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Based on the author’s own family history, this is a story about family and belonging, the child of a Jewish mother and a South Asian father hears stories about her family history. Sometimes she doesn’t feel Jewish enough or South Asian enough, but comes to realize you can feel — and be — many things at once. The girl’s mother tells her stories about her mother, a Jewish seamstress in Brooklyn, New York. She lived in a tiny two-bedroom apartment and sewed wedding dresses shimmering in satin and lace. Her father tells stories of his mother, the girl’s other grandmother, who liked to cook bubbling dal on a coal stove in Pakistan. They tell stories about how both sides came to America, and how, eventually, her parents met on a warm summer evening in Poughkeepsie. The girl sometimes feels as if she’s the “only one like me.” One day, when she spots a butterfly in her yard, she realizes it’s okay to be different — no two butterflies are alike, after all. 

When Helen was nineteen months old, an illness left her unable to see or speak. She struggled to make herself understood, and often lashed out when she couldn’t. With the help of a teacher named Annie Sullivan, she learned to spell words with her fingers, opening her world immeasurably. She soon learned to write and to read Braille, and even to read lips by touch; with Annie by her side, she went to college, and wrote an autobiography that shared her story with the world. She was lauded as a genius and became an advocate for people with disabilities, workers’ rights, women’s rights, and racial justice.

Most of us have heard of Helen Keller, but few have heard of Laura Bridgman. Left blind and deaf in her childhood in the 1830’s, Bridgman attended school and taught Helen’s teacher, Annie Sullivan, to fingerspell. When she was just two years old, Laura Bridgman lost her sight, her hearing, and most of her senses of smell and taste. At the time, no one believed a child with such severe disabilities could be taught to communicate, much less lead a full and productive life. But then a progressive doctor, who had just opened the country’s first school for the blind in Boston, took her in. Laura learned to communicate, read, and write — and eventually even to teach. By the age of 12, she was world famous. Audiences flocked to see her, and she was loved and admired by children everywhere. This fascinating and moving biography shows how Laura Bridgman paved the way for future generations of children with disabilities, making possible important advances in the way they would be educated. 

Born enslaved in Maryland, Harriet Tubman became a force of nature with her determination and tenacity. Collage illustrations in a naïve style combine with poems chronologically organized by year to present a unique portrait of an icon of Black history. Resources are appended.

Growing up in the segregated South had a lasting impact on young Marian. Her words punctuate high points in her life and activism, and ultimately her impactful work with the Children’s Defense Fund. Resources and additional material are included in this warmly illustrated biography.

Potatoes have the power to feed the world according to Peruvian agronomist Alberto Salas.  Portrayed as a chubby cheeked, balding man in warm-toned illustrations, Alberto Salas travels the Andes to play paka paka (hide and seek) with wild potatoes, working with indigenous people, and trying to get ahead of climate change. Informal text is often humorous but always informative. Also available in Spanish: Alberto Salas juega a la paka paka con la papa.

The Florida Everglades are made up of nine different ecosystems supporting an astonishing variety of wildlife ― panthers, manatees, snails, frogs, and a rainbow of bird species. But for years, the Everglades were threatened. They needed a voice to speak up for them. Marjory Stoneman Douglas became that voice. Her book “A River of Grass” helped the world see the irreplaceable beauty and value of the Everglades. Marjory’s activism led to the creation of a national park and dedicated conservation efforts, and throughout her long life she inspired countless people to use their voices to make a difference.

The author recalls 7th grade and the difficulty he had because of his size in this believable, ultimately empowering graphic memoir.

Abby is trapped at home with her four  younger siblings as they all suffer from the chickenpox. Based on the author’s experience, she shares the experience that she endured with her siblings with verve and humor. 

Losing her sight while in college in her Puerto Rican home did not stop Wanda’s passion for the stars nor for learning. In accessible narrative and lush illustration, Wanda’s life and work come into focus. Also available in Spanish: Wanda oye las estrellas.

A fascinating look at the early life of Japanese-American artist, Ruth Asawa, suggests the importance of lines and balance in her experiences in her life and in her art.

This introspective graphic memoir explores bicultural identity and the path toward self-acceptance. With a Thai mother and an American father, Kathy lives in two different worlds. She spends most of the year in Bangkok, where she’s secretly counting the days till summer vacation. That’s when her family travels for 24 hours straight to finally arrive in a tiny seaside town in Maine. Kathy loves Maine’s idyllic beauty and all the exotic delicacies she can’t get back home, like clam chowder and blueberry pie. But no matter how hard she tries, she struggles to fit in. She doesn’t look like the other kids in this rural New England town. Kathy just wants to find a place where she truly belongs, but she’s not sure if it’s in America, Thailand … or anywhere.

Maria Tallchief loved to dance, but was told that she might need to change her Osage name to one that sounded more Russian to make it as a professional ballerina. She refused, and worked hard at dancing her best, becoming America’s first prima ballerina.

As a child of two military parents, Deb Haaland moved around a lot when she was young before finally settling in Albuquerque to be near family. But she persisted, studying hard and eventually earning a law degree. An enrolled member of the Pueblo Laguna nation, Deb was one of the first two Native American women to be elected to Congress, where she represented New Mexico’s 1st District. In 2021, when the Senate confirmed her as President Biden’s secretary of the interior, she became the first Native American in history to become a cabinet secretary. She continues to break barriers and inspire future generations to dream of greater opportunities.

As seventh grader Tony was bullied, but eventually finds comfort and strength in art, anime, and friendship with other nerdy Black kids. This graphic memoir is honest in its portrayal of tough middle school relationships but is accessible and hopeful.

Learn about the amazing life of three-time Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith Joyner–and how she persisted. Considered the fastest woman of all time, Florence Griffith Joyner, also known as Flo Jo, set two world records in 1988 that still stand today. But getting there wasn’t easy, and Flo Jo had to overcome many challenges along the way.
 

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.

Lucile “Ludy” Godbold was six feet tall and skinnier than a Carolina pine and an exceptional athlete. In her final year on the track team at Winthrop College in South Carolina, Ludy tried the shot put and she made that iron ball sail with her long, skinny arms. But when Ludy qualified for the first Women’s Olympics in 1922, Ludy had no money to go. Thanks to the help of her college and classmates, Ludy traveled to Paris and won the gold medal with more than a foot to spare. 

Olympian Willye B. White was born in 1939 in Money, Mississippi, abandoned by both her parents, and worked alongside her grandparents in the cotton fields. Willye had big dreams, though. So when her cousin noticed she was the fastest runner around, Willye jumped at the chance to put on her traveling shoes and run her way to better opportunities, first with the Tennessee State Tigerbelles and then with the US Olympic team. Willye had to remind herself, “I believe in me,” whether she was running and jumping or witnessing the turmoil of the Civil Rights Movement.

Growing up in Damascus, the pool was Yusra Mardini’s happy place. She learned to swim before she could walk. And with swimming came a dream ― to compete in the Olympic games. But when war came to Syria, Yusra’s home ― and her pool ― were no longer safe. Yusra and her sister set out on a harrowing journey, crossing the sea in search of safety. Crammed on a too-small refugee boat, disaster strikes when the boat’s motor breaks. Scared but determined, Yusra plunges into the water and starts swimming.

Teen skateboarding phenom Sky Brown knows how to go big. After becoming a professional athlete at age 10, she became the first woman to land a frontside 540 at the X Games and won an Olympic medal at age 13. Young readers will eagerly follow Sky’s story as she recounts how she got started in the sport and what it feels like to compete. Then they’ll find their own skateboarding magic as she shows basic skills like choosing a stance, stopping, and dropping in.

Despite being named after a famous ballerina, little Mia Hamm never cared for pirouettes. Instead, she chased the ball: baseball, basketball, and especially soccer. Since she was often the only girl on her sports teams, she had a hard time making friends. But when fifteen-year-old Mia made the U.S. women’s national soccer team, everything changed. All around her, young women tackled and dribbled, passed and kicked, scored, and screamed. They were just like her ― but even more skilled. She was determined not to let her team down.

Explore elite wheelchair racer, wrestler, America’s Got Talent contestant, and Netflix documentary star Zion Clark’s journey from a childhood lost in the foster care system to his hard-fought rise as a high school wrestler to his current rigorous training to prepare as an elite athlete on the world stage.

Everything seemed set against Chaunté Lowe. Growing up with a single mother in Paso Robles, California, where she experienced food insecurity, homelessness, and domestic abuse. But then, one day, she turned on the TV and there was Flo Jo, competing in the Olympics and shattering records in track and field. Chaunté worked hard — both in the classroom and out on the sports field — and through her own fierce determination and grit, she overcame every imaginable obstacle, eventually propelling herself to the place she always dreamed about: the Olympic medal podium.