Mysterious and intriguing, Nikola Tesla was endlessly curious and an amazing thinker, able to produce working items without models or trial-and-error. (He just pictured it all in his head first!) Provides an in-depth glimpse of an innovator who is still discussed, debated, and revered.

The man who specialized in the larger-than-life led an extraordinary life himself. Growing up in a community of extreme practical jokers, young Taylor learned the power of storytelling and used it to his advantage (and the wonder of others) as he grew up. Barnum was also incredibly resilient, coming back from bankruptcy, fires, and other defeats to make his fame—ad that of others—even wider. G ...

Overcoming obstacles at every step, the Tuskegee Airmen personified dedication, courage, and perseverance. Amazing background and details reveal the truly heroic nature and actions of these brave soldiers.

Using a Q & A format, the book explores the details of the Louisiana Purchase, including its effects on the growing country, Native Americans, and the expansion of slavery.

With remarkable and fascinating detail, this fast-paced book reveals the unfolding of D-Day. Related background is clearly explained, enabling readers to understand and appreciate the significance of this historic event.

Contains fascinating details while retaining its accessibility for young readers. Simple graphics help explain timelines and concepts without distracting from the incredible story of human flight. An excellent biography!

Time travel enables an intergenerational friendship (and interesting family relationship) that will ultimately change both boys beyond their on-stage experiences. A beautiful story that celebrates family and grit! Note: “fart|farting” is used in describing a dog

Bell Kirby is an expert at systems, whether he’s designing the world’s most elaborate habitat for his pet chinchilla, re-creating Leonardo da Vinci’s greatest inventions in his garage, or avoiding Parker Hellickson, the most diabolical bully Village Green Elementary has ever seen. Since third grade, Parker has tormented Bell, who’s spent two long years devising a finely tuned system that k ...

In 1920 three American navy officers were on a routine practice run by balloon. A sudden storm hit sending them drastically off course. Subsequent actions to avoid a crash led them even further north into the snowy Canadian wilderness. Each man uses his strengths to encourage the others’ weaknesses. Kloor is the youngest, the most fit, and the best trained balloonist. Farrell is the oldest and l ...

Shackelton's story of survival and rescue is amazing enough on its own, but understanding the science involved makes the tale even more interesting. Fascinating details with scientific explanations accompany the brief retelling of Shackelton's expedition, which found success but not in the way the adventurer intended.

On August 6 each year the people of Hiroshima, Japan, set paper lanterns afloat in the river as a remembrance to those killed by the bomb dropped there in 1945. Three school children, Kozo, Shun, and Nozomi are budding artists challenged by their teachers to create a display the children choose to call Hiroshima: Then and Now for their families and classmates. Over the summer they ask friends and ...

The morning of August 24, AD 79, seemed like any other in the Roman city of Pompeii. So no one was prepared when the nearby volcano Mount Vesuvius suddenly erupted, spouting ash that buried the city and its inhabitants. The disaster left thousands dead, and Pompeii was no more than a memory for almost 1,700 years. In 1748, explorers rediscovered the port city with intact buildings and beautiful mo ...

In this captivating and lavishly illustrated young adult edition of her award-winning #1 New York Times bestseller, Laura Hillenbrand tells the story of a former Olympian's courage, cunning, and fortitude following his plane crash in enemy territory. This adaptation of Unbroken introduces a new generation to one of history's most thrilling survival epics. On a May afternoon in 1943, an American m ...

Florence Griffith Joyner's story is truly inspiring. From chasing jackrabbits across the desert and growing up in a low-income neighborhood to the pinnacle of her sport, FloJo worked hard, prayed, and developed her own sense of style both on and off the track. Young readers will cheer as the girl known as "Dee Dee" becomes one of the fastest women in history.

Snow Hill, Alabama 1937 sets the stage for conveying important complexities Brother, a privileged white boy experiences when befriending Champion Always Luckey, a black boy from Detroit. While the plot isn't necessarily compelling, the power of healing a racial divide is as portrayed here. An excellent springboard for timelining events of that period.

Junko Tabei of Japan is an intrepid young woman who loves climbing mountains. As a college student in Tokyo, she joins a post-war club of climbers and hones her mountaineering skills. After time she creates to an all-girls group and befriends Rumie, another female climber. Every weekend she and Rumie pursue multiple peaks at creative angles. While climbing with Rumie, a very famous climber notices ...

At first, radium was a health cure. Then it was the source of timepieces that could be read in the dark. And then it turned deadly. Caught in the history of this radioactive element, young women painted watch faces for manufacturers. As one after another suffers detrimental effects, it becomes obvious that working with radium is dangerous. However, the companies were profiting nicely from its use ...