Who Was? Books in Order

Galileo used observations of the heavens to challenge accepted ideas about Earth's place in the universe. This biography introduces the Italian scientist's discoveries and the dangers he faced when his support for a sun-centered system confronted authority.

Born into slavery, George Washington Carver pursued education and became a scientist and teacher. This biography explains his study of plants, work improving agriculture, and experiments with peanuts that helped make his research widely known.

Harriet Beecher Stowe used fiction to draw attention to the human cost of slavery. This biography introduces her life and abolitionist work, explaining how Uncle Tom's Cabin became part of America's heated debate over slavery.

J. R. R. Tolkien's fascination with languages helped shape the imagined worlds of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. This biography introduces his childhood, wartime experience, and development as a writer of fantasy.

Jacques Cousteau's fascination with the sea led him from naval service to experiments with diving equipment and underwater filmmaking. This biography shows how his documentaries opened ocean life to viewers and supported interest in marine exploration.

Jesse Owens rose from an Alabama childhood marked by poverty and racial discrimination to international athletic success. This biography follows his school and college running career and his four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

This illustrated biography places Jesus's life and teachings within the world of the Roman Empire. Written for young readers, it introduces historical context alongside the early development of Christianity and its growth into a major religion.

Julia Child discovered a passion for French cooking and shared it through books and television. This biography follows her training, the creation of Mastering the Art of French Cooking, and her role hosting The French Chef.

Born into Austrian royalty, Marie Antoinette married into the French royal family as a teenager. This biography follows her life at Versailles and the public anger surrounding the monarchy as France moved toward revolution.

Agnes Bojaxhiu joined a religious order and became Sister Teresa, later known for helping impoverished people in India. This biography follows her move from teaching to charitable work in Calcutta and the expansion of her mission.

Sports cartoonist Robert Ripley turned his interest in unusual facts into Believe It or Not! This biography follows his travels, collecting, and publishing work, explaining how curiosity about the extraordinary grew into an entertainment business.

Initially an unpromising racehorse, Seabiscuit gained new training and began defeating stronger rivals. This biography follows his rise to national fame during the Great Depression, when his unlikely success gave fans a sporting story to cheer.

Born into slavery in New York, Sojourner Truth escaped and began speaking publicly about freedom and equality. This biography follows her change of name, travels, and challenges to discrimination as she advocated for Black people and women.

Steve Irwin grew up caring for animals at his parents' wildlife park in Australia. This biography follows his work with crocodiles, partnership with Terri, and development of the television series that brought his wildlife encounters to viewers.

Winston Churchill's career stretched from military service and war reporting to leading Britain during World War II. This biography introduces his political life alongside his work as a historian, writer, and artist beyond government.

Woodrow Wilson moved from university leadership to governing New Jersey and becoming president during World War I. This biography explores his hopes for the League of Nations alongside the illness and personal losses that complicated his leadership.

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm shared an interest in folklore that grew during their studies in Germany. This biography explains how the brothers collected and published traditional tales, preserving stories including Hansel and Gretel for later generations.

Bruce Springsteen found an outlet in guitar playing while growing up in a working-class New Jersey family. This biography follows his path through local bands to recordings whose songs address ordinary lives and America's social changes.

Reginald Dwight began playing piano as a young child before becoming Elton John. This biography follows his move from classical training toward rock and pop, introducing his songs, stage style, and work for theater and film.

This biography follows Hillary Clinton from childhood ambitions to work in public life as First Lady, senator, and secretary of state. Published during her presidential campaign, it places her experiences within the changing opportunities available to women.

This biography follows Stevie Wonder from signing with Motown as an eleven-year-old to becoming a singer, songwriter and musician. It connects his musical career with the civil rights work that also brought him recognition.

Alexander grows up in ancient Macedon eager to conquer lands beyond his father's kingdom. This biography follows his expanding empire, examining the victories that gained him supporters and enemies and the world he sought to rule.

This biography traces Charlie Chaplin's rise from childhood hardship in London to success as a performer and filmmaker. It also explores the political pressures that complicated his life in America and drove him from his adopted country.

Private and bookish Jacqueline Kennedy enters public life as the wife of President John F. Kennedy. This biography examines her White House restoration, influence on fashion and experiences at the center of America's attention.

Growing up in a French village during the Hundred Years' War, Joan believes religious visions call her to serve France. This biography follows the teenager's journey into military leadership and the beliefs behind her actions.

Jules Verne's appetite for adventure finds expression in stories combining imagined journeys with scientific discoveries. This biography explores the French writer's life and the ideas behind books such as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

Lucille Ball moves from stage performances and small film roles to television comedy with I Love Lucy. This biography follows her acting career and her work running Desilu, a major television production studio.

This biography follows Maya Angelou through an unstable childhood and racial segregation to work in transportation, dance and performance. It explores how writing, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, became central to her life.

Milton Bradley turns experiences of success and setbacks into the idea for The Checkered Game of Life. This biography traces the inventor and printer's board game business and his work making materials for children.

This interactive collection offers twenty-one Mad Libs stories about figures featured in the Who Was? series. Readers fill in words to reshape accounts involving subjects such as Abraham Lincoln, Marie Curie, Jeff Kinney and Bruce Lee.

The Three Stooges develop their love of performing into a vaudeville act and then a film career. This biography explores their physical comedy, changing membership and the audiences who kept watching their shorts and television appearances.

Beginning in London, the Rolling Stones combine blues with rock and roll to develop their sound. This biography follows the band's recordings and live performances as their audience grows beyond Britain and around the world.

Venus and Serena Williams begin tennis training with their parents and rise through professional competition. This biography follows their Grand Slam and Olympic achievements while exploring the close relationship between sisters who also compete against each other.

This biography follows Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina to becoming Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope and first from the Americas. It explores his informal approach to leadership and emphasis on a more welcoming church.

Ralph Lauren starts his fashion business selling ties he designs, then develops a global clothing company. This biography traces his Bronx upbringing and explains how a fashion line moves from drawings to runway presentations.

Sonia Sotomayor grows up in the Bronx, manages childhood diabetes and pursues a legal career inspired by television's Perry Mason. This biography follows her work as a lawyer and judge through her Supreme Court appointment.

Orphaned in the British West Indies, Alexander Hamilton reaches the American colonies and joins the Revolution. This biography follows his work with George Washington and his later role shaping the new nation's finances and Constitution.

This biography examines the contradictions in Andrew Jackson's life as soldier, president and plantation owner. It considers his claims to represent ordinary Americans alongside slavery, wealth and policies forcing Native American tribes from their homelands.

Bob Marley begins making music in rural Jamaica and forms the Wailing Wailers with friends. This biography traces his reggae career, Rastafari beliefs and the international audience drawn to his songs and Jamaican identity.

Cesar Chavez experiences the hardships of migrant farm work as a child. This biography follows his organizing with Dolores Huerta and his use of nonviolent campaigns to build public support for farm workers' rights.

Chuck Jones develops a long animation career working with characters including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and the Road Runner. This biography explores his films, television work and the creative contributions that earned him Academy Awards.

Coretta Scott King's political involvement begins during her education and grows through the Civil Rights Movement. This biography follows her own leadership and continuing advocacy for racial equality, women's rights, LGBT rights and opposition to apartheid.

Fidel Castro helps overthrow Batista and becomes Cuba's leader, turning the island into a one-party state. This biography examines his political influence and the sharply different views of a man whose rule shaped generations.

This biography explores Jane Austen's private life and the Georgian society reflected in her novels. It considers her anonymous early publications, observations about class and marriage, and the lasting readership of books including Pride and Prejudice.

Charles Dodgson teaches mathematics at Oxford and writes as Lewis Carroll. This biography explores how Alice Liddell inspired his Alice stories and how fantasy and nonsense poetry became part of his literary life.

Folk singer Pete Seeger connects music with campaigns for civil rights and environmental protection. This biography explores his performances, the political blacklist that kept him off broadcasts and his efforts to clean up the Hudson River.

This biography follows Diana Spencer from work as a kindergarten assistant into royal life and worldwide attention. It explores how she used her public profile to support charitable causes and reach people in need.

This collection presents more than three hundred jokes about figures featured in the Who Was? series. Historical subjects including Betsy Ross, Shakespeare and Milton Hershey become the basis for puns, questions and playful answers.

This activity book turns people featured in the Who Was? series into puzzles, mazes, quizzes and creative challenges. Readers can try tasks inspired by Picasso, Shakespeare and Einstein, with stickers included alongside the activities.

An Irish teenager forms U2 with school friends and becomes known as Bono. This biography follows his career as the band's singer and explores how his interest in social justice leads to humanitarian work.

Judy Blume moves from inventing stories as a child to writing novels about growing up. This biography explores her imaginative beginnings, popular characters and the challenges from readers who objected to sensitive subjects in her books.

Growing up poor in Brazil, Pelé joins Santos as a teenager and later helps his country win World Cups. This biography traces his soccer career and work with organizations supporting children beyond the field.

A child in Tibet is identified as the fourteenth Dalai Lama and grows into religious and political leadership. This biography follows his exile in India and efforts to preserve Tibetan culture through nonviolent action.

Aretha Franklin begins singing in her father's Baptist congregation before building a recording career. This biography follows her move from gospel toward popular music and the voice and piano skills behind songs including Respect.

Born into slavery, Booker T. Washington pursues reading, education and teaching after emancipation. This biography explores his founding of the Tuskegee Institute and his belief that education and entrepreneurship could strengthen African American communities.

Henry Tudor becomes England's king as an educated, athletic young man. This biography examines his changing character, six marriages and appointment as head of the Church of England, placing his reign within the Renaissance.

Leif Erikson follows his family's tradition of exploration from Greenland to Vinland in North America. This biography recounts his journey and explores Viking navigation, daily life, resource gathering and the stories passed down through generations.

Born in Corsica, Napoleon finds his calling through military education and rises to become France's emperor. This biography explores his conquests across Europe and the laws that extended his influence beyond the battlefield.

Nikola Tesla arrives in America and briefly works with Thomas Edison before the inventors become competitors. This biography explores Tesla's experiments with electricity, remote control and wireless communication, including the coil associated with his name.

Selena begins performing with her brother and sister in a family band in Texas. This biography follows her learning to sing in Spanish, growth as a Tejano artist and contributions to music and fashion.

This biography follows the Black military pilots who trained in Alabama and flew combat missions during World War II. It examines their demanding preparation and the racial prejudice they confronted within the armed forces they served.

A timeline connects 150 people featured in the Who Was? series with the world events surrounding their lives. Beginning in ancient Egypt, it shows how familiar historical figures fit into a broader story across different eras.

Michael Jordan's competitive childhood leads to college basketball, the NBA, and a career that changes the sport. This biography explores his playing skills and the shoe endorsement that helped reshape the relationship between athletes and business.

Oprah Winfrey grows from a girl facing a difficult Southern childhood into a radio worker and television host. This biography traces her path through acting, production, and philanthropy, showing how personal struggles influenced her public work.

Finding a typewriter in the attic starts young R. L. Stine on a writing career. This biography follows his joke books and humor magazine work before exploring the horror stories that made Goosebumps familiar to young readers.

A medical student from Argentina travels through Latin America and becomes a revolutionary in Cuba. This biography follows Che Guevara's changing beliefs and political commitments, exploring the person behind an image widely associated with rebellion.

H. J. Heinz starts with a small food business and builds a company known for ketchup. This biography traces his Pittsburgh roots, early trading, and attention to food safety and the treatment of workers.

Born into slavery in Maryland, Harriet Tubman learns about the Underground Railroad and makes her way north. This biography introduces the dangers and injustice she faced and the determination that shaped her long life.

Fred Rogers' childhood interests in music and puppets lead toward an unexpected television career. This biography follows the minister and musician's work on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and his efforts to encourage kindness among viewers.

Norman Rockwell leaves high school to study art and becomes an illustrator of everyday American life. This biography explores his magazine covers, his Four Freedoms paintings, and the idealized world he tried to portray.

P. T. Barnum builds a showman's career around unusual exhibitions that blur the line between wonders and hoaxes. This biography follows his museum business and role in making the American circus a popular form of entertainment.

Sam Walton opens a store and develops a plan to sell cheaper goods through large shops in small towns. This biography follows how he builds Walmart despite skepticism from other businessmen and potential partners.

Stephen Hawking pursues questions about the origins of the universe while living with a neurological disease. This biography introduces his work on black holes, his writing, and the tools that helped him communicate his ideas.

David Beckham grows up determined to become a professional footballer and joins Manchester United. This biography follows his playing career, World Cup appearances, and the public attention surrounding his charity work and family life.

A boy in Hong Kong develops his martial arts skills at the China Drama Academy and becomes a stuntman. This biography follows Jackie Chan's move into acting and his distinctive combination of comedy and dangerous physical performances.

Benedict Arnold earns admiration as a soldier fighting for American independence before changing sides. This biography follows his earlier military experiences and examines the events behind his decision to join the British during the Revolutionary War.

Celia Cruz rises from a childhood in Havana to a singing career with Sonora Matancera. This biography explores her voice, performance style, and life in exile as she helps bring salsa to audiences around the world.

Confucius devotes his life to learning and teaching in ancient China, hoping education can improve society. This biography introduces his ideas about relationships, respect, and self-discipline, explaining why his lessons continued to influence later generations.

Duke Ellington develops from a young ragtime enthusiast in Washington, DC, into a composer and bandleader during the Harlem Renaissance. This biography follows his jazz career and the music through which he expressed Black American experiences.

Harvey Milk moves from teaching toward political activism amid the social movements of the 1960s. This biography follows his work in San Francisco, his election to public office, and his advocacy for the gay community's equal rights.

Born into slavery, Ida B. Wells becomes a journalist determined to expose racial injustice. This biography follows her newspaper work, civil rights organizing, and campaign for women's voting rights in a society resistant to equality.

A letter to a Pittsburgh newspaper opens a reporting career for the woman known as Nellie Bly. This biography follows her undercover investigations and journey around the world, exploring how she challenged expectations for women in journalism.

A childhood visit to the Hayden Planetarium sparks Neil deGrasse Tyson's interest in astronomy. This biography follows his scientific studies, return to the planetarium, and work sharing the universe with audiences through broadcasts and other media.

Princess Elizabeth never expects to become queen until her uncle gives up the throne and her father becomes king. This biography follows her changing responsibilities and the discipline required to balance private life with royal duty.

RuPaul loves performing as a child and studies theater before creating his drag persona. This biography follows his entertainment career and the television competition that helped introduce the art of drag to a wider audience.

A. A. Milne's writing takes a new direction when his son and a stuffed bear inspire Winnie-the-Pooh. This biography explores his earlier literary work and how woodland play became stories about Christopher Robin and his animal friends.

A Prussian princess marries into Russia's royal family and eventually takes power as Catherine II. This biography follows her rise and reign, examining territorial expansion and her support for education and the arts.

David Bowie repeatedly changes his music, appearance, and public identity throughout his career. This biography follows the English performer from his early artistic interests to Ziggy Stardust, exploring the reinvention behind his songs and acting.

Juliette Gordon Low prefers outdoor adventures to the expectations placed on a young Southern lady. This biography follows how her desire to help others develops into founding the Girl Scouts and creating new opportunities for girls.

German immigrant Levi Strauss heads west during the California Gold Rush to supply workers rather than search for gold. This biography follows his business journey and the durable denim trousers that became a lasting part of fashion.

Walt Whitman works as a printer, journalist, and teacher before publishing poetry that challenges established forms. This biography follows his travels and explores how Leaves of Grass expresses his vision of America and its people.

When David Livingstone disappears from public contact during an African expedition, journalist Henry Morton Stanley sets out to find him. This dual biography follows their lives and the dangerous journey that brings the men together.

Navajo men recruited by the US Marines develop a secret code for sending battlefield messages during World War II. This history follows their training and missions while examining how their country treated them before and after their service.

Questions about historical and contemporary figures turn the subjects of the Who Was? series into a trivia challenge. Readers can test their own knowledge or quiz friends and family on the lives behind familiar names.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. grows up around racing and begins competing at seventeen, following his father and grandfather into the sport. This biography traces his path through stock car racing and the career he builds within a famous family.

Jimmy Carter's path runs from a Georgia childhood and peanut farming through naval service to the presidency. This biography also explores his humanitarian work, including building homes with Habitat for Humanity and receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

Charles Schulz turns a childhood love of drawing into the comic strip Peanuts. This biography explores how sketches of a dog and a shy boy helped inspire Snoopy and Charlie Brown and shaped his cartooning career.

Ernest Hemingway draws on reporting, wartime experiences, and outdoor pursuits in his fiction. This biography follows the writer's life and shows how those experiences influenced novels and stories written in his spare, direct style.

Johnny Cash grows up on an Arkansas cotton farm before beginning a career in rockabilly and country music. This biography follows his changing musical work, distinctive deep voice, and development as a singer and songwriter.