Chapter books are an essential stepping stone on the road to literacy. Chapter books allow young readers to linger in a story, and provide a bridge between picture books and more complex, challenging texts. But when it comes to diversity, chapter books still lag behind. Many classroom shelves and home libraries are lined with the same worn chapter book series that kids have been reading for decades, without much variety.
At Lee & Low, we believe that it’s just as important for young readers to have access to diverse chapter books. That’s why we’re excited to launch our “The Story Of” series, a new line of chapter book biographies out now. These chapter books go beyond the common names to introduce readers to amazing leaders and heroes whose names you might not know but whose achievements have shaped our world.
Every chapter book contains great nonfiction text features to support learning, including:
- Informative sidebars
- Highlighted vocabulary words
- A timeline
- A glossary
- A bibliography
- Recommended reading
Get to know our first biographies:
The Story of Tennis Champion Arthur Ashe
Written by Crystal Hubbard, illus. by Kevin Belford
Paperback • 96 pages • Guided Reading Level X
Learn about Arthur Ashe, one of the most compelling athletes and humanitarians of the twentieth century, in this action-packed tribute. [Purchase the book.]
The Story of World War II Hero Irena Sendler
Written by Marcia Vaughn, illus. by Ron Mazellan
Paperback • 64 pages • Guided Reading Level Y
Meet Irena Sendler, a social worker who helped save nearly 2500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto during the Nazi occupation of Poland. [Purchase the book.]
The Story of Car Engineer Soichiro Honda
Written by Mark Weston, illus. by Katie Yamasaki
Paperback • 64 pages • Guided Reading Level W
Discover the fascinating biography of Soichiro Honda, the innovative motorcycle and car manufacturer and business pioneer. [Purchase the book.]
Coming This Fall
We’re excited to add three more additions to our The Story Of chapter book line this fall! Look out for:
- The Story of Movie Star Anna May Wong
- The Story of Olympic Swimmer Duke Kahanamoku
- The Story of Civil Rights Hero John Lewis
