Penguin Young Readers celebrates the heroes who shaped history!
Ordinary People Change the World
How do we give children the right role models? Best-selling author Brad Meltzer envisioned a fun approach to biographies in his picture book series Ordinary People Change the World.
Be a class of heroes!
- Each picture book biography in this New York Times best-selling series tells the story of a significant historical figure in a simple, conversational way, always focusing on a character trait that makes the hero a role model.
- The heroes are depicted as children throughout, telling their life stories in first person and present tense, which keeps the books playful and accessible to children in Grades K-3.
- Each book ends with a line of encouragement, a direct quote, photos, a timeline, and a source list.
- Now with six books in the series available in paperback, it’s easy to add these character-building titles to your classroom.
Shop the Series
Download the Educator Guide
Download a free series poster.
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About the Author
Brad Meltzer
is the author of the New York Times best-selling Ordinary People Change the World series for children, as well as six New York Times best-selling thrillers for adults: The Tenth Justice, Dead Even, The First Counsel, The Millionaires, The Zero Game, and The Book of Fate. He is also the #1 best-selling author of the critically-acclaimed comic books Identity Crisis and Justice League of America and is the co-creator of the TV series Jack & Bobby.
Check out this trailer for the Ordinary People Change the World series!
About the Illustrator
Christopher Eliopoulos
began his illustration career as a letterer for Marvel and has worked on thousands of comics, including Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius, Pet Avengers, and Cow Boy, all of which he wrote and illustrated. He is the illustrator of the New York Times best-selling Ordinary People Change the World picture book biography series.
Want more biographies?
Check out the Who Was series!
Who Was is a best-selling young biographies series that engages young readers and brings subjects to life with 80 black-and-white illustrations in each book. Explore history, from ancient heroes to today’s pop-culture icons, from famous battles to historic landmarks, and discover all the fascinating stories and amazing facts about trailblazers, legends, places, and events!