Picked by Michael Schofield

Brad Meltzer‘s Ordinary People Change the World series is a super way to bring American history to life, which Brad started because, as he says,

I wanted my kids to see more than princesses and sports figures. I wanted them to see real heroes — Amelia Earhart…Abraham Lincoln — real people no different than themselves. For that reason, each book tells the story of a hero when THEY were a kid. We see them as children. So it’s not just Amelia Earhart and Abraham Lincoln being famous — but them being just like us.

These books are illustrated by multiple Eisner Award nominee (and Harvey Award winner) Christopher Eliopoulos.

  • I am Abraham Lincoln
    Brad Meltzer

    Abraham Lincoln was a child who stood up to bullies and believed in fairness for everyone. He was president during one of America's toughest fights: the Civil War. With his powerful voice and belief that all people are created equal, he brought the country back together, ended slavery, and became one of America's greatest presidents.

  • I am Amelia Earhart
    Brad Meltzer

    Presents the life of the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She disappeared in 1937 while attempting to fly around the world and what became of her remains a mystery.

  • I am Rosa Parks
    Brad Meltzer

    When Rosa Parks was born, the rules weren't fair to African Americans. She had to attend a different school, drink from different water fountains, and sit at the back of the bus, all because of the color of her skin. One day, Rosa dared to stand up for herself and other African Americans by refusing to give up her seat on the bus, and as a result she helped end public bus segregation and launch the country's Civil Rights Movement.

  • I am Jackie Robinson
    Brad Meltzer

    Jackie Robinson always loved sports, especially baseball. But he lived at a time before the Civil Rights Movement, when the rules weren't fair to African Americans. Even though Jackie was a great athlete, he wasn't allowed on the best teams just because of the color of his skin. Jackie knew that sports were best when everyone, of every color, played together. He became the first black player in Major League Baseball, and his bravery changed African-American history and led the way to equality in all sports in America.