Who Was Betty White?

Who Was . . . ? Series

by Dana Meachen Rau, Who H.Q., Laurie A. Conley (Illustrator)

Learn about the remarkable life of actress and comedian Betty White, a pioneer of early television with a seven-decade career, in this title in the Who HQ Now series featuring newsmakers and trending topics.

From 1939 to 2021, actress Betty White was one of the most beloved performers in the entertainment industry. She starred in fan-favorite television shows like The Golden Girls and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and also blockbuster movies like Toy Story 4 and The Proposal. Over her decades-long career, Betty White won Emmy awards, was named an honorary mayor of Hollywood, earned a star on the Walk of Fame, and set the Guinness World Record for woman with the longest TV career ever. Off-screen, Betty advocated for animal rights, racial justice, and LGBTQIA+ rights. Learn about her legendary life in this book for young readers.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Childrens, Biography Memoir

56 pages, Paperback

Published September 26, 2023

About the author

Dana Meachen Rau is an author, editor, and illustrator of children's books. She has written more than 100 books for children, many of them nonfiction in subjects including astronomy, history, and geography, as well as numerous biographies. She lives in Burlington, Connecticut, with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's got all the hallmark elements of books in this series, but this is surprisingly slim in page length, especially considering Betty's long and celebrated career and her benevolent nature towards humans and animals. This is literally half the pages of the standard 112-page book in this series. Was there really so little to say about one of the best-loved and most well-known celebrities of all time? Or is the publisher making changes to this popular and educational series?

There are just five short chapters, the usual amount of pictures, and a timeline, but only one sidelight providing enhancing information. The highlights of her career are reported and there are a few details regarding her personal life, but some lingering questions may remain. For example, because of her convivial spirit, readers may wonder if she ever had children. But that is not addressed so a few more sentences here and there about her personal life may have added greater understanding about the balance between her work and home life.

I feel I gained a good understanding of Betty's personality and her development as an actress and comedian. Betty came from a fun-loving family and was amiable and cheerful. Her good nature made her easy and fun to work with which definitely contributed to her success over the years. She worked in show business in many capacities including radio, plays, tv, and movies. Betty was an equal rights supporter and an animal-lover, championing many causes supporting animal welfare. But despite that, I expected something more. It's hard to say what is missing when you're reading a biography to learn more about a person that you don't know much about in the first place, but for someone as lauded as Betty White this doesn't feel like enough.

[Wendie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A legend

This was a good quick read chapter book. My 8 year old son enjoyed it and now we'll be watching the Golden Girls by his request. A new Betty White fan has been born.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful! I impulse bought this at the local comic book store. Betty White's biography renders as a likable children's book with wonderful illustrations and easygoing prose. I read it aloud to myself, and it felt like story time as a kid. Of course, with a wonderful soul like Betty White, this approach feels natural and appropriate, neither forced nor superficial.

I am primarily a fan of Betty from her brilliant contributions on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. This short volume introduced me to her pioneering rise in the world of television. I highly recommend this book for fans and for anyone looking for biographies to share with young and old alike. It even comes with appendix material including a bibliography. Great introduction to the subgenre of biography.

Oh to die at 99 and have the whole world saying, "Too young! We lost her too soon!"

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, this book was so so short! It gives a very, very brief biography of Betty White, but it doesn't really touch on too much which is a shame really. It's just very basic knowledge. Nothing is really learned. If you're reading this Betty White book, you probably know all that's contained in the book. Nothing new was learned, and as others have stated, it's a little dull.

On the plus side, the illustrations were really good. I just wish there were actual photographs instead of just illustrations.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

The “Who was…?”, “What was…?”, “Where was…?” Series of books for juvenile readers (generally ages 8-11) are very nice and concise little books packed with just enough information for children of this age.

These are also a great way for adults who either didn’t pay much attention in school (Nobody that I know, cough cough) or who simply forgot about things learned in the past, to refresh their memory and learn something.

I chose to start with this one because who doesn’t love Betty White!?!!

[Susan's Sweat Smells Like Literature · Rating 3 out of 5]

I protest! Betty White lived to be nearly 100, and she was a pioneer in television. She deserves more than the 50 page Who Was...? book! I fail to see why she would not get the regular sized book -- the 105+ pages. Please consider an expansion, publishers.

[Jana Sucre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, while informative, did not do justice to the incredible person of Betty White. I'm glad I read it and learned about her, but there is so much more that could have and should havd gone into it.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betty White was a once in a lifetime talent. I am old enough to have enjoyed her performances in many things. She had a wonderful personality and cared so much for people, places, and animals. What a treasure she was.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Betty White was a natural treasure, and will be missed greatly.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fast read and quite informative. I learned a lot about Betty's early life in show biz.

[Stasia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not only was this ridiculously short compared to other books in the series, it was incredibly dry and dull... It really made Betty White seem like a dull person. Disappointed in this installment.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting but way too short.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series and Betty White is a gem.

[Ryan Bendixen · Rating 5 out of 5]

For what it is, it's a very good introductory and surface level book about her life.

[Jacquelyn Hock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read with my 3rd grade daughter and it was a quick cute read. I even learned something’s about Betty that I didn’t know before

[Little Seal]

I miss Betty White so much sometimes.

[denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook read by Hillary Huber

[Dwayne Keller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very little information. Half the pages of any other Who HQ book. Very disappointed.

[Goddess of Chaos]

"She won even more awards—including a Guinness World Record for the Longest Career..."

"She won even more awards—including a Guinness World Record for the Longest Career for an Entertainer (female)."

This tour through the life of Betty White contains little gems, like what she wanted to be when she grew up, when and how she got in to entertainment, and how her career grew and evolved.

Many may think of her, first and foremost, from the Golden Girls, but Betty White had a decades long career that twisted and turned between Radio, Television, Game Shows, Movies, Animation and so much more.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing woman Betty White was. She had a good head on her shoulders. Plus, she succeeded in everything she did in her life. She is truly missed.
Re-read 11-11-2025