Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez

Title: Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez
Author: Kathleen Krull
Illustrator: Yuyi Morales
Publisher / Date: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt / 2003
Genre: Biography, Picture Book
Themes: Biography, Hope, Overcoming Odds, Civil Rights, Hispanic, Leadership
Summary: In 1937 Cesar was 10 years old and his family owned a large farm. After a drought left them with little work, food and money, they moved to California in search of work. Cesar's family went from being wealthy land owners to being migrant workers on on other people's farms. As Cesar grew older, he saw the oppression of his people and wanted to do something about it. In his efforts to bring about change, he never forgot that "nonviolence... takes more guts." He helped organize a civil rights march, meetings and an organization promoting pay raises and better conditions for migrant workers.
Curriculum Connections: Grades 3-5 Social Studies: Civil Rights
Notes: This is a must read for Civil Rights unit! Well written, beautifully illustrated. 

Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote

Title: Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote
Author: Tanya Lee Stone
Illustrator: Rebecca Gibbon
Publisher / Date: Henry Holt & Co. / 2008
Themes: Women's suffrage, history, biography
Genre: Nonfiction, picture book
Summary: This biography of Elizabeth Cady Stanton follows Elizabeth from the time she was a child and the events that influenced her to stand up for women's right to vote. The author and illustrator's creativity blend well to portray an intriguing biography that even young readers will enjoy. 
Curriculum Connections: Grades K-5, Social Studies: Women's suffrage, civil rights
Notes: This is a remarkable picture book biography that would make a great read aloud, especially for grades 2-5.

Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way by Peter Golenbock

Title: Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way
Author: Peter Golenbock
Illustrator: Paul Lee
Publisher / Date: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt / 2005
Genre: Biography, picture book
Themes: Baseball, sports, famous Americans, Civil Rights
Summary: Hank Aaron loved baseball and had the skills to play for the majors, but back then baseball teams were made up of only white men. This inspiring true story tells how Hank Aaron overcame the odds and eventually even surpassed Babe Ruth's record. 
Curriculum Connections: Grades 2-5 Social Studies: Famous Americans, Civil Rights; Language Arts: Author's Purpose
Notes: Another great example of a well written biography for children.

A Picture Book of Harriet Tubman by David Adler

Title: A Picture Book of Harriet Tubman
Author: David A. Adler
Illustrator & Photographer: Samuel Byrd
Publisher / Date: Holiday House, Inc / 1992
Genre: Biography, Picture Book
Themes: Biography, overcoming odds, slavery, history
Summary: Snippets from the life of Harriet Tubman, a slave who became a leader in the Underground Railroad. 
Curriculum Connections: Grades 2-5 Social Studies: Slavery, Underground Railroad; Famous Americans
Notes: Appropriately written biography for children but needs to be supplemented with other biographies about Tubman for a more complete look at Tubmann's life. 

Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph became the World's Fastest Woman

Title: Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph became the World's Fastest Woman
Author: Kathleen Krull
Illustrator: David Diaz
Publisher / Date: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt / 2000
Genre: Biography, picture book
Themes: Biography, sports, overcoming personal hardship
Summary: Paralyzed at a young age by polio, Wilma was told she would never walk again. She believed she would not only walk again, but she would run. And run she did! All the way to the Olympics. After much hard work and determination, Wilma became the first American woman ever to win three gold medals in track in a single Olympics. 
Curriculum Connections: Grades 2-5 Language Arts: author's purpose, problem / solution; Social Studies: Famous Americans
Notes: A well written, inspiring true story of overcoming personal hardships. 

Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream

Title: Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream
Author: Deloris Jordan with Roslyn M. Jordan
Illustrator: Kadir Nelson
Publisher / Date: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing / 2003
Genre: Biography, picture book
Themes: Sports, basketball, famous Americans, biography, overcoming personal hardships
Summary: Young Michael Jordan loves basketball but fears he'll never be tall enough to play well. His family doesn't have much money, but they offer him encouragement and teach him that hard work and determination are more important than his height. Michael eventually tries out for the team and doesn't make it. But he doesn't give up. He keeps practicing. Eventually his dreams become a reality.
Curriculum Connections: Grades 2-5 Social Studies: famous Americans; biographies
Notes: Michael's mother tells this story from her own experience of watching her son grow into the famous basketball player.

Rosa by Nikki Gioivanni

Title: Rosa
Author: Nikki Giovanni
Illustrator: Bryan Collier
Publisher / Date: Square Fish / 2007
Genre: Biography, Picture Book
Themes: Biography, Overcoming Difficulties, Civil Rights, Courage, Segregation
Summary: Courageous story of Rosa Parks, who refused to give up her seat on a crowded bus to a white person. The story takes place in Alabama in the 1950s. 
Curriculum Connections: Grades 2-8 Social Studies: Civil Rights, Segregation, Famous Americans
Notes: Click below for a free discussion guide for Rosa by Scholastic. The discussion guide also has several great links for additional information about Roda Parks and resources for research projects on Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights movement. 
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=39003

All Star! Honus Wagner and the Most Famous Baseball Card Ever

Title: All Star! Honus Wagner and the Most Famous Baseball Card Ever
Author: Jane Yolen
Illustrator: Jim Burke
Publisher / Date: Penguin Group / 2010
Genre: biography, picture book
Themes: baseball, biography, sports
Summary: Yolen tells the story of Honus Wagner, whose family was from Germany. Wagner grew up poor and worked in the Pennsylvania coal mines. Wagner's amazing athletic ability eventually landed him a career in major league baseball in the early 1900's, winning the National League batting championship for 8 years. He even had his own baseball card which was then placed in cigarette containers. Since Wagner did not want children buying cigarettes in order to obtain his baseball card, he asked that his card be removed. Since the cards were pulled, only a few were sold and have become the most famous and most expensive baseball cards ever. Yolen notes that one of these rare Wagner cards sold at an auction in 2007 for nearly three million dollars. 
Curriculum Connections: Grades 2-5 Social Studies: famous Americans; Math (calculate how much Wagner earned per year and compare that to MLB players' salaries today; compare Wagner's stats with other famous baseball players)
Notes: Baseball fans are sure to love this biography!