From showstopping entertainers to game-changing activists to brilliant scientists, these first- and second-generation Americans show the determination and innovation that has shaped the country we know today:

• Science: Kalpana Chawla (astronaut), I. M. Pei (architect), Chien-Shiung Wu (particle physicist), and Albert Einstein (theoretical physicist)
• Entertainment: Tan France (fashion designer), Camila Cabello (singer-songwriter), M. Night Shyamalan (filmmaker), Natalie Portman (actress), Rihanna (singer), and Dikembe Mutombo (basketball player)
• Politics: Ilhan Omar (congresswoman), Arnold Schwarzenegger (former governor of California), and Alexander Hamilton (founding father)
• Business: Indra Nooyi (former PepsiCo CEO), Sergey Brin (Google co-founder)
• Children of immigrants: America Ferrara (actress), Walt Disney (founder of The Walt Disney Company), Michelle Kwan (figure skater), Kamala Harris (U.S. vice president), and Barack Obama (former U.S. president)

Author-illustrator Maliha Abidi's striking illustrated portraits bring the personalities to life in vivid color. Sidebars explain historical and political facts about the immigration process, highlighting the differences between a permanent resident and a citizen, a first- and second-generation American, and more.

As children develop their own dreams for the future, the diverse stories and accomplishments of these American immigrants serve as inspiration.