You’ll find royalty here and not just the kind wearing a crown. Famous leaders from history, scientists, entertainers, and many more are included in two separate colorful hardbacks. First up is THE BOOK OF QUEENS.
Here’s the official proclamation from National Geographic Kids:
Empire builders, legendary leaders, revolutionary rebels, powerful pioneers, and more … discover more than 100 wonder women who prove that girls totally rule.
They’re queens wielding scepters and sitting on thrones, they’re revolutionaries on the front lines of change, they’re presidents and prime ministers leading their nation, or they’re CEOs, scientists, sports legends, and artists who are have risen to the top of their fields. Welcome to The Book of Queens, where being a mighty monarch doesn’t just mean wearing a crown. Leaders like these come from all over the globe and have different talents. But most of all? They rule!
Are you ready to be inspired by the most powerful women in history? Some wielded their might for good while others let their power go to their heads. Yet all were powerful people who changed the course of history. From Elizabeth I to Cleopatra to Beyonce, every regal ruler in this book showcases the kind of guts, smarts, and strength it takes to lead. And while there are some wonder women you might recognize, others may leave you wondering why so many brave, smart, and hardworking ladies have gone unnoticed … until now. Whether real-life royals or average Janes who rose to rule, get ready to be inspired by their stories.
MY TAKE: The queens are organized into 8 chapters: EMPIRE BUILDERS; WOMEN OF ACTION; REVOLUTIONARY LEADERS; CULTURAL SHAPERS; MONARCH OF THE ARTS; LEGENDARY LEADERS; QUEENS OF KNOWLEDGE; AND QUEENS OF ADVENTURE.
Many of the women will be familiar but many more will be ones that are overdue in getting praise. I was amazed I’d never heard of Virginia Apgar (Medical Marvel), Bessie Coleman (Flying Queen), or astronomer Jill Tarter (Alien Hunter) as a few examples.
Colorful layouts, pictures, and inspiring text help make this a book a hard one to put down. It ends with a two page spread for young readers as to how they can wear the crown. Five queenly qualities are laid out for them to learn from and each is a lesson in becoming a strong adult.
THE BOOK OF QUEENS would be a great gift for the upcoming holidays.
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The subtitle for THE BOOK OF KINGS made me smile: Magnificent MONARCHS, Notorious NOBLES , and DISTINGUISHED DUDES who ruled THE WORLD. Future distinguished dudes won’t want to waste anytime jumping into this one. Here’s another proclamation from National Geographic Kids:
Mighty monarchs, powerful presidents, legendary leaders … discover more than 100 true 
stories of magnifcent men who changed the world.
They’re kings wielding scepters and sitting on thrones, they’re revolutionaries on the front lines of change, they’re presidents and prime ministers leading their nations, or they’re CEOs, scientists, sports legends, and artists who rose to the top of their fields. Welcome to The Book of Kings, where being a mighty monarch doesn’t just mean wearing a crown. Leaders like these come from all over the globe and have different talents. But most of all? They rule!
Kids are sure to enjoy meeting these mighty men. Some wielded their might for good while others let their power go to their heads. Yet all are (or were) powerful people who changed the course of history. From Henry VIII to Steve Jobs to Lin-Manuel Miranda, and more, every regal ruler in this book showcases the kind of guts, smarts, and strength it takes to lead. And while there are some kings who you might recognize, others may leave you wondering why so many brave, smart, and hardworking people have gone unnoticed … until now. Whether real-life royals or average Joes who rose to rule, get ready to be inspired by their stories.
MY TAKE TWO: THE BOOK OF KINGS follows the queens with a similar layout, but in different captioned chapters. Find your favorite in EMPIRE BUILDERS, MILITARY MASTERMINDS, RULERS IN REVOLUTION, LORDS OF LEGEND, KINGS Of CREATIVITY, ARISTOCRATS OF ACTION, KINGS OF CHANGE, or KINGS OF KNOWLEDGE.
What a great collection to encourage boys to seek out their own greatness. The information is given in two page spreads or in smaller boxed panels. I enjoyed learning about King Kamehameha, Henry VIII, and Genghis Khan along with more recent outstanding men like Jimmy Chin (Adventure Photographer), Usain Bolt, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Perfect as a source for schoolwork or to use for your own inspiration, history continues to be made with the groundwork laid out by these outstanding Kings. Order a copy today so it will be ready to put under the holiday tree.
Always in the Middle... 
Once again, it sounds like the National Geographic Kids group has produced two high-interest, fact-packed history books for middle-graders (and curious adults such as I!). I will definitely be on the lookout for these two volumes at the local public library. Thanks for the heads-up, Greg!
Hi Greg, Thanks for all the good work you do on behalf of kids’ books. I’ve hung up my writer’s shingle for good, so I unsubscribed from your letter. Didn’t want to just disappear though without saying anything. May your future be full of happy challenges, Kevin Gerard Diego’s Dragon
Thanks for telling me about these. They sound like fun books. I will try to check them out.
Both of the National Geographic Kids books are treasures — and wonderful resources for readers. They will certainly inspire a lot of readers!