Today is #pb10for10. Talking about Girl Running with kids has made me think about the remarkable people in real life who find a way to move beyond the “No!”s that they encounter. Here are ten picture book biographies about people who helped us all move past unjust “No!”s.

Jackie Robinson faced lots of “no”s before he integrated Major League baseball. This story tells how he stood up for his rights while he was in the Army.

The United States v. Jackie Robinson by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. (Balzer & Bray: 2018)

In this nonfiction picture book, a boy keeps building treehouses in Central Park. They keep getting torn down. But eventually he reaches an agreement with the groundskeepers and his life changes.

Up in the Leaves: The True Story of the Central Park Treehouses by Shira Boss, illustrated by Jamey Christoph. (Sterling: 2018).

At reservation school, Chester Nez and his classmates are prohibited from speaking Navajo. But he keeps up his language, and eventually his mother tongue helps the United States win a war.

Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code by Joseph Bruchac, illustrated by Liz Amini-Holmes. (Whitman: 2018).

Charlie Sifford wants to play golf. But he is going to have to integrate the PGA to do it.

Charlie Takes His Shot by Nancy Churnin, illustrated by John Joven. (Whitman: 2018).

Kathryn Johnston proves that girls can play baseball, too.

Anybody’s Game by Heather Lang, illustrated by Cecilia Puglesi. (Whitman: 2018).

The children of Birmingham said “Yes” to jail rather than accept they couldn’t freely and fairly ride public transportation. This is the story of one of those young protesters.

The Youngest Marcher by Cynthia Levinson, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. (Atheneum: 2017).

Belva Lockwood faced opposition her entire life. But she persisted. Right onto the ballot for U.S. President.

A Lady Has the Floor by Kate Hannigan, illustrated by Alison Jay.

Mary Blair was condescended to and ignored. But she stayed true to her art and helped create iconic Disney art.

A Pocket Full of Colors by Amy Guglielma and Jacqueline Tourville, illustrated by Brigette Barager. (Atheneum: 2017).

Jane Addams didn’t wait for permission to do what she thought was right. And she ignored criticism, no matter how publicly it was spread.

Dangerous Jane by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Alice Ratterree. (Peachtree: 2017).

Alice Paul led suffragettes in putting their argument before the President. Even when he wasn’t interested.

Miss Paul and the President by Dean Robbins, illustrated by Nancy Zhang. (Knopf: 2016).