Biographies make great summer-time reading. Stories about real people are interesting and can be inspiring and even educational – without the anxiety of tests and grades.

A Picture Book of Sacagawea by David A. Adler, illustrated by Dan Brown (Holiday House, $16.95), is a timely publication. Children can learn why this Shoshone Indian was honored by having her likeness on the recently issued gold dollar coin. Sacagawea earned her place in history by guiding Lewis and Clark in their exploration of the western territory. Adler’s simple story of this brave young woman of skill and courage is enhanced by Brown’s colorful illustrations. Ages four to eight.

Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by David Diaz (Voyager Books/Harcourt, $6), is a fascinating story. Young Wilma was paralyzed by polio when she was five years old, and told she would never walk again. Through her amazing belief in herself and her determination to go to school and play as the other children did, Wilma triumphed. She not only walked, she ran – fast enough to become the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympics. Ages six to nine.

America’s Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle by David A. Adler, illustrated by Terry Widener (Gulliver Books/Harcourt, $16), is another inspiring story for young athletes. Gertrude learned to dog paddle while tethered to a rope held by her father. But there was no holding her back once she decided to become a swimmer. She became an Olympic swimmer and set 29 U.S. and world records. Her biggest challenge was met in 1926, when she became the first woman to swim the English Channel. Ages six to nine.

Sisters in Strength, American Women Who Made a Difference by Yona Zeldis McDonough, illustrated by Malcah Zeldis (Henry Holt, $17.95), offers mini-biographies of women who have helped shape history. Clara Barton, Eleanor Roosevelt, Harriet Tubman and Pocahontas are among the eleven impressive “sisters” selected by McDonough. While brief, each profile contains enough of the story of these lives and their achievements to acquaint the reader with these inspiring women and the times in which they lived. Ages six to nine.

William Penn, Founder of Pennsylvania by Steven Kroll, illustrated by Ronald Himler (Holiday House, $16.95), skims the life of this Englishman who bravely went against the political and religious traditions of his time. In an effort to provide a place free of religious persecution, Penn established a Quaker colony in America. Kroll tells the story of the roller coaster life of this man who spent time in and out of favor with the crown and in and out of prison; who went from being a young man of privilege to an old man in debtor’s prison. The chronological summary and author’s note at the end of the book help clarify the somewhat confusing text. Ages seven to 11.

Who Is Baseball’s Greatest Hitter? by Jeff Kisseloff (Henry Holt, $15.95), is a must for the young “boys of summer.” Kisseloff, a former sports writer and editor for Scholastic, Inc., poses the question then asks how such a superlative could be determined. One can almost hear the roar of the crowd and feel the excitement in the press box as one sorts through the historical details, statistics and anecdotes about the game’s greatest sluggers – 32 in all, from Ty Cobb to Mark McGwire. Kisseloff states that statistics are a big part of baseball’s tradition, and that debating what they mean is as much a part of the tradition as the seventh-inning stretch. His enthusiasm for the game shows on every page. What else would one expect from a man whose most prized possession is a brick from Ebbets Field? For ages 10 to 14, and their dads.