This is a collection of ten short, entertaining, informative picture-book biographies of famous composers. Each book tells about the childhood and great achievements of a composer, and includes a short musical example. Here are links to the online texts so you can read along and look at the pictures:

Bach: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34568
Mozart: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34582
Beethoven: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34737
Haydn: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34550
Schubert: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35070
Handel: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35157
Chopin: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35013
Verdi: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35158
Wagner: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35128
Grieg: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35097

(Summary by Kara)