Stories for Kids Who Dare to Be Different

Following their previous release, Stories for Boys Who Dare to Be Different (Running Press 2018), writer Ben Brooks and illustrator Quinton Winter have teamed up again for a new book of mini-biographies that will inspire kids to embrace their uniqueness. This title includes stories of people from places all over the world, of various ethnicities, religions, and gender identities. While many of the stories are historical figures, they are balanced with coverage of contemporary figures as well. Each story is inspiring in its own way, with many of them showing how that person defied stereotypes or restrictions placed against them. Some are familiar names, like Hans Christian Anderson, Joan of Arc, and the Wright brothers. Others are more obscure, such as Kenojuak Ashevak, an Eskimo artist; Naoto Matsumura, a Japanese animal activist; and Ana Nzinga Mbande, an African ruler. Each two-page spread contains a full-color illustration of the person on one side, with the other giving their name, the years that person lived, and the story that makes that person remarkable. The illustrations have personality, immediately drawing the reader in. Supporting titles that provide a more detailed idea of the content surrounding each subject would be helpful for additional reference, but these stories are guaranteed to make students want to research more about the individuals for themselves. This book would be a great starting place to inspire an interest in biographical research.