Born in Connecticut in 1811, Harriet Beecher Stowe was an abolitionist, author, and playwright. Slavery was a major industry in the American South, and Stowe worked with the Underground Railroad to help escaped slaves head north towards freedom. The publication of her book, Uncle Tom's Cabin, a scathing anti-slavery novel, fanned the flames that started the Civil War. The book's emotional portrayal of the impact of slavery captured the nation's attention. A best-seller in its time, Uncle Tom's Cabin sealed Harriet Beecher Stowe's reputations as one of the most influential anti-slavery voices in US history.
Born into slavery in Maryland in 1818, Frederick Douglass was determined to gain freedom--and once he realized that knowledge was power, he secretly learned to read and write to give himself an advantage. After escaping to the North in 1838, as a free man he gave powerful speeches about his experience as a slave. He was so impressive that he became a friend of President Abraham Lincoln, as well as one of the most famous abolitionists of the nineteenth century.
Is a painting of a can of soup really art? Born in 1928 to immigrant parents, Andy Warhol became famous for paintings of things once deemed unworthy of "art," like soup cans, celebrities, and dollar bills. As a child, Andy loved to draw. He took classes at the Carnegie Museum of art, where his teacher told the class,"everything you look at has art." In college, many teachers didn't appreciate Andy's understanding of art. He annoyed them by doing things his own way-like by cutting a painting into four parts and submitting it as separate assignments. But later, his unique approach would lead to people everywhere reevaluating their ideas. "I just paint things I always thought were beautiful ... things you look at and never think about," Andy said. Susan Goldman Rubin has written many acclaimed nonfiction books for young readers. This biography is a great motivator for young artists, read by acclaimed narrator Barbara McCulloh. "A great choice for those looking for [an] ... accessible introduction to a leader of the Pop Art movement."-School Library Journal
Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books, based on her own childhood and later life, are still beloved classics almost a century after she began writing them. Now young readers will see just how similar Laura's true-life story was to her books. Born in 1867 in the "Big Woods" in Wisconsin, Laura experienced both the hardship and the adventure of living on the frontier.
It seems entirely fitting that Maurice Sendak was born on the same day that Mickey Mouse first made his cartoon debut-June 10, 1928. Sendak was crazy about cartoons and comic books, and at twelve, after seeing Disney's Fantasia, he decided that he was going to become an illustrator. His love of childrens books began early: often sick and confined to bed, little Maurice read and read and read. Though many of his own stories were light and funny, the most important ones-Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, Outside Over There-dealt with anger, jealousy, abandonment, content that had never before been the subject of picture books. As well as covering career highlights, this easy to read biography also describes the personal life of this genius.
Who Was Maurice Sendak is perfect for kids wild about one of the most influential children's book artists of the twentieth century!
Roald Dahl is one of the most famous children's book authors ever. Now in this Who Was . . . ? biography, children will learn of his real-life adventures. A flying ace for the British Air Force, he was married to an Academy Award-winning actress. He also wrote books and screenplays for adults.
Abby Wambach has always pushed the limits of what is possible. Named by Time magazine as one of the most influential people of 2015, the iconic soccer player captured the nation’s heart when she led her team to its recent World Cup Championship. Admired for her fearlessness and passion, Abby is a vocal advocate for women’s rights and equal opportunity, pushing to translate the success of her team to the real world. She has become a heavily requested speaker to a wide a range of audiences, from college students to executives at Fortune 500 companies.
In this edition of Forward that’s been adapted for young readers, Abby recounts her own decisions, wins, losses, and the pivotal moments that helped her become the world class athlete and leader she is today. Wambach’s book goes beyond the soccer field to reveal a soulful person grappling with universal questions about how we can live our best lives and become our truest selves. Written with honesty and heart, Forward is an inspiring blueprint for individual growth and a rousing call to action.
Fans of How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous and Kid Presidents can draft their own presidential fantasy team, based on these hilarious-but-true profiles of our past leaders.
What if a zombie apocalypse or a robot uprising threatened the nation and you had the power to recruit some of the nation's finest presidents to help save the day?
By studying the most successful squads in history, Daniel O'Brien has identified the perfect ingredients for a victorious team.
Which president would you choose for: the Brain, the Brawn, the Moral Compass, the Loose Cannon, and the Roosevelt?
Choose wisely-the fate of the world is in your hands!
After breaking or tying more than sixty records in hockey, it's no wonder that Wayne Gretzky is known as "The Great One." Born in Brantford, Ontario, on January 26, 1961, in a nation obsessed with the sport, he threw himself into the game practically from the time he first laced up a pair of skates. When he retired from the NHL in 1999, he had led several teams to Stanley Cup victories, competed in the Olympics, and changed the way hockey was played forever. Known for his love for family and as a truly decent human being, Wayne Gretzky is revealed as more than a sports legend in this easy-to-read biography.
A hilarious biography from YouTube sensation Caspar Lee (and his mom)!
This is an audiobook about me.
Unfortunately, I didn't write it--my mom did. WTF!
Let me tell you now that 98% of it is total lies. Actually, I'm pretty sure this book is illegal. So if you've bought it, you've basically supported a criminal. How does that feel?
I think she's getting me back for my first day in this world when I may have tried to kill her. She won't not be able to mention that. You might also find out about my first day at school, why my head is so massive, how I've always been a hit with the ladies and other things like that.
You know, important stuff.
Anyway, I found the book at the printer and you'll see I've corrected some of her most outrageous lies.
So, you know, enjoy. Just remember only the bits that make me look good are true . . .
It was 1961. John Lewis and Jim Zwerg are two young men boarding a bus and heading south for Montgomery, Alabama and the thick of the brewing Civil Rights struggle. They are idealists, committed to justice and equality and full of hope for change. This is their Freedom Ride. Arriving in town, suddenly they find themselves helpless in the clutches of an angry white mob armed with bats, chains, and hammers. Both men are beaten within an inch of their lives, for the color of their skin-John was black and Jim was white-and for the ideas they had traveled so far to support. Told from the perspectives of these two Freedom Riders, this Robert F. Silbert Honor Book is a stunning testament to the power of nonviolent resistance in the face of racial discrimination and segregation. A thoughtful reading from narrator Cecelia Riddett brings this important tale of the Civil Rights Movement to life for today's readers.
Born in 1925, Maria Tallchief spent part of her childhood on an Osage reservation in Oklahoma. With the support of her family and world-renowned choreographer George Balanchine, she rose to the top of her art form to become America's first prima ballerina. Black-and-white illustrations provide visual sidebars to the history of ballet while taking readers through the life of this amazing dancer.
