With over 250 titles and counting, tackling the complete who is series book list can feel like a historical expedition in itself. For parents and educators, the sheer volume is both a blessing and a challenge. You know a treasure trove of knowledge is inside those iconic covers, but where do you possibly begin? This guide transforms that overwhelming list into a manageable, exciting roadmap for young readers.
Here, we won’t just dump a list of names. We’ll provide the complete, year-by-year publication list and, more importantly, a framework for navigating it. Think of this as your expert-led tour through the Who HQ library, ensuring you can find the perfect book to spark a child’s curiosity every time.
At a Glance: Your Guide to the Who Was/Is Collection
- The Complete Catalog: Get the definitive, year-by-year list of every book published in the main Who Was/Is series since its launch in 2002.
- Interest-Based Curation: Discover how to find the perfect book by matching titles to your child’s passions, from science and sports to art and activism.
- Navigational Strategies: Learn different ways to approach the series—chronologically by subject, thematically, or to supplement school curriculum.
- Spinoffs Explained: Understand the difference between the Who Was/Is, What Was, and Where Is series to explore the entire Who HQ universe.
- Quick Answers: Get clear, concise answers to the most common questions about the series’ reading level, accuracy, and scope.
More Than Just a List: The DNA of the Who Was/Is Series
Launched by Penguin in 2002, the Who Was/Is…? series was designed with a simple, powerful mission: to make history accessible and engaging for children. Each book focuses on a single historical figure—pioneers, innovators, artists, and leaders—and tells their story in about 100 pages, complete with charming black-and-white illustrations. The bobble-headed caricatures on the covers have become an iconic signal of fun, fact-filled reading for kids aged 8 to 12.
The series masterfully blends biographical storytelling with historical context, explaining the world in which these figures lived. It’s this combination that turns a simple biography into a portal to a different time. For a deeper look at the educational philosophy and classroom applications of the books, our comprehensive guide is a great place to start. Introducing the Who Was series provides that broader context. Now, let’s dive into the complete list.
The Definitive Who Was/Is Book List (By Year of Publication)
This list is compiled based on the publication year of each title in the main biography series. It’s the ultimate checklist for collectors and the perfect resource for finding both new and classic titles.
2002: The Inaugural Class
The series kicked off with eight titles covering a wide range of influential figures.
- Who Was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?
- Who Was Annie Oakley?
- Who Was Ben Franklin?
- Who Was Albert Einstein?
- Who Was Sacagawea?
- Who Was Harry Houdini?
- Who Was Maria Tallchief?
- Who Was Amelia Earhart?
2003–2005: Building the Foundation
The early years focused on foundational figures in American history, science, and the arts.
- 2003: Thomas Jefferson, Helen Keller
- 2004: Eleanor Roosevelt, Mark Twain, Ferdinand Magellan, Ronald Reagan, Louis Armstrong, John F. Kennedy
- 2005: Charles Darwin, Johnny Appleseed, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Alva Edison
2006–2008: Expanding Horizons
The collection grew to include pop culture icons, ancient rulers, and pivotal civil rights leaders.
- 2006: The Beatles, King Tut, Daniel Boone, William Shakespeare
- 2007: Anne Frank, Marco Polo, Elvis Presley, Martin Luther King, Jr.
- 2008: Abraham Lincoln, Neil Armstrong, Queen Elizabeth
2009–2011: Modern & Classic Icons
This period saw a mix of U.S. presidents, beloved artists, and creators who shaped modern childhood.
- 2009: George Washington, Pablo Picasso, Walt Disney, Barack Obama, Claude Monet, Franklin Roosevelt
- 2010: Jim Henson, Jackie Robinson, Rosa Parks
- 2011: Dr. Seuss, Paul Revere
2012–2013: A Surge of Innovators and Trailblazers
The series ramped up production, featuring tech pioneers, literary giants, and modern-day heroes.
- 2012: Steve Jobs, Babe Ruth, J.K. Rowling, Roald Dahl, Jane Goodall, Maurice Sendak
- 2013: Bill Gates, Sally Ride, Christopher Columbus, Bob Dylan, Michelle Obama, Alexander Graham Bell, Davy Crockett, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Frida Kahlo, Steven Spielberg, Milton Hershey, Ernest Shackleton
2014: The Blockbuster Year
An explosion of titles covering everything from ancient Rome and the Wild West to Hollywood and the Civil Rights Movement.
- Louis Braille, Nelson Mandela, Abigail Adams, Dolly Parton, Theodore Roosevelt, Bruce Lee, George Lucas, The Wright Brothers, Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, Clara Barton, Queen Victoria, Muhammad Ali, Marie Curie, Henry Ford, Roberto Clemente, Susan B. Anthony, Rachel Carson, Julius Caesar, Isaac Newton, Gandhi, Stan Lee, Alfred Hitchcock, Charles Dickens, Genghis Khan, Sitting Bull, Betsy Ross, Andy Warhol, Gloria Steinem, Frederick Douglass
2015: Storytellers, Athletes, and Humanitarians
This year brought authors, activists, athletes, and even mythical figures into the fold.
- Galileo, Wayne Gretzky, Robert Ripley, Jesus, Jacques Cousteau, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Winston Churchill, Mother Teresa, Steve Irwin, Woodrow Wilson, Beatrix Potter, J. R. R. Tolkien, Richard Branson, Edgar Allan Poe, The Brothers Grimm, Jesse Owens, Malala Yousafzai, Derek Jeter, Jeff Kinney, Who Is (Your Name Here)?, Julia Child, Marie Antoinette, Seabiscuit, Blackbeard, George Washington Carver, Sojourner Truth, Michael Jackson, Frank Lloyd Wright
2016–2018: Contemporary Voices and Historical Heavyweights
From entertainers and political figures to authors and activists, the list continued to diversify.
- 2016: Maya Angelou, Lucille Ball, Joan of Arc, Elton John, Jules Verne, Alexander the Great, Milton Bradley, Hillary Clinton, Who Was? Mad Libs, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, The Three Stooges, Jacqueline Kennedy, Charlie Chaplin
- 2017: Sonia Sotomayor, Cesar Chavez, Princess Diana, The Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Pete Seeger, Andrew Jackson, Pope Francis, Venus and Serena Williams, Alexander Hamilton, Fidel Castro, Lewis Carroll, Ralph Lauren, Coretta Scott King, Chuck Jones, Jane Austen
- 2018: Knock! Knock! Who Was There?, Henry VIII, Booker T. Washington, The Dalai Lama, Aretha Franklin, Leif Erikson, Pele, The Tuskegee Airmen, Selena, The Who Was? Activity Book, Judy Blume, Bono, Nikola Tesla, Napoleon
2019–2021: Modern Icons and Unsung Heroes
The series continued to feature contemporary legends and shed light on crucial, lesser-known figures from history.
- 2019: Michael Jordan, H. J. Heinz, Norman Rockwell, Stephen Hawking, Che Guevara, P. T. Barnum, Oprah Winfrey, R. L. Stine, Harriet Tubman, Mister Rogers, The Who Was? History of the World, Sam Walton, Ruth Bader Ginsburg
- 2020: Jackie Chan, Richard Nixon, Temple Grandin, Harvey Milk, Ida B. Wells, David Beckham, Celia Cruz, Benedict Arnold, Nellie Bly, Confucius, Duke Ellington
- 2021: Catherine the Great, Walt Whitman, Levi Strauss, RuPaul, Neil deGrasse Tyson, A. A. Milne, Juliette Gordon Low, The Navajo Code Talkers, David Bowie, Stanley and Livingstone, Queen Elizabeth II
2022–Present: The Latest Additions
The series continues to release new titles, staying relevant with current icons and revisiting historical greats.
- 2022: Dale Earnhardt Jr., The Who Was? Trivia Book, Charles Schulz, Ernest Hemingway, Jimmy Carter, Johnny Cash, Ponce de León, E. B. White, Georgia O’Keeffe, Shaquille O’Neal, Michelangelo, Alex Trebek
- 2023: Salvador Dalí, Lebron James, John McCain, Simone Biles, Jim Thorpe, Frank Sinatra, John Lewis
- 2024: Taylor Swift, Cynthia Erivo, Shirley Chisholm
How to Navigate the List: Finding the Perfect Book
The sheer size of the who is series book list is its greatest strength, but it requires a strategy. Here’s how to pinpoint the right book for any young reader.
Start with Their Spark: Match Books to Interests
The easiest entry point is a child’s natural curiosity. Instead of scrolling chronologically, think thematically.
| Category | Description | Example Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Scientists & Inventors | For the kid who loves asking “how” and “why.” | Who Was Albert Einstein?, Who Was Marie Curie?, Who Was Bill Gates?, Who Was Temple Grandin? |
| Artists & Entertainers | For creative minds inspired by music, film, and art. | Who Was Leonardo da Vinci?, Who Was Walt Disney?, Who Was Frida Kahlo?, Who Is Taylor Swift? |
| World Leaders & Activists | For future leaders interested in justice and change. | Who Was Abraham Lincoln?, Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?, Who Was Nelson Mandela?, Who Is Malala Yousafzai? |
| Athletes | For sports fans who want to know the stories behind the legends. | Who Was Jackie Robinson?, Who Was Babe Ruth?, Who Was Muhammad Ali?, Who Is Simone Biles? |
| Explorers & Adventurers | For thrill-seekers who dream of discovering new worlds. | Who Was Amelia Earhart?, Who Was Ferdinand Magellan?, Who Was Neil Armstrong?, Who Was Ernest Shackleton? |
Connect to the Classroom: Align with School Curriculums
The Who Was/Is series is a powerful tool for reinforcing school lessons. If your child is studying a particular historical period, use the list to bring it to life.
- Studying the American Revolution? Pair their textbook with Who Was George Washington?, Who Was Ben Franklin?, and Who Was Betsy Ross?.
- Learning about the Civil Rights Movement? Supplement lessons with Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?, Who Was Rosa Parks?, and Who Was John Lewis?.
- Covering the Renaissance in art class? Grab Who Was Leonardo da Vinci? and Who Was Michelangelo?.
This approach gives kids a personal connection to the events they’re learning about, making history feel less like a list of dates and more like a collection of incredible human stories.
Quick Answers to Your Who Was/Is Questions
Here are some rapid-fire answers to the most common questions about the series.
Q: What’s the difference between “Who Was” and “Who Is”?
The title simply depends on whether the subject is deceased (“Who Was…”) or still living (“Who Is…”). They are both part of the same flagship biography series from Who HQ and share the exact same format, style, and reading level.
Q: How many books are in the Who Was/Is series?
There are over 250 books in the main biography series, and the publisher continues to add new titles every year. This doesn’t include the What Was and Where Is spinoffs.
Q: What is the target reading level for these books?
The series is written for children ages 8–12, which corresponds roughly to U.S. grades 3 through 7. The accessible language, short chapters, and frequent illustrations make them ideal for developing readers and engaging for more confident ones.
Q: Is there a specific order to read the books in?
No. Each book is a standalone biography, so you can jump in anywhere. The best order is whatever excites your reader most. Let their interests guide the way!
Q: How historically accurate are the books?
The books are well-researched and strive for accuracy. They simplify complex historical events and personal lives to be appropriate for the target age group, but they are widely respected by educators for providing a factual and engaging introduction to historical figures.
Charting Your Reading Adventure
The Who Was/Is series is more than a collection of biographies; it’s a library of inspiration. The list is not a mountain to be climbed but a map to be explored. By starting with a child’s interests and connecting the stories to the world around them, you can unlock a lifelong love of history and reading.
Here’s a simple, actionable way to start:
- Identify an Interest: Ask your young reader what they’re most excited about right now. Is it space? Music? Video games?
- Find a Pioneer: Use the thematic table above to find a person who matches that interest. For a space lover, start with Who Was Neil Armstrong? or Who Was Sally Ride?.
- Explore the Ecosystem: After finishing a book, look at the timeline in the back. Find another person who lived around the same time. Reading about The Wright Brothers after Henry Ford, for example, paints a vibrant picture of innovation at the turn of the 20th century.
Every book is a new doorway into the past. Pick one, open it, and let the adventure begin.
