12 best biographies for kids

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Neil had always dreamed about flight

As a child, Neil dreamed about floating above the earth night after night. He would hold his breath and rise slowly into the air. Houses and trees and cars grew small beneath him.

He got his pilot’s license at only 16 years old

After serving as a pilot in the U.S. military, Neil became a test pilot, helping design and fly brand-new aircraft.

Neil applied to NASA to become an astronaut

He wasn’t sure if human beings would ever reach other worlds, but the idea was thrilling. If it was going to happen, he wanted to be a part of it.

He became the first person to step foot on the moon

Neil had always longed to do something no one else had done. Now he’d done it—he successfully landed on the moon. Millions back on Earth heard his words: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

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Albert was a curious child.

Ever since he was a little boy, Albert had a natural curiosity about how things worked in the world. From science to math, he loved to solve complex, or difficult, problems with many steps. Albert spent most of his time thinking.

He loved coming up with new ideas.

Because Albert was so smart, he was able to finish his office work every day with plenty of time left over to work on inventions of his own. During his time at the patent office, Albert came up with new theories about electronics, the atom, and space travel.

Albert’s ideas helped shape our world today.

He became famous for his ideas. Over the years, Albert had been nominated for the Nobel Prize seven times without winning. Then, in 1922, he finally won for his thinking about the photoelectric effect, or how light bends. This work would eventually lead to the invention of the television!

His legacy lives on!

Discoveries do not happen overnight. Albert worked for 10 years on the theory of relativity. It changed the way we view the world and gave future scientists hope that, even if something seems like a crazy theory, it might just be right!

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Jane loved animals from an early age

Jane was born with a love of nature, especially animals. When she was just one and a half, Jane took a handful of earthworms to bed with her. As soon as Jane’s mom explained that worms need soil to live, Jane ran outside and returned the worms to their garden. Jane’s dad also saw her love of animals. He bought her a stuffed chimpanzee named Jubilee. Jane loved Jubilee and took him nearly everywhere she went.

She pursued her passion of working with animals

When she grew up, Jane was told about a group of chimpanzees living on the shores of a lake in Tanzania. Nobody had ever studied chimps in the wild up close before. She would have to take notes and spend hours in the rain forest where the chimps lived, watching their behavior. Jane was excited to see how they lived, played, ate, and made friends.

Jane helped save the chimps

Loggers were destroying the chimps’ habitat. She knew she had to protect them. The best way to help was to keep researching and reporting on the chimps so more people around the world would care about saving their habitats. She also worked on behalf of the chimps by speaking and marching in order to get the government to protect them.

She’s making the world a better place for chimps and all living things

The world is more aware of how similar humans and chimps are. Jane’s discoveries led to people protecting these animals. At age 85, Jane still travels to share their story and raise money to protect them and other endangered animals.

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Marie loved learning and was very smart

At the age of four, Marie showed how smart she was by teaching herself how to read. Soon, Marie began helping her older brother and sisters with their math homework.

She was determined to learn as much as she could

There were signs that said, “No women or girls allowed,” at the universities. But Marie wasn’t going to give up on her dreams.

Marie excelled at university and discovered important things

On June 25, 1903, she earned her doctorate from the Sorbonne university. She was the first woman in France to achieve this advanced degree—she was now Dr. Marie Curie!

She lives on as one of the most accomplished scientists of all time

Marie Curie helped make X-rays and other medical advancements possible. She earned not one, but two Nobel Prizes for her important scientific discoveries. We still benefit from her hard work today!

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Simone was a ball of energy as a kid

Simone’s training began before anyone realized it. As a child, she did backflips off mailboxes and swings. She scrambled up her big brothers’ backs and did pull-ups on their outstretched arms.

She discovered her dream early on

When she was six years old, she went on a field trip to a gymnastics center. She loved it! Simone soon joined the junior elite program, which trains young gymnasts to move up through 10 levels of difficulty.

Simone was determined to achieve her dream

She worked hard and got better and better at gymnastics. She won many medals. Simone eventually earned her role on the Olympic team!

She wowed the world at the Olympics

When Simone got to the Olympics, she won gold medals for the individual all-around competition and vault. Then, the whole world watched as she performed a near-perfect floor routine, winning her fourth gold medal and setting new Olympic records!

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George worked hard from a young age

George was 11 years old when his father suddenly died. It turned George’s life upside down. There wasn’t money for George to go to school in England like his older brothers. George needed to make money. He was hired to explore Lord Fairfax’s land. George measured the land and wrote reports about its trees, water, and animals.

He became known for his strong leadership and bravery

When George’s brother Lawrence died, George took his military job. At the start of a battle during the French and Indian War, the officer in charge was shot. Without him, his soldiers lost courage, except for one. As fast as lightning, George rode his horse into the battle.

George made a name for himself in government

In 1776, George traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a meeting called the Second Continental Congress. Here, representatives from all 13 colonies met to create a new country. They wrote a document called the Declaration of Independence. Representatives at the Second Continental Congress asked George Washington to lead the new country’s army.

He became the first president of the United States!

For the eight years that George was president, there was peace. The country had to decide where its new capital would be. George helped pick the spot, right on the border of Virginia and Maryland. He helped design the city and the White House. The representatives in Congress voted to name the capital of the United States after George, so they called it Washington.

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Alexander believed he was born to lead

Though Alexander grew up on a small island in difficult conditions, he knew he would do great things. He loved writing and learning as much as he could. In 1773, Alexander arrived in New York City to go to King’s College, where he became known as a gifted speaker and writer. His writings and public speeches about the American revolt against England made many people want to help America gain independence.

He became an advisor to George Washington

Senior officers in the American army saw that people listened to Alexander. Because of this, several officers wanted him to be their personal assistant. One very important person was also watching Alexander: General George Washington, who asked Alexander to advise him. It was such a great opportunity that Alexander agreed to it. Together, they helped win the American Revolution.

Alexander earned his role as a Founding Father

Alexander was chosen to be part of the new government of the now independent nation. New York City was the first capital of the United States. There, George Washington became the nation’s first president on April 30, 1789. Alexander was asked to be secretary of the treasury, whose job it was to set up America’s money systems. The rest was history!

America wouldn’t be the same today without Alexander

From the work he did during the Revolutionary War to setting up the nation’s first bank and currency, Alexander helped make America the strong country it is today. He dedicated his life to leading and fighting for what he believed in.

Other inspiring chapter books in The Story of... biography series for new readers include:

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Barack was born in Honolulu, the capital city of Hawaii

He grew up feeling like he was free to dream and be whatever he wanted.

He stayed busy with school and loved to read

Barack wanted to understand how people changed things in history. He believed he could change things, too.

Barack worked hard to become a lawyer, then a senator

He knew he wanted to fight for justice. As a senator, Barack helped pass laws so people could get better jobs, find affordable childcare, and make their neighborhoods safer.

Then, he served eight years as America’s president

Barack’s story will always remind people that no matter where we come from, we can find hope in our own stories, work toward change, and achieve our dreams.

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Getting an education was not easy for Malala

Malala was just 11 years old when going to school became unsafe. Girls over the age of 10 could not go to school anymore because of new laws. Malala was horrified. She loved to read and learn. Her dream was to be a doctor.

She was determined to learn

Malala went to school secretly. She hid her books under her shawl. She kept her head down and hurried to class, hoping she wouldn’t be noticed on the way. At night, Malala hid her books under her bed. She worried about what might happen next.

Malala spoke out against inequality

She spoke to reporters about education for girls and called for an end to child labor, which forced children to work. People noticed Malala’s activism. In 2011, she was given an important award: Pakistan’s first National Peace Prize. It came to be known as the Malala Prize.

She was recognized around the world for her bravery

Malala knows there is more work to do, but she believes that with many voices joining hers, change will happen. She hopes that one day all girls will have choices about how to live their lives.