Spotlight Biography series

Spotlight biographies give young readers role models—people to emulate and admire. Our subjects come from all walks of life—sports, science, art, writing, history, business, art, and even activism. When students read stories about the lives of real people, a spark of hope ignites and the future calls. In the Spotlight’s bright beam, the subjects of biography inspire.

Founder of Kodak, George Eastman, revolutionized the field of photography by making it accessible to everyone.

Founder of Kodak, George Eastman, revolutionized the field of photography by making it accessible to everyone.

Mother Jones lost her entire family in a yellow fever epidemic, yet became a fierce fighter for workers’ rights, caring especially for the plight of children as young as four working.

Mother Jones lost her entire family in a yellow fever epidemic, yet became a fierce fighter for workers’ rights, caring especially for children .

The “Father of American Caricature,” Thomas Nast used his pen as a weapon to bring down the notoriously corrupt Tweed Ring in New York City.

The “Father of American Caricature,” Thomas Nast used his pen as a weapon to bring down the notoriously corrupt Tweed Ring in New York City.

 

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Spotlight Authors

Read Edith Hope Fine’s blog posts about her biographies of Barbara McClintock and Gary Paulsen. Learn more about the author at EdithFine.com.

Judith Pinkerton Josephson blogged about Jesse Owens and her latest biography of Mother Jones is scheduled for publication in October, 2015. Learn more about the author at JudithJosephson.com.

Lynda Pflueger blogged about Thomas Nast and her newest biography of George Eastman was published in print and as an ebook, 2015. Learn more about the author at LyndaPflueger.com.

Brilliant geneticist Barbara McClintock won a Nobel prize at eighty-one for her discovery of “jumping genes.”

Brilliant geneticist Barbara McClintock won a Nobel prize at eighty-one for her discovery of “jumping genes.”

Jesse Owens, an African-American gold medalist in track and field, went to the 1936 Olympics with one pair of running shoes and won one of his four medals for jumping the length of a school bus.

Jesse Owens went to the 1936 Olympics with one pair of running shoes and won one of his four medals for jumping the length of a school bus.

Famed children’s author Gary Paulsen, best known for Hatchet, has almost been killed by a moose during the Iditarod and fallen through the ice in winter.

Famed children’s author Gary Paulsen has almost been killed by a moose during the Iditarod and fallen through the ice in winter.