Illustration by Adam Gustavson
from Fab Four Friends
Inspired by Greg Leitich Smith’s annual list of books from our Austin writing community, I thought I’d start compiling the picture book biographies scheduled for publication in 2015 (including a pair of mine).
I know there are lots more picture book biographies on their way from publishers recognized by SCBWI, so if you’re interested in helping keep this list reasonably complete and up to date, please let me know in the comments which ones ought to be added. I’ll update and republish this post on a regular basis.
The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch (Eerdmans), written by Chris Barton and illustrated by Don Tate
Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), written by Margarita Engle and illustrated by Rafael Lopez
Earmuffs for Everyone!: How Chester Greenwood Became Known as the Inventor of Earmuffs (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books), written and illustrated by Meghan McCarthy
Elvis: The Story of the Rock and Roll King (Henry Holt), written and illustrated by Bonnie Christensen
Emmanuel’s Dream (Schwartz & Wade), written by Laurie Ann Thompson and illustrated by Sean Qualls
Fab Four Friends: The Boys Who Became the Beatles (Christy Ottaviano Books/Henry Holt), written by Susanna Reich and illustrated by Adam Gustavson
The Founding Fathers! Those Horse-Ridin’, Fiddle-Playin’, Book-Readin’, Gun-Totin’ Gentlemen Who Started America (Atheneum), written by Jonah Winter and illustrated by: Barry Blitt
The Hole Story of the Doughnut (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), written by Pat Miller
The House that Jane Built: A Story about Jane Addams (Henry Holt/Christy Ottaviano Books), written by Tanya Lee Stone and illustrated by Kathryn Brown
In Mary’s Garden (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), written and illustrated by Tina and Carson Kugler
The Nutcracker Comes to America: How Three Ballet-Loving Brothers Created a Holiday Tradition (formerly known as Pioneers & Pirouettes: The Story of the First American Nutcracker; Millbrook), written by Chris Barton and illustrated by Cathy Gendron
One Plastic Bag (Millbrook), written by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
Poet: The Remarkable Story of George Moses Horton (Peachtree), written and illustrated by Don Tate
Step Right Up: The Story of Beautiful Jim Key (Lee & Low), written by Donna Bowman Bratton and illustrated by Daniel Minter
Trombone Shorty (Abrams), written by Troy Andrews and illustrated by Bryan Collier
Vivien Thomas – The Man Who Saved the Blue Babies (Lee & Low), written by Gwendolyn Hooks
My debut picture book, ONE PLASTIC BAG (current title, may change!) is forthcoming from Lerner Publications / Millbrook Press in Spring 2015. It’s the story of Isatou Ceesay and five Gambian women who started one of their country’s first creative recycling projects, despite hardship and ridicule. PB/Biography – Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Miranda — I’m looking forward to seeing your book. And I hope your experience with Millbrook has been a great one!
Thanks, Chris, for including THE HOLE STORY OF THE DOUGHNUT, the story of a Maine Master Mariner named Hanson Gregory. It wasn’t his seafaring prowess or his royal medal for bravery that made his name. That happened the day he punched a hole in doughy “sinkers” as a teen assistant to the ship’s cook. Several legends sprang up about Gregory’s invention—-but my book is the true hole story!
You’re welcome, Pat! Who’s doing the illustrations for THE HOLE STORY?
He/She hasn’t been announced yet. Fingers crossed!
Hi Chris!
IN MARY’S GARDEN (Houghton Mifflin) comes out May 2015. It is a picture book about Wisconsin artist Mary Nohl, who created amazing sculptures from the humblest of materials, written and illustrated by Tina and Carson Kugler.
Thanks!
Tina Kugler
http://tinakugler.squarespace.com/books/
Thanks, Tina — and congrats! I’m looking forward to reading it.