Biographies

1
Biographies

• ELE300
• Childrens Literature

2
The Purpose of the Biography

• The goal of the biographer ought to be to
  breathe life and meaning into people and events
  that are dead and gone.
• Russell Freeman, author
• Lincoln A Photobiography

3
Types of Biographies

• Authentic Biography
• Fictionalized Biography
• Biographical Fiction
• Picture Book Biographies
• Simplified Biographies
• Autobiographies

4
Authentic Biography

• Information obtained through
• Eyewitness accounts
• Written documents
• Letters
• Diaries
• Audio and videotape recordings

5
Fictionalized Biography

• Based on careful research
• Creates dramatic episodes from known facts
• Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Lathan

6
Biographical Fiction

• Allowed much artistic license
• Known achievements are reported
• Ben and Me by Robert Lawson

7
Autobiographies

• Author writes about his or her own life.
• -A Girl from Yam Hill by Beverly Cleary
• Co authors

8
Picture Book Biographies

• Intended for young and early intermediate readers
• Brief, more illustration than text
• Focuses highlights of the subjects life

9
Simplified Biographies

• Aimed at intermediate readers
• May be short chapter books
• Content not inclusive

10
Coverage

• Complete Biography
• Partial Biography
• Collected Biography

11
Evaluating Biographies

• Writing style
• Criteria for good literature plot, theme, style,
  point of view, characterization, setting
• Authenticity
• Accuracy Authors must use sound research
  methods.
• Objectivity
• Balance between fact and story line
• Developmentally appropriate
• Book design and layout

12
Biographical Authors

• Russell Freedman
• Lincoln A Photobiography
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt
• The Wright Brothers
• The Life and Death of Crazy Horse
• Eleanor Roosevelt A Life of Discovery

• Jean Fritz
• Whats the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?
• Will You Sign Here, John Hancock?
• TraitorThe Case of Benedict Arnold
• You Want Women to Vote, Lizzie Staton?