Matthew Henson's destiny was set when he met naval officer Robert Edwin Peary in 1887. An African-American son of poor farmers, Henson shared Peary's desire to be the first person to reach the North Pole. In 1909, the men set out one one of their many voyages together. They battled sub-zero temperatures, deadly ice formations, and bone-chilling winds. Many times it was Henson who saved the expedition with his knowledge of Inuit language and culture. But when the men finally achieved their goal, few people believed them. Worse still, because Henson was black, he was seen as nothing more than Peary's manservant. This exceptional biography from noted author and educator Dolores Johnson tells the full story of Henson's extraordinary life, from his humble and self-taught beginnings, to his proper recognition as Peary's equal.
As his parents' shouting tears through the walls to the room where he is supposed to be sleeping, young Neil Waldman buries his face in his pillow and tries to swallow his tears. The trauma of his parents' fighting rips at him, but it will also open the path to Neil's career as an artist. Seeking refuge from a turbulent home life, Neil and his three siblings turn to the world of creativity. Their mother's book from an art museum in Russia is all the children need to set fire to their imaginations. And from there, drawing and painting become much more than pleasurable diversions-they become lifelines of hope that allow the youths to believe that there is lasting beauty in the world. Recipient of the ALA Notable and Parents' Choice Awards, Waldman has written and illustrated more than 50 books for children. Narrator George Guidall delivers a powerful performance of the author's engaging memoir.
An acclaimed biographer for children, Tanya Lee Stone has received many accolades for her over 80 published books. This Junior Library Guild Premier Selection introduces young listeners to women's rights pioneer Elizabeth Cady Stanton. In the 19th century, American women weren't allowed to own property, go to college, or even vote. Unwilling to suffer this injustice, Stanton gathered like-minded people to change these rules.
A short, red-headed and red-faced man with a bold personality, Myles Standish is remembered for his soldierly defense of the Mayflower Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony. But he was just one participant in a legendary struggle for the colony's survival in a harsh new world. Departing from Holland, the Pilgrims fought off hunger, disease, and terrifying weather to arrive on the northeast coast of North America. Working tirelessly to establish a settlement before the onslaught of winter, the settlers learned how to plant maize from the friendly Indians they encountered, including an invaluable translator they called Squanto and the great chief Massasoit. But difficulties with other, unfriendly, Indians spurred Myles Standish to stand tall and build a fort to defend their homesteads. This exciting tale of the early settlers and their hard-won triumphs and many tragedies illuminates an important part of American history for young listeners. Acclaimed author Cheryl Harness' enthusiastic interpretation makes the story of the first Thanksgiving fascinating for children and their parents alike.
Picture a Crow Indian elder, his wizened eyes catching yours in the ancient flicker of firelight. His mesmerizing stories span the ages, from Custer to World War II to the 21st Century. He is the last traditional chief of his people. He is over 90 years old. Now picture that same man lecturing at colleges nationwide, and addressing the United Nations on the subject of peace. National Geographic presents the amazing life story of Joseph Medicine Crow, the man who begins life as Winter Man. Trained as a warrior by his grandfather, Yellowtail, he bathes in icy rivers and endures the ceremony of "counting coup"-facing fierce combat with an enemy Sioux boy. An operation at the local hospital brings the young Crow face-to-face with his worst fears: a Sioux, a ghost, and a white man. He excels at the white man's school and is raised in the Baptist faith. He translates the stories of the elder chiefs, becoming the link to the ancient traditions of the pre-reservation generation. His own dramatic and funny stories span both ages, and the ancient Crow legends are passed on in the storytelling tradition. Joseph Medicine Crow's doctorate degree was interrupted by the call to arms of World War II. On the battlefields of Germany he earned the ancient status of War Chief by completing the four war deeds required of the Crow warrior. In 1948 the Crow Tribal Council appointed Joseph Medicine Crow (now called High Bird) their Tribal Historian and Anthropologist. Counting Coup is a vibrant adventure narrative, bringing Native American history and culture alive for young readers. Joseph Medicine Crow's story illuminates the challenges faced by the Crow people as hurricanes of change raged through America. His epic story and its lessons are an essential legacy for us all.
Ben Franklin was the scientist who, with the help of a kite, discovered that lightning is electricity. He was also a statesman, an inventor, a printer, and an author-a man of such amazingly varied talents that some people claimed he had magical powers! Full of all the details kids will want to know, the true story of Benjamin Franklin is by turns sad and funny, but always honest and awe-inspiring.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Born in Warsaw, Poland, on November 7, 1867, Marie Curie was forbidden to attend the male-only University of Warsaw, so she enrolled at the Sorbonne in Paris to study physics and mathematics. There she met a professor named Pierre Curie, and the two soon married, forming one of the most famous scientific partnerships in history. Together they discovered two elements and won a Nobel Prize in 1903. (Later Marie won another Nobel award for chemistry in 1911.) She died in Savoy, France, on July 4, 1934, a victim of many years of exposure to toxic radiation.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Steve Jobs, adopted in infancy by a family in San Francisco, packed a lot of life into fifty-six short years. In this Who Was...? biography, children will learn how his obsession with computers and technology at an early age led him to co-found and run Apple, in addition to turning Pixar into a ground-breaking animation studio. A college dropout, Jobs took unconventional steps in his path to success and inspired the best and the brightest to come with him and change the world.
It's one thing for scientists to use animals for their experiments. But it's another thing entirely for them to use humans to test out a new vaccine or medical treatment-especially when the scientists are the subjects of their own experiments! Guinea Pig Scientists features brief but informative biographies of men and women who have changed the world by using their own bodies to test their scientific theories. From swallowing wooden tubes to test theories about digestion to letting oneself be bitten by diseased mosquitoes, these brave scientists have let nothing stand between their thirst for knowledge and their dedication to doing whatever is necessary to break new ground. Coauthors Leslie Dendy and Mel Boring spent more than 10 years researching the lives of the men and women featured in this fascinating work. Jonathan Fried delivers a sterling narration that perfectly conveys the inspirational and informative stories of these pioneering souls.
Devastating surprise attacks, epic victories, unstoppable armies, and tough-as-nails men and women from the greatest war in human history.
From massive aerial battles that clouded the skies with planes to deathly secret operations deep behind enemy lines, the events of World War II are some of the most awe-inspiring of all time. Discover legendary commanders, tremendous fights, elite soldiers, and courageous individuals whose deeds truly made the difference in this jaw-dropping guide to the biggest war the world has ever seen.
History buff and popular blogger Ben Thompson's extensive research and irresistible storytelling put readers right in the middle of the action in this unforgettable installment in the Guts & Glory series!
World War II has finally ended. Thirteen-year-old Annie de Leeuw and her sister have spent almost three years hiding in the upstairs room of a remote farmhouse in Holland. Now they can go home to rejoin their father and older sister. But saying goodbye to the courageous family who hid them is very difficult for Annie. And she finds that being home again isn't easy either. Her older sister has become a devout Christian. Her widowed father marries a wealthy woman who rejects the unsophisticated Annie. Gradually the teenager feels torn between nostalgia for the farm and desire for her new mother's approval. The Journey Back is a moving testament to the Dutch people's kindness and resilience during the war. It is also a poignant tale of a young woman striving to define her place in the world. Narrated by the author, this sequel to The Upstairs Room becomes an unforgettable listening experience.
As a child he dreamt of changing South Africa; as a man he changed the world. Nelson Mandela spent his life battling apartheid and championing a peaceful revolution. He spent twenty-seven years in prison and emerged as the inspiring leader of the new South Africa. He became the country's first black president and went on to live his dream of change. This is an important and exciting addition to the Who Was...? series.
