Fantastic, intriguing biographies for children include a man who walked on a tightrope between the late Twin Towers, an artist who trekked through the U.S. frontier and South American jungles, women pirates and a 19th-century woman who ran for president.

"The Man Who Walked Between the Towers" by Mordicai Gerstein; Square Fish/Macmillan; 32 pages; $6.95.

Winner of the 2004 Caldecott Medal and now in paperback, Gerstein's graceful, dramatic larger-than-life story seems like a tale but is absolutely true. In 1974, as the World Trade Center was being completed, a young French street performer, Philippe Petit, threw a tight rope between the towers; he walked, danced and performed tricks a quarter mile in the sky.

Gerstein's thrilling paintings and lyrical text presents the true story extraordinarily, and includes two unique foldout spreads. Children ages 5 to 8 will be in awe of this "artistic crime of the century," and the magical picture book's mind-boggling telling.

Fans may also soon see a critically-acclaimed documentary about the feat, through the testimony of Philippe Petit himself and his co-conspirators. To learn more about the award-winning film, "Man on Wire," visit www.manonwire.com.

"Ballots for Belva: The True Story of a Woman's Race for the Presidency" by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen; illustrated by Courtney A. Martin; Abrams Books for Young Readers; 32 pages; $16.95.

Just in time for the presidential election, this picture book tells of a bold woman's legal step to run for president in 1884, though women were not yet allowed to vote. Certainly inspirational, Belva Lockwood believed, even as a child, she could move mountains with her willful power and faith — she graduated from college and law school and then went on to argue her case before the Supreme Court.

Though Belva's struggle was an uphill one, her little-known story should be motivating for young readers. With rich, deeply colored illustrations that capture the disapproving looks of other citizens perfectly, Martin's artwork blends elegantly with the author's captivating words.

With a glossary, bibliography and timeline of women's suffrage, "Ballots of Belva" should be available for viewing in every elementary school.

"Painting the Wild Frontier: The Art and Adventures of George Catlin" by Susanna Reich; Clarion Books; 160 pages; $21.

A beautiful biography for a slightly older audience, young readers ages 8 to 14 will meet George Catlin, one of America's best-known 19th-century painters who was famous for his iconic portraits of Native Americans. His work, considered a "crown jewel" at the Smithsonian, is glorious, but perhaps his story is every bit as impressive. Catlin was a fearless adventurer who chose to sketch and paint as he traveled through the American frontier, battling grizzlies and panthers, and got lost in the South American jungle.

In an era when westward expansion threatened the near annihilation of many indigenous cultures, Catlin dedicated himself to meeting and painting the native people, stirring up controversy during his life.

A lovely coffee-table tome for all ages, "Painting the Wild Frontier" features many of Catlin's artworks, his excerpts from notes and letters, archival photos and exciting, well-researched information.

"Sea Queens: Women Pirates Around the World" by Jane Yolen; illustrated by Christine Joy Pratt; Charlesbridge Publishing; 104 pages; $17.95.

Pirates still reign, thanks to Johnny Depp. But this amazing book stars female pirates in all their glory, courage and wicked ways. From Queen Teuta, an early piratess who lived in Illyria circa 230 B.C., to Ireland's 16th-century Grania O'Malley to the more well-known pirate queens Anne Bonney and Mary Read, Yolen's carefully-written book captures women of all races and historical periods. Though they all have pirating in common, Yolen's subjects couldn't be more different and fascinating, with individual heartfelt reasons for turning pirate.

Arranged in short chapters with easy-to-read spacious text, sidebars and a helpful roundup and bibliography, "Sea Queens," with Pratt's medieval sparse illustrations, makes for exciting middle-grade reading.

To find out more about Lee Littlewood and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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