What do poet Alexander Posey , explorer Matthew Henson, ballerina Maria Tallchief, musician Tito Puente and congresswoman Patsy Mink have in common?  They were all smart…in their own way!

This beautifully illustrated book focuses on Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences, which states there are 8 ways to be smart, including music, art, and dance.  W. Nikola-Lisa strategically hand picks 12 amazing Americans from different ethnic backgrounds who made significant contributions to our society through the kind of “smart” they were.

Each famous person is celebrated with a quote of theirs along with a poem and brief biography about their lives.  It can be read in short sections to a younger student or read independently by older children.  The back of the book also has additional information and activities for students to learn about how they are smart.  (I personally use a survey along with a bar graph for students to discover how they are smart.  Just click here for a free download of the survey.)  

In a world where academics and test scores end up defining students, this is an empowering message for all children to recognize their unique design and all the different ways they are smart.