Tatsuo tabei biography for kids

Over the last decade or so, there's been a rise in the availability of quality narrative nonfiction both in chapter and picture book formats. Part of this rise was to meet the needs of Common Core, which increased the focus on informational texts in the language arts classroom.

Narrative nonfiction picture books are a great way to introduce young readers (and older ones!) to new topics, ideas, and people. They can be read aloud in less than 10 minutes and are filled with colorful illustrations, making them perfect for engaging learners at the beginning of units or supplementing other curriculum materials.

They're a wonderful tool for teaching new vocabulary, background information, and critical thinking skills. These titles often include backmatter and other informational text elements that make it easy to model researching new information to younger students. Nonfiction picture books are also great for emerging readers who want to learn independently, but aren't ready to dive into longer informational texts.  

Nonfiction can also engage a whole new kind of reader. While many children love books that allow them to use their imagination, such as fantasies or adventures, others prefer books that are reflective of real life and allow them to better understand the world around them. Narrative nonfiction bridges the gap between fictional stories and informational texts by bringing facts to life with narrative storytelling elements, making them a good fit for both fiction and nonfiction readers.

Picture Book Biographies

Up, Up, Ever Up! and the other picture book biographies included below can be great resources for both independent and shared reading. They shorter and illustrated nature of the books make them accessbile to a wider range of readers and allow them to be used as a read-aloud to hook learners at the beginning of a unit.

The picture book format in particular has allowed for authors to explore a more diverse range of biographies than were previously published, allowing teachers and students to see themselves reflected in both historical and current contexts. This diversity also makes it easier for teachers to supplement their social studies, science, and other curriculum areas where representation may be lacking in a meaningful way.