Miss Moore Thought Otherwise:

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Cunningham came from a family that “didn’t have much,” but when as a teenager she declared that she wanted to be a photographer, her father built her a darkroom.  The book chronicles her start in photography, her marriage, and giving birth to her three sons, but overall focuses on the ways Cunningham balanced — and integrated — her art with her family life. Novesky has a special knack for conveying an artist’s life and craft in simple prose; through spare text she captures how Cunningham “found a little beauty in everything,” especially the everyday activities of her sons. Illustrator Lisa Congdon’s homespun-looking art — often laid out in a photo scrapbook–like format — is similarly subdued, nicely embodying Cunningham’s subjects. This ultimately optimistic story of one woman’s success, personal fulfillment, and artistic legacy is supplemented by an appended biographical note and a few additional resources for exploration (including the URL of the Imogen Cunningham Trust website).

For even more recommended biographies, see our updated Women’s History Month reading list.

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What other books about trailblazing women inspire you, your children, or your students?

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Picture Books

Suggested grade level for each entry: K–3

Emma’s Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty written by Linda Glaser; illus. by Claire A. Nivola (Houghton)
This account of how Emma Lazarus came to write her iconic poem is brief, yet telling — especially when complemented by bright, eloquent illustrations. 32 pages.

Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring written by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan; illus. by Brian Floca (Roaring Brook/Flash Point/Porter)
Choreographer Graham, composer Aaron Copland, and sculptor/set designer Isamu Noguchi collaborate on the iconic Appalachian Spring. Concise sentences and an energetic line echo Graham’s approach to dance: nothing’s wasted, and in such exactness lies beauty. 48 pages.

Annie and Helen by Deborah Hopkinson; illus. by Raul Colón (Random/Schwartz & Wade)
This book looks at challenges Helen Keller and teacher Annie Sullivan faced and surmounted. Peppered with excerpts from Annie’s letters, the book considers Annie’s point of view and strength of character as much as Helen’s. 40 pages.

Sarah Emma Edmonds Was a Great Pretender: The True Story of a Civil War Spy written by Carrie Jones; illus. by Mark Oldroyd (Carolrhoda)
Sarah Edmonds, disguised as a man, fought alongside and spied for Union troops during the Civil War. Jones enumerates these feats with touches of humor, and she continues Sarah’s story throughout the war and her subsequent marriage. 32 pages.

Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World written by Laurie Lawlor; illus. by Laura Beingessner (Holiday)
From the naturalist’s early fascination with wildlife to her determination to finish Silent Spring before her death, this accessible account covers a commendable amount of information. Spacious ink and tempera spreads reflect the upbeat tone and Carson’s most passionate concerns. 32 pages.

Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel; illus. by Melissa Sweet (Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins)
Clara Lemlich’s Jewish family immigrated to New York City where she worked in a factory. The dangerous, unfair conditions set Clara off on her lifelong path as a union activist. Illustrations presented on fabric scraps or torn paper with machine stitching accentuate the text. 32 pages.

Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell (Little)
This inspirational book focuses on the great primatologist’s formative years. Homey, earth-toned pen and watercolor pictures portray young Jane, with her stuffed toy chimp, studying nature wherever and however she can. 40 pages.

The Bravest Woman in America written by Marissa Moss; illus. by Andrea U’Ren (Tricycle)
After illness disabled her lighthouse keeper father, Ida Lewis took over his duties. At age sixteen, she rescued four boys whose boat had capsized — the first of many rescues during a lifelong career. The stirring events are beautifully visualized in watercolor, ink, and acrylic art. 32 pages.

Nurse, Soldier, Spy: The Story of Sarah Edmonds, A Civil War Hero written by Marissa Moss; illus. by John Hendrix (Abrams)
During the Civil War, Sarah Edmonds, disguised as a man, fought for the Union. Her dedication and bravery also made her the perfect spy. Moss emphasizes Sarah’s early work and initial mission, concluding the biography before war’s end. 48 pages.

Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle by Claire A. Nivola (Farrar/Foster)
Earle’s intimate knowledge of the creatures she’s spent over half a century observing, whether while snorkeling near the surface or walking on the ocean floor, permeates this enthusiastic biography illustrated with exquisitely detailed watercolor art. 32 pages.

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children written by Jan Pinborough; Debby Atwell (Houghton)
Sun-dappled acrylic paintings accompany a simple narrative of influential librarian Moore’s early love of books on through to her career at the New York Public Library, where she created the innovative Central Children’s Room in 1911. 40 pages.

Sojourner Truth’s Step-Stomp Stride written by Andrea Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney (Disney/Jump at the Sun)
Truth’s determination and hard work as an abolitionist, preacher, and advocate for women’s rights are portrayed in a folksy narrative with illustrations conveying the strength of her personality. 40 pages.

Eleanor, Quiet No More written by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Gary Kelley (Hyperion)
Roosevelt’s own words define her growth from insecure child to reluctant but forceful political voice to respected citizen of the world. A triple-frame illustration of Eleanor addressing an audience convincingly conveys her metamorphosis and increasing confidence. 40 pages.

Helen’s Big World: The Life of Helen Keller written by Doreen Rappaport; illus. by Matt Tavares (Hyperion )
Rappaport covers the span of Helen’s life from birth through her years with Annie Sullivan and after. The focus is on Helen, but readers get an acute awareness of Annie’s sacrifices for her. The ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations are bold and often in intense close-up. 40 pages.

Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors?: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell written by Tanya Lee Stone; illus. by Marjorie Priceman (Ottaviano/Holt)
This picture-book biography chronicles the doctor who opened the first hospital for women, run by women, because no one else would hire her. Colorful gouache illustrations lend a perfect framework of energy to the text, drawing upon its provocative and often humorous tone. 40 pages.

The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps by Jeanette Winter (Random/Schwartz & Wade)
Spare, inviting text takes Goodall from backyard observations to scientific study of chimpanzees in Tanzania. Stylized paintings show the jungle in cool blues and greens. Overall the volume gives an accurate, visually appealing account of Goodall’s life. 48 pages.

Queen of the Falls by Chris Van Allsburg (Houghton)
At the turn of the twentieth century, elderly Annie Edson Taylor decides she’ll go over Niagara Falls in a barrel, a feat never before attempted. The matter-of-fact narrative emphasizes Annie’s technical planning, while sepia-toned illustrations convey her grit and determination. 40 pages.

Intermediate

Suggested grade level for each entry: 4–6

Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming (Random/Schwartz & Wade)
This gripping narrative begins aboard a ship helping guide Earhart, then backs up to explore Amelia’s life. Interspersed are short chapters about civilians claiming to have picked up mayday calls. The book’s structure and scope provide a taut backdrop for Earhart’s history. 118 pages.

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose (Farrar/Kroupa)
In 1955 Montgomery, fifteen-year-old Colvin refused to give up her seat on the bus. A compelling narrative balances the events of the civil rights movement with Colvin’s biography. 133 pages.

The Fairy Ring: Or, Elsie and Frances Fool the World by Mary Losure (Candlewick)
A well-researched, engaging account of what happened when two young cousins in early twentieth century England staged photographs of fairies. The sympathetic narrative goes on to report how they responded as adults when the story periodically resurfaced. 184 pages.

Louisa: The Life of Louisa May Alcott written by Yona Zeldis McDonough, illustrated by Bethanne Andersen (Holt/Ottaviano)
Informative text and sophisticated illustrations capture the Alcotts’ uncompromising ideals, Louisa’s struggles with poverty, her growing fame, and her nurturing of her family through many losses. 48 pages.

Anne Frank: Her Life in Words and Pictures by Menno Metselaar and Ruud van der Rol, translated by Arnold J. Pomerans (Roaring Brook/Flash Point)
Annotated excerpts of Anne’s diary accompany extraordinary photographs of her life before and during hiding. The conclusion describes Anne’s death and the publication of her diary. 216 pages.

Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery (Houghton)
This inspiring, informative biography of world-renowned animal-science expert Grandin features photos from her childhood and adult life, reproductions of her schematic designs for livestock facilities, and inserts on topics ranging from autism to factory farming. 148 pages.

Paiute Princess: The Story of Sarah Winnemucca by Deborah Kogan Ray (Farrar/Foster)
Nineteenth-century Native rights advocate Sarah Winnemucca used her education to make speeches, write letters, circulate petitions, and appeal to government officials. An evenhanded account of Winnemucca’s life, accompanied by dramatic full-color illustrations. 48 pages.

Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean written by Sarah Stewart Taylor, illustrated by Ben Towle (Hyperion)
Grace, who handwrites a newspaper for her small Newfoundland town, is riveted by Amelia Earhart. She gets the chance to ask Earhart all about her life when the pilot comes to town. Moody black, white, and cyan drawings evoke a strong sense of place and time. 80 pages.

First Girl Scout: The Life of Juliette Gordon Low by Ginger Wadsworth (Clarion)
Low founded the Girl Scouts to help empower girls of all races and ethnicities. Information is provided about the organization and its continued success after Low’s death. Wadsworth captures Low’s stubborn but charismatic spirit by blending facts and humorous sketches. 210 pages.

Young Adult

Suggested grade level for each entry: 7 and up

Zora!: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston by Dennis Brindell Fradin and Judith Bloom Fradin (Clarion)
Documenting the life of Zora Neale Hurston can present a challenge because she often lied about herself in print, beginning with the year of her birth. The Fradins make discrepancies part of the story, using Hurston’s autobiographical tall tales to give readers a strong sense of her. 180 pages.

Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller by Joseph Lambert (Hyperion/Disney)
A silhouette of a child in a dark room opens this comic strip biography. Cartoonist Lambert employs these silhouettes to give a sense of how Keller’s world might have felt from the inside — bewildering and, eventually, enlightened by language. 94 pages.

Genius of Common Sense: Jane Jacobs and the Story of The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Glenna Lang and Marjory Wunsch (Godine)
This biography shows Jacobs as independent-minded and outspoken; her authorship of her seminal work and role as scourge of so-called urban renewal are handled clearly and efficiently. 128 pages.

Up Close: Harper Lee by Kerry Madden (Viking)
This straightforward biography covers Lee’s childhood, her college years, her persistent rewriting of To Kill a Mockingbird, and her friendship with Truman Capote. Clear documentation from an impressive group of secondary sources is provided. 224 pages.

Jane Austen: A Life Revealed by Catherine Reef (Clarion)
Firsthand accounts of Austen written by relatives and friends, facts about late-1700s Britain, and Austen’s own novels and surviving letters highlight the connections between Austen’s works and her life. 195 pages.

The Brontë Sisters: The Brief Lives of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne by Catherine Reef (Clarion)
This thorough biography of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë chronicles their individual personalities and how early experiences with their surroundings, family, schools, and teaching had profound influences on their writing. 231 pages.

Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith (Putnam)
Ida Mae wants to fly, an improbable dream for a black girl in 1940s Louisiana. When war breaks out, she counterfeits a pilot’s license and passes as white to join the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots. 275 pages.

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream by Tanya Lee Stone (Candlewick)
This story of the effort to get women into NASA’s Mercury astronaut training program is thrillingly told and meticulously researched, with first- and second-hand sources and historical photographs. 134 pages.

Poetry

Suggested grade level listed with each entry

Borrowed Names: Poems About Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madame C.J. Walker, Marie Curie, and Their Daughters by Jeannine Atkins (Holt)
Each of these renowned women had a rocky early relationship with her child which blossomed into mutual respect. Thirty vignettes concerning each mother-daughter pair offer telling facts. Grade level: 7 and up. 209 pages.

Night Flight: Amelia Earhart Crosses the Atlantic written by Robert Burleigh; illus. by Wendell Minor (Simon/Wiseman)
This vivid free-verse account of Earhart’s 1932 flight from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland, the first-ever solo transatlantic flight by a woman, describes what the legendary pilot might have seen and felt during that long, tense, exhilarating trip. Grade level: K–3. 40 pages.

Sweethearts of Rhythm: The Story of the Greatest All-Girl Swing Band in the World written by Marilyn Nelson, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney (Dial)
Twenty poems, voiced by instruments, summarize the history of swing. Verbal evocations of the music and its players re-create the time period alongside vibrant watercolors. Grade level: 4–6. 80 pages.

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Recent posts have given us tantalizing glimpses behind the scenes with Rebecca Stead, Lee Kingman Natti, and Shaun Tan. Read more about the lives of artists you admire — including cartoonists, dancers, writers, musicians, and mimes! — with our new artist memoir and biography booklist. These  titles were all published within the last several years and reviewed in The Horn Book Magazine.

What artist biography or memoir inspires you?

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Picture Books

Suggested grade level listed with each entry.

Keep Your Eye on the Kid: The Early Years of Buster Keaton by Catherine Brighton (Roaring Brook/Flash Point)
Deadpan text and masterful comic-book design outline Keaton’s life from birth through his early days in Hollywood. An author’s note invites further exploration of the man and his movies. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring written by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan; illus. by Brian Floca  (Roaring Brook/Flash Point/Porter)
Choreographer Graham asked composer Aaron Copland and sculptor/set designer Isamu Noguchi to collaborate with her; the iconic Appalachian Spring was born. Concise sentences and an energetic line echo Graham’s approach to dance: nothing’s wasted, and in such exactness lies beauty. Grade level: K–3. 48 pages.

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy) written by Barbara Kerley; illus. by Edwin Fotheringham (Scholastic)
Thirteen-year-old Susy Clemens’s biography of her father informs this account covering both biographer and biographee. Primary sources and small facsimiles of Suzy’s journal pages capture her process of observing her father. Grade level: 4–6. 48 pages.

Orani: My Father’s Village by Claire A. Nivola (Farrar/Foster)
In the 1950s, Nivola’s father’s Sardinian birthplace was a mind-opening place to visit. Orani and its people are lovingly evoked in watercolor and gouache paintings. It’s not a nostalgic picture, but one of children thriving in a close-knit community. Grade level: 4–6. 40 pages.

Monsieur Marceau written by Leda Schubert; illus. by Gérard DuBois (Porter/Roaring Brook)
Simple declarative sentences and vigorous illustrations artfully capture the essence of mime Marcel Marceau. An afterword provides background, sources, further reading, and tips for getting started in mime. Grade level: PS–3. 40 pages.

The Wall: Growing Up behind the Iron Curtain by Peter Sís (Farrar/Foster)
Sís, who grew up in Czechoslovakia under Soviet control, evokes the childhood of an artist in a country of growing restrictions. Brief main text describes his experiences; small captioned pictures portray conditions in the country. Grade level: 4–6. 56 pages.

Marcel Marceau: Master of Mime written by Gloria Spielman; illus. by Manon Gauthier (Kar-Ben)
At sixteen, Marcel Marceau fled the Nazis and became active in the French Resistance. Because of Marcel’s ability to entertain, he was tapped to smuggle Jewish children out of France. Softly colored line drawings capture the gentle spirit of the performer. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Shake, Rattle & Turn That Noise Down!: How Elvis Shook Up Music, Me and Mom by Mark Alan Stamaty (Knopf)
Cartoonist Stamaty’s account of how his eight-year-old self discovered rock ‘n’ roll is rich in character, incident, family dynamics, and period detail. Mark is driven wild by Elvis Presley’s music; his mom is driven crazy. Grade level: 4–6. 40 pages.

It Jes’ Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw written by Don Tate; illustrated by R. Gregory Christie (Lee)
This biography describes artist Traylor’s life–born into slavery in 1854, he worked as a sharecropper after Emancipation–and how at the age of eighty-five he first began to draw on scraps of cardboard. Grade level: K–3. 32 pages.

Just Behave, Pablo Picasso! written by Jonah Winter; illus. by Kevin Hawkes (Scholastic/Levine)
This energetic account traces the painter’s rise from prodigy through several controversial styles and from the furor over his “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon” to his revolutionary cubist “Girl with a Mandolin.” Grade level: K–3. 48 pages.

The House Baba Built: An Artist’s Childhood in China by Ed Young as told to Libby Koponen (Little)
In 1934, Ed Young’s father built a house in Shanghai’s “safest part,” and it became a wartime refuge for the family. Collages of textured materials and photos are interwoven with hand-drawn portraits, architectural diagrams, and gatefolds. Grade level: 4–6. 48 pages.

Intermediate

Suggested grade level for all entries: 4–6
Chuck Close: Face Book by Chuck Close (Abrams)
In this Q&A–style narrative, Close clearly and directly answers questions supposedly asked by children. A central section shows fourteen of his self-portraits on heavy card stock cut into thirds so readers can mix and match. 56 pages.

Christmas Remembered by Tomie dePaola (Putnam)
DePaola recollects fifteen Christmases, from when he was three in Connecticut to a recent celebration in his New Hampshire farmhouse. The illustrations employ a variety of techniques and media. New edition. 88 pages.

A Gift from Childhood: Memories of an African Boyhood by Baba Wagué Diakité (Groundwood)
Malian artist Diakité’s ceramic tiles illustrate this autobiography. His story’s significance shines through the simplicity of its telling: Malian village life is revealed in authentic detail, and the cultural attitudes are mind-opening. 136 pages.

Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio by Peg Kehret (Whitman)
Juvenile mystery author Kehret relates the story of her bout at age twelve with polio. Kehret’s story is family-centered and heartwarming in a way that seems both old-fashioned and refreshing. New edition. 205 pages.

Music Was IT: Young Leonard Bernstein by Susan Goldman Rubin (Charlesbridge)
Leonard Bernstein made his conducting debut at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic at age twenty-five. This biography focusing on Bernstein’s youth and early adulthood succeeds with its engaging style and passion. 178 pages.

Drawing from Memory by Allen Say (Scholastic)
This rendering of Say’s adolescence — a coming-of-age story within the context of a long life and vocation — takes the form of an album. At the center of the book is Say’s relationship with his mentor, cartoonist Noro Shinpei. 64 pages.

Knucklehead: Tall Tales & Mostly True Stories About Growing Up Scieszka by Jon Scieszka (Viking)
Scieszka offers entertaining and allegedly true tales from his Michigan childhood, growing up in a family of six boys. Short, conversational paragraphs showcase his expertly timed delivery; family photos add to the book’s browsability. 112 pages.

Older

Suggested grade level for all entries: 7 and up

More About Boy: Roald Dahl’s Tales from Childhood written by Roald Dahl; illus. by Quentin Blake (Farrar)
Eight new vignettes and some additional content constitute the “more” in this expanded edition of Dahl’s memoir. In autobiography the author reveals the identical sensibility celebrated in his fiction. Energetic drawings keep the silliness quotient high. New edition. 229 pages.

The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West by Sid Fleischman (Greenwillow)
This biography examines Twain’s early years, adventurous travels, writing career, and popularity as a lecturer. Narrative wit and judicious use of Twain’s sayings keep the tone light. Archival photographs are handsomely showcased. 224 pages.

Up Close: Harper Lee by Kerry Madden (Viking)
This straightforward biography covers Lee’s childhood, her college years, her persistent rewriting of To Kill a Mockingbird, and her friendship with Truman Capote. Clear documentation from an impressive group of secondary sources is provided. 224 pages.

Show Me a Story!: Why Picture Books Matter: Conversations with 21 of the World’s Most Celebrated Illustrators by Leonard S. Marcus (Candlewick)
Eleven of these interviews appeared in Marcus’s Ways of Telling: Conversations on the Art of the Picture Book. Ten new interviews; a revised introduction; updates on the artists; and a succinct foreword by David Wiesner are original to this volume. 310 pages.

The Letter Q: Queer Writers’ Notes to Their Younger Selves edited by Sarah Moon (Scholastic/Levine)
Sixty-four gay, lesbian, and bisexual writers and  illustrators write to themselves at a younger age. The resulting letters combine advice, reminiscence, humor, and encouragement for readers struggling with their sexuality. 282 pages.

I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee by Charles J. Shields (Holt)
This book, abridged from Shields’s 2006 adult release Mockingbird, relies on extensive secondary source material and a few interviews with Lee’s acquaintances. A readable ode to a determined, unconventional woman. 246 pages.

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Jim Henson’s imaginative early life served as the foundation for his later creative efforts, a connection author Kathleen Krull and illustrators Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher bring to light in Jim Henson: The Guy Who Played with Puppets. Krull’s straightforward text highlights key events and includes anecdotes to round out Henson’s inspirational life story. Colorful full-page and vignette paintings capture the vitality in Henson’s work. This celebration of Henson is a timely way to mark the late artist’s seventy-fifth birthday. (5–8 years)

Pantomime artist Marcel Marceau’s silent, white-faced character Bip is widely known throughout the world. Less known is Marceau’s life story, which is just as fascinating — including brave work for the French Resistance during WWII. In her understated picture-book biography, Marcel Marceau: Master of Mime, Gloria Spielman focuses particularly on the actor’s early years, showing how he first used his natural talents as a survival mechanism and later crafted them into an art form. Manon Gauthier’s softly colored line drawing perfectly capture the gentle spirit of Marcel Marceau, both off and on stage. (5–8 years)

The Bravest Woman in America by Marissa Moss introduces a bygone but ever-intriguing profession through the determination and courage of one girl. In 1857 Ida Lewis and her family moved to the lighthouse that guards Rhode Island’s Newport Harbor. Soon after, illness disabled her father; Ida took over his lighthouse duties and, at sixteen, heroically rescued four boys whose boat had capsized. It was the first of many rescues during a lifelong career for which she received a Congressional Lifesaving Medal, among other honors, becoming known as the “Bravest Woman in America.” The stirring events are beautifully visualized in Andrea U’Ren’s painterly watercolor, ink, and acrylic art. (4–8 years)

From Notes from the Horn Book, November 2011

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