Books in On My Own Biography series

Gazing up at the stars, Benjamin Banneker longed to understand how and why things worked as they did. In a time when most black Americans were slaves, Banneker lived a life of freedom and became known as America's first black American man of science. He helped survey Washington, D.C., and became the first black American to write an almanac. Through his accomplishments, he helped advance the cause of equality for African Americans.

Ever since he was a boy, John Brown had hated slavery. He was an abolitionist, a person who believed that no one should be able to own others. Many abolitionists hope that strong words would convince people to end slavery, but John thought words were not enough. He was determined to fight―even if it meant death. In John Brown, author Tom Streissguth and illustrator Ralph L. Ramstad capture the fiery determination of the man whose actions helped to bring about the Civil War.

As a young girl, Margaret Bourke-White dreamed of having great adventures―the kind only a brave and fearless woman would have. As she grew up, she found that the camera was her ticket to adventure. Her portraits of people in terrible circumstances―from the desperate farmers of the Dust Bowl to the victims of World War II's horrors―made her famous worldwide. With her camera always at the ready, Margaret faced many challenges, including floods, bombings, and eventually her own battle with illness. In Margaret Bourke-White, award-winning author Catherine A. Welch creates a powerful portrait of a remarkable, gifted woman. Jennifer Hagerman's illustrations capture Margaret's own liveliness and strength.