John James Audubon was a boy who loved the outdoors and believed in studying birds in nature, not just from books. Capturing the early passion of America's greatest painter of birds, this story will leave young readers listening intently for the calls of birds large and small near their own homes.

Readers are richly rewarded by this riveting storyline, exquisite writing, and powerful message. Brown skillfully shows how strength of mind can grow from hardship, how resilience is a choice, and how overcoming doubt and learning to trust in the face of unfathomable circumstances is possible. Historical setting influences the story and contrasts in regions within the US and abroad expand the read ...

This Step 3 beginning reader presents a biography of Civil War nurse and founder of the American Red Cross Clara Barton, a woman who outgrew her girhood shyness to became a fearless "Angel of the Battlefield." Full color.

Bronco Charlie longs for a life of adventure. By the time he turned eleven, he'd been a sailor, a cowboy, and could tame wild bucking broncos. But Charlie was always itching for new challenges, and when a Pony Express horse shows up riderless, Charlie gets his big chance. The next station is fifty miles away, and Charlie will have to ride through rocky mountains in the blinding rain to safely deli ...

Charming free verse vignettes from the childhood of Jacqueline Woodson draw the reader into a life rich with feelings, scents, sounds, and sensations within an African-American family. Mentions of Rosa Parks, the Civil Rights marches and segregated lunch counters provide great points of discussion. However, the focus is simple family times: catching fireflies, church meetings, Saturday night shamp ...

This sweet story shows the compassion of one man and the impact small acts of kindness can have on an entire city. This book is full of photos from the pilot’s life and scanned letters written by himself and the children who adored him giving an excellent first hand account of the events. Readers are left teary eyed at the big and small sacrifices others were willing to make just so someone else ...

As he does in Chasing Lincoln's Killer, Swanson captures the drama, tension, and suspense of the devastating assassination and the determined pursuit of the murderer. This is history that reads like a thriller. Highly recommended, especially for young adult readers.

This biography for the independent beginning reader tells the life story of the woman who formed the American Red Cross. Full color.

Instead of losing hope and giving in to oppressive mindsets of Nazism, Christo ran from Bulgaria and pursued dreams of hope and creative expressions of freedom. Intensely imaginative, Christo allowed memories of demeaning governments to inform and fuel an expansive way of thinking and giving. He would create dramatic, larger-than-life art installations so the world could experience, even for brief ...

The prequel to the Newbery Honor-winning Dragonwings. In rural China in 1865, 14-year-old Otter begins his journey to America to meet his father and legendary uncle on the transcontinental railroad. In the freezing mountains of the Sierras, Otter begins to discover himself and what he's made of.

Another stunning picture book biography of a prominent twentieth-century African-American in the arts, from the creative team behind Alvin Ailey.

In this companion to "Alexander Hamilton: From Orphan to Founding Father, " readers learn that Hamilton's wife Eliza was a spirited girl who grew up to be a strong woman. Eliza lived for 50 years after Alexander's death, and during that time rescued many children in need and preserved her husband's historical legacy. Full color.

Rachel Marsh is a servant in the Boston household of John Adams. But her loyalty to the Adams family is tested by her friendship with a British private who leads his soldiers in firing upon a mob of Boston citizens.

At fourteen Langston is uprooted from his home in rural Alabama to post-war inner-city Chicago. He is utterly lost with no friends or family for comfort and only his overworked father to help him through the difficulties of city living. But one day running from ever-present bullies, he accidentally finds his first oasis, a public library, where he begins to find himself.

Florian and his ""Theory Of All Small Things,"" or ""TOAST,"" will remind readers of Sherlock Holmes and his ability to notice what others miss. It's enough of a theory to bring the FBI calling, seeking help in solving a major art heist. Both a mystery and an adventure, young readers will find the roller coaster ride of a plot engaging from start to finish. May be of special interest to reluctant ...

Learn about the abolitionist Frederick Douglass and his fight for freedom in this Step 3 Biography Reader! Frederick Douglass was a keystone figure in the abolitionist movement, and his story has impacted generations of people fighting for civil rights in America. He was born to an enslaved mother and grew up with the horrors of slavery. In the course of his childhood, he was able to learn to read ...

While recounting the details of this historical movement, the author leaves readers with a deep respect for the courage shown by the people involved. An engrossing and inspiring read! A note from the author regarding terminology in the book: "Many words have been used to describe people of color. I use 'black' and 'African American' interchangeably and with equal respect in the pages that follow. ...

Joe and John Henry do everything together, from shooting marbles to shelling butterbeans. But when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is passed and the town pool is opened to blacks and whites alike, the two boys discover that the workers have filled in the pool with tar. This picture book is based on the author's own childhood growing up in rural Alabama and Mississippi. Full color.

Ronde and Tiki are each other's best friends and biggest fans, and now they are on the same football team. Tiki gets all the glory for his touchdowns, but Ronde feels slighted because if he hadn't led the way with his blocking, Tiki wouldn't have scored.