Here are some mini biographies, or biographies for minis! As a huge memoir and biography fan, I only wish I had been introduced to them at a younger age! I'm here to share a few fabulous biographies, written with younger readers in mind.
Starting off with someone who is all anyone talks about right now, including the 6 and 7 year olds I spend my days with.... Taylor Swift.
First up is Little People, Big Dreams - Taylor Swift by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
This picture book biography tells the story of Taylor Swift, one of the most influential popstars of recent decades. Including all of the necessary biographical information but told as a children's story, this book describes the events of her childhood and adolescence as well as unique facts about her like her grandmother was an opera singer.
As with all of her amazing biographies, Vegara creates informative and carefully crafted picture books that are perfect for young readers. Each page of her books has beautiful, colour-filled illustrations with about 3-4 lines of text. While they are biographical, they are also written in story form, demonstrating how young people can persevere, break barriers and do great things as they grow! The books end with a timeline and some pictures/biographical information about the subject.
I could definitely see this book in my Grade 2 classroom library and would recommend it to parents and teachers of children in the age 6-12 range. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Up next is Taylor Swift is Life by Kathleen Perricone. This biography purports itself as "A Superfan's Guide to All Things We Love about Taylor Swift" and it definitely does just that! Separated into three parts, "The Making of a Mastermind", "Taylor-Made Music" and "Swiftology", this 159 page book covers all things readers need to know about Taylor Swift. Part 1 covers her early years, how she rose to fame, and her switch from country music to pop. Part 2 looks at her discography, going beyond just track titles, this is a much more indepth, including things like the meaning or "muse" behind particular songs, as well as a "Track 5" section for each album. Apparently the 5th song on all of her albums is the most vulnerable, so it is neat that the author chose to discuss that track on each album. The third and final section is sort of an A-Z of everything TS.
What I love about this book is that while it is likely written for teens or adults, it is clearly designed in a way that it is accessible and interesting to even the youngest of fans. With cute illustrations and a well-thought-out organization and theme-based sections, I could see my students enjoying this book, even if it is too challenging for them to read (at grade 2). I would recommend this book for tween and teen readers, but really any aged fan will enjoy this book!
Round 2 of the Mini Biographies features the incredible gymnast, Simone Biles!
First up, and again by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Little People, Big Dreams - Simone Biles. Including all of the necessary biographical information but told as a children's story, this book describes the events of her childhood and adolescence as well as interesting information about her achievements and records. I love how Vegara covered the Dr. Nassar scandal, saying that she and her friends "spoke up about the things the adults in charge of the team were doing wrong, they realized they were strong." A great way to show young readers that they can stand up for what they believe in, without going into adult details.
As with all of her amazing biographies, Vegara creates informative and carefully crafted picture books that are perfect for young readers. Each page of her books has beautiful, colour-filled illustrations with about 3-4 lines of text. While they are biographical, they are also written in story form, demonstrating how young people can persevere, break barriers and do great things as they grow! The books end with a timeline and some pictures/biographical information about the subject.
I could definitely see this book in my Grade 2 classroom library and would recommend it to parents and teachers of children in the age 6-12 range. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Next up is Simone Biles: Gymnastics GOAT
by Kristen Rajczak Nelson
This short biography is a great way for young readers to be introduced to Simone Biles, an Olympic gymnast. With sections like "World Champ" and "setting records" this book is broken up into short 1 page sections that have catchy titles and will grab the reader's attention. There are several nice photos of Simone throughout the story and lots of interesting details, like how she was adopted and how she also speaks out about mental health. The font is nice and large and well spaced, and the text is written at a level that even emergent readers will be able to comprehend. At 34 pages, including a table of contents, glossary and index, this non fiction text would be perfect for a grade 1-4 classroom, or to be read with younger children with an adult. I would highly recommend this book and look forward to seeing if the author and publisher create more books like it! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book!