events in their life. Then, they use the timeline to help them write their biography in chronological order. You can model this with a biography about yourself on an anchor chart for students to use if they need help. This is also an excellent way to get to know each other at the beginning of the year! 

When it comes to writing biographies about other people, students need to have read several biographies to get an idea of how authors organize this type of writing. When you read aloud, be sure to point out that authors of biographies generally write the story of the person’s life from beginning to end. So students will need to be familiar with sequential order/chronological order text organization. Have students fill in a timeline when you model during read alouds. Point out that biographies usually focus on a part of the person’s life that taught them a life lesson. This biography project and biography activities are great resources for teaching biographies.

Resources for Teaching Biographies

Here are some resources for teaching biography:

1. Biography Project for Elementary Students

Are you looking to begin using a biography project ? Perhaps you are just looking for something better than you already use. If so, this is the resource you need! It is a great resource for teaching elementary students about biographies.

This is a great project to complement a genre study of biographies, an author study, social studies concepts and more. I’ve recently updated the entire product so that it now includes an option to do the Living Biography Museum where families come into school and the students “perform” in character OR can instead be used simply as an independent research project in class or as a homework assignment.

The twist is that instead of having the students dress in costume (which can be a hassle for the parents since most kids can’t put their own costume together) they make a poster board costume with a space for their head to pop through.

A-DOR-ABLE!!!

In the past I’ve done the living museum and had students prepare a brief speech to recite in character. This year I opted to send it home as a homework project and will instead take their photos with their poster board and display them with the written report.

This download now includes BOTH the original version and my new and improved updated version as well. If you have high achieving students who need enrichment this is a perfect activity for them to do on their own or you can use it with an entire class. It’s ideal for grades 2-5.

This biography project contains everything you need to have your students complete a project of their very own to present in class or at a Living Biography Museum.

What is included in this biography project?

Make teaching biographies fun by incorporating this biography project , which includes the following:

• Grading rubrics / criteria checklist
• Graphic organizer to plan writing
• Graphic organizer to record sources
• Student writing pages
• Poster board visual directions 

5 Reasons Why Teachers Love It

Below are 5 reasons why teachers love using this resource for teaching biographies.

• This comprehensive biography project includes differentiated materials, so all you will be able to meet all of your students’ needs and your they will feel successful.
• The project makes a challenging concept accessible for elementary students.
• This resource facilitates a fun hands-on learning experience that offers opportunities for students to practice important skills without them even realizing it.
• This print and go resource will save you lots of time planning and prepping.
• It is aligned to the Common Core Standards, so it will give you peace of mind knowing your students are practicing important grade level skills.

How to Implement the Project in Your Classroom

You can either do a Living Biography Museum where families come in to school and the students perform in character or it can instead be used simply as an independent research project in class or as a homework assignment.

How I Used the Resources in My Classroom to Teach Biography

We had so much fun making these bio poster boards.

As a bonus, the kids learned a ton.

I started by having them complete oodles of activities from my biography activities packet which acquainted them with a whole bunch of famous folks.

Then I had them work in teams to research Benjamin Franklin. They had discussions about why he was famous. They talked about his accomplishments. Finally, they each wrote about him in the 1st person and performed a monologue as if they were Ben.

To make it oh-so-much-more-fun, I gave them each a poster board to use as a “costume.”

I’m now having them each select their own historical figure of choice to repeat the process as an independent project at home.

I seriously loved this project. The kids did too.

They enjoyed walking around wearing their poster boards and singing, “Who flew a kite in a storm and made history… Ben Franklin Square Pants.”

They also enjoyed having “conversations” with each other while wearing the poster board.

Kid 1: Hey Ben

Kid 2: Yo Ben

Me: **Listening carefully how this conversation is going to go.**

Kid 1: Ben, I really liked how you proved lightning was electricity.

Kid 2: Thanks Ben. You know you’re awesome, right? I mean, you signed the Declaration of Independence and all.

Kid 1: I know dude, right? I totally rock!

And then there was the boy who did a stellar job with his presentation… and then ended it by yelling, “Thank you Philadelphia. Ben Franklin has left the building.”

Third graders make me laugh.

2. Biography Activities for Elementary Students

These biography activities are great resources for teaching biographies to elementary students. It provides teachers with no prep printable biography activities that can be used over and over when studying any person.

This unit was designed to enhance the study of individuals. The activities can be used as part of a genre study or within the content areas. I have also used them with author studies and have had the children complete them as autobiographies about themselves.

What is included in this resource?

This biography activities resource includes 7 activities. Learn about them below!

1. Biography Poster

Students gather information about any individual and use their research to create an 8.5 x 11 inch poster. The poster has spaces to record the person’s name, date of birth, place of birth, interesting facts, reasons of importance and character traits. They then draw a portrait of their individual.

2. My Life in Pictures: A Scrapbook Biography Project

To complete this biography, activity the student will take on the role of the individual they are studying. The student can either draw illustrations or print and attach photos highlighting important parts of the individual’s life. The student then writes captions. This biography report is so much more fun than writing an essay and more pages can be added as enrichment.

3. Top-Down Topic Web

This graphic organizer shows the relationships to the main idea and details. They represent main ideas in a hierarchy. These research-based tools help the students to comprehend what they have read because it organizes ideas in a systematic, visual graph.

4. The Important Book Biography Activity

The Important Book is a great book for teaching students about writing patterns. This activity was modeled after the format of that book and was designed to encourage students to identify key, important facts about the person they are studying. It makes a great bulletin board display.

5. Body Biography

A Body Biography project is a combination of artwork and writing. The packet includes a poster to use as directions or to display with the students’ completed biography projects. They complete sections such as a speech bubble with a quote by the individual, a thought bubble to show what they have thought about, shoes labeled with places the person has been, a heart filled with character traits. They then draw objects in the hands that relate to the person and create a background that tells the viewer more about the historical figure.

6. Timeline Biography Report

Unlike a lengthy written report, this is a creative way to showcase important events in the person’s life. Students identify key moments and tell about them in words and pictures. They are added to a foldable accordion booklet in sequential order.

7. I AM Poem

An I AM Poem is typically completed as an autobiography. I also have my students do one about themselves to learn more about them. The format is also great for showing what they know about a person they have learned about. The students take on the role of that person to write the poem in the first person.

• These biographies activities are high-interest for students, so they’ll be motivated to learn through reading and researching.
• This comprehensive resource includes differentiated materials, so all you will be able to meet all of your students’ needs and your students will feel successful.
• Your principal, colleagues and school librarian will be impressed by the creative methods of sharing learned information and the integrated learning that takes place.
• The resources can be used with an biography study and be used over and over again.

How to Implement it in Your Classroom

It’s part of our social studies curriculum and technically it is a study of Massachusetts Biographies, but we began learning about the genre with a mini-study of Martin Luther King Jr.

I read several picture books and the students buddy read a free printable reader from A to Z.

We created a top-down web listing information that we learned about MLK.

Then I read The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown, and the students completed an activity I created for my biography packet that was inspired by the book. They used the same format as Brown’s book to compose their own version, “The important thing about Martin Luther King Jr. is…”

Finally, each of my friends made a portrait of MLK using the directions from TLC. They came out crazy cute. I hung each of them up even though I’ll probably take them down and send them home soon. They were just too adorable not to display.

Today, we did another activity (The I Am Poem) from the biography activities packet and a craftivity to go with it. I really feel like I am able to get to know my students on a completely different level through projects like these. They really open up and share such sweet ideas and insight into who they are.

3. Biography Picture Books

Belo are 4 high-quality biography children’s books for elementary students.

1. Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport

Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport is a nonfiction picture book that teaches children about the life and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Students will learn what life was like for Martin growing up and how he became a leader in the fight for equal rights.

Throughout the book, the author includes actual quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. This book explains how Martin Luther King Jr. encouraged people to use their words to make change and the impact he had on the country. This story follows Martin all the way from childhood through the end of his life.

I liked this book so much I added it to my Starts With a Story collection! Grab these Martin’s Big Words activities to deliver a highly engaging and purposeful interactive read aloud!

2. The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles

The Story of Ruby Bridges details the struggles that six-year old Ruby Bridges endured when she was chosen to attend an all-white, segregated school as a black girl.

All of the other students’ parents pulled their children out of school because of her, and so she was forced to attend class all alone. She was escorted by U.S. Marshalls every morning, as she had to listen to jeers and insults being thrown at her while she was entering the school.

Despite these hardships, Ruby’s courage through non-violent actions did so much for the civil rights movement, and later that year, two white boys started to attend school with her. This inspirational true story teaches children that, no matter what age you are, anyone can be a trailblazer for change.

I liked this book so much I will be adding it to my Starts With a Story collection! Grab these The Story of Ruby Bridges activities to deliver a highly engaging and purposeful interactive read aloud!

3. The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca

The story The Girl Who Thought in Pictures follows the life of Temple Grandin. The story starts off with Temple being born, and the doctors thinking that she needed to be sent away because she was different. Temple liked to watch things spin, did not like loud noises or crowds, anything that was itchy, or big squeezy hugs. She also did not talk until she was three. Temple got diagnosed with Autism. Her mom said that Temple was “different, not less.”

When Temple goes to school, the children there would tease her relentlessly. One day, Temple’s mom thinks that it would be better for Temple to stay on her aunt’s ranch. There, Temple finally feels comfortable and explores ways to help animals. Temple goes to college and gets three degrees! Now she travels the world giving speeches and spreading hope. She spreads the message that the world needs brains of all kinds.

I liked this book so much I added it to my Starts With a Story collection! Grab these The Girl Who Thought in Pictures activities to deliver a highly engaging and purposeful interactive read aloud!

4. Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpre by Anika Denise

The sixth picture book on the list of books that are great for teaching biographies is Planting Stories . It is a biographical picture book about Pura Belpre, who was the first Puerto Rican Librarian in New York City. When she started working the library, she realized that there weren’t any of the stories and folktales that she was familiar with in Puerto Rico. She decides to share her stories during story hour and through puppet shows, and eventually publishes a book.

Pura travels across the country and from classroom to classroom planting her story seeds and educating about her homeland. When she returns to the library, she sees that her story seeds have bloomed and everyone is telling her stories. Students will love learning about Pura and how she shared her stories with children everywhere.

I liked this book so much I added it to my Starts With a Story collection! Grab these Planting Stories activities to deliver a highly engaging and purposeful interactive read aloud!

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Thrifty in Third Grade

By Cassie Smith - Teaching resources and blog posts for second, third, fourth, and fifth grade!

Teaching Students to Write Biography Reports

Biographies are many students’ first glimpse at history. It is one of my favorite units to teach every year. It is a great opportunity for students to read, research, use technology, and write!

If you’re teaching students to write biography reports this year, then check out how I like to break it down!

Breaking Down Writing a Biography Report (Grades 2-5)

Writing these types of reports is part of the Common Core writing standards for Grades 2-5 as well as many other states’ standards. There are several steps to take as you teach your students to write a biography report.

The first step ALWAYS: Introduce Biographies

Before I even begin to teach my students how to write a biography, I like to read several from our school library.

For second and third grade students :

• Have several biographies in the classroom and give students time to explore the books. Then discuss: What did you notice about all these books? How are they the same? How are they different?
• Discuss genre and introduce biographies.
• Then, I would read them biographies about many different people.

For fourth and fifth grade students :

• Make a class anchor chart discussing what you already know about biographies. Look for gaps in understanding, and make sure students know the main characteristics of a biography.
• Then, read several different biographies about the same person with a focus on the different information each biography shared, as well as what information was the same. Did all of the biographies have the characteristics we listed on our anchor chart?

It is important to make note of the characteristics that biographies have so that when students write their own, they already have an understanding of how they are written!

Once students have been exposed to biographies, you can begin to teach about writing them.

Discuss Text Structure of Biographies

Depending on the grade you teach, you may not necessarily call it “text structure,” however it is important for students to understand that most biographies are written in a chronological/sequential way.

Since we are writing about someone’s life, it wouldn’t make sense for the report to be out of order.

While we go over this, I like to create a timeline with my students.

If you are using my biography writing units, I recommend:

• Using the mentor text to create a timeline of the subject’s life. You can do this on the board or on chart paper.
• Use the research text to create a timeline of the subject’s life (this is the person the students will write about, and a text is included in the units). For older students, you may choose to have them fill out the timeline on their own.

How to Write an Engaging Introduction for the Biography Report

At the beginning of the report, students should write an engaging introduction that includes one (or both) of two main components.

The introduction should include one (or both) of these components:

• Introduce the subject with their full name and birth information or
• Briefly preview what they are most famous for

Practice writing a variety of introductions and have students choose the one they like the best. ( TIP: Model some poorly written introductions as well , and discuss why those are not a good fit!)

Crafting the Body Paragraphs of the Biography Report

When teaching your students to write biography reports, it is important to explain to them what the body paragraphs should include.

The body paragraphs should include the major events in the person’s life.

Read over the body paragraphs from your mentor text and discuss what was included and what was not included. What was included in the timeline you created? What did you leave out?

You can make a T chart with your students and discuss what are major events in your own life, and what are not.

Writing a Conclusion for the Biography Report

Most conclusions in a biography end with the person’s death.

While this can be noted, it’s important for students to understand that they shouldn’t just end their report with “and then they died in 1894”. It is more important for them to end their report with the legacy of the person.

To help students understand what a person’s legacy means:

• Review and write legacies of other famous individuals from biographies you have read to your class.
• Ask them what their person is most known for (and review their introduction).
• Ask them how this person has impacted other people.

If you are looking for resources for teaching your students to write a biography report, check out my writing units.

These units also include a Google Slides option so you can teach the whole unit digitally!

Preview the grades 2-5 biography writing units here:.

Get resources for teaching your Grades 2-5 students to write a biography report here.

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January 6, 2021 at 8:47 am

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Maintaining students' excitement for reading throughout the year can be a challenge. Stock your book shelves with these must-read favorites that will keep your  3rd graders engaged from the first day of school until the very last!

From  favorite characters and series  and  contemporary classics  to thought-provoking  nonfiction , there's something for every reader in this collection.  Curated specifically for third grade classrooms, this book list spans a wide range of reading levels and can be used in both group and independent reading sessions. 

Plus, build a diverse classroom library with hand-picked  collections , including sets like the  Best New Books Grade 3 2022-2023  and  Equity and Inclusion Grades 3-5 , and keep students flipping pages all year long. 

Shop the best books for 3rd graders below! You can find all books and activities at  The Teacher Store .

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2024 NFL Draft grades: Analyzing all 32 teams' classes; Who gets top marks?

The 2024 NFL Draft was the most anticipated in years. The first round lived up to expectations of relentless firepower, with offensive players being selected with each of the first 14 selections — six of the first 12 being quarterbacks. Numbers eventually regressed to the mean, but 2024 will be remembered as the year teams went all-in on offense early.

Fully evaluating their decisions will take years. Scouting is difficult and teams know a great deal that the public does not. But what we can do is examine the choices they made in a vacuum considering team needs, value and what we do know about the prospects who were selected.

With that in mind, our own team of NFL experts broke down every team's draft and assigned a letter grade.

Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort lived up to his reputation as a wheeler and dealer. Since taking over in 2023, Ossenfort has brokered 11 trades, including six on draft day and a pair on draft day this year. Ossenfort's moves helped Arizona secure a handful of impact players, led by the best receiver in this year's draft in Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. Arizona drafted much-needed pass rush help in Missouri defensive lineman Darius Robinson and Clemson's Xavier Thomas . The Cardinals also added an explosive running back in Florida State's Trey Benson and two cover corners in Rutgers' Max Melton and Boston College's Elijah Jones . The 12 picks by Arizona are the most in a single draft by the team since 1992. —Eric D. Williams

Marvin Harrison Jr. Highlights

Atlanta Falcons

Taking quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 — after giving Kirk Cousins $100 million guaranteed last month — was easily the most criticized pick of the draft. Giving up a third-round pick to slide up eight spots for DT Ruke Orhorhoro in the second round felt like a reach, though Atlanta made a concerted push to upgrade its defensive front, using five of eight picks there. If Penix finds success in the next two years, it's at the expense of a huge investment in Cousins, and the class as a whole feels underwhelming. —Greg Auman

Baltimore Ravens

To be fair, the Ravens' patience doesn't always pay off — but damn if it isn't impressive anyway. Given their holes on the offensive line, it was interesting when they opted for cornerback Nate Wiggins in the first round. Not to worry; they hung out at the back of the second round and got a starter-caliber tackle in Roger Rosengarten , anyway. Adding deep threat receiver Devontez Walker in the fourth round feels like a sneaky good value, too — which would be a fun development for Lamar Jackson . It's worth noting that Baltimore has yet to find a star edge rusher, but those guys are tough to find when you're consistently picking late. —David Helman

Buffalo Bills

Bills GM Brandon Beane might draft for need as much — or more than — any other executive in the NFL. This draft is a perfect example of that. And he addressed those needs in order of priority: receiver ( Keon Coleman ), safety ( Cole Bishop ), defensive tackle ( DeWayne Carter ), running back ( Ray Davis ) and interior offensive line ( Sedrick Van Pran-Granger ). I get leery about GMs drafting for need, because it often means they've reached. There's some of that here. But for the most part, there's more to like about this draft. Buffalo's moves back out of the first round allowed Beane to target what he seemed to think was the sweet spot. —Henry McKenna

Carolina Panthers

Give the Panthers credit for being ambitious, sliding up a spot for WR Xavier Legette , giving up two fifths to get the draft's top running back in Jonathon Brooks in the second. I expected a pass-rusher, and more splash on defense. Tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders felt like good value in a weak class for the position. Even without the No. 1 pick, you expect more impact from a draft after the worst record in the NFL. —Auman

Chicago Bears

The Bears had as good of a draft as they could possibly hope for. They got their quarterback of the future in Caleb Williams and a potential star receiver in Rome Odunze , instantly making him one of, if not the best, No. 3 WR in the league. Chicago's offense now boasts Odunze with veterans DJ Moore and Keenan Allen , as well as D'Andre Swift , Cole Kmet , Gerald Everett and Williams at the helm. On paper, the Bears look to be one of the most complete teams in the league, especially after grabbing a punter with their last original pick. That was a weird gamble, even if Tory Taylor was the best punter in college football last year at Iowa . 

Chicago also finally addressed edge by trading back into the draft in the fifth round to take Austin Booker out of Kansas . I don't think he's the unquestioned answer opposite Montez Sweat but can add to the rotation. The confusing priorities at the end of the draft tack on a minus to what is otherwise a near-perfect draft in the Windy City. —Carmen Vitali

Are the Bears instant contenders with Caleb and Odunze?

Cincinnati Bengals

I love the way Cincinnati drafted ahead of time here. They signed Trent Brown for the short term at tackle, but Amarius Mims will hopefully anchor that line for years to come. They brought in Sheldon Rankins in free agency, but they'll be hoping Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson are the future of the defensive front. They still have Tee Higgins on the roster, but Jermaine Burton is an immediate option and could be a long-term replacement. This is how good teams stay on top: planning for the future. —Helman

Cleveland Browns

On the downside, the Browns had no first-round pick and just two selections in the top 100, so it was going to be hard to improve the roster. On the bright side, they have a quality roster and are getting starting quarterback Deshaun Watson back from injury, so they don't need a ton. I think Michael Hall and Zak Zinter are good players who bolster the offensive and defensive lines, but that doesn't move the needle much for 2024. This is a vet-heavy team that won't lean much on rookies, from the looks of it. —Helman

Dallas Cowboys

For a team that had so many holes to fill after they did nothing in free agency, the Cowboys made some curious choices. They did a great job plugging two key holes on the O-line ( Oklahoma LT Tyler Guyton in Round 1 and Kansas State C Cooper Beebe in Round 2). But no running back? No receiver until Round 6? Instead, in Round 2, they took Western Michigan edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland , who could be terrific in 2025, but might not be a huge help now, when they're supposedly "all-in." Notre Dame LB Marist Liufau felt like a big reach in the third at another position where they needed help. —Vacchiano

Cowboys trade down in NFL Draft to select OL Tyler Guyton 29th overall

Denver Broncos

Denver’s draft is largely a referendum on quarterback Bo Nix , the sixth passer picked in the first 12 slots of the draft. Throwing for 45 touchdowns against three interceptions as a senior at Oregon is impressive, and Denver got his top receiver by taking Troy Franklin in the fourth round. Denver and Sean Payton will have much of their success pinned to how Nix performs. —Auman

Detroit Lions

I had wondered if the Lions' draft strategy would change given they had limited needs coming into this weekend. It did, as general manager Brad Holmes pulled off four trades across all three days to get picks for positions of need, using one for cornerback Terrion Arnold out of Alabama at No. 24 overall. Their next pick was also a corner in Missouri 's Ennis Rakestraw . Tell me where they saw a need for improvement without telling me. They started Day 3 with a bang by trading a future third to get an international player in tackle Giovanni Manu in the fourth round. I'm not a huge fan of giving up richer future capital, but Holmes has earned the benefit of the doubt. I appreciate that Holmes again got his guys, consensus big board be damned. The Lions also by far and away won the award for best war-room attire. —Vitali

Green Bay Packers

The Packers entered the 2024 NFL Draft with 11 picks … and ended up making 11 while maneuvering up and down. Jordan Morgan should fit right in on their position-fluid offensive line. Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper can be an excellent complement to Quay Walker . Now that Jeff Hafley is the defensive coordinator, the Packers needed to stock up on his favorite position: safety. They got Xavier McKinney in a splash free agency signing but still drafted three more players at the position. Javon Bullard out of Georgia at No. 58 overall is excellent value. The other big splash was USC running back MarShawn Lloyd , who will go up against his college quarterback twice a year now. Throw in a couple of additional offensive linemen for depth/competition and you have a perfectly solid Green Bay draft. GM Brian Gutekunst is notorious for getting production out of later round picks and this year figures to be no different. —Vitali

Houston Texans

Texans general manager Nick Caserio set the tone for this draft class by saying that it would be difficult for a rookie to make a significant impact on the 2024 team. That indicated a desire to look for depth and to the future, and Houston definitely achieved that objective at a number of positions: corner, offensive tackle, safety and tight end among them. Second-round pick Kamari Lassiter , one of the top corners in college football last season, should still have a chance to start in Year 1 alongside Derek Stingley . —Ben Arthur

Indianapolis Colts

Four of the Colts' first five picks addressed the offense. They've done everything they can to make quarterback Anthony Richardson , returning this season after an abbreviated rookie year, as comfortable as possible — and you can't blame them. Receiver Adonai Mitchell represented great value late in the second round. With that being said, Indianapolis could have used a cornerback high. The team has some uncertainty at the spot, which is especially important in the receiver-loaded AFC South. That represents a gamble for Indy. —Arthur

Jacksonville Jaguars

Only time will tell, but the Jaguars had a great draft on paper. They were able to trade down in the first round from 17 to 23 to get Brian Thomas Jr. , whom general manager Trent Baalke said would've been the pick at 17. He had been valued by many as a mid-first-round pick. Fourth-rounder Javon Foster , a standout offensive tackle in the SEC, could immediately step in as the No. 3 OT with a chance to be a starter in the future. Jacksonville also leaves the draft with tremendous depth and on the defensive line behind standout trio Josh Allen , Travon Walker and Arik Armstead . —Arthur

Kansas City Chiefs

Boasting an elite defense, the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs entered this draft season needing to get more help for Patrick Mahomes on the offensive side of the ball, especially in the wake of Rashee Rice's legal troubles. They did so in a big way (and Mahomes showed his gratitude to general manager Brett Veach on social media ). They added a weapon in Xavier Worthy whose 4.21-second 40-yard dash set an NFL Combine record. That speed figures to be lethal with Mahomes. Kansas City's top three picks were on offense. —Arthur

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Las Vegas Raiders

Brock Bowers was far and away the draft’s best tight end, and second-rounder Jackson Powers-Johnson can be an immediate starter on the interior offensive line. The Raiders didn’t take a QB, but small-school running back Dylan Laube could be a steal. —Auman

Los Angeles Chargers

New Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh focused on bringing in prospects from Power 5 conferences who played at big-time, winning programs. The centerpiece of the group is Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt , who will play right tackle with Pro Bowler Rashawn Slater staying at left tackle. Second-rounder Ladd McConkey has a chance to take over the lion's share of the targets lost by the departure of Keenan Allen. Third-round selection Junior Colson has experience calling Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter's defense at Michigan . Harbaugh also added picks with famous family ties. Day 3 selection Troy running back Kimani Vidal's great uncle is Hank Aaron. And Hall of Famer Jerry Rice's son Brenden Rice was taken in the seventh round. — Williams

Los Angeles Rams

Sean McVay prepared for life without Aaron Donald by selecting five defensive players, including four who can play along the front seven to generate a pass rush. The Rams selected in the first round for the first time since taking Jared Goff No. 1 overall in 2016, grabbing powerful edge rusher Jared Verse at No. 19. They followed that by taking Verse's teammate at Florida State in the second round in defensive tackle Braden Fiske . Michigan RB Blake Corum gives L.A. a similar runner to spell Pro Bowler Kyren Williams . And Stanford product Josh Karty being selected in the sixth round is L.A.'s latest attempt to solve this team's kicking woes. Overall, the Rams put together a solid class to follow up a very productive group from last year. — Williams

Miami Dolphins

You had to laugh when the Dolphins took Jaylen Wright , the draft's second-fastest running back. Last year, they took Devon Achane , one of the fastest players in the NFL. But that didn't stop them from bringing more speed into the offense in the fourth round. Wright followed a good get in the first round in Chop Robinson , an edge rusher who'll help the team manage snaps for Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb , who both ended last year with major injuries. They also managed to snap up a tackle in Patrick Paul , who will develop behind Terron Armstead . It was a great draft, one that matched value with need. —McKenna

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings needed a quarterback and got one. Though he likely wasn't their first choice (they reportedly tried to trade up to No. 3 presumably to select Drake Maye ), this may have ended up being the ideal scenario. They needed to trade up just one spot from their first pick at No. 11 to select Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy .

GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was still aggressive with the No. 23 pick, trading up to No. 17 to get Alabama edge Dallas Turner , widely considered one of the best defenders in the draft. Both are arguably top-10 prospects. The drawback is that the Vikings are now extremely low on draft capital next year. They have their first-round pick and just two fifth-round picks. They should expect at least one if not two third-round compensatory picks for losing Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter to free agency, but their roster is in solid shape, especially after adding another corner in Khyree Jackson from Oregon and multiple offensive linemen for depth. The Vikings almost certainly won the first round, but they may win the entire draft if McCarthy pans out. —Vitali

New England Patriots

Drake Maye didn't have the support he needed when the Patriots took him third overall. And a prospect like Maye — who is high risk, high reward — will need plenty of support to reach his potential. So it's worth crediting executive Eliot Wolf for spending the next four picks (a second, third and two fourths) on offensive players. New England added receivers Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker . The Patriots even doubled up at QB with Joe Milton (Tennessee), another prospect with an incredible arm (albeit with rough accuracy and touch). It's clear the Patriots wanted to prioritize their offense, and it feels like the board lined up with their needs. —McKenna

New Orleans Saints

The Saints made two strong picks at the top of the class, addressing a glaring need with tackle Taliese Fuaga and moving up to get corner Kool-Aid McKinstry, seen by many as a potential first-round pick. Hit on your first two picks, it's a good draft, but there's not a ton more to this. Spencer Rattler isn't a bad pick, but they used a 2024 fourth to get Jake Haener last year, so will both make the 53 alongside starter Derek Carr ? —Auman

New York Giants

The Giants wanted to trade up for a new franchise QB, but they couldn't do it. So instead they helped out their old one by taking LSU's Malik Nabers , the most explosive WR in the draft, sixth overall. That alone should re-energize their offense. They turned to their secondary on Day 2 and got one of the draft's best safeties in Minnesota's Tyler Nubin (Round 2), but were too late for the top corners when they took Kentucky's Andru Phillips in the third. Penn State TE Theo Johnson (Round 4) could be big for them if veteran Darren Waller retires. —Vacchiano

New York Jets

It was a tough draw that Rome Odunze went at No. 9 — though not unexpected. So the Jets traded down and still added Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu , which made plenty of sense. As good as Tyron Smith is when he's healthy, he's not healthy often. Fashanu will provide much-needed depth at tackle for Smith and Morgan Moses . Brock Bowers might have been tempting because he would instantly start — but I think they'll get more bang for their buck with Fashanu, especially considering how little Aaron Rodgers uses his tight ends. In Round 3, the Jets took a feisty WR in Malachi Corley . New York also added two running backs to their stable — which felt a little unnecessary, but I suppose they went with what the board gave them. —McKenna

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Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles GM Howie Roseman is a wizard. After trying to trade up in the first round for a CB, the top one — Toledo 's Quinyon Mitchell — fell right to him at 22. Then he got another corner with a first-round grade by trading up for Iowa's Cooper DeJean in Round 2. That alone would've made it a great weekend for Philly, but Roseman added to it with a Day 3 deal to bring LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr . to his father's old franchise. Their one curious move was taking Houston Christian edge rusher Jalyx Hunt in the third, but the Eagles can afford a high-ceiling project like that. Oh, and all of Roseman's trades got them some 2025 draft capital, too. —Vacchiano

Pittsburgh Steelers

If these picks hit, the Steelers' offensive line could be something special. Last year's first-round pick, Broderick Jones , is already showing promise. Pittsburgh has now added two likely starters in Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier . Fautanu was seen by many as a top-10 prospect, and he fell to the Steelers at 20th overall. It was a similar story for Frazier, whom many rated as a top 40 guy, but fell to No. 51. Throw in fourth-round pick Mason McCormick , and things are looking as good as they have up front in a long time. If that wasn't good enough, the Steelers found themselves a versatile slot receiver in Roman Wilson , who should be ready to contribute right away. If he can stay healthy, it's also a good guess that Payton Wilson's high motor and toughness will make him a fan favorite in Pittsburgh. Those are just bonuses, though. If the Steelers have finally fixed their offensive line, this entire class will have been worth it. —Helman

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers picked in the first round for the first time since moving up to take Trey Lance at No. 3 overall in the 2021 draft. Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall was somewhat of a surprise at No. 31, but he gives San Francisco another pass catcher who can operate in the slot and make plays over the middle of the field. The 49ers found a potential cover corner in the second round in Renardo Green and an explosive runner on Day 3 in Louisville 's Isaac Guerendo . However, the 49ers needed offensive line help and didn't secure upgrades up front offensively until moving up in the third round to grab promising Kansas offensive lineman Dominick Puni , and later in Day 3 in USC offensive lineman Jarrett Kingston . San Francisco should have focused on this obvious need earlier in the draft. —Williams

Seattle Seahawks

First-round defensive tackle Byron Murphy is a home-run pick — one of the top defensive players in the draft who should develop into a mainstay on Seattle's defense for the next decade. But Seattle had just two picks in the top 100 because of the Leonard Williams trade, making it tough to secure impact players. Connecticut offensive lineman Christian Haynes should fight for time along the starting offensive line. UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight is a tackling machine and Michigan's AJ Barner has a chance to earn a role as a blocking tight end. But it appears these late-round picks are more developmental prospects who could take a few years to find roles for Seattle. —Williams

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs made no trades but still pulled in a strong class that hit on key needs. Center Graham Barton leads the way, with edge Chris Braswell , nickel Tykee Smith and receiver Jalen McMillan all in the top 100 picks. There were no trades, no small-school gems to be found, but they brought in potential impact players all over the field. Tampa Bay had the same record as New Orleans, but picked 12 spots later in each round as a result of being division champ.  —Auman

Tennessee Titans

At the top of the draft, the Titans showed a commitment to physicality and owning the trenches with offensive-minded coach Brian Callahan . They've taken on some risk with that approach — they're moving JC Latham from right to left tackle, and nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat has some conditioning concerns — but if it pans out, Tennessee could be looked at as big winners two to three years now. Apart from safety and tight end, the Titans leave the draft having addressed every other need. —Arthur

Washington Commanders

Rule No. 1 of drafting a franchise QB: surround him with help. But that's not really what the Commanders did after drafting LSU QB Jayden Daniels second overall. They turned to their defense, where they did get great second-round value in Illinois DT Jer'Zhan Newton and Michigan CB Mike Sainristil . Both could be big-time players. The same goes for second-round TE Ben Sinnott . All their top picks were excellent, but their O-line is still a glaring issue and they didn't address that until Round 3 with TCU guard Brandon Coleman . That could turn out to be a regrettable decision. —Ralph Vacchiano

LSU HC Brian Kelly on what makes Jayden Daniels so special

This analysis was compiled by:

AFC South reporter Ben Arthur ( @benyarthur ) NFC South reporter Greg Auman ( @gregauman ) Dallas Cowboys reporter David Helman ( @davidhelman_ ) AFC East reporter Henry McKenna ( @McKennAnalysis ) NFC West reporter Eric D. Williams ( @eric_d_williams ) NFC East reporter Ralph Vacchiano ( @RalphVacchiano ) NFC North reporter Carmen Vitali ( @CarmieV )

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2024 NFL Draft grades, second round: Bills get C- for Keon Coleman; Eagles earn A- for Cooper DeJean

Chris trapasso grades the second day of the 2024 nfl draft.

There are always a lot of good prospects available on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, especially in the second round, and this year is no different. There's a strong group of defensive players available and still plenty of wide receivers. Want to know what I thought of every pick made in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft? You can read below as I graded all the Round 2 picks from Friday night. 

Be sure to refresh this page throughout the weekend to get the latest grades. If you want to do all that plus track the best available prospects and get access to every pick in the draft on one page, you can in our  draft tracker . And follow along with each pick in our  live blog  and all the trades in our  trade tracker .

Grades:   Round 1 •  Round 2 • Round 3  • Round 4  • Round 5 • Round 6  • Round 7

33. Bills: Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

"X" receiver for WR-needy team. Plays faster than his combine speed but doesn't separate consistently and isn't as good of a contested-catch wideout as his size and highlight-reel would indicate. Young though. 

34. Chargers: Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia

Crafty, athletic, polished WR who can win on the boundary and in the slot. Releases are great. Route-running nuance also there. Deceptive speed and YAC skills. 

35. Falcons: Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson

Big, long, powerful interior rusher without many pass-rush moves. But his traits shine against the run and has enough explosion to win between gaps or with bull rushes. Expensive trade up though hurts his grade despite Falcons filling a need with quality prospect. 

36. Commanders: Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois

Serious talent at DT. Powerful, polished upfield rusher with stellar hand work. Pad level raises at times but that's nitpicking. Need meets awesome value here for Washington. 

37. Patriots: Ja'Lynn Polk, WR, Washington

Complete wideout without stellar athletic traits who tracks it awesomely. Flashes of YAC wiggle and power. Fun, versatile piece to add to the offense that needs it. A tick early for him though. 

38. Titans: T'Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas

Monstrous NT who finally demonstrated a glimmer of pass-rush capability with hand work as a senior. Not as good against the run or double teams as his size indicates. Probably two-down player in the NFL. Tennessee did need more size inside along the DL, but this is too early for a limited player. 

39. Rams: Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State

Best athlete at the DT spot in this class. Tremendous motor with stellar pass-rush move arsenal. Just older with short arms. This is the ideal "replacement" for Aaron Donald inside. But paid a very steep price for this trade up, which dings what otherwise would've been a high grade. 

40. Eagles: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

Howie Roseman strikes again. DeJean is a fine tackler, dynamic athlete who can align anywhere and provides plus return ability. Fills a need in this secondary that needs reworking. 

41. Saints: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

Such a clean outside CB prospect. Press man specialty. Physical but not overly grabby. Solid, not spectacular speed. Ball skills meet the standard you want out of a higher-end starter. Good size too. Arguably the best player available. =

42. Texans: Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia

Physical, twitchy, balanced back pedal, plant-and-drive skills are impressive. Solidly built. Good, not great speed. Doesn't have a true speciality but rock-solid all-around game. Nice add here. High floor. 

43. Cardinals: Max Melton, CB, Rutgers

Huge riser in pre-draft process due to freaky combine workout. Speed + twitch specimen. Press-coverage skills. Needs to improve as a tackler. Can recover if beaten at the line, which happens occasionally. Smaller but plus length. Inside-out versatility. This secondary needs more premier talent. 

44. Raiders: Jackson Powers-Johnson, IOL, Oregon

Instant starter inside. Guard size with mobile center feet. Shorter arms and some rawness in pass pro. But upside is through the roof. All-Pro caliber in that regard. Smart pick here. 

45. Packers: Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M

Young, high-energy off-ball 'backer. Plus range. Loves attacking downhill and very effective vs. the run. Flashed in coverage too with ball skills. But tackle reliability must improve at next level. Ultra-quick trigger. IDs plays in a flash. Some rawness but plenty of tantalizing traits. 

46. Panthers: Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas

Fun, three-down RB without much mileage on his legs. Can win between the tackle or on the perimeter and has feature back size. Elusive but not ridiculously in that regard. Fills a need but maybe a touch early. May not be 100% by September.

47. Giants: Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota

Film is first-round caliber. Such a cerebral player with outstanding ball skills and solid range. Amazing ball skills. Will find the ball if it's in his area. Best away from the line patrolling. Some stiffness as an athlete and not a true burner. Average testing numbers. 

48. Jaguars: Maason Smith, DT, LSU

Highly touted recruit who dealt with injuries and never quite met hype in college. Tall, sleek interior player who flashes that big-recruit talent at times just not ultra-consistent. Won't be limited athletically in the NFL. Rushes get far too high, which saps his power. Nice arm over but really his only move. Fills a need. 

49. Bengals: Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan

Case for the best run defender in the class at DT. Minimal pass-rush ability because of average-ish burst. Strong, block-shedding ability. High-floor without much upside but exactly what Cincinnati needs on the defense. 

50. Commanders: Mike Sainristil, CB, Michigan

Pesky nickel CB with flexibility, instincts, and a high motor. Can beat some blockers en route to the football. Reasonable twitch and plus zone awareness. Exactly the type of playmaker the Commanders need. Tackling good, not amazing. Maybe a touch early. 

51. Steelers: Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia

Ultra-experienced battler at center. Mobility and leverage are fantastic. Awareness is arguably the best in the class. Low center of gravity helps him anchor like a champ. Doesn't have freaky burst but flexible. Wrestling background. Exactly the type the Steelers need up front.

52. Colts: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

Love this pick for Colts. Exactly the type they like. Size/speed/athleticism specimen. So fluid running routes. Just can have long stretches where he goes invisible. Very minimal YAC. An outside wideout who can win at second and third levels for Anthony Richardson. 

53. Commanders: Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State

Love this pick. Athletic, explosive athlete. Clearly the second-best receiving TE in this class. YAC skill is outstanding. Strong hands. Just not a true burner down the seam. Will be a go-to target for Jayden Daniels. 

54. Browns: Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State

Tremendous selection. Awesome value meets serious need. Young, high-level productivity and athleticism. Hand work is well beyond his years. Could improve beating blocks vs. the run but he holds up well there for an interior rusher. 

55. Dolphins: Patrick Paul, OT, Houston

Strange fit because this is one of the least mobile blockers in the class. Mike McDaniel typically prioritizes athleticism along his offensive line. Absolutely enormous with supreme length. Hand placement is very inconsistent. Gets outside the shoulder pads. Very experienced. Hits on a need.

56. Cowboys: Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan

Big-time tester who might be just scratching the surface of how good he can be around the corner. Doesn't quite play to his workout but works the edges of OTs very well. Shows glimpses of countering ability. Just didn't ever dominate in the MAC. Roll of the dice. 

57. Buccaneers: Chris Braswell, EDGE, Alabama

Had early Round 2 grade on this outside rusher. Length, methodical pass-rush moves, deceptive power. Very productive generating pressure at Alabama. Sets a sturdy edge. A need in the post Shaq Barrett era.

58. Packers: Javon Bullard, S, Georgia

Hair-on-fire stocky safety who can align at nickel CB if needed. Takes great angles against the run and plays with reckless abandon. Runs the alley like a missile. Rarely misses a tackle. Not crazy ball hawk. Smaller with shorter arms. Just a stud football player. 

59. Texans: Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame

Young, spectacular combo blocker with unsurprisingly raw game but plenty of upside. Athleticism is good, not great, but works hard in pass pro even if he doesn't win instantly. Solid anchor that does take him a second to sit into against bull rushes. Best getting downhill for the ground game. Smart pick with long-term future in mind. But is a project. 

60. Bills: Cole Bishop, S, Utah

Large, intimidating safety with magnificent movement skill. The QB of the defense. Aligns everywhere. Can wear many hats. Excelled as slot defender and vs. TEs in coverage and runs the alley on outside runs as well as any safety in the class. Ball skills and tackling must improve. Short arms. Need filled. Grade: A- 

61. Lions: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri

Chippy, in-your-face inside-out cornerback with good, not great athletic gifts. Plant-and-drive skills can be borderline special. Hit or miss as a tackler but the hits are huge thumping hits. Reasonable ball skills and will play the football aggressively. Size and length a concern. 

62. Ravens: Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington

Quick-setting OT with the athletic chops to get in the face of EDGEs in a hurry. Has to clean up footwork on pulls but has the natural gifts to eventually excel there. Plays very aggressively, which leads to some off-balanced reps. Has to get a touch stronger. I like the OL investment.

63. Chiefs: Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU

Boom-or-burst prospect. His 2022 was outstanding, but 2023 was not on film. Burst and especially lateral sliding ability are there. Has hard time locking onto EDGEs and securing them. Slips out of many blocks against the run. Hand work in pass pro can be outstanding at times. Raw but talented. NFL OT frame. Need filled. 

64. 49ers: Renardo Green, CB, Florida State

Super steady. Plus athlete. Calm, cool, collected. Man-to-man skills are awesome. Mixes in some physicality. Instincts are there too. High-floor player who may not have the twitch to play inside. But can mirror well on the boundary. Speed can get stretched beyond the limit. 

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Washington Commanders NFL Draft picks 2024: Grades, fits and scouting reports

The Washington Commanders enter the 2024 NFL Draft Thursday night with nine picks over the three-day event.

The new era of Commanders football is going next level. After refreshing the decision-makers by hiring general manager Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn, and revamping the roster with over 20 new free agents , the core pieces are coming to town.

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The Commanders have six selections in the top 100, headlined by the No. 2 pick, which is expected to become a quarterback. Which one? LSU’s Jayden Daniels is the presumptive favorite. We’ll know for sure Thursday evening, along with whether Washington trades back into the first round for help at offensive tackle or the defense.

Keep returning here throughout the draft for analysis and grades for each Commanders selection.

No. 2: Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

How he fits.

A little background on Daniels: A dazzling athlete, Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy going away. A true dual-threat quarterback, Daniels (6-3 1/2, 210 pounds) completed 72.2 percent of his passes for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He also rushed for 1,134 yards (8.4 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns. While he flashed that ability in his previous seasons (three at Arizona State, one at LSU), Daniels took three steps forward in 2023.

Daniels will make some incredible plays as a rookie and perhaps have an impact like Robert Griffin III did for Washington in 2012. But at some point, Daniels will need to rely on his arm and not default to his legs to beat quality NFL defenses. That’s probably not a rookie-year measurement, but it will determine whether he’s Vince Young or Lamar Jackson . — Scott Dochterman

Dane Brugler’s analysis

Daniels is a smooth point guard from the pocket when his eyes stay on schedule, and his dazzling run skills make him a problem for defenses. This isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison, but NFL scouts say he forces opponents to defend him like Lamar Jackson.

Ben Standig’s analysis: Commanders draft Jayden Daniels: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel

NFL Draft 2024 Round 1 grades: Falcons, Broncos get Cs for Penix, Nix; Bears earn two A's

No. 36: Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois

A versatile and powerful interior pocket pusher who can play nose or three-tech, Newton showed dominant stretches of disruption at Illinois and was a first-rounder on a few boards this year. His impact wasn’t as consistent as you’d like and his length is less than ideal — meaning he’ll have to flash dominant power far more often. Washington really needs help up front. I like Newton. I’d have liked a tackle more. — Nick Baumgardner

Brugler’s analysis

Newton’s undersized, compact frame will be a turnoff for some teams. But he is tough to block one-on-one, because of his gap quickness, natural power and nose for the ball. He projects as a dependable starting three-technique in the NFL.

Standig’s analysis: Commanders draft Johnny Newton: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel

NFL Draft Rounds 2 and 3 grades: Eagles earn A for DeJean, Commanders get mixed reviews

No. 50 (via Eagles ): Mike Sainristil , CB, Michigan

One of my favorite players in this class, Sainristil’s toughness and IQ are off-the-charts good, and his leadership is one-of-a-kind good. A major culture-changer at Michigan, Sainristil is small — but a good athlete who is very, very hard to fool. He’ll be a contributor on day one in Washington. While this fills a need, and Sainristil is a really fun prospect: The Commanders  have to draft offensive line help at some point.  Getting hard to stress this more. —  Baumgardner

Sainristil has obvious size limitations that will remove him from some teams’ draft boards, but other teams will be more than happy to bet on his outstanding toughness, instincts and ball skills. He will compete for immediate starting reps as a rookie nickel.

Standig’s analysis: Commanders draft Mike Sainristil: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel

No. 53 (via Eagles): Ben Sinnott , TE, Kansas State

This has nothing to do with Sinnott, who is a salt-of-the-earth success story, going from walk-on to All-Big 12. A great blocking tight end. But the Commanders had three second-rounders, a huge need at offensive tackle and ignored it all three times. There are second-round-quality tackles there. Washington … what are you doing? —  Dochterman

Sinnott offers some blocking value, but his controlled athleticism and reliable pass-catching traits project him best as a versatile H-back who can be flexed across the formation. All 32 NFL teams will appreciate his football IQ and pro-ready toughness, although he won’t be an ideal fit for every scheme.

Standig’s analysis: Commanders draft Ben Sinnott: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel

Grade: D-minus

No. 67: brandon coleman, ol, tcu.

It took far too long, but the Commanders finally landed an offensive tackle. A former junior college player, Coleman started 34 games at TCU, with 22 at left tackle. Blessed with long arms (34 7/8 inches) and good size (6-4 1/2, 313 pounds), Coleman might get pressed into service earlier than he’s ready. But he eventually can develop into a solid starting tackle. —  Dochterman

Coleman needs to improve his technical consistency, but his ease of movement, spatial awareness and length are the building blocks that offensive line coaches covet. He has the traits to stay outside at tackle while also offering position flexibility at guard.

Grade: B-plus

No. 100 (via 49ers): luke mccaffrey , wr, rice.

A member of the now-famous McCaffrey athletic family (Ed’s son, Christian’s brother), Luke is a big, explosive target with great speed and general movement skills. A former college quarterback, McCaffrey’s first year as a receiver was at Rice in 2022 and came with 58 catches for 723 yards and six touchdowns. A growing prospect and a nice player. However, not the best receiver on the board here in my opinion. — Baumgardner

McCaffrey doesn’t always uncover as easily as his testing numbers might suggest, but he is smart and controlled in his route movements with the tough-minded ball skills to be a steady possession target. His ability to carve out a role on special teams could be the key to him earning a roster spot as a rookie.

Grade: C-plus

Thanks for the assist, @CMC_22 🤝 @NWFCU | #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/PYEsKbpnyw — Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 27, 2024

No. 139: Jordan Magee, LB, Temple

Magee’s average play strength will stand out versus pro competition, but his athletic range and competitive play style are NFL-quality assets. He should be an outstanding special-teamer as a rookie while he competes for defensive snaps.

No. 161 (via Eagles): Dominique Hampton, S, Washington

Hampton is undisciplined with his man-coverage responsibilities, but he is an impressive size/speed athlete who diagnoses well from zone and is an explosive striker as a tackler. He projects as a team’s third safety who can impact all three levels of the field and contribute as a gunner/special-teams standout.

No. 222: Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Edge, Notre Dame

Jean-Baptiste lacks dynamic traits in his play, but he battles and has enough tools that warrant further development. He is worth bringing to camp and possibly adding to the practice squad.

(Photo of Jayden Daniels: Kirby Lee / USA Today)

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