Everyday Heroes
Everyday Heroes
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UPDATE IN PROGRESS 1/8/2026
Children's Nonfiction Picture Books
Children's Nonfiction Picture Books
Yusra Swims by Julie AberyA rhyming poem detailing the journey of a Syrian-born Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini.
Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy DeniseThis portrait of the influential librarian, author, and puppeteer reminds us of the power of storytelling and the extraordinary woman who opened doors and championed bilingual literature.
The Undefeated by Kwame AlexanderOriginally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes.
Whoosh! Lonnie Johnsons Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions by Chris BartonChronicles the life and achievements of the NASA engineer and inventor, from his childhood to his accidental invention of the Super Soaker water gun.
No Small Potatoes by Tonya BoldenThe life of Junius G. Groves, a sharecropper in Kansas who grew a modest potato farm into a potato kingdom.
Beautiful Shades of Brown: The Art of Laura Wheeler Waring by Nancy Churnin"Growing up in the late 19th century, Laura Wheeler Waring didn't see any artists who looked like her. She didn't see any paintings of people who looked like her, either. So when she was offered a commission to paint portraits of accomplished African Americans, she jumped at the chance."
The Power of Her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne by Lesa Cline-RansomeRecounts the life of the groundbreaking journalist, who combined advocacy with journalism as she reported on such events as American domestic politics, the Vietnam War, and the Civil Rights Movement.
Ruby Head High: Ruby Bridges’s First Day of School by Irène Cohen-JancaInspired by an iconic Norman Rockwell painting and translated from an original French text, this is a story about the day a little girl held her head high and changed the world.
Their Great Gift by John CoyExplores the experience of immigrants who came to America in the twenty-first century, celebrating the diversity of the country and hope for the future.
Immigrant Architect: Rafael Gustavino and the American Dream by Berta de MiguelPresents the life of architect Rafael Guastavino, who, together with his son of the same name, built the tiled vaults and domes of many famous buildings throughout the United States in the nineteenth century, including the Great Hall of Ellis Island, the Boston Public Library, and the Nebraska State Capitol.
Be Amazing by Desmond is Amazing"Throughout history, courageous people like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and RuPaul have paved the way for a safer, more inclusive for LGBTQ individuals, and it's thanks to them that people just like Desmond can be free to be who they really are."
Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield's first ride by Joel Christian GillA young Bessie Stringfield was told girls cannot ride bikes because they are not fast enough, but after asking the Man Upstairs if that was true, she gets her answer in a dream.
Girls with Guts!: The road to breaking barriers and bashing records by Debbie GonzalesA celebration of the strength, endurance, and athleticism of women and girls throughout the ages, Girls With Guts! keeps score with examples of women athletes from the late 1800s up through the 1970s, sharing how women refused to take no for an answer, and how finally, they pushed for a law to protect their right to play, compete, and be athletes.
Midnight Teacher by Janet HalfmannThe life of Lilly Ann Granderson, an enslaved teacher who strongly believed in the power of education and risked her life to teach others during slavery.
Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World by Susan HoodShaking Things Up introduces fourteen revolutionary young women—each paired with a noteworthy female artist—to the next generation of activists, trail-blazers, and rabble-rousers. From author Susan Hood, this is a poetic and visual celebration of persistent women throughout history.
The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard"A picture book biography sharing the inspiring and incredible true story of the nation's oldest student, Mary Walker, who learned to read at the age of 116"-- Provided by publisher.
Sprouting Wings by Louisa Jaggar
"The true story of James Herman Banning, the first African American pilot to fly across the United States"-- Provided by publisher.
The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a young Civil Rights Activist by Cynthia LevinsonPresents the life of nine-year-old Audrey Faye Hendricks who became the youngest known child to be arrested for picketing against Birmingham segregation practices in 1963.
Patricia's Vision: The Doctor Who Saved Sight by Michelle Lord"Born in 1940s Harlem, Patricia Bath dreamed of being a doctor--even though that wasn't a career option for most women. This biography follows Dr. Bath in her quest to become an ophthalmologist and restore sight to the blind."
It Began With a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way by Kyo MaclearPresents the life of the influential illustrator and author, including her childhood, her love of drawing, her family's internment during World War II, and her groundbreaking work in children's literature.
The Highest Tribute by Kekla Magoon
A picture book portrait of the first Black justice on the Supreme Court, presented by two Coretta Scott King Honor winners, includes coverage of Thurgood Marshall's upbringing in segregated Baltimore, achievements with the NAACP, and contributions to landmark equality rulings.
Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table by Jacqueline Briggs MartinFollows Will Allen's work to revolutionize the way kids think about food and where it comes from, by developing urban farms and establishing farmer's markets, in order to feed the world.
Muslim Girls Rise: Inspirational Champions of Our Time by Saira MirIntroduces nineteen Muslim women from all around the world who have found their callings in a vast range of fields, from social justice to competitive sports to the entertainment industry.
Rainbow Revolutionaries: 50 LGBTQ People Who Made History by Sarah Prager Rainbow Revolutionaries brings to life the vibrant histories of fifty pioneering LGBTQ+ people from around the world. Through Sarah Prager's (Queer, There, and Everywhere) short, engaging bios, and Sarah Papworth's bold, dynamic art, readers can delve into the lives of Wen of Han, a Chinese emperor who loved his boyfriend as much as his people, Martine Rothblatt, a trans woman who's helping engineer the robots of tomorrow, and so many more!
The Floating Field by Scott Riley
"On a tiny Thai island without room for a soccer field, a group of resourceful teen boys gathers scraps and works together to build a floating field so they can play the game they love"-- Provided by publisher.
Pies from Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Deanna RomitoThis picture book highlights a hidden figure of the civil rights movement who fueled the bus boycotts and demonstrated that one person can make a real change in her community and beyond.
The Singer and the Scientist by Lisa Rose
"Singer Marian Anderson and scientist Albert Einstein become friends, connecting over similar experiences with prejudice and a shared passion for music, when Marian is turned away from a hotel that bars African Americans in mid-century America"-- Provided by publisher.
Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade"A picture book biography about Gwendolyn Brooks, the influential poet and the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize."
Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by by Laurie Ann ThompsonThe story of a West African youth who pursued an education, helped support his family and became a record-setting cyclist in spite of a disability traces his ongoing achievements as an activist.
Separate is Never Equal by Duncan TonatiuhYears before the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling Brown v. Board of Education, Sylvia Mendez, an eight-year-old girl of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, played an instrumental role in Mendez v. Westminster, the landmark desegregation case of 1946 in California.
Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando by Andrea Wang"Every day, Ando Momofuku would retire to his lab--a little shed in his backyard. For years, he'd dreamed about making a new kind of ramen noodle soup that was quick, convenient, and tasty to feed the hungry people he'd seen in line for a bowl on the black market following World War II."-- Provided by publisher.
Jump at the Sun by Alicia D. Williams
The Newbery Honor-winning author of Genesis Begins Again offers a picture book rendering of Zora Neale Hurston’s childhood to illuminate the rich natural-world and cultural experiences that shaped her education and career as a storyteller.
Children's Nonfiction Chapter Books
Children's Nonfiction Chapter Books
This Promise of Change: One Girl’s Story in the Fight for School Equality by Jo Ann Allen Boyce"In 1956, one year before federal troops escorted the Little Rock 9 into Central High School, fourteen-year-old Jo Ann Allen was one of twelve African-American students who broke the color barrier and integrated Clinton High School in Tennessee. At first, things went smoothly for the Clinton 12, but then outside agitators interfered, pitting the townspeople against one another."-- Provided by publisher.
Born Curious: 20 Girls Who Grew Up to be AWESOME Scientists by Martha Freeman"The scientists and mathematicians in Born Curious sought answers to these and many other fascinating questions. And it’s lucky for us they did. Without their vision, insight, and hard work, the world would be a sicker, dirtier, and more dangerous place." - From Amazon
Who Did It First?: 50 Politicians, Activists, and Entrepreneurs who Revolutionized the World by Alex Hart"With both well-known figures and lesser-known heroes, this book is a celebration of the inspiring innovators who braved uncharted waters to pave the path for future generations." - From Amazon
Brave. Black. First. : 50+ African American Women Who Changed the World by Cheryl Willis HudsonProfiles notable African American women in various fields from Phillis Wheatley, Harriet Tubman, and Ida B. Wells to Condoleeza Rice, Beyoncé, and the founders of Black Lives Matter.
Reaching for the Moon : the autobiography of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson by Katherine G. Johnson"The inspiring autobiography of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who helped launch Apollo 11."-- Provided by publisher.
Hidden Figures (Student Adaptation) by Margot Lee ShetterlyExplores the previously uncelebrated but pivotal contributions of NASA's African-American women mathematicians to America's space program, describing how Jim Crow laws segregated them from their white counterparts despite their groundbreaking successes.
First Generation: 36 Trailblazing Immigrants and Refugees Who Make America Great by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich WallaceProfiles thirty-six immigrants to the United States who have made notable contributions to sports, science, politics, and the arts, including Madeleine Albright, Albert Einstein, John Muir, Martina Navratilova, and Carlos Santana.
I Am Malala (Student Adaptation) by Malala Yousafzai and Patricia McCormickMalala Yousafzai was only ten years old when the Taliban took control of her region. They said music was a crime. They said women weren't allowed to go to the market. They said girls couldn't go to school. Raised in a once-peaceful area of Pakistan transformed by terrorism, Malala was taught to stand up for what she believes. So she fought for her right to be educated.
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