This is a list of picture books featuring great men—men who had an influential role in history, men who were inventors and scientists, men who excelled in artistic and literary fields. Leaders, philosophers, scholars, soldiers—whatever their area of endeavor, if they made a mark on the world, and there is a picture book about them, they belong on this list.

I have worked with children’s books for many years, and was inspired to create this list after a discussion with a harried mother, who sidled up to me one day and confessed that as the parent of fraternal twins, she struggled to find suitably inspiring books for her son, a difficulty she never seemed to have with her daughter. She spoke very softly, as if afraid of being overheard, and seemed ashamed to be making a request for inspirational boy books. This list is intended as a resource for parents like her, who wish to give their sons inspiring and informative books about men who did great things.