Autobiography - Brooklyn Public Library

Autobiograpies
for for Children
Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in
Cuba by Alma Flor Ada. J B ADA U. The
author recalls her childhood in Cuba.
Down a Sunny Dirt Road: An
Autobiography by Stan & Jan Berenstain.
J B BERENSTAIN B. In alternating chapters
Stan and Jan Berenstain, creators of the
Berenstain Bears, tell their own stories of
early childhood, marriage, & the present day.
Words to My Life's Song by Ashley Bryan;
with photographs by Bill McGuinness.
J B BRYAN W. Told through drawings and
photographs, the author's autobiography
demonstrates his love for art which always
sustained him even though he was turned
away from art school because of his color.
Once Upon a Time by Eve Bunting;
photographs by John Pezaris.
J B BUNTING O. The author describes her
childhood in Ireland, life in the U.S., and her
work routines.
Flora and Tiger: 19 Very Short Stories
From My Life by Eric Carle. J B CARLE F.
The author recalls experiences, all
connnected with animals, from his childhood
in Germany and his later life in the U.S.
A Girl from Yamhill: A Memoir by Beverly
Cleary. J B CLEARY G. Follows the
popular children's author from her childhood
years in Oregon through high school and into
young adulthood, highlighting her family life.
Chuck Close: Face Book by Chuck Close.
J 759.13 C. Presents an autobiography
about the author's artistic life, describing the
creative processes he uses in the studio and
his struggles with his disabilities and
providing a mix-and-match self-portrait
section that demonstrates his techniques.
Fire On Ice: Autobiography Of A
Champion Figure Skater by Sasha Cohen
with Amanda Maciel. J B COHEN F. The
figure skater, who took the world by storm at
the 2002 Winter Olympics and won the silver
medal in 2006, talks about her childhood and
her training to become a champion.
Bigmama's by Donald Crews. J-E CREWS.
Visiting Bigmama's house in the country,
young Crews finds his relatives full of news
and the old place just the same as it was.
Boy: Tales of Childhood by Roald Dahl.
J B DAHL B. Presents humorous stories
from the author's childhood, such as life in
Norway and at English boarding school.
Sequel: More about Boy: Roald Dahl's
Tales from Childhood.
26 Fairmount Avenue by Tomie dePaola.
J B DE PAOLA T. Children's authorillustrator
Tomie De Paola describes his
boyhood experiences at home and in school.
Here We All Are by Tomie DePaola.
J B DEPAOLA H. Children's authorillustrator
Tomie De Paola describes his
boyhood experiences at home and in school.
I'm Still Scared by Tomie dePaola.
J B DEPAOLA I. Author/illustrator Tomie
De Paola continues his autobiography with
the events between December 7 and 31,
1941, as the U.S. entered World War II.
On My Way by Tomie dePaola.
J B DE PAOLA O. A memoir in which
children's author Tomie De Paola recalls his
baby sister's frightening bout with
pneumonia, and the exciting events of the
summer between kindergarten and 1 st grade.
Things Will Never Be the Same by Tomie
dePaola. J B DE PAOLA D. Authorillustrator
Tomie De Paola describes his
boyhood experiences at home and school.
What a Year by Tomie dePaola.
J B DEPAOLA D. Tomie celebrates his
sixth birthday and enjoys new experiences.
Why? by Tomie dePaola. J B DEPAOLA.
Author and illustrator Tomie De Paola
continues his autobiography with the events
between January 1, 1942-April 29, 1942.
Homesick: My Own Story by Jean Fritz;
illustrated by Margot Tomes. J B Fritz H.
The author's story her childhood in China in
the 1920's.

The Tarantula in My Purse and 172 Other
Wild Pets by Jean Craighead George. J B
GEORGE T. A collection of autobiographical
stories about raising a houseful of children
and wild pets including crows and skunks.
Don't Tell the Girls: A Family Memoir by
Patricia Reilly Giff. J B GIFF D. Patricia
Reilly Giff shares her discoveries of the lives
her ancestors led and the legacy they left her.
Childtimes: A Three-Generation Memoir by
Eloise Greenfield and Lessie Jones Little;
with material by Pattie Ridley Jones;
drawings by Jerry Pinkney. J 920 G.
Childhood memoirs of three black women--
grandmother, mother, and daughter-who grew
up between the 1880's and the 1950's.
The Endless Steppe: Growing Up in
Siberia by Esther Hautzig. J B HAUTZIG E.
During World War II, when she was eleven
years old, the author and her family were
arrested in Poland and exiled to Siberia.
Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela;
abridged by Chris van Wyk; illustrated by
Paddy Bouma. J B MANDELA L. Presents
an abridged autobiography of the South
African leader, chronicling his tribal years,
time in prison, and return to lead his people.
Can You Imagine? by Patricia McKissack;
photographs by Myles Pinkney.
J B MCKISSACK C. The author of the
Newbery Honor Book, "The Dark Thirty,"
describes her life, how she became a writer,
and how she gets her ideas.
Caught by the Sea: My Life on Boats by
Gary Paulsen. J B PAULSEN P. A memoir
in which author Gary Paulsen discusses his
lifelong love for and exploration of the sea.
My Life in Dog Years by Gary Paulsen;
drawings by Ruth Wright Paulsen.
J B PAULSEN M. The author describes
some of the dogs that have had special
places in his life, including his first dog,
Snowball; Dirk, who protected him from
bullies; and Cookie, who saved his life.
Woodsong by Gary Paulsen. J 796.5092 P.
Life in northern Minnesota is a wild
experience for Paulsen involving wolves,
deer, and the sled dogs that make their way
of life possible.
Bill Peet: An Autobiography by Bill Peet.
J B PEET B. The well-known author and
illustrator relates the story of his life and work.
Drawing From Memory by Allen Say.
J B SAY S. A Caldecott Medalist presents a
graphic novel chronicling his own journey as
an artist during WWII, when he was shunned
by his father, but was embraced Japan's
leading cartoonist.
To Dance: A Memoir by Siena Cherson
Siegel; with artwork by Mark Siegel.
J B SIEGEL T. In graphic novel format, the
author shares her story of how, despite flat
feet, she decided to take ballet and was
accepted to the School of American Ballet.
The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron
Curtain by Peter Sís. J B SIS W.
Annotated illustrations, maps, and
dreamscapes explore how the artistauthor's
life was shaped while growing up in
Czechoslovakia during the Cold War.
Knots in My Yo-Yo String: The
Autobiography of a Kid by Jerry Spinelli.
J B SPINELLI K. This Italian-American
Newbery Medalist presents a humorous
account of his youth in Pennsylvania.
West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls
Wilder, San Francisco, 1915 by Laura
Ingals Wilder; edited by Roger Lea
MacBride. J B WILDER W. Letters by
Laura Ingalls Wilder to her husband in
which she describes her west coast visit.
Please note that not all books are at every
location, but you can request materials sent
to your local library. Check the BPL website
or ask a librarian for details.
Created by the Children’s Librarians of
Brooklyn Public Library, July 2012