TL;DR: If you’re tired of your kid’s idea of a "hero" being a YouTuber who spends $1 million on a custom island, Brad Meltzer’s Ordinary People Change the World series is the perfect palate cleanser. These books (and the accompanying Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum show) take historical icons and make them relatable "kids" who changed the world through kindness, persistence, and curiosity rather than "main character energy" or viral stunts.
Check out the full list of Brad Meltzer's biography books
We’ve all been there. You walk into the living room and your seven-year-old is watching a video of a guy in a neon hoodie screaming about a "skibidi" something-or-other, or they’re telling you that a certain prank is "so Ohio." The digital world moves fast, and the "heroes" our kids see on YouTube or TikTok are often defined by how much clout they have or how many Robux they can flex.
It’s exhausting to compete with that. But if you're looking for a way to ground your family’s digital life with some actual substance—without it feeling like a boring social studies lecture—Brad Meltzer’s "Ordinary People Change the World" series is the gold standard.
The series, written by Brad Meltzer and illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos, consists of over 30 picture-book biographies. Each book follows the same format: it starts with a historical figure as a child, showing their struggles, their quirks, and the "ordinary" things that eventually led them to do extraordinary things.
The vibe is very much "comic book meets history." The characters are drawn with big heads and tiny bodies (think Peanuts meets Calvin and Hobbes), and the historical figure remains a child throughout the book, even when they’re doing "adult" things. It sounds weird, but for a 5-to-9-year-old, it’s genius. It makes the hero feel like a peer rather than a statue in a museum.
Our kids are growing up in an attention economy. They see influencers who seem to have "made it" overnight. The "Ordinary People" series is the ultimate antidote because it focuses on character traits as superpowers.
Instead of flying or super-strength, these books highlight:
- Persistence (like I am Amelia Earhart)
- Justice (like I am Rosa Parks)
- Curiosity (like I am Albert Einstein)
- Kindness (like I am Fred Rogers)
It shifts the conversation from "What can I get?" to "Who can I be?"
Ask our chatbot for the best books in this series for a 6-year-old
If you’re just starting out, you don’t need to buy all 30. Here are the heavy hitters that tend to resonate most with the Screenwise community:
This is usually the gateway drug for this series. It focuses on Lincoln’s love of reading and his stand against bullying. It’s a great way to talk about integrity without being preachy.
Perfect for the kid who is obsessed with animals or National Geographic Kids. It emphasizes the power of observation and staying true to your passions, even when people tell you you're "just a girl."
For the creative kids who love Roblox or making their own videos. It’s about the importance of imagination and finding your "tribe" of fellow weirdos to create something beautiful.
A slightly heavier topic, but handled with incredible grace. It’s a powerful way to introduce the concept of global issues and the right to education.
Because who doesn't love Dolly? This one is great for discussing how to be yourself and the importance of giving back to your community.
If your kid is resistant to "educational" books but loves Netflix or PBS Kids, you need to check out the animated show based on these books.
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum follows three kids who travel back in time to meet these historical figures when they were kids. It’s funny, the pacing is fast enough to keep a YouTube addict engaged, and it always ends with a concrete "secret" (a life lesson) that the kids can apply to their own lives.
It’s one of the few shows where "screen time" actually feels like a win for the parents.
- Ages 4-6: These are great for read-alouds. The comic-style speech bubbles make it easy to do different voices, and the illustrations are engaging enough to hold their attention even if the historical context is a bit over their heads.
- Ages 7-9: This is the "sweet spot." Kids in 2nd and 3rd grade can usually read these independently. They’re great for "biography projects" at school, too.
- Ages 10+: They might start to find the "big head" art style a little "babyish," but the information is still solid. At this age, you might transition them to the Who Was? series or more traditional biographies.
While these books are incredibly inclusive and diverse, they don't shy away from the fact that history can be messy. They deal with slavery, segregation, and the Holocaust (in the I am Anne Frank book).
Meltzer handles these topics with a "look for the helpers" mentality, but if your child is particularly sensitive, you might want to pre-read some of the more intense titles.
Also, a heads-up: your kid might start "fact-checking" you. Don't be surprised if they start explaining the Montgomery Bus Boycott to you while you're just trying to get through the Target checkout line.
If you want to bridge the gap between these books and your kid’s digital life, try asking these questions:
- "In this book, Albert Einstein was curious about how things worked. What’s something you saw on YouTube today that made you curious?"
- "If Rosa Parks was on TikTok, what kind of videos do you think she’d make to help people?"
- "Why do you think Jim Henson wanted to make people laugh? Is there a game on Roblox that makes you feel the same way?"
In a world of "brain rot" and 15-second attention spans, the "Ordinary People" series is a breath of fresh air. It teaches kids that they don't need a million followers or a viral video to change the world—they just need to be themselves and stand up for what's right.
It’s a low-tech way to build high-value character.
[Check out more book recommendations for intentional parents](https://screenwiseapp.com/guides/best-books-for-elementary-kids)
Next Steps:
- Start Small: Pick up I am Abraham Lincoln or I am Amelia Earhart at your local library.
- Watch Together: Check out an episode of Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum on PBS Kids.
- Compare and Contrast: Next time your kid talks about a "hero" from a video game or social media, bring it back to the "ordinary" superpowers found in these books.
Ask our chatbot for a comparison of the Who Was? series vs. Ordinary People