Calling all busy parents! Discover the perfect book for your adventurous young readers aged 9-12! "I Escaped The Donner Party" offers a captivating blend of educational entertainment and thrilling survival that will have your kids turning pages with excitement.In this heart-pounding tale, Zeke, a 15-year-old horseback enthusiast from Illinois, battles hunger, bears, and blizzards when his pioneer-wagon-train takes a treacherous wrong turn on the iconic Oregon Trail. Based on true events, this kid-powered survival adventure, authored by the multi-award-winning Ellie Crowe and Scott Peters, is the fifth installment in the "I Escaped Series."Why should you choose this title? Here's why:Educational Entertainment: This book introduces young readers to a captivating chapter in American history while keeping them engaged in an adrenaline-charged survival story.Proven Success: The "I Escaped Series" is renowned for its popularity and positive reception among young readers.Relevance to Curriculum: Align your child's reading with their school curriculum, as this book explores historical events, survival skills, and real-world challenges.Similarity to Popular Series: If your child enjoyed series like "I Survived" and "Hazardous Tales," they're bound to love this gripping adventure.Engaging Structure: Short chapters cater to busy kids and reluctant readers, encouraging regular reading habits.Educational Extras: Explore a fact section about the Oregon Trail, Westward Expansion, and more, along with captivating black and white illustrations and a route map.Positive Values: Spark meaningful discussions with your child about courage and values while enjoying this action-packed tale.Study Guide: Find a valuable study guide on the author's website to facilitate discussions and activities related to the book.Join Zeke on his quest for survival and discover why this book is described as "a must for every reading list." Can Zeke endure the odds? Read it and find out!Choose "I Escaped The Donner Party" today for a reading experience that combines historical learning with thrilling survival, offering both entertainment and educational value. Your young adventurers will be captivated and enriched with every page! Read more

Orphan-girl Hannah True battles strange happenings, suspicion, and angry villagers when her town believes it's under attack by witches.The Survival Series that celebrates the awesome history of us.From bestselling author Scott Peters and Salem Witch whiz Juliet Fry comes a gripping retelling of the Salem Witch Trials for modern young readers.On a stormy night, young orphan Hannah is terrified to see witches’ fingers tapping at her bedroom window. Are they real or just a trick of the moon? The next morning, her best friend says a witch's spirit attacked her in the dark. Hannah is alarmed. Could this be true? When a neighbor's child begins acting strangely, villagers are sure that witchcraft is at work. A dear friend of Hannah's mother is blamed--but Hannah refuses to believe such terrible talk. Unfortunately, Hannah's rebellion makes her look suspicious. Why is she protecting this woman? Whose side is she on? Hannah is no witch expert--she's a servant in a farmhouse. She has no one to defend her and she's out of her element. Can this brave but frightened colonial girl ever hope to escape disaster?This is the 6th children's book in the I Escaped Series about brave boys and girls who face real-world challenges and find ways to escape disaster. Sure to appeal to fans of New York Times Bestseller Lauren Tarshis's I Survived Series, The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare, Little Witch by Anna Elizabeth Bennett, What Were The Salem Witch Trials, and The Witches by Roald Dahl.The short chapters make for easy wins, and Hannah's gripping situation keeps even reluctant readers turning pages just to find out what's going to happen next. Great for kids book clubs and classrooms--a study guide is available at https://scottpetersbooks.com/worksheetsPacked with a special section on facts about the Salem Witch trials that's sure to satisfy curious minds.Flesch Reading Ease: 85.6Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level 3.2An important, relevant read about bravery, kindness, and courage. Collect the whole I Escaped Series"a must for every reading list"Can Hannah survive disaster? Read it and find out! Read more

From #1 NYT bestselling author Kelly Yang comes a gorgeously illustrated picture book about Asian American changemakers doing everything they dreamed of and inspiring all of us to reach for new heights!From creating beautiful music like Yo-Yo Ma to flying to outer space like Franklin Chang-Díaz; from standing up to injustice like Fred Korematsu to becoming the first Asian American, Black and female vice president of the United States like Kamala Harris, this book illuminates the power of Asian Americans all over the country, in all sorts of fields. Each spread is illustrated by a different renowned Asian American or Asian artist. Alongside the poetic main text, Yes We Will includes one-line biographies of the person or historical moment featured on the page, with extended biographies at the end. Readers of different ages and needs can use the book in different ways, from classroom discussions to bedtime readalouds and more. Yes We Will answers the question, can we accomplish whatever we dream? With love, courage, determination, and lots of imagination, we can—and we will! Featured changemakers:Franklin Chang-DíazLia CirioTammy DuckworthJenny HanKamala HarrisH.E.R.Fred KorematsuPadma LakshmiSunisa LeeJeremy LiYo-Yo MaAmanda NguyenSandra OhI. M. PeiMamie TapePeter TsaiPhilip Vera CruzVera Wang Read more

From the world of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls comes a story based on the life of Madam C.J. Walker, America's first female self-made millionaire.Sarah is the first person in her family who wasn't born into slavery in Delta, Louisiana. But being free doesn't mean that Sarah doesn't have to work. She cooks, she cleans, she picks cotton, she does laundry, and she babysits. And when she works, she wraps up her hair.One day, Sarah's hair starts to fall out! It's itchy, crunchy, patchy, and won't grow. Instead of giving up, Sarah searches for the right products. And then she invents something better than any shampoo or hair oil she's used before. Her hair grows and grows! That's when she decides to rebrand herself as "Madam C. J. Walker," and begins her business empire.Madam C. J. Walker Builds a Business is the story of a leader in the hair care industry, but it's also an inspiring tale about the importance of empowering women to become economically independent.This historical fiction chapter book includes additional text on Madam C. J. Walker's lasting legacy, as well as educational activities designed to encourage entrepreneurship.About the Rebel Girls Chapter Book SeriesMeet extraordinary real-life heroines in the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls chapter book series! Introducing stories based on the lives of extraordinary women in global history, each stunningly designed chapter book features beautiful illustrations from a female artist as well as bonus activities in the backmatter to encourage kids to explore the various fields in which each of these women thrived. The perfect gift to inspire any young reader! Read more

With beautiful classic illustrations and an exciting quiz about Anne's quests, L. M. Montgomery's original edition of Anne of Green Gables invites you on an unforgettable adventure!When Anne, a spirited, bright-eyed, red-headed orphan, arrives at Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert’s home, the peaceful landscape of Prince Edward Island in Canada will never be the same again. The two elderly siblings expected a boy to help with their farm, but when Anne appears on their doorstep like a delightful surprise, they realize fate has a different plan for them.After a childhood spent in strangers' homes and orphanages, Anne is grateful to have a home with people who love her ‒ the first real home she’s ever known. From the moment she steps foot on the vast, green property, her vivid imagination and dreamy nature brighten up Green Gables with her fantastical tales about the lake of shining waters, the White Way of Delight, and the blossoming cherry trees.Soon, it becomes impossible for the people of Prince Edward Island to recall life before this bright little girl walked into their small community and right into their hearts. But as Anne grows older, she must face the complexities of adolescence with all its friendships, rivalries, and complicated feelings. Can she make it without losing the spark in her heart?Over a century after its publication, L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables continues to charm readers with its unparalleled simplicity, wit, and whimsy. Join Anne Shirley as she invites everyone on an unforgettable journey of self-discovery with valuable lessons about the true meaning of family, love, and forgiveness.This classic edition includes:8 priceless, first-edition, high-quality illustrations by M. A. and W. A. J. Claus.A fun quiz about Anne and the main characters at the end of the book.A beautiful cover design you’ll love.A comfortable reading format for both children and adults.Anne of Green Gables, one of the best classic novels for young boys and girls of all time, is a beloved, worldwide best-seller that will make a priceless addition to any library! Read more

A 2011 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People2012-2013 Children's Crown Gallery Nominee2011 Growing Good Kids—Excellence in Children's Literature AwardDr. Carver knew everything in nature was connected.Sally is a young girl living in rural Alabama in the early 1900s, a time when people were struggling to grow food in soil that had been depleted by years of cotton production. One day, Dr. George Washington Carver shows up to help the grown-ups with their farms and the children with their school garden. He teaches them how to restore the soil and respect the balance of nature. He even prepares a delicious lunch made of plants, including "chicken" made from peanuts. And Sally never forgets the lessons this wise man leaves in her heart and mind. Susan Grigsby's warm story shines new light on a Black scientist who was ahead of his time. Read more

Ten-year-old Justin hates that his sisters and his mama are always fussing at him. They make him feel stupid because he can't clean his room or cook. But why should he? He'd rather be outside playing. After all, cooking and cleaning is just “women's work.” That's why Justin is glad when his grandfather invites him back to his ranch for the summer. Justin is sure he can get away from all the women and do some actual “men's work,” such as cleaning fish, mending fences, and riding horses. But back at the ranch, Justin learns some unexpected lessons and soon realizes that anyone can do anything once they learn how. Read more

"For every book lover who fantasized about getting locked in the library overnight,The Story Collectoris a dream come true!"—New York Times-bestselling author Alan GratzIn the tradition of E. L. Konisburg, this middle-grade mystery adventure is inspired by the real life of Viviani Joffre Fedeler, born and raised in the New York Public Library. The Story Collector by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb is a middle-grade historical fiction inspired by the real life of Viviani Fedeler. Eleven-year-old Viviani Fedeler has spent her whole life in the New York Public Library. She knows every room by heart, except the ones her father keeps locked. When Viviani becomes convinced that the library is haunted, new girl Merit Mubarak makes fun of her. So Viviani decides to play a harmless little prank, roping her older brothers and best friend Eva to help out.But what begins as a joke quickly gets out of hand, and soon Viviani and her friends have to solve two big mysteries: Is the Library truly haunted? And what happened to the expensive new stamp collection? It's up to Viviani, Eva, and Merit (reluctantly) to find out. Read more

Born of Mohawk and Cayuga descent, musical icon Robbie Robertson learned the story of Hiawatha and his spiritual guide, the Peacemaker, as part of the Iroquois oral tradition. Now he shares the same gift of storytelling with a new generation. Hiawatha was a strong and articulate Mohawk who was chosen to translate the Peacemaker’s message of unity for the five warring Iroquois nations during the 14th century. This message not only succeeded in uniting the tribes, but also forever changed how the Iroquois governed themselves—a blueprint for democracy that would later inspire the authors of the U.S. Constitution. Caldecott Honor–winning illustrator David Shannon brings the journey of Hiawatha and the Peacemaker to life with arresting oil paintings. Together, the team of Robertson and Shannon has crafted a new children’s classic that will both educate and inspire readers of all ages. Read more

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At thirteen, as the oldest of five children, Ann feels an obligation to contribute to her family's income. She realizes there is only so much her widowed mother can do alone to support their family, so Ann bravely steps into the role of an adult, working full-time in service to a wealthy family uptown. In 1913, in her Pennsylvania coal town, quitting school early to help support the family is a common rite of passage.Ann has grown up poor, so she knows what it means to sacrifice her own desires for others. Often, girls of the early 20th century took whatever menial work they could find to supplement their famiy's income. They cooked, cleaned, did laundry, or took care of other people's children. Factories and mills snapped others up as cheap child labor, because these girls were smaller and quicker than adults and didn't need to be paid as much. In the early 20th century women had very few rights, and female children had none.But, in the mansion, Ann meets the class differences and modern conveniences that separate her family's shabby neighborhood of mine-owned company houses and the luxuries her wealthy employers take for granted. Ann and several other female servants in the mansion share all the trials and adventures of teenage life and love as they adjust to their new "big girl" roles. At the same time, they are experiencing the culture shock of living between rich versus poor and child versus adult. In the process, Ann decides that she never wants to be so poor again. In the big house on the hill, Ann and her new friends find help and support from unexpected sources. They discover that people everywhere are just people, and we all must help each other. Read more

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Between 1921 and 1955, Italian immigrant Simon Rodia transformed broken glass, seashells, pottery, and a dream to "do something big" into a U.S. National Landmark. Readers watch the towers rise from his little plot of land in Watts, California, through the eyes of a fictional girl as she grows and raises her own children. Chronicled in stunningly detailed collage that mimics Rodia's found-object art, this thirty-four-year journey becomes a mesmerizing testament to perseverance and possibility. A final, innovative "build-your-own-tower" activity makes this multicultural, intergenerational tribute a classroom natural and a perfect gift-sure to encourage kids to follow their own big dreams. Read more

Rocked in The Cradle of Coal series: Children of the Pennsylvania Coal MinesNortheastern Pennsylvania was the cradle of the coal industry in the early 1900s. Immigrants escaping poverty and hunger in Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, and other countries were eagerly recruited by the anthracite mine barons to provide cheap labor in exchange for the promise of a better life in North America. Upon arriving in their new country, immigrants soon discovered that the streets were not made of gold. Because they were part of a vast low-skilled labor force and did not speak English well (although they may have spoken three or four other languages), they faced prejudice and were ridiculed with ethnic slurs.With limited resources and a language barrier that separated them from the mainstream culture, these proud immigrants found strength in ethnic neighborhoods, societies, and their faith. They persevered with a strong work ethic, self-respect, and love for each other. Rocked in the Cradle of Coal stories are based on fact although not politically correct by today’s standards. The situations and conversations are purely a product of oral tradition and the author’s imagination…but they could have happened in any immigrant home at that time.Book 1: Peeling Potatoes: Katie’s StoryIt is 1914. Katie lives with her widowed mother and four older siblings on the edge of a coal mine near the river. Her young life is about to change. She must start school one year early so Mama can work full-time. Katie speaks Russian, but she hardly knows any English words. She’s shy, she doesn’t know any other children in the first grade, and she’s a year younger than everyone else. She wants to be brave and help her family. Can she do it? Read more

Introducing Peter Cartwright Gilbert Hamilton is left alone on the frontier when his father is killed, and his mother is kidnapped by Sauk Indians during the War of 1812. The orphaned boy is taken to Kentucky to live with his wealthy uncle and aunt on their plantation, but Gilbert will never really be a part of his uncle’s family. Haunted by memories of his mother and feelings of loneliness, Gil attends a camp meeting led by Peter Cartwright, a Methodist circuit-rider evangelist. The kind-hearted Cartwright allows the boy to move with the Cartwright family to Illinois, where Gil can begin the search for his mother. Settlers in the area have heard rumors of a blue-eyed squaw living among the Sauk. Could she be his mother? As Gil sets out on his quest, he begins to question whether his mother is alive. What if he is too late? Sauk warriors had kidnapped his mother long ago . . . is she still alive? An adventure story, ideal for readers 8-12 years of age. Read more

Frederick Douglass’s daughter tells her own story of segregation and triumph.“Rosetta, Rosetta, Sit by me!”That’s what the white girls at Miss Tracy’s Female Seminary yell when Rosetta, Frederick Douglass’s nine-year-old daughter, shows up on the first day of school. But things don’t turn out the way she expects. Not only does she have to study in a classroom all by herself, but she’s also kept apart at recess.Told in Rosetta’s voice, and illustrated throughout, this remarkable chapter book includes a biographical endnote; a time line; reproductions of a letter from Rosetta to her father and Frederick Douglass’s newspaper, the North Star; and source notes. Read more

Meet the brilliant, fearless, and ambitious Julia Morgan. In 1883, eleven-year-old Julia visits the amazing new Brooklyn Bridge—an experience that ignites within her a small but persistent flame. Someday, she decides, she too will build an astounding structure. Growing up in horse-and-buggy Oakland, Julia enjoys daring fence walks, climbing the tallest trees, and constantly testing her mother’s patience with her lack of interest in domestic duties and social events. At a time when “brainy” girls are the object of ridicule, Julia excels in school and consistently outsmarts her ornery brothers—but she has an even greater battle ahead. When she enrolls at university to study engineering, the male students taunt her, and the professors belittle her. Through it all, however, Julia holds on to her dream of becoming an architect. She faces each challenge head-on, firmly standing up to those who believe a woman’s place is in the home. Fortunately, the world has yet to meet anyone like the indomitable Miss Morgan. Drawing Outside the Lines is an imagined childhood of pioneering architect Julia Morgan, who left behind her an extraordinary legacy of creativity, beauty, and engineering marvels. Read more

Time to board the bus! Liberty and her friend Abdullah, with their families and a diverse group of passengers, head off to their first stop: Jackson, Mississippi. Next on their map are Glendora, Memphis, Birmingham, Montgomery, and finally Selma, for a march across the iconic Edmund Pettus Bridge.As told through the innocent view of a child, Liberty's Civil Rights Road Trip serves as an early introduction to places, people, and events that transformed history. The story is inspired by an actual journey led by author Michael W. Waters, bringing together a multigenerational group to witness key locations from the civil rights movement. An author's note and more information about each stop on Liberty's trip offer ways for adults to expand the conversation with young readers.A portion of the publisher's sales proceeds will be donated to Foot Soldiers Park in Selma, Alabama, a nonprofit dedicated to honoring the history and continued relevance of the Selma movement. Read more

A Common Core Exemplar Text by an award-winning author-illustrator teamTomás is a son of migrant workers. Every summer he and his family follow the crops north from Texas to Iowa, spending long, arduous days in the fields. At night they gather around to hear Grandfather's wonderful stories. But before long, Tomás knows all the stories by heart. "There are more stories in the library,"Papa Grande tells him.  The very next day, Tomás meets the library lady and a whole new world opens up for him. Based on the true story of the Mexican-American author and educator Tomás Rivera, a child of migrant workers who went on to become the first minority Chancellor in the University of California system, this inspirational story suggests what libraries--and education--can make possible.  Raul Colón's warm, expressive paintings perfectly interweave the harsh realities of Tomás's life, the joyful imaginings he finds in books, and his special relationships with a wise grandfather and a caring librarian.  "A gentle text and innovative artwork. . . . While young readers and future librarians will find this an inspiring tale, the end note gives it a real kick: the story is based on an actual migrant worker [Tomás Rivera] who became chancellor of a university--where the library now bears his name."--Publishers Weekly Read more

Benedict Arnold always carried things too far. As a boy he did crazy things like climbing atop a burning roof and picking a fight with the town constable. As a soldier, he was even more reckless. He was obsessed with being the leader and the hero in every battle, and he never wanted to surrender. He even killed his own horse once rather than give it to the enemy. Where did the extremism lead Arnold? To treason. America's most notorious traitor is brought to life as Jean Fritz relays the engrossing story of Benedict Arnold -- a man whose pride, ambition, and self-righteousness drove him to commit the heinous crime of treason against the United States during the American Revolution.“A highly entertaining biography illuminating the personality of a complex man.” —Horn Book“A gripping story. . . As compelling as a thriller, the book also shines as history.” —Publishers WeeklyAn ALA Notable BookA New York Times Book Review Notable Book of the YearA School Library Journal Best Book of the YearAn ABA Pick of the ListsA Horn Book Fanfare Title Read more