If you’ve got a young one who is inquisitive about the past, audio biographies are a great way to foster that curiosity. We’ve rounded up kid-friendly biographies of important, diverse, and trailblazing figures in American history, perfect for augmenting and complementing what kids are already learning in school. We’ve also included a few memoirs from influential figures in recent history to get kids thinking about important issues. These audiobooks are perfect for independent listening, or you can enjoy them together as a family for deeper discussion.
America’s first president is often the very first historical figure kids learn about, and for good reason! This George Washington biography takes young listeners from Washington's childhood through his presidency, setting the record straight about a lot of the myths and rumors about his life along the way.
Detailing the life of the most beloved president of the United States, this Abraham Lincoln biography for kids tells of Lincoln’s path from his humble beginnings in Illinois to his careers as lawyer and president. As kids will learn, Lincoln served during some of the darkest days in US history and was responsible for the Emancipation Proclamation before his life was cut tragically short by assassination.
Sacagawea is often credited as Lewis and Clark’s guide to the western shores of the United States, but history books often fail to mention that the famous explorers would have died without her insight. This biography tells how she was born into a Shoshone tribe and kidnapped as a young girl, then forced to lead the expedition west with her baby, before covering what little is known about her final years.
For listeners who are too young for Douglass’s famous autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, this biography is a great introduction to the remarkable life of the man who was born a slave, learned how to read and write, escaped from slavery, and went on to become an abolitionist, activist, and famous writer. Douglass disproved the erroneous misconception of many white people of the time that African Americans could not be educated, and his writing inspired many to join the anti-slavery movement.
Helen Keller’s childhood is a tale of tragedy and amazing triumph, but her story was just beginning. When Helen was young, she suffered from a disease that left her unable to hear or see. It wasn’t until she met her teacher, Annie Sullivan, that she learned how to communicate. But she didn't stop there. In this biography for kids, historian and author Brad Meltzer details how Helen Keller grew up to become an activist who advocated for the rights and fair treatment of people with disabilities.
Imagine being the first Black kid to enter an all-white elementary school. When Ruby Bridges was just six years old, she became the first and youngest of a group of brave African American students to integrate public schools in the South. Of course, she was nervous. But even as a little girl, Ruby knew she was meant to “bridge” the gap between people of different races, cultures, and outlooks. In this short but powerful listen, Bridges reflects on her experience on November 14, 1960, a pivotal day in the civil rights movement and our nation’s history. Looking for a heartwarming follow-up? In Ruby Bridges: A Talk with My Teacher, Bridges shares the touching tale of reuniting with Mrs. Henry, the first-grade teacher who changed her life by making her feel welcome and became a cherished friend.
Sonia Sotomayor grew up in a poor neighborhood in the Bronx, where her parents struggled and worried about money. But that did not stop her from working hard and becoming the first Latina to be appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States. This accessible biography details her journey from New York City to Washington, DC, celebrating the accomplishments of a living legend.
Long before making history, Ketanji Brown Jackson was a bright, spirited, and determined kid with big dreams. Growing up in Miami, Florida, she knew she could achieve anything she set her mind to, guided by the examples of her parents. She also knew she was bound to face obstacles, often fueled by racism and sexism, along the way. Following Judge Jackson’s road to the Supreme Court as the first Black woman to be confirmed, this inspiring biography for middle-grade readers affirms the power of aiming high, believing in your own potential, fighting for what’s right, and persevering through setbacks.
Most kids know that Albert Einstein was a brilliant inventor equated with genius—but many don’t realize he was also an immigrant who fled the Holocaust and cared deeply about human rights. This Albert Einstein biography for kids explores his childhood and explains his scientific breakthroughs in kid-friendly terms!
Rosa Parks is best known for her refusal to give up her seat to a white person on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, but that wasn't her only accomplishment for the civil rights movement. In this Rosa Parks biography for kids, listeners will learn about her work for the NAACP and her fight against injustice beyond that moment on the bus. Her story, and her act of nonviolent resistance, inspired many from 1955 to now.
While most kids may recognize the words I have a dream...
from his famous speech, they may not know much more about Martin Luther King, Jr.’s lifelong struggle for equal rights. Beginning with King’s childhood in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929, this biography tells how King became a pastor in Alabama and a leader in the civil rights movement before his tragic assassination.
As a little girl, Malala Yousafzai yearned to read books and learn about the world. When she was 10, the Taliban seized control of her village in Pakistan. They said girls couldn’t go to school. Taught to defend her beliefs, Malala fought for her right to be educated. On October 9, 2012, while riding the bus home from school, she was shot in the head by Taliban thugs. Malala nearly lost her life. But that didn’t stop her from speaking out. In this chapter book version of her bestselling memoir, Malala—the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize—shares her remarkable story of courage and resilience to show kids that they’re not too young to take a stand against hate.
Along with epic figures, history is shaped by epic events, including natural disasters and wars. For kids fascinated by tales of courage, the I Survived historical fiction series is a must listen. From its gripping debut to the latest entry—Book 25, I Survived the Dust Bowl, 1935—each book delivers nonstop action while offering a kid’s-eye view of history’s most memorable catastrophes and horrors. Young listeners will get caught up in the stories of boys and girls who survived some of history’s most terrifying events, such as the destruction of Pompeii, the Battle of Gettysburg, the Great Chicago Fire, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and Hurricane Katrina.
