When you see a wall of Who Was? books today, with their distinctive caricature covers, it’s easy to assume the series arrived fully formed. But the very first book in the Who Was series wasn’t a single title—it was a carefully chosen quartet that quietly landed in 2002, creating a blueprint for one of the most successful children’s nonfiction series ever published. Understanding this inaugural class reveals the DNA of the entire collection and why it connected so powerfully with young readers from the very beginning.
At a Glance: The Origins of the Who Was? Series
- The First Wave: The series launched in 2002 with four simultaneous titles: Who Was Albert Einstein?, Who Was Amelia Earhart?, Who Was Ben Franklin?, and Who Was Sacagawea?
- No Single “First” Book: Instead of a solo release, the publisher launched with a diverse group, showcasing the series’ intended breadth from day one.
- The Foundational Formula: These early books established the iconic blend of accessible storytelling, black-and-white interior illustrations, and informative sidebars that define the series.
- Core Mission: The initial choices—a scientist, an adventurer, a statesman, and an explorer—signaled a commitment to covering a wide range of historical contributions.
- Reading Order: Because each biography is a standalone work, there has never been a required reading order, a principle established by the very first releases.
The Founding Four: Why These Figures Came First
The initial 2002 launch wasn’t random. It was a strategic selection designed to appeal to a wide array of interests, establishing the series’ scope and mission. By choosing four distinct icons, the publishers, Grosset & Dunlap (an imprint of Penguin Young Readers), created an instant framework for what the collection would become. For a complete overview of the more than 250 books that followed, see our comprehensive Guide to the Who Was Series.
Let’s break down the significance of that first class:
- Who Was Albert Einstein? (by Jess Brallier, illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker): Kicking off with a figure synonymous with “genius” was a bold move. It immediately told parents and educators that the series would not shy away from complex subjects like science and theoretical physics. The book’s success proved that difficult ideas could be made digestible for an 8-to-12-year-old audience by focusing on Einstein’s curious nature, his thought experiments (like imagining riding on a beam of light), and his journey from a patent clerk to a global icon.
- Who Was Amelia Earhart? (by Kate Jerome, illustrated by David Cain): This choice brought in themes of adventure, mystery, and breaking barriers. Earhart’s story is a natural thriller—a pioneering aviator who defied expectations and whose life ended in an enduring mystery. This biography established the series’ ability to tell high-stakes stories, blending historical facts with compelling, almost novelistic, narrative tension.
- Who Was Ben Franklin? (by Dennis Brindell Fradin, illustrated by John O’Brien): Including a Founding Father was essential for the American market. But instead of a dry political history, the book presented Franklin as a polymath: an inventor, a writer, a printer, a diplomat. This multi-faceted approach showed that the series would explore the whole person, not just the one thing they were famous for. It highlighted his wit, his mistakes, and his insatiable curiosity.
- Who Was Sacagawea? (by Judith Bloom Fradin and Dennis Brindell Fradin, illustrated by Val Paul Taylor): This was arguably the most crucial choice of the four. By including the story of a young, indigenous woman, the series signaled an early commitment to telling stories beyond those of famous white men. It centered on her incredible bravery, linguistic skill, and critical role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition, ensuring that stories of underrepresented figures were part of the series’ foundation from the very start.
The Blueprint That Powered a Phenomenon
The content of the first books was vital, but their design and structure were the true innovation. They created a consistent, recognizable reading experience that kids could trust. If you loved one, you knew you’d feel at home with another.
The Unmistakable Cover Art
The most iconic element is the cover art, conceptualized by renowned illustrator Nancy Harrison. The slightly oversized, “bobblehead” style caricatures are friendly and disarming. They make historical figures, who might otherwise seem intimidating, look approachable. Ben Franklin isn’t just a stern face on the $100 bill; he’s a friendly-looking man with a twinkle in his eye. This art style immediately lowers the barrier to entry for a young reader browsing a bookshelf.
A Narrative, Not Just a Report
Inside, the books read more like chapter-book stories than encyclopedias. They open with the subject’s childhood, a universally relatable starting point. Readers learn about Albert Einstein struggling in school or Amelia Earhart building a roller coaster in her backyard. This narrative structure achieves two goals:
- It creates empathy: Kids connect with the subject as a real person who was once a child like them.
- It demystifies greatness: It shows that icons aren’t born famous; they develop skills, overcome failures, and work hard.
Sidebars and Illustrations: Adding Depth Without Slowing Down
The core narrative is supported by two key features that were present in the very first books:
| Feature | Purpose & Example |
| :— | :— |
| Interior Illustrations | Around 80-100 black-and-white line drawings in each book break up the text and help visualize key moments. In Who Was Amelia Earhart?, an illustration might show the cockpit of her Lockheed Electra, making the technical details more concrete. |
| Informational Sidebars | These one-page deep dives provide context on related topics without interrupting the story’s flow. In Who Was Ben Franklin?, a sidebar might explain the Declaration of Independence or how a printing press worked, enriching the reader’s understanding of the world Franklin lived in. |
This multi-layered approach allows a child to read the book straight through as a story or to pause and explore related concepts, catering to different reading styles.
The Voices Behind the Launch
Unlike series driven by a single author, the Who Was? books have always used a diverse roster of writers. This was true from the beginning, with four different authors (or author teams) penning the first four books.
This model, championed by editor Jane O’Connor, was a key to the series’ scalability. It allowed multiple books to be developed simultaneously, growing the library much faster than a single author ever could. Early authors like Dennis Brindell Fradin, a prolific and respected children’s nonfiction writer, brought credibility and experience to the project. This authorial diversity ensured a consistent quality and tone while preventing the series from becoming stylistically monotonous.
Quick Answers to Common Questions
Here are a few quick, clear answers to the most frequent questions about the series’ origins.
Q: What was the single first book in the Who Was series?
There wasn’t one. The series launched in 2002 with a set of four books released together: Who Was Albert Einstein?, Who Was Amelia Earhart?, Who Was Ben Franklin?, and Who Was Sacagawea?. This strategy immediately established the breadth of the series.
Q: Do you need to read the Who Was books in publication order?
No, absolutely not. Every book is a self-contained biography. The publisher’s decision to launch with four distinct titles reinforced the idea that readers can jump in anywhere. A child interested in sports can start with Who Was Babe Ruth? (2012) just as easily as a child interested in activism can start with Who Was Rosa Parks? (2010).
Q: Are the first books different from the newer ones?
The core formula—approachable text, illustrations, sidebars, and the iconic cover art—has remained remarkably consistent for over two decades. Newer books may cover more contemporary figures (like Who Is Malala Yousafzai?) or feature slightly updated interior design, but a reader who loved the 2002 originals would feel perfectly at home with a book published today.
Q: Who wrote the first Who Was books?
The first four books were written by Jess Brallier (Einstein), Kate Jerome (Earhart), Dennis Brindell Fradin (Ben Franklin), and the husband-and-wife team Judith Bloom Fradin and Dennis Brindell Fradin (Sacagawea).
Start with the Classics to Appreciate the Collection
While you can start anywhere in the Who Was? library, reading one of the original four provides a fantastic lens through which to view the entire series. It’s like listening to a band’s debut album; you can hear the foundational ideas that would later be expanded and refined.
For young readers, here’s a simple way to pick from the originals:
- For the adventurer: Start with Who Was Amelia Earhart? Its mix of daring and mystery is a perfect hook.
- For the budding scientist or thinker: Grab Who Was Albert Einstein? It’s a masterclass in making big ideas feel personal.
- For the history buff: Choose Who Was Ben Franklin? to see how one person’s curiosity can change the world.
- For the explorer at heart: Read Who Was Sacagawea? for an inspiring story of resilience and courage.
The genius of the first book in the Who Was series is that there wasn’t just one. The initial quartet offered a promise: no matter who you are or what you’re interested in, there is a person in history whose story will inspire you. It was a promise of breadth, quality, and accessibility—one the series has continued to deliver on for more than 20 years.
