The “Gifted Others” in Diverse Picturebook Biographies

A presentation for the National Association for Gifted Children conference 2021.

by Myra Garces-Bacsal

November 11, 2021

Comment 1

Myra here.

In a few days, I will be presenting a paper at the National Association for Gifted Children annual convention with wonderful colleagues. To complement that presentation, I will be sharing the book list here. I do feel that these books fit our themes perfectly as they demonstrate human beings’ capacity to survive (and thrive) and the use of narratives as a form of deliverance.

Here is our definition of the diverse gifted ‘others.’

This curation is based on some of the themes that will be mentioned in our presentation.

Myra here.

Here is our definition of the diverse gifted ‘others.’

Experimentation and Resourcefulness | Sense of purpose fueling cognitive skills and drive to learn | Keen Powers of Observation, Attention to Detail, Endless curiosity

Magic Ramen: The Story Of Momofuku Ando by Andrea Wang and Kana Urbanowicz – 2019 Honor Book: Freeman Book Award

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer and Elizabeth Zunon – 2012 Medal: Children’s Africana Book Award

The Vast Wonder Of The World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just by Melina Mangal and Luisa Uribe

Mario And The Hole In The Sky: How A Chemist Saved Our Planet by Elizabeth Rusch and Teresa Martinez

Non-white gifted thinkers from outside the US

Confucius: Great Teacher Of China by Demi – 2018 Honor: Freeman Book Award

The Legend Of Lao Tzu And The Tao Te Ching by Demi

Su Dongpo: Chinese Genius by Demi

The Boy Who Dreamed Of Infinity: A Tale Of The Genius Ramanujan by Amy Alznauer and Daniel Miyares

The Amazing Discoveries Of Ibn Sina by Fatima Sharafeddine and Intelaq Mohammed Ali

The Amazing Travels Of Ibn Battuta by Fatima Sharafeddine and Intelaq Mohammed Ali

Rumi: Whirling Dervish by Demi

Al Ghazali by Demi

Women in STEM

Maryam’s Magic: The Story Of Mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani by Megan Reid and Aaliya Jaleel

Counting On Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 by Helaine Becker and Dow Phumiruk

A Computer Called Katherine by Suzanne Slade and Veronica Miller Jamison

Counting The Stars: The Story Of Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician by Lesa Cline-Ransome and Raul Colon

Hidden Figures: The True Story Of Four Black Women And The Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly and Winifred Conkling and Laura Freeman – 2019 Nominee: Coretta Scott King Book Award Nominee

She Caught The Light: Williamina Stevens Fleming – Astronomer by Kathryn Lasky and Juliana Swaney

Look Up! Henrietta Leavitt: Pioneering Woman Astronomer by Robert Burleigh and Raul Colon

Emmy Noether: The Most Important Mathematician You’ve Never Heard Of by Helaine Becker and Kari Rust

Numbers In Motion – Sophie Kowalevski: Queen Of Mathematics by Laurie Wallmark and Yevgenia Nayberg

Queen Of Physics: How Wu Chien Shiung Helped Unlock The Secrets Of The Atom by Teresa Robeson and Rebecca Huang – 2020 Asian Pacific American Award for Literature

Nothing Stopped Sophie: The Story Of Unshakable Mathematician Sophie Germain by Cheryl Bardoe and Barbara McClintock – 2019 NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Nominee

The Bug Girl: A True Story by Sophia Spencer with Margaret McNamara and Kerascoet

The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets In The Rainforest by Heather Lang and Jana Christy

Secrets Of The Sea: The Story Of Jeanne, Power Revolutionary Marine Scientist by Evan Griffith and Joanie Stone

Ocean Speaks: How Marie Tharp Revealed The Ocean’s Biggest Secret by Jess Keating and Katie Hickey – 2021 Riverby Awards

Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea: Marie Tharp Maps the Ocean Floor by Robert Burleigh and Raul Colon

Shark Lady: The True Story Of How Eugenie Clark Became The Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating and Marta Alvarez Miguens

Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries Of Mary Anning, The First Paleontologist by Linda Skeers and Marta Alvarez Miguens

When Sue Found Sue: Sue Hendrickson Discovers Her T-Rex by Toni Buzzeo and Diana Sudyka

Joan Procter Dragon Doctor: The Woman Who Loved Reptiles by Patricia Valdez and Felicita Sala – 2019 Orbis Pictus Nominee, Monarch Award Nominee 2020

Evelyn The Adventurous Entomologist: The True Story Of A World-Traveling Bug Hunter by Christine Evans and Yasmin Imamura

Please see here for even more titles of books featuring female empowerment.

Motivation and Persistence

A Thousand Glass Flowers: Marietta Barovier And The Invention Of The Rosetta Bead by Evan Turk

Jump At The Sun: The True Life Tale Of Unstoppable Storycatcher Zora Neale Hurston by Alicia D. Williams and Jacqueline Alcantara

The Fearless Flights Of Hazel Ying Lee by Julie Leung and Julie Kwon

How To Solve A Problem: The Rise (And Falls) Of A Rock-Climbing Champion by Ashima Shiraishi and Yao Xiao

Yusra Swims by Julie Abery and Sally Deng

A Girl Called Genghis Khan: How Maria Toorpakai Wazir Pretended to Be a Boy, Defied the Taliban, and Became a World Famous Squash Player by Michelle Lord and Shehzil Malik

Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story of the Oldest Person to Ever Run a Marathon by Simrat Jeet Singh and Baljinder Kaur

Sakamoto’s Swim Club: How A Teacher Led An Unlikely Team To Victory by Julie Abery and Chris Sasaki

Heightened Multifaceted Sensitivities, Overexcitabilities, A More Nuanced Perception Of The World

Frida by Benjamin Lacombe and Sebastien Perez

A Boy Named Isamu: A Story Of Isamu Noguchi by James Yang

Rock By Rock: The Fantastical Garden of Nek Chand by Jennifer Bradbury and Sam Boughton

Dancing Through Fields Of Color: The Story of Helen Frankenthaler by Elizabeth Brown and Aimee Sicuro

Yayoi Kusama: From Here To Infinity by Sarah Suzuki and Ellen Weinstein

Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli by Kyo Maclear and Julie Morstad

A Life Made By Hand: The Story Of Ruth Asawa by Andrea D’Aquino

The Bluest Of Blues: Anna Atkins and the First Book of Photographs by Fiona Robinson

Dreamers by Yuyi Morales – 2019: Pura Belpré Award

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika Aldamuy Denise and Paola Escobar

Please see here for even more titles of books featuring discipline, motivation, and persistence and high creatives.

Well-developed Sense of Moral Justice

The Power Of Her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne by Lesa Cline-Ransome and John Parra

Miss Mary Reporting: The True Story of Sportswriter Mary Garber by Sue Macy and C. F. Payne – 2017: NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Nominee

We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom and Michaela Goade – 2021: Caldecott Medal

Little Libraries, Big Heroes by Miranda Paul and John Parra

The Cat Man Of Aleppo by Irene Latham, Karim Shamsi-Basha and Yuko Shimizu – 2021: Caldecott Medal Nominee

The House That Jane Built: A Story about Jane Addams by Tanya Lee Stone and Kathryn Brown – 2016: NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Nominee

The Only Woman In The Photo: Frances Perkins & Her New Deal for America by Kathleen Krull and Alexandra Bye

Above The Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball by Jen Bryant and Frank Morrison

Microaggressions, Social Rejection, Inequalities

Mae Among The Stars by Roda Ahmed and Stasia Burrington

Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade and Cozbi A. Cabrera – 2021: Coretta Scott King Award Nominee

A Song For Gwendolyn Brooks by Alice Faye Duncan and Xia Gordon

Feed Your Mind: A Story of August Wilson by Jen Bryant and Cannaday Chapman

Little Melba And Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown and Frank Morrison – 2015: Coretta Scott King Book Award; 2015: NCTE Orbis Pictus Award

Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music by Margarita Engle and Rafael Lopez – 2016: Pura Belpre Medal

The Secret Garden Of George Washington Carver by Gene Barretta and Frank Morrison

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation by Duncan Tonatiuh – 2015: Jane Addams Children’s Book Award; 2015: Pura Belpre Award; 2015: NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book

Soldier For Equality: José de la Luz Sáenz and the Great War by Duncan Tonatiuh – 2020: Pura Belpre Award Nominee; 2020: NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book

Please see here for even more titles of books featuring human rights advocacy, social justice, ethical and moral responsibility.