Maya Angelou spent much of her childhood in Stamps, Arkansas. After a traumatic event at age eight, she stopped speaking for five years. However, Maya rediscovered her voice through wonderful books, and went on to become one of the world's most beloved writers and speakers.

Explores the childhood of Marie Curie, who overcame adversity to become one of the most respected scientists in the world.

Presents information about Jane Austen, from her childhood in the English countryside to how her own heartbreak became the inspiration for "Pride and Prejudice."

Little Dolly grew up in Tennessee in a family "as poor as dirt." She started performing at an early age, singing on local radio and television. After graduating high school, she moved to Nashville to pursue her singing dreams. Her managers wanted her to sing pop, but she followed her heart to sing and write country songs. Her heart was right--Dolly became a musical superstar, but she never forgot where she came from. She now uses her wealth to give...

"As a child, Mary Shelley loved to read. One night, at a party, Mary was challenged to write a horror story. This got her thinking...and dreaming about a scientist who created a monster.She wrote this down and eventually finished the novel we know today as Frankenstein. Mary understood that most people like to be scared, revolutionizing the way readers experience fiction. This inspiring story of the writer's life features a facts and photos section...

"Hadid grew up in Baghdad, Iraq, surrounded by music. She was a curious and confident child who designed her own modernist bedroom at nine years old. As a young woman studying at University in Beirut, she was described as the most outstanding pupil the teacher had ever met. With her ... vision and belief in the power of architecture, she founded her own firm and designed [world-famous] buildings ... including the London 2012 Olympic Aquatic Centre"--Publisher...

"Learn how Astrid turned her love of books and telling stories into a career as a world-renowned author. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the inspiring writer's life." -- by publisher

As a child, Elton started playing his grandmother's piano in Harrow, London. He could pick tunes out by ear and was soon attending lessons at the Royal Academy. After answering an advertisement in a newspaper, Elton teamed up with a lyric-writing buddy: Bernie Taupin. The rest was history. Elton's songwriting talent, musical skill and dazzling outfits have made him one of the all-time greats. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations...

Jean-Michel Basquiat was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Puerto Rican mother and Haitian father. When he was eight and recovering from a car accident, his mother gave him a copy of Gray's Anatomy, which sparked his interest in the human form. This biography of the world's most famous street artist features a facts and photos section at the back.

From the critically acclaimed Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of John Lennon, the boy from Liverpool who dreamed of peace. When John Lennon formed a band while still in school, he couldn't have known they were about to change music forever. With their exciting new sounds, rebel attitudes and gift for songwriting, everyone went crazy for The Beatles. Today, John is remembered not just as a musical icon, but as a champion of world...