Biographies and autobiographies for children and teens
Biographies and autobiographies for children and teens, with life stories, heroic profiles, true recollections, and tales of survival, exploration, resilience and perseverance. There’s a range of first person and third person accounts suitable for school libraries, independent reading and classroom teaching in KS1, KS2 and KS3 to inspire, surprise and enthral young readers. This list features books by Mick Manning, Brita Granström, Michael Rosen, Vashti Harrison, Floella Benjamin, John Agard, Jacqueline Wilson, Alastair Humphreys, Malala Yousafzai, David Long, William Grill and Linda Sue Park.
Biographies and autobiographies books for children and teens – our recommendations
Biographies and autobiographies for KS1
Long Walk to Freedom by Chris van Wyk and Nelson Mandela. 
Shark Lady by Jess Keating. 
The Brontës Children of the Moors by Mick Manning and Brita Granström. 
On Wings of Words by Jennifer Berne. 
Rise by Bethany Hegedus. 
The Great Stink by Colleen Paeff and Nancy Carpenter. One Day in Wonderland by Kathleen Krull & Júlia Sardà
This beautifully illustrated large-format picture book retells Lewis Carrol’s life through biography, bibliography, and anecdotes – all told using classic wordplay from Jabberwocky and other works. The illustrations are vibrant and compelling.
Exquisite by Suzanne Slade. 
Manfish by Jennifer Berne. 
Yayoi Kusama Covered Everything in Dots and Wasn’t Sorry by Fausto Gilberti. 
Leaders by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Lisbeth Kaiser. 
Mahatma Gandhi by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara and Albert Arrayas. 
Kamala Harris by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara. Becoming Brave by Jennie Cashman Wilson
Jennie Cashman Wilson shares her journey of resilience and courage with musician Abram Wilson. This poignant and memorable picture book explores themes of love, grief, and personal growth. With vibrant artwork, it will inspire 5-8-year-olds to confront fear and believe in themselves. Encouraging resilience and self-expression, KS1 teachers will find this a useful text to read and share with classes.
Wild Life by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe and Helen Shoesmith. 
Little Leaders: Exceptional Men in Black History by Vashti Harrison. 
The Fossil Hunter by Kate Winter. 
Anne Frank by Josephine Poole and Angela Barrett. 
Coming to England by Floella Benjamin and Diane Ewan. 
On a Beam of Light by Jennifer Berne. 
This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt and R.G. Roth. 
Michael Rosen’s Sticky McStickstick: The Friend Who Helped Me Walk Again by Michael Rosen and Tony Ross. 
Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jen Bryant and Boris Kulikov. Biographies and autobiographies for KS2
Stories for Boys Who Dare to Be Different by Ben Brooks. 
My Name Is Book by John Agard. 
The Right Word by Jen Bryant and Melissa Sweet. Women Who Led The Way by Mick Manning and Brita Granström
Profiling a diverse group of inspiration women, such as Mae Jamison, Nellie Bly, Amelia Earhart and Harriet Tubman, Women Who Led The Way is an exciting large format hardback with vibrant watercolour illustrations and powerful stories of inspirational women who explored new places, make key discoveries and paved the way for many more to follow in their footsteps. Presented as a series of compelling narrative autobiographies, we highly recommend it for KS2 school libraries and classrooms.
Some Writer! by Melissa Sweet. 
Benjamin Zephaniah by Benjamin Zephaniah and Victor G. Ambrus. 
Jacky Daydream by Jacqueline Wilson. She Sold Seashells … and Dragons. The curious Mary Anning. Re-imagined by Wolfgang Grulke
The life of Mary Anning, a pioneering fossil hunter and self-taught scientist from 200 years ago, is depicted using ground-breaking AI to create hyper-realistic illustrations and a striking sense of immediacy. 8+ year-olds will be fascinated by this innovative blend of historical detail and AI-generated imagery, as well as the engaging palaeontology, science and history text. Ideal for KS2 libraries and topic work about rocks and fossils. Read our full review.
The Met Vincent Van Gogh by Amy Guglielmo and Petra Braun. 
Grace Hopper by Laurie Wallmark and Katy Wu. 
Drawing on Walls by Matthew Burgess and Josh Cochran. There Once is a Queen by Michael Morpurgo
With lyrical text and a life spanning nearly 100 years, Michael Morpurgo tells the story of Elizabeth II through key events, places, cultural landmarks and the importance of family – all vividly illustrated by Michael Foreman. The deft personal and historical narrative will be useful for teachers looking for a text to model for biography and personal writing, and for pupils to use as a template for writing an empathetic life history of an older family member. To celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, 5000 libraries around the country received free copies. A marvellous book.
Rescuing Titanic by Flora Delargy. 
Cloth Lullaby by Amy Novesky. 
A Life Electric: The Story of Nikola Tesla by Azadeh Westergaard. Dear Rebel: 125+ Women Share Their Secrets to Taking on the World by Rebel Girls
This absorbing hardback for 8-14 year olds contains invaluable advice from over 125+ inspirational and successful women. Presented as short illustrated autobiographies, a diverse collection of true stories explain how tough situations can be overcome and big dreams can be realised. Including contributions from Philomena Kwao, Melinda French Gates, Randi Zuckerberg, Geetha Murali and more, Dear Rebel is highly recommended for KS2 and KS3 libraries.
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders. 
Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson and Sean Qualls. 
The Girl Who Rowed the Ocean by Alastair Humphreys. El Deafo by Cece Bell
A memorable graphic illustrated biography suitable for children in upper KS2 and lower KS3. This book chronicles the author’s childhood experiences using a hearing aid called a ‘phonic ear’ and how if affected her life and relationships at school and growing up. A compelling read, and ideal for use in reading groups and for class discussion.
Against the Odds by Alastair Humphreys. 
Children Who Changed the World: Incredible True Stories about Children’s Rights! by Marcia Williams. 
What’s So Special about Shakespeare? by Michael Rosen. Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity by Carl Wilkinson and James Weston Lewis
A spectacular large-format illustrated biography that not only looks at Einstein’s achievements in science, but his childhood, approach to learning, how he approached problems and how his work relates to life today. An inspiring book for both children interested in science and maths, but also pupils who see the world differently. Ideal for upper KS2 libraries.
Just Like Me by Louise Gooding. 
Malala by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick. 
Alastair Humphreys’ Great Adventurers by Alastair Humphreys. Coming to England by Floella Benjamin
This inspiring autobiography sensitively and revealingly chronicles the Windrush experience of a young girl travelling from Trinidad to a new life in England in 1960. A powerful read, the Floella Benjamin’s childhood account is one that will resonate with KS2 children and one they will be able to empathise with. This text will be a useful resource for autobiographical writing in UKS2 literacy lessons.
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly and Laura Freeman. 
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo. 
Please Write Soon: The Unforgettable Story of Two Cousins in World War II by Michael Rosen and Michael Foreman. What a Wonderful World by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe and Lydia Hill
This wonderfully illustrated non-fiction hardback details the lives and exploits of 35 ‘Earth Shakers’ – people who have worked to improve animal rights and environmental and ecological awareness. Including the biographical histories of a diverse range of figures such as Yola Mgogwana, Mina Guli, Priti Sakha, Felix Finkbeiner and John Muir, there’s a compelling mix of life stories, history, science and geography. With intricate and mesmerising illustrations by Lydia Hill, ‘What a Wonderful World’ will make a cracking addition to KS2 classroom libraries and is an ideal impetus to spark ideas for independent projects.
Rescue by David Long and Kerry Hyndman. 
Heroes by David Long and Kerry Hyndman. 
Spies by David Long and Terri Po. Imagine a Garden: Stories of Courage Changing the World by Rina Singh and Hoda Hadadi
Seven powerful stories of courage reframe how we see compassion and understanding in the world around us. Illustrated with inspiring mixed media collages by Hoda Hadadi, each true story is presented as a short poem – ideal to read aloud and discuss. It’s a beautiful hardback to inspire whole school assemblies or biographical writing in KS2, and the author’s notes and backstories to the true events at the end of the book will be particularly useful to teachers.
Fantastically Great Women who Changed the World by Kate Pankhurst. 
Greta’s Story by Valentina Camerini. 
Everest: The Remarkable Story of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay by Alexandra Stewart and Joe Todd-Stanton. Leonardo Da Vinci’s Life of Invention by Jake Williams
The beautifully realised illustrated hardback takes 7-11-year-old readers on a journey through Leonardo Da Vinci’s life, the world as he saw it, his inventions, and his greatest artistic achievements. A sparkling blend of history, biography, STEM and culture, each double-page spread examines an aspect of Da Vinci’s life and learning. It’s a fascinating Renaissance volume that features the Mona Lisa, an early parachute, human anatomy, a mechanical bat, maths and the unknown. Perfect for children interested in science, it will also make a great addition to KS2 libraries.
Survivors by David Long and Kerry Hyndman. 
Shackleton’s Journey by William Grill. 
Shackleton’s Journey Activity Book by William Grill. A Velocity of Being: Letters to A Young Reader by Maria Popova and Claudia Bedrick
A highly original idea, this book is a series of open letters to children – each exploring why reading is important to broaden experiences and imagination. Each of the 121 letters is faced by emotive artwork. A who’s who of illustrators and writers, including Marianne Dubuc, Sean Qualls, Oliver Jeffers, Maira Kalman, Mo Willems, Isabelle Arsenault, Chris Ware, Liniers, Shaun Tan, Tomi Ungerer, and Art Spiegelman contributed to this stunning 280-page book. This book is perfect to read and discuss with reluctant readers, and particularly children who like the internet, but don’t yet like reading books.
Captain Cook by Rebecca Levene. 
The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank. 
The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean. The Truths We Hold (Young Reader’s Edition) by Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris’ autobiography, The Truths We Hold – An American Journey, is an inspiring and lively account of her life, adapted for younger readers. It covers her experiences as a member of multiple minorities, detailing her rise from a lawyer in California to Vice President of the United States. Recommended for class discussions, it encourages young readers to believe that no societal position is beyond their reach. Read our full review.
On the Road to Africa by Alastair Humphreys. 
The Boy Who Biked the World: Part Two by Alastair Humphreys. 
The Missing by Michael Rosen. Biographies and autobiographies for KS3
A Biography of Michael Morpurgo: War Child to War Horse by Maggie Fergusson. 
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah. 
Boy by Roald Dahl. Talking History: 150 years of world-changing speeches by Joan Haig and Joan Lennon
16 engaging speakers and their speeches, chosen from a diverse range of backgrounds and periods in history, are profiled in this accessible and immersive graphic novel style text. Including Emmeline Pankhust, Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela, Greta Thunberg and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, each double-page spread includes speeches, background history and biographical detail in this text that’s perfect for upper KS2 and KS3 libraries.
Journey Back to Freedom by Catherine Johnson. 
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. 
Malala by Malala Yousafzai and Patricia McCormick. 
Mud, Sweat and Tears by Bear Grylls. 
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park. 
A Small Person Far Away by Judith Kerr. Can You See Me? by Libby Scott & Rebecca Westcott
Follow 11-year-old Tally’s journey as she navigates the challenges of school, friendship, and self-discovery, providing readers with a unique and empathetic perspective on autism. Can You See Me is an empowering read and an excellent book choice for book clubs in lower KS3.
Signs of Survival by Renee Hartman with Joshua M. Greene. 
Becoming by Michelle Obama. 
Gone to the Woods: A True Story of Growing Up in the Wild by Gary Paulsen. Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson
Deeply personal vignettes of life are told through luminous biographical verse in this memoir that echoes the author’s very personal journey. Through powerful reflections, issues of assault, censorship, and empowerment through having the courage to speak out are explored. ‘Shout’ is a compelling call to action, urging readers to find their voices and feel confident to make change happen. An ideal choice for book clubs.
Mao’s Last Dancer by Li Cunxin. 
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. 
Hope in a Ballet Shoe by Michaela DePrince and Elaine DePrince. Click the buttons below to purchase all of the books in this biographies and autobiographies book list, as well as class sets of any of these books and many more, from Bookshop.org UK. Or buy the 20 most popular titles from this list from Amazon – ideal for gifts or your classroom library.
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Biographies and autobiographies resources for teachers
- BBC Bitesize offers a comprehensive set of interactive learning activities for UKS2 exploring all aspects of biographical writing.
- Oak Academy has created a complete bank of lessons, including videos and examples, for teaching biographies to to KS2.
- The National Women’s History Museum in the United States has a vast collection of digital online classroom resources including biographies, primary sources, lesson plans and posters.
- Puffin Schools has created a downloadable resource pack for KS2 and KS3 teachers: Writing Extraordinary Biographies.
- The BBC Bitesize KS3 website includes videos, interactive activities, modelled examples and practical writing exercises to support student’s autobiographical writing.
BISAC JNF007000 & YAN006000 Children’s & Young Adult Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography | Thema YNB
