Books in Genius! Series series

Meet artist Frida Kahlo and find out about her life and work in this engagingly illustrated biography. Mexican artist Frida Kahlo created vibrantly hued paintings . . . and led an equally colorful life. Known for her self-portraits, she became a feminist icon whose work now sells for millions of dollars. This lively biography looks at Frida’s childhood—including her bout with polio—as well as her devotion to Mexican culture and political causes; the bus accident that left her in chronic pain but also sparked her career; and her marriage to Diego Rivera. Appealing illustrations, information on her breakthroughs and successes, and an index of major events reveal how Frida left her mark on humanity. A timeline and simple quiz help kids test their understanding and knowledge.

Meet scientist Marie Curie and learn about her life and pioneering research in this engagingly illustrated biography. At a time when women weren’t welcome in the world of science, Marie Curie made her mark on history. She was the very first woman to become a professor of physics in the Sorbonne, where she had studied, and even went on to win Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields. With this fascinating biography, kids will find out how Curie, along with her husband, set up their lab and discovered both polonium and radium, and why their work on radioactivity was so important. Appealing illustrations, information on her breakthroughs and successes, and an index of major events reveal how Marie left her mark on humanity. A timeline and simple quiz help kids test their understanding and knowledge.

Meet Maria Montessori and discover the story of her life and work in this engagingly illustrated biography—narrated by Montessori herself. Maria Montessori believed in the creative potential of every child—and she developed a brand-new approach to education, building on the way children naturally learn. Now, her methods, which won her three Nobel Peace Prize nominations, are practiced around the world. This fascinating biography shows how Maria, an avid reader, defied gender norms by earning a degree in physics and mathematics, became one of the first women physicians in Italy, and revolutionized educational theory—experimenting and refining to discover what worked best.

Meet composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and learn about his life and music in this engagingly illustrated biography. Wolfgang Amadeus rose to fame as a child genius who wrote his first piece at the age of five, spent a lifetime making music for archbishops and emperors, and created countless compositions until his untimely death at only 35 years old. This engaging biography explores his amazing career, from when Mozart began his musical studies under his father’s tutelage; through his time as a court composer, musician, and concertmaster; to his final work in honor of the coronation of Leopold II as King of Bohemia. Along the way, we find out about Mozart’s travels and the great composers he met, his difficulties with his rich benefactors, his financial struggles, his marriage and family, and his final illness. Appealing illustrations, information on his breakthroughs and successes, and an index of major events reveal how Mozart left his mark on humanity. A timeline and simple quiz help kids test their understanding and knowledge.

Meet Albert Einstein and find out about his life and work in this engagingly illustrated biography. Join physicist Albert Einstein on his journey of scientific discovery and see how the Nobel Prize winner forever changed the way we think about energy, gravity, and the world around us. Children will learn about Einstein’s training, his struggle to find a teaching job, and how he developed his famous theory of relativity. The book also looks at his personal life, including his family, his emigration to America after the Nazis came to power, and his love of music. Appealing illustrations, information on his breakthroughs and successes, and an index of major events reveal how Einstein left his mark on humanity. A timeline and simple quiz help kids test their understanding and knowledge.

Meet Coco Chanel and discover the story of her life and work in this engagingly illustrated biography—narrated by Chanel herself. Her name was Coco Chanel, and her couture creations revolutionized women’s fashion, winning fans around the world. Take a walk down the Parisian catwalk and follow the story of Chanel’s life, and of the high-fashion house she founded. Find out about Coco’s years in an orphanage where she learned how to sew, her time as a singer, her marriage, and how a simple hat shop led to international fame. Appealing illustrations, and an index of major events reveal how Chanel left her mark on humanity.

Meet Leonardo da Vinci and discover the story of his life and work in this engagingly illustrated biography. Why could Leonardo da Vinci paint the human form so accurately, in all its beauty? How was he educated and trained as an artist? What inspired his most famous work, including The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa? And what fun machine did he invent? Find out about this unique artist and the many areas, from architecture to flight, he drew on and influenced. Appealing illustrations, information on his breakthroughs and successes, and an index of major events reveal how da Vinci left his mark on humanity. A timeline and simple quiz at the end of the book help kids test their understanding and knowledge.

Meet Pablo Picasso and discover the story of his life and work in this engagingly illustrated biography—narrated by the artist himself. Pablo Picasso redefined twentieth-century art, moving from realistic portrayals and experiments in color to primitivism and cubism, in which he deconstructed the subjects he painted. This engaging first-person biography explores the unique career of this master, who began learning to draw and paint at just seven years old. It delves into Picasso’s training, including at the School of Fine Arts in Barcelona; his various stylistic periods, from naturalism to surrealism; his experience living in Paris under German occupation during World War II; his many marriages; and his profound influence on later artists.

Meet Galileo Galilei and discover the story of his life and work in this engagingly illustrated biography—narrated by the scientist himself. Astronomer, physicist, and philosopher Galileo Galilei was referred to as "The Father of Modern Science," because of his groundbreaking research. Making observations about nature, and using mathematics to back them up, he proved the Copernican Theory true: the Sun, not the Earth, is the center of the universe. Join Galileo on his pioneering journey to see why his work had such long-lasting implications, and why the Catholic Church even condemned him for heresy.

Meet Ella Fitzgerald and discover the story of her life and work in this engagingly illustrated biography—narrated by the singer herself. Sometimes called “The First Lady of Song,” other times “The Queen of Jazz,” Ella Fitzgerald was one of the most popular singers of the twentieth century. She not only worked with the greatest composers and musicians of her time, she won 13 Grammy Awards, received the National Medal of Arts, and the Kennedy Center Honors, and sold millions of records. Learn about the life of this incomparable diva, including her difficult childhood, her first performance in the famed Apollo Theater’s amateur night, and the discrimination she had to overcome.

Meet world-famous physicist Stephen Hawking and learn about his life and work in this engagingly illustrated biography. Known for both his bestselling books and his work on black holes, physicist Stephen Hawking beat the odds and lived with ALS—a form of motor neuron disease—for longer than doctors ever expected. This engrossing biography shows why Hawking is such an inspiring example of someone who pursued his dreams in spite of his disability. Born into a family of thinkers who loved reading books at the dinner table, Hawking got his love of science and math from his father. Follow his path to fame as he formulates his groundbreaking theory, works on expanding our ideas about the universe and its creation, and becomes a “rock-star scientist” who appeared in TV shows and films. Appealing illustrations, information on his breakthroughs and successes, and an index of major events reveal how Hawking left his mark on humanity. A timeline and simple quiz help kids test their understanding and knowledge.

Meet Louis Pasteur and discover the story of his life and work in this engagingly illustrated biography—narrated by the scientist himself. Best known for developing the process of pasteurization, Louis Pasteur helped advance the field of microbiology. Winner of the Legion of Honor in his native France, Pasteur solved many of the medical mysteries behind various diseases and created vaccines against rabies and anthrax. Kids can learn about this visionary’s life and career, including his childhood talent for art, his training in science and years of teaching and researching, his discovery of molecular symmetry, and his trailblazing work on fermentation.