30 Inspiring Growth Mindset Biographies for Kids

Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai
When she was younger, Malala dreamed of the things she’d do if she had a magic pencil. She’d erase war, poverty, and hunger. Then, she would draw girls and boys together as equals. Soon she began writing publicly about her beliefs. Even after bad men tried to stop her, Malala wrote, using her words to spread her message of equality and hope. Beautifully illustrated and inspiring, this story shares Malala’s ideals with the youngest of readers, her values of example of growth mindset and social justice in action.

Sisters Venus and Serena Williams by Jeanette Winter
Winters beautifully captures the essence of the Williams sisters’ lives and friendship, giving children an inspiring narrative story paired with beautiful, captivating art. Read how the girls share a bed in their Compton, CA house and then practice tennis each morning with their dad. Practicing, focusing, practicing,…training, playing…always together. The sisters win trophies and try new ways of dressing and wear signature hairstyles. As adults, the athletes continue to inspire us with more wins and perseverance through health challenges.

The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, illustrated by Oge Mora
Run out to buy this beautifully written, inspirational story of perseverance combined illustrated in gorgeous collage artwork from Oge Mora that shows us it’s never too late to learn new things. Born into slavery and freed at age 15, Mary Walker never got the chance to read and write. She worked hard, had a family, and sadly, outlived her husband and her children. Then at age 116, she decided to take a reading class so she could finally read her Bible. And she did!

Wood, Wire, Wings Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane by Kirsten W. Larson, illustrated by Tracy Subisak
A well-written narrative biography about a female airplane inventor and engineer named Lilian Todd. Lilian followed her passion and curiosity with persistence to figure out how to make an aircraft. She persisted and failed but eventually designed a successful airplane.

Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson
Growing up in the prejudicial apartheid South Africa, Nelson Mandela faced horrible racism and a long time in prison. Despite all of this, his spirit continued to be strong. He eventually realized his dream to improve the country and give equal rights to all people by becoming a strong leader and president of his country.

The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons by Natascha Biebow, illustrated by Steven Salerno
Skillfully written, perfect for young readers who will learn how, through perseverance, crayons were invented. Edwin Binney, a curious inventor, listened to what people needed in their lives. First, he created a slate pencil for children in the classroom. Next, he made a better, non-crumble chalk for teachers. When many people, including his own wife, asked for better, cheaper colored crayons, Edwin and his team experimented with rocks, minerals, pigments, and clays and found the perfect mixtures for a longer-lasting crayon. And we still love his crayons today!

Building a Dream: How the Boys of Koh Panyee Became Champions written by Darshana Khiani, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk
What an inspiring story! These soccer-loving boys have no place to play because their floating village is surrounded by the ocean and waterways. After their low-tide beach location no longer works, the boys don’t let that deter them. They build their own pitch — a floating dock– where they can practice and play!

The House That Cleaned Itself: The True Story of Frances Gabe’s (Mostly) Marvelous Invention by Laura Deashewitz and Susan Romberg, illustrated by Meghann Rader
Frances’s jaw-dropping inventions for cleaning her house are so creatively inventive. She’s a really smart problem-solver, that’s for sure. When she gets fed up with her “job” doing all the housework, she creates a house with rooms that clean themselves. Imagine an automatic carwash inside the house with air jets and a slanted floor!! (It’s pretty messy and wet though.) Although her ideas didn’t catch on, maybe one day another inventor will build on Frances’s ideas. She’s a woman who saw a problem and figured out how to solve it.

The True Story of Zippy Chippy: The Little Horse That Couldn’t by Artie Bennett, illustrated by Dave Szalay
You’ll fall in love with this horse and trainer who persist in racing despite being, well, terrible. Felix, Zippy’s owner, believes in Zippy, the rambunctious escape artist who loses 70 straight races. Then breaks a record at 86 races with no wins. Felix tries everything to change Zippy’s luck but nothing works. Interestingly enough, Zippy becomes a well-known, celebrated legend with a total of…100 losses! “Zippy showed us that you can lose and lose and lose and still be a winner.“ What a great story for discussion!!

Evelyn The Adventurous Entomologist: The True Story of a World-Traveling Bug Hunter by Christine Evans, illustrated by Yasmin Imamura 
“But Evelyn went anyway” repeats throughout this story to show the pioneering courage of Evelyn Cheesman, a woman who didn’t let conventions of what girls could or couldn’t do stop her from pursuing her passion for animals. In the late 1800s, this daring English girl pursued her love for animals with a job running the London Zoo’s insect house. Not only that, she developed a singular focus on entomology, soon traveling the globe to discover new insects. And when she was told not to go places, you guessed it, …she went anyway.

Who Says Women Can’t Be Doctors? The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell by Tanya Lee Stone, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman Despite growing up in a time when women were not viewed as equal to men, Elizabeth studied and worked hard to become the first woman doctor. She showed the world that women were just as smart and capable as men– and can be doctors.

Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Blade, illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera
Talk about a growth mindset! Gwendolyn loved words and poetry and from a young age, wrote poetry of her own. She never had monetary success but with persistence and dedication, she eventually found success as an adult with publications and winning the Pulitzer Prize.

Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Edel Rodriguez Before Sonia Sotomayor was the first Latino to be nominated to the US Supreme Court, she grew up poor and struggled to overcome stereotypes. 

Malala Yousafzai: Warrior with Words by Karen Leggett Abouraya, illustrated by L. C. Wheatley
She’s just a girl in Pakistan but Malala wants to go to school. When she does, she is shot by the Taliban. Malala becomes an advocate for girls and boys, too, to receive an education. Her biography is a great example of growth mindset. (Also read: For the Right to Learn by Rebecca Langston-George.)

Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein by Don Brown
He’s a strange child who doesn’t speak until he’s nearly three, his temper is often violent, and he doesn’t have many friends. Here’s a glimpse of the early childhood of the infamous scientist, Albert Einstein. He didn’t start out as popular or amazing but…was considered odd. Even children know how his story ends with brilliance and success.

Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor by Emily Arnold McCully
Mattie was one smart inventor! But not everyone saw it — she had to prove her detractors wrong, including the man who stole her invention and passed it off as his own. Mattie eventually became known as “the Lady Edison.”

Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Eric Shabazz Larkin
Most people don’t have Will Allen’s vision. He saw a farm instead of an abandoned city lot. In fact, he figured out how to get space, soil, and create an innovative urban farm despite all the difficulties.

Wilma Unlimited by Kathleen Kull, illustrated by David Diaz
After having polio as a child, Wilma was told she wouldn’t walk again, let alone run.  But Wilma was determined (growth mindset) and she worked hard, becoming the first American woman to win three gold medals at the Olympics.

Bessie the Motorcycle Queen by Charles R. Smith Jr., illustrated by Charlot Kristensen
I love the lyrical, poetic writing about an independent woman named Bessie, a stunt-riding, long-distance motorcycle rider in 1920 who loved traveling on her motorcycle throughout the U.S. When she reached the South with its Jim Crow signs and segregation and Klan members, she had to be careful about where to get gas and where to stop. But she kept traveling. Bessie flipped her lucky penny onto a map to decide where to go next. She was free, and she loved her life on the road.

Hiawatha and the Peacemaker by Robbie Robertson, illustrated by David Shannon
The Peacemaker was a real person who chose a man named Hiawatha to help him communicate his message of peace and unity to the five nations of Iroquois. The message wasn’t well-received at first but the Peacemaker helped the tribal leaders understand forgiveness and unity. United, the Iroquois nation became a model for democracy which was said to have influenced Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.

I am Martin Luther King, Jr. by Brad Meltzer, illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos
This nonfiction biography series for young readers is absolutely fantastic. The latest is this book about Martin Luther King, Jr. whose cartoon illustration will give you a chuckle — since it’s he’s a kid with a mustache. We learn how much an experience with a white friend not playing with him because he was black hurt him. We learn how the injustice in the world bothered Martin and that he wanted to do something about it. The book does NOT end with his death but ends on a positive note of standing strong and facing struggles.

Chasing Freedom by Nikki Grimes, illustrated by Michele Wood
I loved this nonfiction biography picture book about Susan B. Anthony and Harriet Tubman — two women who changed the world and had growth mindsets.

Dorothea’s Eyes: Dorothea Lange Photographs the Truth by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Gerard DeBois 
Polio left Dorothea with a limp and the desire to hide in the background. But this challenge actually helped her find her path in life — to be a photographer and show what she saw, the people affected by the Great Depression.

Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel, illustrated by Melissa Sweet 
This is the true story of an immigrant from Ukraine with grit and perseverance. Clara worked in a shirtwaist factory and grew sick of how she and her coworkers were treated. So, she did something about it — she led a strike. Talk about growth mindset!

Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Yuyi Morales
Cesar was a shy boy whose family worked on farms, barely making any money. As he grew up and saw the injustice done to his family and other migrant workers, he overcame his shyness and became an outspoken leader for justice. (Also read: Dolores Huerta by Sarah Warren.)

The Boo-Boos That Changed the World A True Story About an Accidental Invention (Really) by Barry Wittenstein, illustrated by Chris Hsu
Earle’s wife, Josephine, is accident-prone. REALLY accident-prone. Worried about her cuts and infections, Earle invents an adhesive tape “bandage” which helps! He pitches the idea to his bosses at Johnson & Johnson, they love it, and call the product Band-Aids. Unfortunately, the Band-Aids don’t sell. The company decides not to sell them but using growth mindset, gives them away to other accident-prone groups — the Boy Scouts and soldiers. Soon the world sees the need for this practical invention — and aren’t you glad?

Growth Mindset for Ages 7 to 18

The Story of Olympic Diver Sammy Lee by Paula Yoo, illustrated by Dom Lee
Don’t miss this interesting biography about a Korean American diver, Sammy Lee. Growing up, Sammy could only use the swimming pool one day a week, the day it was for people of color. During the rest of the week, he uses a sandpit in his coach’s backyard. Gack! His hard work pays off and you’ll read all about his many challenges leading to eventually competing in the Olympics. He was the first Korean American to win gold for the United States. This biographical book is an amazing example of growth mindset.

The Story of… Trailblazing Actor Ira Aldridge by Glenda Armand, illustrated by Floyd Cooper 
Read the true story of an African American boy who wanted to be an actor in a time when most African Americans were still enslaved. He realized his dream, moving to England where he performed Shakespeare plays and spoke against slavery. The book also includes informational sidebars, highlighted vocabulary words, a timeline, glossary, bibliography, and recommended reading.

I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World by Malala Yousafzai and Patricia McCormick
Malala shares in detail how the Taliban shot her in the face when she tried to go to school, just because she was female. She explains how this changed her life. She shares her determination to continue to advocate for her rights and the rights of girls and boys all over the world.

X: A Novel by Ilyassah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon
Teen readers will find this a powerful fictionalized account of Malcolm X’s childhood which included a murdered father and a time in prison, and then see how he overcame his struggles to become an influential civil rights leader.

Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina by Michaela DePrince and Elaine DePrince
An orphan who was thought never to be adopted due to her skin condition, Michaela was adopted from an orphanage in West Africa. Even at the orphanage, she wanted to be a ballerina — and her determination and hard work (growth mindset!) paid off. Now she’s the youngest principal dancer with the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

Rise Up: Ordinary Kids With Extraordinary Stories by Amanda Li, illustrated by Amy Blackwell
A must-own book and favorite from this list! Kids will love the colorful layouts, exceptional writing, and wealth of information about SO many amazing role model kids. Learn about Poorna Malavath from India who climbed Mt. Everest, Desmond Doss, a WWII hero from the U.S., and Molly Kelly from Australia who escaped from forced resettlement for Aboriginal children. The writing grabs you from the first sentence — and makes these children’s true stories exciting and dramatic as if you were reading an adventure story.

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
This is the amazing & powerful biography of a boy with courage and hope who walked across Africa to find a better life. We also learn the story of an African village for whom water is a two-hour walk, and how the boy, now a man, builds a well for the village.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
A drought affects William’s Malawi village, ruining crops and leaving everyone hungry. So, William decides to figure out a solution. And he does! He learns about wind power and builds a windmill that powers a water pump for the farmland. A must-read growth mindset biography.

Unbroken (The Young Adult Adaptation): An Olympian’s Journey from Airman to Castaway to Captive by Laura Hillenbrand
Louis Zamperini’s life is almost unbelievable — a hoodlum, an Olympic runner, an airman shot down, and above all, a man who has great strength of character (growth mindset) to persevere despite all of life’s challenges.

Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland
Misty Copeland doesn’t even start taking ballet until she’s a teenager — and it was at a community center, not a prestigious dance studio. Follow her struggles as she finds her passion and works hard to achieve her dreams.

Noise Makers: 25 Women Who Raised Their Voices & Changed the World by Kazoo Magazine
Readers who like comics will love the format of these short biographies. Not only are the bios told in comic form, but the two-page spread for each individual also gives readers why the woman is famous and what time period they’re from (Fossil Hunter / Mary Annino / 1799 – 1847) as well as how YOU might be like the famous woman… (“I like to hike, I’m patient, I like to draw pictures,…“) Get informed and inspired by reading about Bessie Coleman, Julia Child, Hedy Lamarr, Mary Shelley, Josephine Baker, and others. An accessible, interesting tome that celebrates females who’ve made a difference in the world.

A Black Woman Did That: 42 Boundary-Breaking, Bar-Raising, World-Changing Women by Malaika Adero, illustrated by Chante Timothy
In this book, you’ll meet women and girls who will inspire you. Read about fascinating and admirable women who are scientists, models, athletes, politicians, dancers, and more. Fascinating writing and fascinating people with impactful, vivid illustrations.