32 Graphic Novel & Picture Book World War II Celebrity Biographies

If you enjoy reading celebrity biographies, history books in general, World War II history books in particular, and/or graphic novels or picture books; this post is for you.

Some of the celebrities in the illustrated World War II celebrity biographies that are recommended in this post were famous at the time the war was happening, while others experienced the war but didn’t become famous until afterwards.

The overall quality of these books is extremely high. They are about very interesting people. They are told very well. And they are illustrated very well. There are 32 graphic celebrity biographies recommended in this post. The average of their average Goodreads’ ratings (when recently checked) is 4.13 stars out of 5 stars.

Graphic biographies are relatively quick to read, and they tend to get right to the most interesting parts. It is also often delightful or moving to see how art is used to help tell these fascinating historical stories. 

Reading a grouping of graphic works about the same historical period can be an extremely interesting way to learn about history. I found all of the biographies recommended in this post, whatever form they are in, interesting for me as an adult reader.

As the books mentioned in this post deal with war (and sometimes also other upsetting issues like racism and antisemitism), please read them first yourself before deciding whether to share them with the children in your life at their current age.

I was able to obtain most of these books from public libraries as ebooks using apps. If you are interested in doing the same, you can start by looking on your local library’s website to see which apps they use to loan out ebooks. Even if you are already using one such app, your library may have added additional apps since you last checked. And if your own local library doesn’t provide a great selection of English language graphic ebooks, you may be eligible for free memberships at other libraries too (like at other libraries in your region or at a library in another place if you have a secondary residence). It is also possible to purchase annual memberships at some US libraries in places where you do not reside for a fee. And if all of your libraries use the Libby app, you can add all of your library memberships to that app at once and expand the breadth of your selections to include all of those libraries’ ebook catalogs.

Informative videos (either about the books or about the celebrities) that may pique your interest in the recommended books are included below for some of the works. Even if you don’t end up reading the books, you may find some of the video clips as fascinating as I do. And if you click on the titles of the books, you will be linked to Goodreads’ pages for those books where you can see what the book covers look like and read more reviews.

They Called Us Enemy

by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, and Steven Scott; illustrated by Harmony Becker (graphic novel)

This is a stand-out, powerful and moving autobiographical account of Star Trek actor and activist George Takei’s childhood wartime experiences as an interned Japanese American. The ebook edition of this story is currently available in the US via a number of library apps and Kindle Unlimited, as well as for purchase.

The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey

by Louise Borden, illustrated by Allan Drummond (illustrated biography)

Did you know that the creators of the classic Curious George children’s books were German Jews who escaped the Nazis by biking through France? I hadn’t, before I read this book. This biography is charmingly illustrated in a style inspired by the way the Curious George books were illustrated, and it contains some of H.A. Rey’s original art. It is an extremely special book visually, and the underlying true story is fascinating. If you have fond childhood memories of reading Curious George, I highly recommend this book to you.

Born Hungry: Julia Child Becomes “the French Chef”

by Alex Prud’homme, illustrated by Sarah Green (picture book)

Did you know that celebrity chef Julia Child worked for the US spy agency (the Office of Strategic Services) during the war? It wasn’t until after the war that she moved to France and learned how to cook. This charmingly illustrated biography tells her story. And if you want to learn even more about Child; you can also read her wonderful, non-graphic autobiography My Life in France (which Alex Prud’homme, the author of the picture book biography, also was involved with writing).

The United States v. Jackie Robinson

by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie (picture book, no ebook edition)

Not only was Jackie Robinson the first African American baseball player to integrate Major League Baseball after the war, but he also did what Rosa Parks famously did before Rosa Parks did it herself. He refused to move to the back of a bus simply because racist people told him to. It was a military bus, he was in the military, and the incident happened during World War II. He was verbally attacked and then court-martialed. Robinson didn’t budge, and he stood up for himself in court. This book tells Robinson’s powerful, moving World War II story; and it does it extremely well.

The Rabbi and the Reverend: Joachim Prinz, Martin Luther King Jr., and Their Fight Against Silence

by Audrey Ades, illustrated by Chiara Fedele (picture book)

Rabbi Joachim Prinz learned first-hand (when living in Nazi controlled Germany) about the importance of speaking out together with others against injustice. So, he stood firmly with Martin Luther King Jr. to speak out against injustice in his new American homeland. This book discusses the impact of Jewish experiences during World War II on the American civil rights movement; and tells the moving story of how Prinz and King worked together for change.

Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor

by Laurie Wallmark, illustrated by Katy Wu (graphic novel)

This charmingly illustrated and told biography of the glamorous movie star Hedy Lemarr details her double life as a very smart inventor. When she wasn’t acting, she worked hard to try to help the US war effort in a variety of ways, including by inventing a brilliant new technology to try to help the military. Unfortunately, Wallmark’s biography doesn’t mention that part of the reason Lamarr was so invested in helping the US war effort and had fled Europe to go to Hollywood, is because she was Jewish.

Hedy Lemarr: An Incredible Life

by William Roy, illustrated by Sylvain Dorange (graphic novel)

This graphic novel biography of Hedy Lamarr isn’t as charming and breezy as Wallmark’s is, but it is interestingly much more thorough. Besides illustrating Lemarr’s war helping efforts; it also delves into her marriages, and the antisemitism and sexism she encountered, as well as the seamier side of her experiences in Hollywood. It is interesting to read both Lemarr graphic biographies together. The ebook edition of this graphic novel is currently available in the US on Kindle Unlimited, among other places.

A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis

by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Kadir Nelson (picture book)

This book tells the captivating, true story of a legendary boxing match that took place on the eve of World War II between African American boxer Joe Louis and German boxer Max Schmeling.

Defying Hitler: Jesse Owens’ Olympic Triumph

by Nel Yomtov, illustrated by Eduardo Garcia (graphic novel)

African American track sensation Jesse Owens crushed his German competitors in front of Hitler and the entire spectating world at the 1936 Olympics in Germany. It was an iconic moment in world history. This biography focuses on the historic importance of Owens’ pre-war Olympic wins.

Jesse Owens

by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, illustrated by Anna Katharina Jansen (picture book)

This brief, very well-illustrated picture book biography for young readers also tells the story of how Jesse Owens won the spotlight from Hitler at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark

by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Henri Sorensen (picture book)

This brief, moving, illustrated story depicts how the King of Denmark was said to have defied the Nazis to try to help protect Danish Jews. Author Carmen Agra Deedy offers an interesting explanation in the below video clip about why she wrote about this legend.

Library of Luminaries: Coco Chanel: An Illustrated Biography

by Zena Alkayat, illustrated by Nina Cosford (illustrated biography)

Although charmingly illustrated and breezy, this biography thankfully does not shy away from the less attractive parts of French fashion designer Coco Chanel’s life—including her connection to Nazis during the war. However, it doesn’t go into much depth on that topic either.

Through Clouds of Smoke: Freud’s Final Days

by Suzanne Leclair, illustrated by William Roy (graphic novel)

This well-illustrated graphic biography of the ground-breaking psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud depicts his battle with cancer and his successful escape from Nazi-controlled Vienna in the latter years of his life.

Audrey Hepburn

by Inspired Inner Genius and Carrie Hollister, illustrated by Nikita Sacakusumah and Irina Katsimon (picture book, Kindle Unlimited)

Before actress Audrey Hepburn starred in classic films such as My Fair Lady, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sabrina, and Roman Holiday; she lived in the Netherlands during the war. This brief illustrated biography for young readers focuses on her wartime experiences as a child (including her part in the Dutch resistance), and how those difficult childhood experiences inspired her later work on behalf of children through UNICEF. And if you would like to learn even more about Hepburn’s wartime experiences; you can also read the interesting, non-graphic biography Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II by Robert Matzen.

Albert Einstein

by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, illustrated by Jean Claude (picture book)

This well-illustrated and well-told picture book biography for young readers of (Jewish German scientist) Albert Einstein provides a very brief overview of how Einstein was affected by and effected the war.

The Singer and the Scientist

by Lisa Rose, illustrated by Isabel Muñoz (picture book)

This sweet, illustrated anecdote is about how celebrity scientist and recent Jewish refugee from Europe Albert Einstein (who knew what it was like to be treated unfairly by Nazis) and famed African American singer Marian Anderson (who was being treated unfairly when they met because of her race) became friends.

Through the Wardrobe: How C.S. Lewis Created Narnia

by Lina Maslo (picture book)

Like many other people living outside of London (which was getting heavily bombed) during the war, author C.S. Lewis took in young evacuees. And a wartime child evacuee’s question to him about a wardrobe in his home helped inspire him to write his classic The Chronicles of Narnia children’s stories. This well-illustrated biography tells Lewis’ story.

Song After Song: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews

by Julie Hedlund, illustrated by Ilaria Urbinati (picture book)

Before she starred in movies like The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and The Princess Diaries; actress/singer/author Julie Andrews was a child, living in London during the war. Like many others, Julie and her family sheltered in Underground stations when the city was being bombed. After her school closed because of the war, her stepfather taught her to sing to help give her something to do. This biography of Andrews’ life—before, during, and after the war— is charmingly illustrated.

Eleanor Makes Her Mark

by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham (illustrated biography)

This very nicely illustrated and told biography of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt covers her life before, during, and immediately after the war.

Josephine

by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Christian Robinson (picture book)

This charmingly illustrated, relatively long biography of entertainer Josephine Baker only briefly delves into her wartime activities with the French resistance.

Josephine Baker

by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, illustrated by Isabel Sorlet (picture book)

This is another biography of entertainer Josephine Baker. It is a very brief, well-illustrated one for young readers that depicts some of her wartime resistance activities.

If you understand intermediate level French and would like to learn even more about Baker, you may enjoy listening to the great Duolingo French Podcast series of episodes about Baker’s life and wartime resistance activities, “The Secret Life of Josephine Baker” (which starts with the October 11, 2023 episode).

The Legendary Miss Lena Horne

by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon (picture book)

African American singer/actress Lena Horne was outraged that German POWs were seated in front of African American soldiers when she performed at a military base during the war. So, she took to paying her own way to perform specifically for African American soldiers, including for the famed Tuskegee Airmen.

First Dog Fala

by Elizabeth Van Steenwyk, illustrated by Michael G. Montgomery (picture book)

This is a well-told and well-illustrated biography of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous pet dog Fala, which of course sheds some interesting light on the President too.

War Dogs: Churchill & Rufus

by Kathryn Selbert (picture book)

There is a picture book about British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s dog too! This wartime illustrated biography for young readers is about Churchill and his dog Rufus. It is informative and pleasingly illustrated.

Franklin and Winston: A Christmas That Changed the World

by Douglas Wood, illustrated by Barry Moser (illustrated non-fiction, no ebook edition)

This is a well-written and well-illustrated, very informative account of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s trip to the US after the bombing of Pearl Harbor to help garner American support for the war and build a close, cooperative relationship with President Roosevelt.

Through the Window: Views of Marc Chagall’s Life and Art

by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Mary GrandPré (picture book)

This illustrated biography of the famous, Jewish Russian artist Marc Chagall is well-illustrated and evokes Chagall’s artistic style. And the book has an informative afterward that explains Chagall’s flight from both the Soviets in Russia and the Nazis in France. However, the story itself isn’t very clearly written, apparently to evoke Chagall’s poetic writing style.

God Bless America: The Story of an Immigrant Named Irving Berlin

by Adah Nuchi, illustrated by Rob Polivka (picture book)

Jewish immigrant songwriter Irving Berlin’s popular song “God Bless America” debuted in 1938 as his new nation was facing the oncoming war. This book tells his, and his song’s, story.

Irving Berlin: The Immigrant Boy Who Made America Sing

by Nancy Churnin, illustrated by James Rey Sanchez (picture book)

This is another very nicely illustrated and told biography of songwriter Irving Berlin and how he came to write a very popular song that helped rouse spirits during the war.

All Star: How Larry Doby Smashed the Color Barrier in Baseball

by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Cannaday Chapman (picture book)

This moving biography of Larry Doby, the second African American integrated professional baseball player, is wonderfully illustrated. It only briefly touches upon the time he spent in the Navy during the war.

An Eye for Color: The Story of Joseph Albers

by Natasha Wing, illustrated by Julia Breckenreid (illustrated biography, no ebook edition)

This interesting short biography of German Bauhaus modern painter and art professor Joseph Albers focuses almost entirely on his art and his artistic point of view. Only in the afterward does the book explain that after the Nazis shut down the Bauhaus school in 1933 (before the war began), Albers moved to the US to teach art. It is interesting to learn about what was happening artistically pre-war in Germany, and how that art found new pathways forward outside of Germany. Also, if you have ever wondered why Albers’ colorful paintings of squares are in museums you have visited, this book explains what he was trying to convey.

Rising Above: The Wataru “Wat” Misaka Story

by Haley Diep, illustrated by Naomi Giddens (picture book)

Wataru Misaka lived outside a relocation zone so he was not sent to a Japanese American internment camp as so many other peaceful Japanese Americans unjustly were during the war. Instead, he played basketball at the University of Utah and then enlisted in the US Army. He was then deployed to Hiroshima. After the war, he became the first person of color to play professional basketball in the NBA.

Queen of the Track: Alice Coachman, Olympic High-Jump Champion

by Heather Lang, illustrated by Floyd Cooper (picture book)

Although Alice Coachman missed her chance to compete for an Olympic medal in 1944 when she was close to her athletic peak because those games were canceled due to the war, she went on to compete in the post-war 1948 London Olympics and she became the first African American female athlete to win gold. She also became the first African American female athlete officially to endorse a major international consumer product (Coca-Cola). This biography tells her impressive story movingly.

What are your thoughts?

In the comments section, you are welcome to share your thoughts about the books recommended in this post, as well as add your own recommendations for great illustrated World War II celebrity biographies that I may have missed.

Enjoy your reading!