I love when dear friends introduce me to new and wonderful books (Thanks, H!). It’s an added bonus when friends introduce me to books that are not only wonderful but also inspiring. Today I’m sharing our little family’s latest obsession: Ordinary People Change the World by Brad Meltzer.
But first, a word about biographies.
It is important for kids to read biographies
I don’t know about you guys, but I love a good biography or memoir. In fact, if I was forced to select a favorite genre, memoirs would probably be it. It’s fascinating to delve into someone else’s world for a bit, is it not? Well, guess what? Kids love biographies too!
Biographies help children to:
- Take another person’s perspective, increasing empathy and understanding
- Learn about someone from a completely different era and background
- Understand the world in a completely different way
- See how other people handle struggles and conflict in their lives
- Dream! Biographies help kids to think about the future and how to make a positive impact
Ordinary People Change the World
I love this series. Love, love, love!
Written by Brad Meltzer and illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos, Ordinary People Change the World is an uplifting and inspiring group of biographies for children. Each book highlights an American icon and shows how each person changed the world. These books make for the perfect family read-aloud or supplement to your American History curriculum!
These are not the dry, fact-laden biographies of old. Written in an easy, engaging tone and paired with colorful and often humorous illustrations, Ordinary People Change the World is engaging for all ages. Meltzer and Eliopoulos make each character relatable to children. Kids will identify with each character’s struggles and understand that one person can change the world.
This series has sparked the most amazing conversations with my children. I love each book’s simple message: You can change the world. Isn’t that what we want our children to understand? They may be ordinary, but they are capable of the extraordinary if they believe in themselves.
The series includes the following biographies:
And the series is still growing. My children have thoroughly enjoyed every book in the series thus far and we are anxiously awaiting more releases!