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Ordinary People Change the World
Ordinary People Change the World
Series ·
12
books · 2014-2025
By
Brad Meltzer
,
Christopher Eliopoulos
Books in series
#1
I am Rosa Parks
2014
Civil Rights leader Rosa Parks is the 3rd hero in in the New York Times bestselling picture book biography series for ages 5 to 8. (Cover may vary) Each picture book in this series is a biography of a significant historical figure, told in a simple, conversational, vivacious way, and always focusing on a character trait that made the person heroic. The heros are depicted as children throughout, telling their life stories in first-person present tense, which keeps the books playful and accessible to young children. And each book ends with a line of encouragement, a direct quote, and photos on the last page. This story focuses on Rosa Parks and how she always stood up for what's right. This friendly, fun biography series inspired the PBS Kids TV show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. One great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big. Included in each book • A timeline of key events in the hero’s history • Photos that bring the story more fully to life • Comic-book-style illustrations that are irresistibly adorable • Childhood moments that influenced the hero • Facts that make great conversation-starters • A virtue this person Rosa Parks' strength is highlighted in this biography. You’ll want to collect each book in this dynamic, informative series!
#5
I am Jane Goodall
2016
This tenth book in the New York Times bestselling biography series profiles Jane Goodall, the scientist and conservationist who is famous for her work with chimpanzees. (Cover may vary) After receiving a stuffed animal chimpanzee for her first birthday, Jane Goodall's love of animals only grew. She saw what humans and animals had in common, not what makes us different, and used that to advocate for animal rights everywhere, becoming famous for her work with chimpanzees. This friendly, fun biography series inspired the PBS Kids TV show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. One great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big. Included in each book • A timeline of key events in the hero’s history • Photos that bring the story more fully to life • Comic-book-style illustrations that are irresistibly adorable • Childhood moments that influenced the hero • Facts that make great conversation-starters • A virtue this person Jane Goodall's empathy is celebrated in this biography. You’ll want to collect each book in this dynamic, informative series!
#10
I am Jim Henson
2017
Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets and
Sesame Street
, is the 11th hero in the
New York Times
bestselling picture book biography series for ages 5 to 8.
Jim Henson, was always dreaming up something new, and always expressing his belief in the goodness of people. Henson was a born performer with a terrific sense of humor, and he used those talents to help create two of the most beloved programs in television history:
The Muppet Show
and
Sesame Street
. Through his Muppets, Jim showed the world that there's nothing more beautiful than imagination, especially when it's accompanied by laughter and kindness. This friendly, fun biography series inspired the PBS Kids TV show
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum.
One great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big. Included in each book are: \-
A timeline
of key events in the hero's history \-
Photos
that bring the story more fully to life \-
Comic-book-style illustrations
that are irresistibly adorable \-
Childhood moments
that influenced the hero \-
Facts
that make great conversation-starters \-
A character trait
that made the person heroic and that readers can aspire to You'll want to collect each book in this dynamic, informative series!
#11
I am Lucille Ball
2015
In this sixth entry in the New York Time Bestselling biography series, humor is the heroic trait, and modern icon Lucille Ball is celebrated. (Cover may vary) Lucille Ball could make any situation funny. By making people around the world laugh, she proved that humor can take on anything. She never changed how she behaved to seem "proper," even when other people pressured her to. By remaining true to who she was, she made her mark in comedy and television—even becoming the first female CEO of a major Hollywood studio! This friendly, fun biography series inspired the PBS Kids TV show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. One great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big. Included in each book • A timeline of key events in the hero’s history • Photos that bring the story more fully to life • Comic-book-style illustrations that are irresistibly adorable • Childhood moments that influenced the hero • Facts that make great conversation-starters • A virtue this person Lucille Ball's humor and how it carried her to success is highlighted here. You’ll want to collect each book in this dynamic, informative series!
#12
I am Harriet Tubman
2018
Harriet Tubman's heroic and pivotal role in the fight against slavery is the subject of the fourteenth picture book in this
New York Times
bestselling biography series
This friendly, fun biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great—the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. Each book tells the story of one of America's icons in a lively, conversational way that works well for the youngest nonfiction readers and that always includes the hero's childhood influences. At the back are an excellent timeline and photos. This volume focuses on Harriet Tubman's brave heroism as part of the movement to abolish slavery. As one of the key players in the Underground Railroad, she helped enslaved African Americans escape and find freedom.
#15
I am Gandhi
2017
Advocate for peace and nonviolent revolutionary Gandhi is the 12th hero in the New York Times bestselling picture book biography series for ages 5 to 8. (Cover may vary) As a young man in India, Gandhi saw firsthand how people were treated unfairly. Refusing to accept injustice, he came up with a brilliant way to fight back through quiet, peaceful protest. He took his methods with him from South Africa back to India, where he led a nonviolent revolution that freed his country from British rule. Through his calm, steady heroism, Gandhi changed everything for India and inspired civil rights movements all over the world, proving that the smallest of us can be the most powerful. This friendly, fun biography series inspired the PBS Kids TV show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. One great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big. Included in each book • A timeline of key events in the hero’s history • Photos that bring the story more fully to life • Comic-book-style illustrations that are irresistibly adorable • Childhood moment s that influenced the hero • Facts that make great conversation-starters • A virtue this person Gandhi's commitment to peace is celebrated in this biography You’ll want to collect each book in this dynamic, informative series!
#18
I am Anne Frank
2020
The 22nd book in the New York Times bestselling series of biographies about heroes tells the story of Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl who documented her life while hiding from the Nazis during World War II. (Cover may vary) This engaging biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great—the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. Each book tells the story of an icon in a lively, conversational way that works well for the youngest nonfiction readers. At the back are an excellent timeline and photos. This volume features Anne Frank, whose courage and hope during a time of terror are still an inspiration for people around the world today. While Anne and her family hid in an attic during the Holocaust, she kept a journal about all her hopes and fears and observations. That journal and the story of her life are still read and told today to remember the life of a young girl and warn against the consequences of bigotry. This friendly, fun biography series inspired the PBS Kids TV show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. One great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big. Included in each book • A timeline of key events in the hero’s history • Photos that bring the story more fully to life • Comic-book-style illustrations that are irresistibly adorable • Childhood moments that influenced the hero • Facts that make great conversation-starters • A virtue this person Anne Frank's unwavering hope is central to this biography You’ll want to collect each book in this dynamic, informative series!
#29
I am Ruth Bader Ginsburg
2024
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the 32nd hero in the New York Times bestselling picture book biography series for ages 5 to 9. Before Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the judge, she was a young Jewish girl growing up in Brooklyn, inspired by books, past female trailblazers, and her mother to make the world a better, more just place to be. So even when people turned her away—for being a girl and for being Jewish—she never stopped fighting for equal treatment for everyone by pushing back against unjust laws and the beliefs around them. This friendly, fun biography series inspired the PBS Kids TV show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. One great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big. Included in each book You’ll want to collect each book in this dynamic, informative series!
#32
I am Sacagawea
2017
We can all be heroes. That’s the inspiring message of this New York Times bestselling picture book biography series from historian and author Brad Meltzer. Meet the series’ first Native American hero: Sacagawea, the Shoshone woman who accompanied Lewis and Clark’s expedition through the Louisiana Purchase.
Each picture book in this series is a biography of a significant historical figure, told in a simple, conversation, vivacious way, and always focusing on a character trait that makes the person a role model for kids. The heroes are depicted as children throughout, telling their life stories in first-person present tense, which keeps the books playful and accessible to young children. And each book ends with a line of encouragement, a quote, photos, a timeline, and a source list. Here, readers will learn the story of Sacagawea and her journey as a translator with Lewis and Clark’s expedition to the Pacific Ocean.
#39
You Can Change the World
2024
The perfect graduation gift, this book of heroes compiles the most inspirational content from the
New York Times
bestselling Ordinary People Change the World series.
More than twenty heroic figures from the past and present share their wisdom in this friendly, fun book that combines quotes and artwork from the beloved picture book biography series Ordinary People Change the World. Learn and be inspired by Amelia Earhart's perseverance, Albert Einstein's curiosity, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s conviction, Frida Kahlo's confidence, and so many more examples of strength and bravery. It's a bright and adorable little book that you'll want to give to every hero-in-training in your life.
Authors
Brad Meltzer
Author · 87 books
Christopher Eliopoulos
Author · 6 books
#40
I Am...
2019
Based on the bestselling series, Ordinary People Change the World, I A Journal for Extraordinary Kids is a friendly prompted journal encouraging children to discover their own extraordinary qualities. Are you brave like Amelia Earhart? Compassionate like Abraham Lincoln? Curious like Albert Einstein? Encourage kids to explore their own heroic traits with this lightly-prompted and heavily-illustrated journal from the dynamic duo behind Ordinary People Change the World, Brad Meltzer and Chris Eliopoulos. The iconic imagery throughout will prompt kids to think about the heroes they've read about, and how being ordinary can often lead to extraordinary things.
#43
We are The Beatles
2025
The Fab Four, the most beloved band of all time, join the ranks of this
New York Times
bestselling picture book biography series about heroes, for ages 5 to 9.
They began as Johnny and the Moondogs, and they weren't very good. But these teens who loved music more than anything kept working at their craft and playing on any small stage they could find. And eventually they became the most recognizable, most influential rock and roll band of all time. How? Through dedicated teamwork, shared passion, and love. They knew that the best music is the music you make together! This friendly, fun biography series inspired the PBS Kids TV show
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum.
One great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big. Included in each book
A timeline
of key events in the hero’s history
Photos
that bring the story more fully to life
Comic-book-style illustrations
that are irresistibly adorable
Childhood moments
that influenced the heroes
Facts
that make great conversation-starters
A virtue these heroes
This book celebrates the importance of teamwork. You’ll want to collect each book in this dynamic, informative series!