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19,300 | 15 | Kirsten Anderson is a freelance writer and actress who lives in New York City with her charming Pomeranian, Sunflower.Who Was Robert Ripley? By December 1918, Robert Ripley had been drawing sports illustrations for almost ten years. He was used to drawing boxing matches, baseball games, and pro golfers. But now he was stuck. He was in a big hurry to leave the newspaper office. He had a date. But he couldnt leave until he had the sports cartoon finished. Ripley loved to collect weird and interesting facts. He kept a folder of them on his desk for a rainy day, when he was out of cartoon ideas. Today felt like that day. He began to look through the folder... A little while later, Ripley finished his drawing. It showed people accomplishing amazing things. A man who walked backward across a continent. Another who hopped one hundred yards in eleven seconds. A fellow who jumped rope 11,810 times in a row, and one who ran backward for one hundred yards in only fourteen seconds. There were some track and field facts, record-breaking times spent underwater, and three-legged racers. These were the fascinating things people did to which Ripley paid attention. Ripley needed a title. He had drawn pictures of people who were incredible athletes and others who did downright silly things. He scrawled Champs and Chumps across the page, then signed the drawing Ripley, as usual. He didnt think it was a great idea, but it was better than nothing. Ripley wasnt sure what his editor would think of the cartoon. He handed in the sheet of paper, put on his coat, and rushed out the door. He didnt want to be late for his date. Champs and Chumps would become a popular illustrated feature of the New York Globe after Ripley drew more and more of the weird and wonderful cartoons. The title was later changed to the catchier Believe It or Not! Readers began to notice and asked for more. In ten years, Bob Ripleys cartoons would be seen in newspapers all over the United States, and he would go on to become a world traveler and a best-selling author. In twenty years, he would be a well-known movie and radio star. This is his story... Believe It or Not! Chapter 1: Santa Rosa LeRoy Robert Ripley was born on February 22, 1890, in Santa Rosa, California. Three years later, his parents, Isaac and Lillie, had a daughter, Ethel. Isaac was a carpenter. He built the familys house. Lillie did laundry for extra money. His parents always called LeRoy Roy. Roy was thin. He had freckles, and his ears stuck out. His front teeth were crooked and poked out of his mouth. They made it hard for him to speak clearly. Roy was always embarrassed by his teeth. The Ripleys were poor, so Roys mother made his clothes out of laundry that her customers had left behind. The kids at school teased him about his clothes and his teeth. His teachers werent too happy with him, either. He drew pictures during class when he was supposed to be paying attention to his lessons. Roy drew constantly. The family didnt have money for extra paper, so he used any scraps he could find. He drew his mother and sister, and sometimes himself. He copied pictures he saw. He did anything he could to become a better artist. By high school he had developed another talent. He became a star pitcher on the school baseball team. In 1905, Isaac Ripley died. Lillie now had to take care of fifteen-year-old Roy, Ethel, and baby Douglas. Lillie pushed Roy to get a job to help out the family. Roy tried delivering newspapers, but he hated getting up early. He soon quit. His decision to quit his first job may have saved his life. When a massive earthquake struck San Francisco in 1906, Santa Rosaonly about fifty miles from San Franciscosuffered serious damage. At least a hundred people died there, including some of the newsboys waiting outside the Santa Rosa newspaper office to pick up their early morning papers. Roy thought about the two disasters that had happened in less than a year: his fathers death and the earthquake. He decided he wanted to leave Santa Rosa. Baseball or artor maybe bothcould be the key to his success. Frances OMeara, Roys high-school English teacher, saw how difficult it was for him to write essays and read them aloud to the class. She let him draw instead. Roy drew pictures to illustrate the stories and poems they read in class. Miss OMeara loved them. She hung his pictures in the classroom. Her encouragement gave him confidence. Lillie Ripley wanted Roy to get a steady job to help the family. He found a job polishing tombstones but soon quit because it was too gloomy. He told his mother that he could make a living as an artist. He had been trying hard to get one of his drawings published. She thought Roy should be more practical. Just a few weeks before his high-school graduation in 1908, Roy quit school. No one really knew why. He later told Miss OMeara he needed to earn money for his family. But it seemed like he spent most of his time pitching for some of the semiprofessional baseball teams that played in the area. He also drew ads and posters for one of the teams. He may have left school because he felt it was time to get on with being a baseball player, or an artist. After all, Life magazine had just bought one of his cartoons!; Title: Who Was Robert Ripley? | [
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19,301 | 16 | Jean Fritz, the Newbery Honor-winning author of Homesick, is best known for her engaging and enlightening nonfiction for young readers, including What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?, And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?, and Shh! We're Writing the Constitution. She was honored with the Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature by the New York State Library Association, and won the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for her career contribution to American children's literature.; Title: Bunny Hopwell's First Spring (G&D Vintage) | [
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19,302 | 2 | Grosset & Dunlap creates high-quality books for young readers of any level. Focused on books for ages 012, Grosset offers a wide range of original fiction series, nonfiction titles, leveled readers, and licensed tie-ins to captivate every reader.; Title: Max & Ruby's Happy Holidays Treasury (Max and Ruby) | [
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19,303 | 15 | Grosset & Dunlap creates high-quality books for young readers of any level. Focused on books for ages 0–12, Grosset offers a wide range of original fiction series, nonfiction titles, leveled readers, and licensed tie-ins to captivate every reader.; Title: Octonauts and the Whitetip Shark | [
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19,304 | 13 | Henry Winkler is an actor, producer, and director, and he speaks publicly all over the world. In addition, he has a star on Hollywood Boulevard, was presented with the Order of the British Empire by the Queen of England, and the jacket he wore as the Fonz hangs in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC. But if you asked him what he was proudest of, he would say, "Writing the Hank Zipzer books with my partner, Lin Oliver." He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Stacey. They have three children named Jed, Zoe, and Max, and two dogs named Monty and Charlotte. Charlotte catches a ball so well that she could definitely play outfield for the New York Mets.Lin Oliver is a writer and producer of movies, books, and television series for children and families. She has written more than twenty-five novels for children, and one hundred episodes of television. She is cofounder and executive director of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, an international organization of twenty thousand authors and illustrators of children's books. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alan. They have three sons named Theo, Ollie, and Cole. She loves tuna melts, curious kids, any sport that involves a racket, and children's book writers everywhere.Scott Garrett lives in the United Kingdom.Chapter 1 Hank! my sister, Emily, yelled, as she ran up to me and grabbed my arm. You have to come meet Ginger. Shes the cutest snake Ive ever seen. Emily, I said, long slimy reptiles with no eyelids or ears are not cute. Theyre creepy. Gingers not slimy. Her skin is dry. Come pet her. I dont pet snakes, or anything else that could eat me whole for lunch. Our family was spending the morning at the West End Avenue street fair. The whole block was lined with booths selling everything from blueberry muffins to tube socks. Leave it to Emily to find the one snake booth. That girl can sniff out a reptile better than my dog, Cheerio, can sniff out a hunk of pot roast under the dining-room table. Ignoring Emily, I headed for a booth that was selling cool comic books. Emily stood there and stomped her foot. Mom! Dad! she whined. This isnt fair. We just spent twenty minutes waiting for Hank to taste every flavor of ice cream when we knew he was going to pick cherry-vanilla all along. Now the family should do something I want to do. Emily has a good point, Hank, my mom said. I think we should all go say hello to Ginger the snake. Fine, I muttered. But Im not touching her with any part of my body. I will use my eyes and thats it. We walked over to a large purple sign that read Ralphs Reptile Show. Under the sign, there was a table with some reptiles displayed in different kinds of glass tanks. A giant tortoise was sitting in the middle of the table. And when I say giant, I mean giant. That guys shell was as big as my bathroom sink. In front of the table was Ralph himself, with a long orange, yellow, and black striped snake wrapped around his arm. Theres Ginger! Emily screamed. Hi, Emily, Ralph said. Oh, I see youve brought your family over to meet Ginger. Theyre all so excited to get to know her, Emily said, reaching out to stroke Gingers long back. Make that all but one of us, I added quickly. I hope this doesnt hurt your feelings, Ralph, but Im not a big snake petter. Well, then maybe I can interest you in Clive, my snow leopard gecko, Ralph said. Or Boris, my adorable blue-tailed skink. Okay, I dont even know what a skink is. But it sounds too close to stink for me to even consider petting it. Ralph was wearing a tan floppy hat that looked like his head had sweated in it for at least a hundred years. He had on a brown shirt and shorts, brown construction boots, and a shirt with a million pockets and zippers. Maybe thats where he keeps his skinks. Is that tortoise even alive? I asked Ralph. Hes not moving. You mean Speedy? Ralph petted the tortoises bumpy head with two fingers. Hes probably just thinking about the lettuce leaf he had for lunch. If you want a little more excitement, you should get to know Ginger. Shes a hoot. Ralph moved his arm so that Gingers face was very close to my nose. Maybe it wasnt very close, but it was close enough for me to jump way back. Look at Hank, Emily laughed. Afraid of a little snake. Im not afraid, exactly, I told her. I just dont happen to love snakes the same way you do. Maybe Im not an animal person. You love Cheerio, dont you? Of course. But Cheerios a dog, which means you can play ball with him. And take him for a walk. Last time I checked, they dont make leashes for snakes. Snakes are very sweet in their own way, Ralph said. Take Ginger, for instance. Shes a mud snake. She loves children. Shes a big hit at kids birthday parties. Wow, Emily said. I wish she could come to mine. Its coming up soon. I already sent out the invitations and everything. Ralph reached down to the stack of brochures he had on the table and handed my dad one. I bring my reptile show to lots of kids birthday parties, he said. And Id be happy to come to Emilys. Thats a deal! Emily said. Im going to call everyone Ive invited and let them know that theres a new theme to my party. Everybody else has a princess dress-up party. Nobody has had snakes before. Thats because kids dont like attending birthday parties with creatures whose jaws unlock so they can swallow the birthday cake whole, I said. I dont care what you think, Hank. Its my party. Hold up there, Emily, my dad said, putting the brochure in his coat pocket. We have a lot to discuss here. And we should do that on the way home, my mom said, taking Emilys hand to lead her away from Ralph. See you soon, Emily called out to Ralph. Tell Ginger Ill make a special party hat for her. Well have to see about that, my dad whispered to Ralph. I understand, Ralph answered. My phone number is on the brochure. Let me know as soon as you decide, because Ginger is a very popular snake. As we walked up 78th Street to our apartment, Emily didnt stop jabbering for a minute. My dad was just the opposite. He was quiet. His eyebrows were all wrinkled and his mouth was turned down into a frown. Look, Emily, my dad said when we reached our building. I dont want to disappoint you, but we cant have Ralphs Reptile Show at your party. I glanced at the prices, and its too expensive for us. Emily stopped in her tracks and so did her mouth. She stared at my dad like he had just told her the sky was falling. But, Daddy, she cried. Im only going to turn seven once in my life. Well, sweetie, my mom said, we can still have a nice party for you. Emilys eyes filled with tears. She pulled open the front door and ran through the hallway to the elevator. I saw her pushing the elevator button like she was hammering a nail with her thumb. I felt sorry for the elevator button, and my mom felt sorry for Emily. She wants that party so badly, she whispered to my dad. I wish we could afford it, he said. But we cant. We rode up the elevator in silence, except for the sound of Emily sniffling. When we got to our apartment, my dad opened the door, and Cheerio came running out to greet us. Even his wagging tail didnt cheer Emily up. As I petted Cheerio, I remembered how Emily had stood up for me when I wanted to keep him, and my dad had said no. Suddenly, I felt something surprising in the pit of my stomach, and it had nothing to do with wanting a pepperoni pizza. What I wanted was to help my sister. Now, how weird is that? ; Title: Fake Snakes and Weird Wizards #4 (Here's Hank) | [
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19,305 | 16 | Grosset & Dunlap creates high-quality books for young readers of any level. Focused on books for ages 012, Grosset offers a wide range of original fiction series, nonfiction titles, leveled readers, and licensed tie-ins to captivate every reader.; Title: My ABC Book (G&D Vintage) | [
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19,306 | 2 | Jonathan Fenske has written and illustrated several Penguin Young Readers, including Guppy Up!and Woodward and McTwee. He was a Cybil Award finalist for his readerLove Is in the Air.He lives in Denver, Colorado.; Title: A Pig, a Fox, and a Box (Penguin Young Readers, Level 2) | [
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19,307 | 2 | Kate Ritchey is a slightly animal-obsessed writer and editor. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts.; Title: Lion, Tiger, and Bear (Penguin Young Readers, Level 4) | [
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19,308 | 0 | Henry Winkler is an actor, producer, and director, and he speaks publicly all over the world. In addition, he has a star on Hollywood Boulevard, was presented with the Order of the British Empire by the Queen of England, and the jacket he wore as the Fonz hangs in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC. But if you asked him what he was proudest of, he would say, "Writing the Hank Zipzer books with my partner, Lin Oliver." He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Stacey. They have three children named Jed, Zoe, and Max, and two dogs named Monty and Charlotte. Charlotte catches a ball so well that she could definitely play outfield for the New York Mets.Lin Oliver is a writer and producer of movies, books, and television series for children and families. She has written more than twenty-five novels for children, and one hundred episodes of television. She is cofounder and executive director of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, an international organization of twenty thousand authors and illustrators of children's books. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alan. They have three sons named Theo, Ollie, and Cole. She loves tuna melts, curious kids, any sport that involves a racket, and children's book writers everywhere.Scott Garrett lives in the United Kingdom.The most fun way to spend the night before Halloween is to watch a scary movie with your best friend, sharing a bowl of popcorn. This is something Frankie Townsend and I have been doing ever since I can remember. We turn out the lights in my living room and put The Eight-Legged Creature from the Deep on the TV. Then we make scary underwater sounds. Frankie pretends to be a giant vampire squid. Im really good at holding my nose and groaning. I dont think any underwater creature actually makes that noise, but I like to do it, anyway, because it drives my sister, Emily, crazy.Hey, Zip, Frankie said to me as we sat in the kitchen eating frozen oatmeal raisin cookies. Call me weird, but I like my cookies frozen. It was Friday night, and the next day was Halloween. Do you think we should invite Ashley to watch the movie with us?Sure, I said. After all, shes our new best friend. Unless you think the movie would be too scary for her?Lets ask her, Frankie said.I picked up the phone and dialed Ashleys number.Big Joes Hot Dogs, said a mans voice. Where every bite is right.Oops. I guess I didnt dial Ashleys number.Excuse me, I said into the phone. I was trying to call Ashley Wong.No one here by that name, Big Joe answered. But if you find her, come on in for our Halloween special. I call it the Hal-O-Wiener.I could still hear him laughing as I hung up. Without saying a word, Frankie took the phone and dialed Ashley. He knows Im not the best dialer in the world. I think Ive memorized a number, but when I try to dial it, all the numbers get jumbled up in my brain. I talk to a lot of nice people that way, though.When we asked her over for the movie, Ashley said shed love to come. She wasnt scared a bit. She just had to finish gluing the last fake diamonds on her giraffe costume, and shed be right up.If youre wondering why a giraffe is wearing a diamond necklace, youll have to ask Ashley. Hey, if it works for her, it works for me.We had just hung up the phone when my sister, Emily, came stomping into the kitchen. She had green cardboard patches hanging all over her body.I give up! She seemed ready to burst out crying. My bony plate is coming loose again.The kitchen door swung open, and my mom came running in after her. She was carrying a glue gun.Come here, Emily, she said. I can fix your costume if you give me a minute.What are you supposed to be? I asked Emily.Cant you tell? I am a Komodo dragon, which, in case you dont know, lives only in Indonesia.Are you going to move there once Halloween is over? I shot back.I heard that, Hank, my dad said, joining us in the kitchen. Dont tease Emily. Halloween is supposed to be fun. Be nice to each other.No problem, Dad, I said. Then, putting on my best smile, I said to Emily, How wonderful that you wont need to wear a mask because you already look like a dragon.; Title: There's a Zombie in My Bathtub #5 (Here's Hank) | [
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19,309 | 0 | Janet Morgan Stoeke (www.janetstoeke.com) is the author of the ever-popular Minerva Louise series. She, her husband, and their four children live in Virginia near Washington, DC.; Title: Letting Go (The Loopy Coop Hens) | [
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19,310 | 18 | Kathryn and Robin Waterfield have written many books, ranging from children's fiction to ancient history. They live on a small olive farm in southern Greece.Who Was Alexander the Great?It is a special day for King Philips son. His name is Alexander, and he is twelve. He is old enough now to go to the horse market with his father and the other men. At the market a man walks up to Philip. He claims to have the best horse in the world, one fit for a king. He is an amazing horse, sleek and strong. He is black all over, except for a white mark on his forehead. The mark is shaped like the head of an ox. That is why the horses name is Bucephalas (say: Boo-KEH-fa-las). In Greek, Bucephalas means Ox-head. Bucephalas is a very difficult horse to ride. Even King Philip cannot mount him. So he refuses to buy the horse and turns to leave. But young Alexander insists that he can ride the great horse. He wants the horse for himself. Philip and the others dont take Alexander seriously. He is too young to ride such a dangerous horse. Alexander, however, wont take no for an answer. So the king lets him try. Maybe that will teach his stubborn son a lesson! Is Alexander going to make a fool of himself in front of his father? No! He has noticed something that his father has not. The beautiful horse is afraid of his shadow. So Alexander walks slowly up to Bucephalas. Gently, he takes hold of the lead rope. He turns the horse into the sun, stroking his neck and whispering to him. Bucephalas cannot see his shadow now. The horse calms down. Alexander springs lightly onto its back and gallops off. Everyone is amazed! This is Alexanders first conquest. Suddenly King Philip sees his son with new eyes. He tells Alexander that he needs to find a much bigger kingdom to rule. Macedon is too small for Alexander! King Philip is right. Riding Bucephalas, Alexander goes on to conquer the known world. He leads thousands of soldiers thousands of miles across Asia. He becomes the richest and most powerful king alive. He builds many new cities throughout his empire. He does all this in just thirteen years! No wonder he becomes known as Alexander the Great. Chapter 1: The Son of His Father Alexander was born in 356 BC in Macedon. Macedon lay to the north of ancient Greece. His father, King Philip II, had seven wives. But Olympias was Philips favorite. She gave birth to Alexander. One day, Alexander would become the next king. Even as a baby, Alexander was famous. Amazing stories sprang up around his birth. He was supposedly descended from the famous Greek heroes Achilles and Heracles. People even said that the god Zeus was really his father, not King Philip. Zeus was the most important of the gods. Alexanders mother liked these stories and helped spread them around the kingdom. Alexander grew up believing them, too. He felt sure that he would do great things someday. Ancient Macedon was a wealthy country. In the plains, crops and fruit trees grew beside wide rivers. The mountains were rich in gold and silver. Their slopes were covered with trees for timber and grazing land for sheep and goats. There were plenty of animals to hunt, too: deer, hare, birds, wild boarsand even lions! Macedonians loved to hunt in the mountains. Hunting wild boars was extremely dangerous. But a highborn Macedonian was not considered a true man until he had killed a wild boar by himself, with just a spear. There were other dangers in the mountains besides wild animals. Mountain tribes often raided Macedon. They stole animals, crops, and property. In 359 BC Alexanders father became king. Philip was a great general as well as a great ruler. He wanted his people to live in safety. He made his army faster and stronger than any other. Philips new army beat back the enemy tribes. And he allowed Alexander, at age sixteen, to lead troops against mountain men called the Maedi. At this young age, Alexander won his first victory! He built a town in the land of the conquered tribe. He named it Alexandropolis after himself. (In Greek, polis means town.) This was the first of many Alexander-towns. For the first time, Macedon was peaceful and safe. But that wasnt enough for a king like Philip. He wanted Macedon to be the greatest kingdom in the world. He decided to conquer the Greeks, his neighbors to the south. The people of Greece and Macedon were a lot alike. They worshipped the same gods. They spoke similar languages. They even looked and dressed alike. In a way, they were like cousins. But the Greeks didnt usually have kings. Most ancient Greek states had leaders chosen by the citizens. The Greeks looked down on the Macedonians and other people who were ruled by kings. They didnt believe that Philips army could beat their army of free men. But in 338 BC Philip did just that. The Greeks became his subjects. What an exciting time for Alexander, the son of the king. Alexander wanted to be a great king like Philipor even greater. He respected his father very much. But every time Philip captured a town or won a battle, Alexander complained. He said that his father wasnt leaving anything for him to conquer. How wrong he was!; Title: Who Was Alexander the Great? | [
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19,311 | 1 | Elizabeth Bennett is an experienced childrens publishing professional who has edited and written a wide range of fiction, nonfiction, and science/reading activity books for young readers for Scholastic, Innovative Kids, and Readers Digest Childrens Books. Her title list includesScholastics Science Vocabulary Readerson a variety of topics such as ants, caves, deep sea creatures, and fish.; Title: Curious About Fishes (Smithsonian) | [
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19,312 | 18 | Janet B. Pascal is an Executive Production Editor at Viking Children's Books and the author of What Is the Panama Canal?, Who Was Dr. Seuss?, Who Was Maurice Sendak?, and Who Was Abraham Lincoln?What Was the Hindenburg?On Thursday, May 6, 1937, a crowd gathered in Lakehurst, New Jersey. They were there to watch the airship Hindenburg land. Although the ship had arrived in Lakehurst several times before, it was still a thrilling sight. The Hindenburg was the first flying ship ever to carry passengers over the Atlantic Ocean to America.A little while before 7:00 p.m., the Hindenburg appeared. It was a kind of ship called a zeppelin. This is a large balloon on a hard frame, filled with a gas that is lighter than air. It floats through the sky like a helium balloon. To hold enough gas to stay up, zeppelins had to be huge. The Hindenburg was almost a sixth of a mile long. It was shaped like a tube with rounded ends. Its surface was a shining silver. Despite its size, it floated lightly and quietly through the air, as much at home as a fish in water. As it began to sink gently toward the airfield, it was a beautiful sight.; Title: What Was the Hindenburg? | [
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19,313 | 11 | True Kelley is the author-illustrator of Who Was Pablo Picasso? and the author of Who Is Dolly Parton?, Who Was Abigail Adams?, and Who Was Roald Dahl?Where Is Stonehenge?  Salisbury, England  In the 1830s, a group of four friends climbed out of a horse-drawn carriage. The ladies and gentlemen had come up with an interesting idea for the weekend. But now they were stiff and tired from traveling all day from London. Tourists often came to Salisbury to see the cathedral. It had the tallest spire in the country. But this group had planned a different adventure.   After resting overnight in town, they crowded into a small carriage and were driven across the countryside. They closed the blinds on the carriage windows so they couldn’t see out. Why?   At the end of their journey, they would reach a very special place. They wanted it to be a total surprise. So, in a giddy mood, they traveled on in darkness. It was bumpy, and the carriage seemed to be going very fast. Finally, the driver pulled the horses to a stop and told the passengers to open the blinds.   Everyone gasped at what they saw! The carriage was parked among giant stones standing in a circle. Some stones had fallen on the ground and were broken. But the stones still standing were taller than three men . . . What was this strange and amazing place called?   Stonehenge!   Some of the standing stones had other huge stones across the top of them. They looked like giant door frames. It was hard to imagine how people could have built such a thing thousands of years ago. Many people thought it had to be made by giants or by magic.   The tourists stood awestruck in the middle of the circle. They had seen paintings of this place and read poetry about it. Being there in person was very different. Even in a group of friends, there was a feeling of loneliness. There was not a tree in sight. The almost-flat land seemed to go on forever. The circle of stones appeared to jut out from the emptiness around them.   The wind blew cold, and gray clouds raced across the sky. Even with the wind, it was very quiet. Quiet and mysterious.   People have wondered about Stonehenge for more than a thousand years. How old is it? Where did the stones come from? Who built it and why? And how?   Unlike the Great Pyramids of Egypt, which are almost as old, there is no ancient written record of Stonehenge. But like the Great Pyramids, we know Stonehenge must have been important to ancient people because it took such great effort to build.   Now, with modern technology, archaeologists have learned almost as much in the last fifteen years as they knew for centuries before. (Archaeologists study objects from the past to find out about the people of long ago.) But many mysteries still remain. Those mysteries make Stonehenge one of the most fascinating places in the world.  Chapter 1: Circles of Stones   In the south of England, about ninety miles west of London, sits the Salisbury Plain. It is a lonely-looking area. There are few trees. Not much grows except grass. Few creatures live there except sheep. Yet the Salisbury Plain is famous. Well over a million people travel there every year. They come from all over the world to visit one of the great monuments of the ancient world—the stone circle called Stonehenge.   Stonehenge sits at the top of a slight slope. Because the Salisbury Plain is so bare, Stonehenge can be seen from miles away. Lichen-covered stones seven feet wide and fourteen feet tall form a huge circle about one hundred feet across. That’s as wide as two basketball courts. The stones are a hard brown sandstone called sarsen. The sarsen stones were carved so that they are narrower at the top. This makes them look even taller than they really are. The stones are buried at different depths so that the tops are level with each other. Seventeen of these stones still stand. Many others have fallen and lie about on the ground.   Connecting some of the standing sarsen stones are ten-foot-long stone beams. They are called lintel stones because they are like the lintel, or crosspiece, of a door frame. At one time, lintel stones linked all the standing stones in the one-hundred-foot-wide circle.   The circle of sarsen stones is what visitors first see. Inside that circle is another circle of stones. They are half as tall and turn bluish when wet, so they are called bluestones. There are only six now, although once there may have been as many as sixty bluestones. The bluestones were put up after the sarsens.   Within the bluestones, nearer the center of the monument, three enormous trilithons (TRY-lith-ons) stand with part of a fourth. Trilithons are sets of three stones, two upright with a stone across them. There used to be a fifth trilithon, but it has disappeared. Another mystery!   The largest is called the Great Trilithon. Only one of its standing stones is still upright. The trilithons form a horseshoe forty-five feet across. Inside the horseshoe are the remains of another horseshoe of six-foot-high bluestones.   And finally, in the very center, is a sixteen-foot-long slab of gray-green sandstone. It lies flat and broken in two pieces. At one time archaeologists thought it was used as an altar in ceremonies. So it is called the Altar Stone. But like so much about Stonehenge, that is not at all certain. More likely, it was a standing stone that simply fell over.  Around the stones is a ditch and bank with a thirty-five-foot-wide entrance, which is called the Causeway. Near it lies the Slaughter Stone. This giant slab of bumpy rock got its name because it is stained red. People thought that the color came from the blood of animals or people sacrificed during ancient ceremonies. But now we know that the rock has iron in it. That’s what makes it red.   The Causeway leads to what remains of a wide two-mile-long dirt road. It is called the Avenue, and it curves down to the River Avon. Long, long ago, many travelers reached the stone circles from the river. As they turned the corner of the Avenue there would suddenly have been an awesome view of the giant stones.   One important sarsen stone stands outside the stone circle in the middle of the Avenue. It’s called the Heel Stone. On the longest day of the year, around June 21, the sun rises right over this sixteen-foot-high stone. The people of ancient times put it there on purpose. Marking and celebrating the longest day had to be very important to them.   The stones of Stonehenge still draw thousands of people on the longest day of summer. People are still in awe as they approach the stones. It’s an amazing sight, but there is much more to it than meets the eye.; Title: Where Is Stonehenge? | [
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19,314 | 18 | Janet B. Pascal is an Executive Production Editor at Viking Children's Books and the author of What Was the Hindenburg?, What Is the Panama Canal?, Who Was Isaac Newton?, Who Was Dr. Seuss?, Who Was Maurice Sendak?, and Who Was Abraham Lincoln?Where Is the Empire State Building?In 1929, there was a race for the sky in New York City. Two new skyscrapers were going upthe Chrysler Building and the Manhattan Company Building. Each owner wanted his building to be the tallest in the world. But neither man knew exactly what height the other was aiming for. The owner of the Manhattan Company managed to discover the plans for the Chrysler Building. Immediately, he changed his plans so that his building would be taller.So in April 1930, the Manhattan Company Building became the tallest in the world. But only for a few weeks. Secretly, the crew of the Chrysler Building was creating a tall spire. All the work took place inside the unfinished building, so no one knew about it. When the spire125 feet highwas finished, it was lifted up through a hole in the roof. Suddenly the tallest building in the world was the Chrysler Building! With its spire, it was 1,046 feet tall.What neither company knew was that a third group of builders was watching them both closely. Their building was already designed. But they were waiting until the Chrysler Building was finished before making their plans final. However tall the Chrysler Building was, they planned to make sure their own building was a little taller.; Title: Where Is the Empire State Building? | [
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19,315 | 2 | Grosset & Dunlap creates high-quality books for young readers of any level. Focused on books for ages 012, Grosset offers a wide range of original fiction series, nonfiction titles, leveled readers, and licensed tie-ins to captivate every reader.; Title: Berry Merry Holiday Treasury (Strawberry Shortcake) | [
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19,316 | 0 | Bonnie Bader has written several Penguin Young Readers. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.; Title: Kit-Kit-Kittens (Penguin Young Readers, Level 2) | [
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19,317 | 11 | Avery Reed is an assistant editor at Grosset & Dunlap. She lives with her husband in New York, New York.vcWho Were The Brothers Grimm?Once upon a time, an old peasant woman began, there was a queen whose husband had been dead for many years, and she had a beautiful daughter.A young man named Wilhelm Grimm listened attentively to the womans story. The woman had likely heard it when she was a young child from her own mother. It was a German fairy tale called The Goose Girl. The fairy tale is about a magical charm, a horse who can speak, an evil servant, and a princess who seems doomed to a life guarding geese for a king who believes she is a peasant.Wilhelm had traveled out into the countryside of Germany to meet Dorothea Viehmann and listen to her stories. She told him thirty-five talesand Wilhelm wrote them all down, word for word.It was 1813, and Wilhelm and his older brother, Jacob, were in the middle of a big project. The brothers had just published their first book together, a collection of German fairy tales, and now they were working on a second volume.; Title: Who Were the Brothers Grimm? (Who Was?) | [
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19,318 | 11 | Megan Stine has written several books for young readers, includingWhere Is the White House?,Who Was Marie Curie?,Who Was Ulysses S. Grant?,Who Is Michelle Obama?, andWho Was Sally Ride?She lives in Clinton, Connecticut.Where Is the Brooklyn Bridge? New York City It was a bitterly cold day in the winter of 1853. The wind beat against the passengers on a ferryboat. The boat was trapped in the East River, stuck between huge chunks of ice. But the passengers had to put up with it. The ferryboat was the only practical way to get from New York City to Brooklyn. New York was an island, surrounded on all sides by water. In those days, nearly everyone who came to New York, or left it, traveled by boat. Fifteen-year-old Washington Roebling was on the ferry that day with his father, John Roebling. At forty-six, John Roebling was the most famous bridge builder in America. He was a genius and a gentleman. He was also a very tough man. He had strong opinions and not much patience. If someone was even five minutes late for an appointment, hed cancel the meeting and send the person away! For a man like John Roebling to be stuck for hours on a boatdoing nothing, wasting timewas pure torture. It was especially hard for Roebling since all he had to do was look around and he could imagine a better way to travel. There should be a bridge here. A bridge connecting New York and Brooklyn. Right there and then, he imagined the Brooklyn Bridge in his minds eye. But it would take thirty more years before the bridge would be finishedand John Roebling would be long dead; Title: Where Is the Brooklyn Bridge? | [
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19,319 | 6 | Activision Publishing, Inc. was founded in 1979 as the first independent video game software developer and distributor. Today, the company is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products for a variety of platforms.; Title: Skylanders Trap Team: Master Eon's Official Guide (Skylanders Universe) | [
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19,320 | 13 | Joan Holub is the author ofWhat Was the First Thanksgiving?,What Was the Gold Rush?, and other Who Was...? titles, includingWho Was Marco Polo?andWho Was Babe Ruth?What Was Woodstock? Woodstock was an outdoor rock festival in a small New York town. It took place over three days in August of 1969. Doesnt sound like anything so special, does it? Yet, today, so many years later, Woodstock has become part of the history of the 1960s. About fifty thousand people were expected to come. Surprise! Ten times that many showed upalmost half a million people! No concert had ever attracted so many fans. Thirty-two of the hottest rock and folk bands performed onstage. It was a happeninghippie slang for a super-exciting event for cool people. Woodstock could have been a disaster. The four guys in charge hardly had any experience planning a festival. And a lot did go wrong. Traffic jams for miles around blocked the way to the concert. It rained during the performances, and the electricity went out. There was not nearly enough food or water for the crowd. There werent enough bathrooms. Sounds terrible, doesnt it? As the festival began, TV and newspapers reported that it was a great big mess. Families panicked. Were their teenagers whod gone to Woodstock safe? Some people wanted to send in soldiers to stop the festival before it really got started. They expected riots that weekend at Woodstock. Many thought the festival would be a flop. It wasnt. It was exactly the opposite. It was out of sight, which in the 1960s meant awesome. The crowd at Woodstock thought the music was amazing. Many of the musicians were wowed by the good-natured crowd, too. And nearby townspeople were surprised to discover that the young fans were mostly nice and polite. The year 1969 was an unhappy time in the United States. Many young people were angry about a far-off war in Southeast Asia. They felt misunderstood and ignored. They were looking for peace, love, and freedom. For three days, thats what they found at Woodstock.; Title: What Was Woodstock? | [
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1... | Validation |
19,321 | 2 | Henry Winkler is an actor, producer, and director, and he speaks publicly all over the world. In addition, he has a star on Hollywood Boulevard, was knighted by the government of France, and the jacket he wore as the Fonz hangs in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. But if you ask him what he is proudest of, he would say, "Writing the Hank Zipzer books with my partner, Lin Oliver." He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Stacey. They have three children named Jed, Zoe, and Max, and two dogs named Monty and Charlotte. Charlotte catches a ball so well that she could definitely play outfield for the New York Mets.Lin Oliver is a writer and producer of movies, books, and television series for children and families. She has written over twenty-five novels for children, and one hundred episodes of television. She has produced four movies, many of which are based on children's books. She is cofounder and executive director of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, an international organization of twenty thousand authors and illustrators of children's books. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alan. They have three sons named Theo, Ollie, and Cole. She loves tuna melts, curious kids, any sport that involves a racket, and children's book writers everywhere.; Title: My Book of Pickles... Oops, I Mean Lists (Hank Zipzer) | [
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19,322 | 2 | Gr 48In the lead-up to his first days of middle school, Davis struggles with concerns about what his adjective will bewill he be nothing more than the "husky" or "fat" kid? Davis discovers that his relationships are changing as quickly as his moods, as he feels excluded from everythingfrom his best friend's makeover party to his mother's new relationship with a fellow baker. When his best friends, Sophie and Ellen, begin hanging out with more popular kids, Davis finds himself the target of a name-calling incident that results in support from unexpected placesbut also a new label. Davis eventually finds that his friends and family will love and support him through the tumultuous changes that are just beginning as the novel concludes. Sayre's debut novel addresses adolescence with tenderness and humor, but its slow pacing may challenge reluctant readers. Middle graders will be able to identify with the drama between Davis and his friends as their friendships grow and change, as well as the tension that arises when Davis tries to assert some independence from his grandmother. Educators and caregivers may find this book useful for discussing bullying and the problems with even well-intentioned labels, although those issues appear only briefly. VERDICT An additional purchase; hand this title to readers who don't mind a leisurely pace and an introspective exploration.Amanda Foulk, Sacramento Public LibraryJustin Sayre is a successful stage and screen writer and presents a powerful voice that captures the subtle nuances of bullying around themes of weight and sexual orientation, as well sending a love letter to opera and to Brooklyn. He lives in Brooklyn and writes in Los Angeles.; Title: Husky | [
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19,323 | 1 | Grosset & Dunlap creates high-quality books for young readers of any level. Focused on books for ages 0–12, Grosset offers a wide range of original fiction series, nonfiction titles, leveled readers, and licensed tie-ins to captivate every reader.; Title: Celebrate Thanksgiving with Max and Ruby! (Sticker Stories) | [
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19,324 | 0 | William Wegman is a pioneering video artist, photographer, and writer. He currently lives in New York City and Maine.; Title: Farm Days (Penguin Young Readers, Level 2) | [
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19,325 | 15 | Megan Stine has written several books for young readers, including Where Is the White House?, Who Was Marie Curie?, Who Was Ulysses S. Grant?, Who Is Michelle Obama?, and Who Was Sally Ride?Where Is Niagara Falls? It was a beautiful, hot summer afternoon in 1960. Seven-year-old Roger Woodward was excited. He and his older sister Deanne were about to go on a boat ride. It was Rogers first time ever in a boat. They were going out onto the Niagara River in a motorboat that was just big enough to hold three people. Remember to wear your life jacket, Rogers father called out to him. His father knew they needed to be careful. They were going on a river that led to the biggest, most awesome waterfall in America. The man who owned the boat was a family friend named Jim Honeycutt. Jim was a strong swimmer and lifeguard. He knew all about how to stay safe on the river. He made sure Roger kept his life jacket on. As they passed under a bridge, Roger asked if he could steer the boat. It was a bad idea to let Roger steer right then. The boat was nearing a dangerous part of the river. Most boaters knew to turn around there. The river was full of rocks and rapids that led to the edge of Niagara Falls. But for some reason, Jim said yes. Suddenly, the boat hit something hard under the water. The engine screamed. A piece of the motor was broken. They couldnt drive the boat away from the rocks. The rapids were pulling them toward the edge! Jim grabbed some oars and began to row as hard as he could. He shouted to Deanne to put on the only other life jacket in the boat. Powerful waves tossed them up and down. When a huge one hit the boat, all three were thrown into the swirling, raging rapids. Roger tried to hold on to Jim, but the water ripped him away. People on the shore saw what was happening. They ran up and down, but no one could figure out a way to help. Roger felt himself being bounced against rocks. Then he was dragged over the edge of the gigantic falls, like a fly being flushed down a toilet. No one had ever survived going over Niagara Falls without somethinga boat or a barrelto protect them. But somehow, a miracle happened! Roger found himself floating in the water below the falls. A tourist boat happened to be nearby. Someone spotted Rogers red life jacket and fished him out of the water. He was saved! Roger became famous that day. He was the first person ever to survive going over Niagara Falls without protection. When he grew up, he became a sailor. He loved the water and even joined the navy. His sister survived that day, too. She was pulled out of the river before ever reaching the falls. But Jim Honeycutt died in the terrible accident. Sadly, he was not the firstor lastto lose his life to the biggest, most awesome, and most dangerous waterfall in America.; Title: Where Is Niagara Falls? | [
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19,326 | 2 | Nancy Krulik lives in New York, New York. Aaron Blecha lives in London, England.; Title: Let the Burping Begin (George Brown, Class Clown) | [
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19,327 | 2 | Sue Bentley is the author of the bestselling sensations the Magic Kitten,Magic Puppy, Magic Ponies, and Magic Bunny series.; Title: Magic Puppy: Books 1-3 | [
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19,328 | 15 | Sarah Maizes is an award-winning author, comedian, parenting humorist, and an expert in the fields of publishing, entertainment, and reinvention. She has written several non-fiction humor books for adults and is the author of many children's books, includingOn My Way to the Bath,On My Way to Bed,andOn My Way to School.; Title: Once Upon a Buzzbee (The Hive) | [
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19,329 | 1 | Gina Shaw is a writer and editor who also teaches children’s book writing at Hofstra University. She is also the author of Welcome, Bao Bao.; Title: Curious About Zoo Vets (Smithsonian) | [
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19,330 | 0 | Publishers Weeklycalled the first Magic Bone book a "high-energy first tale" that "adds a light travelogue element to the story."Booklist called the first Magic Bone book "a good choice for newly independent readers who have a taste for fantasy."Nancy Krulik has written more than 100 books for children and young adults, including twoNew York Times bestsellers. Her very first story (in first grade) was about how she wanted to be Mary Poppins so she could dance in the park with Bert and the penguins.Sebastien Braun (www.sebastienbraun.com) studied fine and applied arts at Strasbourg University in France. Since his move to London in 2000, he has been illustrating childrens books.; Title: Pup Art #9 (Magic Bone) | [
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19,331 | 18 | Michael C. Harris is a freelance writer and college writing instructor based in Evanton, Illinois, where he lives with his wife, two soccer-loving sons, a dwarf hamster, a gecko, and a really weird cat. He has written a number of books for kidsincluding Cool Science titles about artificial intelligence, weird diseases, and spare body parts for humans.What Is the Declaration of Independence? June 26, 1776, Philadelphia The June heat in Philadelphia was blistering. Even before the sun came up, it was hot. Thomas Jefferson of Virginia did his best to stay cool as he wrote in the room he had rented on Market Street. He was writing a letter. But it was no ordinary letter. Along with Jefferson, important men from all thirteen American colonies had come to Philadelphia. They planned to do something brave and dangerous. The colonies were declaring their freedom from Great Britain. They were going to create a new countrythe United States of America. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write a public letter to the British king listing all the reasons why people in America were rebelling. Jefferson also wanted the letter to show other countries in Europe why this was the right decision for America. It took Jeffersonwith help from othersonly a couple of weeks to finish one of the most important documents in history: the Declaration of Independence. Sending an announcement like thisa declarationmeant that the colonists in America would go to war. The British army was large and powerful. The colonists didnt even have an army. The chances were slim that the Americans could win. Many would certainly die. And even if by some chance the colonists did win their freedom, could thirteen different colonies create a new country together? For two weeks Jefferson worked on the Declaration of Independence. He sat at the small desk that he had made by hand. He wrote in ink on large sheets of paper with his quill pen. Each day Jefferson would discuss the ideas for the declaration with some of the other men who had gathered in Philadelphia. After these talks, Jefferson would sometimes tear up his most recent draft of the declaration and start over. He wanted to get every word just right. The declaration had to explain more than why the colonies could no longer live under British rule. More importantly, it had to tell the world what this new country hoped to stand for. It would not have a king. It would set up a government in which ordinary men decided the laws. After the Declaration of Independence was finished, it was signed on July 4, 1776. It has become one of the most important statements of freedom. It has inspired people around the globe to fight for their freedom as well. Thomas Jefferson wrote, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. This meant that this new United States would treat everyone the same. Jefferson may not have realized how powerful those simple words would be for hundreds of years to come. Chapter 1:A Battle for America After Columbus set foot in the New World in 1492, many European countries wanted to rule different parts of North America. Great Britain, France, and Spain controlled almost the entire continent. Great Britain had thirteen colonies along the east coast, where most settlers lived. FranceGreat Britains great rivalhad the largest area of land, north and west of the colonies. But not many settlers lived there. Same with Spainit had a bigger chunk of land than Great Britain but with far fewer people. In 1754, Great Britain tried to grab more of North America by invading lands controlled by the French. This led to a war known as the French and Indian War. A young lieutenant colonel named George Washington served in the British army, fighting against the French. Most American colonists wanted Great Britain to win the war with France. And, after many years, it did. Great Britain doubled the area of land it controlled. During the war, many British soldiers were sent to America to fight. That had been very costly. King George III had to borrow massive amounts of money from other countries. After winning the war, King George III had to pay back what he owed. In the kings mind, he had been defending the American colonies against the French. So he expected the colonies to help with the war debt. This angered people in America. It wasnt the colonists idea to start the war. It had been fought because the king wanted more land. So why should Americans have to pay? King George III didnt listen to that argument. The British governmentcalled Parliamenttaxed the American colonists heavily to pay for the war debts. The American colonists had no one representing them in Parliament. It met in London, more than three thousand miles away and across the Atlantic Ocean. The colonists had no way to argue against the high taxes. Did Parliament decide on all laws governing the colonies? No. There were local governments with men elected by their fellow colonists. In Virginia, for example, there was the House of Burgesses. However, none of these groups had much power. In each colony, a royal governor made all the important decisions. Whatever the governor decided should be the law was the law. And he was appointed by the king. So Great Britain always had the final say about all laws and taxes. This got people in the colonies angry. Very angry.; Title: What Is the Declaration of Independence? (What Was?) | [
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19,332 | 11 | Megan Stine has written several books for young readers, including Where Is the White House?, Who Was Marie Curie?, Who Was Ulysses S. Grant?, Who Is Michelle Obama?, and Who Was Sally Ride?Who Was Michael Jackson? Pasadena, California Michael Jackson edged over to the side of the stage during a concert in 1983. He had purchased a spy hat, just like one in his latest music video. Michael had an idea for how to use the hat during the song he was going to singand he really hoped it would work. The concert at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium was going to be broadcast on TV. Fifty million people would watch it. Many other famous singers had already performed. Now it was time for Michaels solo number. Michael Jackson was already one of the biggest pop stars in the world. But he was never satisfied. He wanted to do something onstage no one would ever forget. He wanted the audience to go crazy! As soon as the music started, Michael put on the hat and began to dance. Instantly, the audience jumped to its feet. They screamed and cheered. They recognized the hat and knew the song was Billie Jean. Wearing a sparkly black jacket, a silver shirt, and one white glove, Michael did dance moves that no one had ever seen before! He had practiced them in his kitchen the night before. His legs twitched. His hips jerked. His foot thumped. He threw the hat offstage in a smooth move that made the audience go wild again. And then, in the middle of the song, he did something amazing. He slid backward, while making it look like he was walking forward. He called it the Moonwalk! The Moonwalk only lasted five seconds, but it was magical. By the end of the song, everyone was standing. The crowd was cheering. His whole family kissed him when he came offstage. No one would ever forget that Moonwalk. In fact, it became Michael Jacksons most famous move. But was Michael happy? Not completely. He was thrilled that people loved the show. But he thought his dance could have been better. He hadnt stayed up on his toes long enough after the big spin at the end of the Moonwalk. For Michael Jackson, nothing was ever good enough. He always wanted to be perfect. Thats what made him work so hard to achieve his dreamsto become the best-selling singer of all time. Thats what drove him to become the King of Pop.; Title: Who Was Michael Jackson? | [
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19,333 | 15 | Jean Taft is a New England writer who loves weather. She grew up in Vermont and now lives in Rhode Island with her husband, two children, and one very happy dog. Jean is a member of SCBWI and the Middletown Authors Circle. Worm Weather is her first published picture book.; Title: Worm Weather (Penguin Core Concepts) | [
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19,334 | 13 | Patrick Kinney is a freelance writer living in Northern Virginia. He has written two books for children and provides creative content for Poptropica, a kids' website.Who Is Jeff Kinney? Patricia and Brian Kinneys home in Virginia, there is a framed newspaper article hanging on the wall. The headline reads: Igdoof Takes On the Real World. There is a photo of their son Jeff, twenty-two years old, grinning next to a drawing of a bug-eyed cartoon character. That character was Igdoof. In college, Jeff wrote and illustrated a popular comic strip about him. The article predicted that Jeff would have no trouble becoming a professional cartoonist. That was his dream. But after several years of disappointment, Jeff wasnt so sure. When he came home to visit his parents, hed look at the article and frown. He wondered if his dream would ever come true. In college, Jeff had been a celebrity. Fans ofIgdoof asked Jeff for his autograph. They wore T-shirts with characters from his comic strip on them. Besides Igdoof, there was a green bean named Pooshfa. Another was Jerome, a man with incredibly red lips. But to become a professional cartoonist, Jeff needed a syndicate. Thats a company that sells comic strips to newspapers all over the United States. The trouble was, no syndicate liked Igdoof. The rejection letters began piling up. One thing became clear to Jeff. His illustrations werent good enough. They didnt look as professional as the artwork in Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side, and other comic strips in the big newspapers. Jeffs drawings looked more like the doodles of a kid in middle school. Even so, Jeff knew he had funny ideas. He just needed a way to share them with an audience, the way he had in college. Jeff got an idea that might work. What if he wrote an illustrated journal from the point of view of a middle-school kid? Then his drawings wouldnt have to be all that good. That idea was the beginning of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, one of the most popular childrens books ever.; Title: Who Is Jeff Kinney? (Who Was?) | [
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19,335 | 15 | Grosset & Dunlap creates high-quality books for young readers of any level. Focused on books for ages 012, Grosset offers a wide range of original fiction series, nonfiction titles, leveled readers, and licensed tie-ins to captivate every reader.; Title: Octonauts and the Whale Shark | [
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19,336 | 15 | Grosset & Dunlap creates high-quality books for young readers of any level. Focused on books for ages 0–12, Grosset offers a wide range of original fiction series, nonfiction titles, leveled readers, and licensed tie-ins to captivate every reader.; Title: Scaredy Bee (The Hive) | [
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19,337 | 13 | Jane Kelley grew up in Wisconsin and performed street theater throughout the midwest. Now its her imagination that roams as she writes middle grade novels, including Nature Girl, The Girl Behind the Glass, and the exciting new series The Escapades of Clint McCool.Clint McCool Needs His CapThe clock ticks. Our teacher, Ms. Apple, talks. Kids multiply the sevens. Everything seems normal. But you cant fool Clint McCool. I know were trapped here. And I know why. Someone doesnt want school to end. The big hand of the clock is stuck. It cant get to the twelve.Break free, I whisper to the big hand.Ms. Apple frowns at me. She thinks Im not paying attention. But Im the only one who is!I tap my finger. Nothing happens. Rats. My Speed Accelerator wont work unless I push the right button on my cap. Marco made the buttons for me. Hes very clever. Thats why hes the best best friend ever. The buttons are amazing. They always help me save the day. That has to happen more than youd think.But I cant wear my cap in school. Ms. Apple keeps it locked in her desk. My Laser Beam could cut a hole in the drawer. But its button is on the cap, too. How can Clint McCool save the day?Zing, zong, zing. Brain flash! I jump up. I need a remote!Walter, sit down, Ms. Apple says.Thats right. She called me Walter. My parents named me after my grandpa. Luckily, Clint McCool decided to name himself.I siton the edge of my chair. I stay ready for action. I wiggle my ears to send a message to Marco. Hes writing. Oh no. Is he doing math problems?I crinkle my nose to send a message to M.L. Her real name is Magnolia Lynn. No one dares to call her that. Not even her own mother.M.L. is writing, too. Did those sevens take over my friends brains? How can we have an escapade? M.L. and Marco are coming home with me today. School better end soon. My friends are forgetting how to have fun.Finally, the bell rings. Kids get in line. I rush to Ms. Apples desk to get my cap.Ms. Apple wont give it to me. I need to talk to your mother, Walter.Im doomed.Ms. Apple leads us to the school yard. The adults are waiting there. Mom smiles at me and my friends. She looks happy. Until Ms. Apple starts talking to her.Ready for an escapade, Clint McCool? Marco asks.Thats another reason hes my best friend. He calls me by my real name.Will your mom take us to the park? M.L. says.I drew a map of where the Gronks hid the treasure. Marco opens up his notebook.M.L. and I look. Marco did a great job. Especially with the crocodiles in the moat.At the top of the tower? Lets go! M.L. says.She loves to climb. Thats why she hates wearing dresses. The fluff gets in her way.Before the Gronks know were coming! Marco says.I run to get Mom.Walter isnt a bad boy, Mom is telling Ms. Apple.He doesnt follow rules. He cant sit still, Ms. Apple says. He never thinks before he acts.Im always thinking, I interrupt. Arent ideas thinking?You shouldnt have ideas like that at school. Ms. Apple gives the cap to Momnot me. Remember what I said will happen if Walter doesnt improve.Mom, Marco, M.L., and I leave the school yard. We walk along Eighth Avenue.What did Ms. Apple mean? I try to get my cap. I need the Translator button. Grown-ups can be hard to understand. Whats wrong with my ideas?We turn the corner at Twelfth Street.Mom sighs. You have so many.Isnt that a good thing? I say.Is Clint McCool in trouble? Marco says.If Walter cant behave, theyll find ways to make him, Mom says.I gulp. What kind of ways?Ways, Mom says again.I could make him a new button, Marco says.I could keep him safe. M.L. locks her arms around me.Shes strong. But Im slippery.I break free. I run ahead.A man blocks the sidewalk with his arm. Please wait here.I cant! M.L. will catch me. I run along Twelfth Street.Walter! This isnt behaving! Mom yells.I run faster.Then I stop.A monster stands right in front of me. His head is an octopus. It oozes slime and ink.I rub my eyes. I still see the monster. He carries a jar full of brains.I scream. So does everybody else.Get away from Octo-Man! I hear the man shout.Octo-Man staggers toward me.Oh no! Are these the ways Ms. Apple meant?; Title: Octo-Man and the Headless Monster #1 (The Escapades of Clint McCool) | [
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19,338 | 15 | Grosset & Dunlap creates high-quality books for young readers of any level. Focused on books for ages 012, Grosset offers a wide range of original fiction series, nonfiction titles, leveled readers, and licensed tie-ins to captivate every reader.; Title: Octonauts and the Undersea Eruption | [
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19,339 | 18 | James Buckley, Jr. has written more than 50 books for kids, includingWho Was Ernest Shackleton?; Title: Who Was Betsy Ross? | [
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19,340 | 6 | Barry Hutchison is the author of the popular Book of Elements handbook series. He has also written a six-book middle grade horror series called Invisible Fiends.; Title: Book of Kaos (Skylanders Universe) | [
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19,341 | 1 | Grosset & Dunlap creates high-quality books for young readers of any level. Focused on books for ages 012, Grosset offers a wide range of original fiction series, nonfiction titles, leveled readers, and licensed tie-ins to captivate every reader.; Title: Octonauts and the Great Christmas Rescue | [
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19,342 | 15 | Grosset & Dunlap creates high-quality books for young readers of any level. Focused on books for ages 012, Grosset offers a wide range of original fiction series, nonfiction titles, leveled readers, and licensed tie-ins to captivate every reader.; Title: Buzzbee the Magician (The Hive) | [
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19,343 | 0 | Avery Reed lives in New York, New York, with her husband. A novice gardener herself, Avery can't wait to have her own backyard and fill it with flowers, vegetables, and chickens!; Title: Backyard Chickens (Penguin Young Readers, Level 3) | [
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19,344 | 1 | James Buckley, Jr. has written more than 50 books for kids, includingWho Was Ernest Shackleton?Who Was Seabiscuit?On a foggy morning in summer 1936, horse trainer Tom Smith stood by a Boston racetrack called Suffolk Downs. He was looking for horses that his stable owner could buy. Smith watched horse after horse walk by. The horses riders, called jockeys, wore colorful silk shirts and bright white pants. The horses were nearly all tall, strong-looking, and elegant. They had long, straight faces and looked around proudly. Their breath came out in misty puffs in the morning air.Smith had seen a thousand animals like them in his long career helping horses learn how to race.; Title: Who Was Seabiscuit? | [
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19,345 | 0 | Martin Widmark was born in 1961 in Sweden and today lives in Stockholm with his family. He has worked as a middle school instructor and a Swedish teacher for immigrants, but he is now a full-time children's book author. Over his career, he has also written several text books. He is fascinated by life's little oddities and anything unique, from food and music to languages and people.Widmark is considered a literary giant of contemporary children's fiction in Sweden. Both his Nelly Rapp and Lasse Majas (translated to Jerry Maya) series are consistently on the best seller lists and have received critical acclaim. His books have been translated into more than 20 languages.; Title: The Diamond Mystery #1 (The Whodunit Detective Agency) | [
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19,346 | 2 | Mickie Matheis is a children's book author.; Title: Berryella and Prince Berry Charming (Strawberry Shortcake) | [
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19,347 | 11 | Bonnie Bader has written several biographies for young readers. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.; Title: Heroes of Black History (Who Was?) | [
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19,348 | 2 | Henry Winkler is an actor, producer, and director, and he speaks publicly all over the world. In addition, he has a star on Hollywood Boulveard, was presented with the Order of the British Empire by the Queen of England, and the jacket he wore as the Fonz hangs in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC. But if you asked him what he was proudest of, he would say, "Writing the Hank Zipzer books with my partner, Lin Oliver." He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Stacey. They have three children named Jed, Zoe, and Max.Lin Oliver is a writer and producer of movies, books, and television series for children and families. She has written more than twenty-five novels for children, and one hundred episodes of television. She is cofounder and executive director of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, an international organization of twenty thousand authors and illustrators of children's books.Scott Garrett is a freelance illustrator whose work has appeared in GQ, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, Businessweek, and more.Chapter 1 What rhymes with orange? I asked my best friend Frankie Townsend. We were sitting in Riverside Park having an after-school snack. Nothing, he said. There isnt one word in the English language that rhymes with orange. How about borange? I asked. My other best friend, Ashley Wong, burst out laughing. Can I just point out that borange isnt a word in any language? she said. Then I give up. I threw my hands in the air. Writing poetry is too hard. I quit. Our teacher, Ms. Flowers, had told us the day before that everyone in our class had to write a poem about nature. We were going to read them at the We Love Nature assembly on Monday in the auditorium. Frankie and Ashley wrote theirs right away. They never have a problem at school in any subject. I have a problem with every subject. Im bad at reading, spelling, math, and science. But Im great at lunch. The night before I had sat at my desk forever, staring at a blank piece of paper. There wasnt a poem in my head or anywhere else in my body. So this morning my mom suggested that we all go to the park after school. She said that maybe looking at the flowers and trees would help me come up with an idea. But it wasnt working. Hank, you cant just give up, my mom said. You have an assignment to write a poem. Quitting is not a choice. Okay, Mom, I said. Ill try one more time. Look around you and enjoy nature, she said. Something will come to you. I concentrated on some bright purple flowers. They were just starting to bloom. Okay, Ive got the first lines for a poem, I said. Ashley, would you please write these down when I say them? Ashley took a pencil from behind her ear and pulled out her little spiral notebook that was covered in rhinestones. Im ready. Let it rip. I cleared my throat and began: Oh pretty flowers so bright and purple... I love your smell, it is so gurple. When I got to the end, I noticed that Ashley had stopped writing. Ive got to hand it to you, Zip, Frankie said. Purple is the only other word I can think of that doesnt rhyme with anything. What about gurple? I said. That rhymes. But its not a word, Ashley said. I sighed loudly. This was just too frustrating. I think the problem, honey, my mom said, is that youre not inspired. Do you know what inspired means? I do, Ashley said. It means youre full of thoughts and ideas, and they just come pouring out. How am I supposed to get inspired about some purple flowers? I asked. I think we need to take you out into real nature, my mom said. I know a beautiful campsite a few hours north of the city called Harmony Acres. Ill bet you could write a poem there. Maybe we could go this weekend. Cool! Could we sleep over? I asked. In a tent and everything? Can Frankie and Ashley come? I cant, Ashley said. Its my grandmothers birthday this weekend. But Id love to come, if its okay with my parents, Frankie said. We have to talk to Hanks dad, my mom said. If he says yes, well leave Saturday morning. Lets go talk to Dad, I said. This is going to be great. We jumped up and hurried home. My dad was sitting at the dining-room table staring at his computer. He works at home. Theres a desk in the bedroom where hes supposed to work, but he says he thinks better when hes dipping pretzels in sour cream. Mom doesnt like pretzel crumbs all over the bedroom rug, so he spends a lot of time in the dining room. Dad! Dad! I said as I raced in. We want to go on a family camping trip! Have a wonderful time, Hank. I cant wait to hear all the details. Ill be right here. No, Dad! The whole family is going. That means you, too! My dad looked over at my mom. He didnt look happy. Whose idea was this? he asked her. Well, Hank needs to write a nature poem by Monday, she said. And I thought that being out in nature would inspire him. You dont have to drive all the way upstate to write a poem, he said. But I need to smell the trees to be inspired, I told him. Nonsense, Hank. I can write a poem without getting up from this table. He took one of his mechanical pencils out of his pocket protector. He always has three pencils lined up in a row, in case one of them runs out of lead. He stared at it for a second and made up a poem on the spot. A pencil like this sure comes in handy. But dont you eat it like cotton candy. Use it to write your ABCs. Then write your poem... who needs trees? Wow, Dad! I said. Thats terrific. Youre a poet and you didnt even know it! You see, Hank? Who needs camping? My sister, Emily, wandered in. As usual, she was carrying her pet iguana, Katherine, around her neck like a scarf. Did I hear the word camping? she asked. Katherine doesnt like to camp out. Sleeping bags make her scales itch. For the first time ever, I agree with Katherine, my dad said. But, Dad, I said, you dont have scales. At least not that I can see. I was talking about camping, he said. Im a city guy. I need pavement under my feet. My mom put her hand on his shoulder. This is just for one night, Stan. Well sleep under the stars and sit around the fire and tell stories. And swat bugs, my dad added. I took a deep breath. Dad, I began, youre always telling me that I dont do well in school. Thats because you dont try hard enough, Hank. And also because you put pencils in your ears instead of listening to the teacher, Emily chimed in. Katherine shot her tongue out at me and started to hiss. She always takes Emilys side. Emily, my mom said. Please let Hank finish. You too, Katherine. I want to try harder, I said to my dad. And here is a chance for me to finally do well. Think about it. Were at the We Love Nature assembly on Monday. I stand up to read my poem. Its great, and the crowd goes wild. My teacher gives me an A. And you were part of it, because you said yes to camping. Everyone was quiet for a minute. I think they were impressed with my speech. To be honest, I was, too. My dad took off his glasses and put them in his shirt pocket. He stared at me for what seemed like a month and a half. Ill think about it, he said, but dont hold your breath. That wasnt exactly a yes. But it wasnt exactly a no, either. Chapter 2 Four Reasons I Gave My Dad for Why We Should All Go Camping 1. All that fresh air would help my feet grow into a new shoe size. (He said, Shoes are expensive. Who wants to buy new ones?) 2. All that fresh air would feed my brain, and then maybe I could finally learn to do subtraction. (He said, I have subtraction worksheets that you havent even started yet.) 3. All that fresh air would make me so hungry, Id want to eat all the broccoli we always have at dinner. (He said broccoli gives him gas.)4. All that fresh air would give us a chance to go for a really nice father-son hike. (That one got him. He thought about it, sighed, and finally said, All right, Hank, Ill go.); Title: The Soggy, Foggy Campout #8 (Here's Hank) | [
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19,349 | 2 | "Amusing dialogue and a typeface designed to accomodate dyslexic readers adroitly target kids with reading difficulties of their own. Garrett's cheery b&w cartoons bring additional energy to the story, matching that of Hank himself."-- Publishers Weekly Henry Winkler is an actor, producer, and director, and he speaks publicly all over the world. In addition, he has a star on Hollywood Boulevard, was presented with the Order of the British Empire by the Queen of England, and the jacket he wore as the Fonz hangs in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC. But if you asked him what he was proudest of, he would say, "Writing the Hank Zipzer books with my partner, Lin Oliver." He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Stacey. They have three children named Jed, Zoe, and Max, and two dogs named Monty and Charlotte. Charlotte catches a ball so well that she could definitely play outfield for the New York Mets.Lin Oliver is a writer and producer of movies, books, and television series for children and families. She has written more than twenty-five novels for children, and one hundred episodes of television. She is cofounder and executive director of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, an international organization of twenty thousand authors and illustrators of children's books. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alan. They have three sons named Theo, Ollie, and Cole. She loves tuna melts, curious kids, any sport that involves a racket, and children's book writers everywhere.Scott Garrett is a freelance illustrator who also has a developing interest in pottery. He lives by the sea on the South East coast of the United Kingdom with his family.; Title: How to Hug an Elephant #6 (Here's Hank) | [
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19,350 | 17 | Geoff Edgers is a reporter at The Washington Post and author of Who Were The Beatles? and Who Is Stan Lee?Carlene Hempel is a lecturer at Northeastern University's School  of Journalism.One night in 1962, people watching Channel 2 in Boston saw something unexpected. There, standing over a frying pan, was a woman tall enough to play professional basketball. She wore an apron and spoke in a fluttering, high-pitched voice. She was excited.Julia Child was cooking an omelet.That’s a fancy way of making scrambled eggs that are served folded in half.The show’s producers were not expecting Julia to be a big hit. Back then, the most popular shows were westerns, cartoons, and comedies. There certainly weren’t many people cooking on television.; Title: Who Was Julia Child? | [
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19,351 | 7 | Onk Beakman has devoted his life to chronicling the greatest adventures of the Skylanders. Though he was hatched on the icy wastes of Skylandss Frozen Desert, this book-loving penguin now lives in a shack on the beautiful sands of Blistering Beach with his two pet cucumbers.Onk Beakman knew he wanted to be a world-famous author from the moment he was hatched. In fact, the book-loving penguin was so excited that he wrote his first novel while still inside his egg (to this day, nobody is entirely sure where he got the tiny pencil and notebook from).Growing up on the icy wastes of Skylands Frozen Desert was difficult for a penguin who hated the cold. While his brothers plunged into the freezing waters, Onk could be found with his beak buried in a book and a pen clutched in his flippers.Yet his life changed forever when a giant floating head appeared in the skies above the tundra. It was Kaos, attempting to melt the icecaps so he could get his grubby little hands on an ancient weapon buried beneath the snow.Onk watched open-beaked as Spyro swept in and sent the evil Portal Master packing. From that day, Onk knew that he must chronicle the Skylanders greatest adventures. He traveled the length and breadth of Skylands, collecting every tale he could find about Master Eons brave champions.Today, Onk writes from a shack on the beautiful sands of Blistering Beach with his two pet sea cucumbers.Chapter OneOh yeah, said Zook, reaching for another coconut drink. This is the life, right, Cynder?Beside the Bambazooker, the dark purple dragon shifted uncomfortably beneath the shade of a large umbrella.Speak for yourself, Bamboo Boy, she said with a sigh. Remind me again why were lying on a beach?To soak up the sun, why else? The green-barked Life Skylander slurped the creamy coconut milk noisily. This is the Cloudless Desert, the sunniest spot in all of Skylands. Just kick back and relax, thats all.And you dont feel guilty that were wasting our time when we should be out looking for the next segment of the Mask of Power? Cynder snapped, her scaly brow furrowing. She glanced around, taking in the countless Mabu out enjoying a day in the sun. Didnt they realize the danger they were all in? Kaos was trying to reassemble the fabled Mask of Power. If he managed it...Hey, hey, hey, just chill, insisted Zook, settling back in his deck chair. If Master Eon needs us, he knows where to find us.The buzz of the happy vacationers was broken by a sharp crack that sounded like the universe being pulled in two. Cynder was immediately on her feet. She knew that sound. It was a Portal!She spun around to see a column of light blaze into existence. A figure materialized at its heart. It was tall, regal, and more than a little spooky.Cynder grinned. Zook wanted to chill and you couldnt get more chilling than this new arrival: Hex!The elven sorceress swept from the Portal, her piercing gaze passing over the beach.All around, there were gasps and even a few whimpers. Like Cynder, Hex was an Undead Skylandera mistress of dark magic and feared by many. Hexs ghost-white eyes shimmered as she watched the vacationers frantically pack up their towels and beach chairs, deciding that there was something else theyd rather be doing. Like getting trapped in a spider-infested cave or fed to a pack of zombies.Whats up, Hexy? called Zook in greeting. You here to catch the rays? The Bambazooker peeked over his pair of ridiculously large sunglasses. You do look like you could use a tan.Hexs narrow mouth turned down at the corners. She wasnt known for her sense of humor. She was known for striking fear into everyones hearts, which was quite different.Master Eon needs you, she replied, her voice like wind whistling through a graveyard. Youll have to catch the rays another time. Her disgust at the very concept was obvious. Hex was more at home in moonlight than in the warmth of the sun.Is it the mask? Cynder said eagerly, feeling an electric thrill run through her wings. Has Eon located the next segment?But Hex didnt answer. Instead she peered into the sky, a puzzled look on her ashen face.I thought this place was known as the Cloudless Desert? she commented, floating up from the blisteringly hot sands.Yeah, thats right, Zook confirmed contentedly. Not a cloud in the sky.Except that one, Hex muttered, cocking her head to the side in curiosity.Cynder followed the witchs gaze. She was right. A tiny cloud had appeared in the expanse of brilliant blue. A cloud that was growing, and growing fast. A shadow fell over the sands as the three Skylanders gazed up in amazement. In a matter of seconds the cloud had smothered the sky, becoming darker with every passing minute.Hey, who turned off the sun? complained Zook, throwing aside his shades and snatching up his bazooka. Fun-loving and carefree he may have been, but Zook recognized a threat when he saw one.So did Cynder. Her expression was darkening as quickly as the sky. This was no natural storm.It is the power of Darkness, cried Hex. She threw her arms out wide, and crackling phantom orbs appeared in her upturned palms. The forces of nature have turned against us.Cynder felt a drop of rain on her nose, followed by another. A moment later, the heavens opened, and water lashed down from those strange storm clouds.It could just be a quick shower, joked Zook, ever the eternal optimist. I mean, who ever got hurt by a few drops of rain?There was a scream from their left. The Skylanders turned to see a Mabu sinking into the soggy sand. He was already up to his waist in the quagmire. All around, fleeing vacationers were getting stuck, before getting dragged beneath the dunes.Cynder could feel the grip of the wet ground pulling her claws down into a clammy embrace.We need to do something, she yelled, flapping her leathery wings to pull herself free with a wet squelch. The dunes are turning into quicksand. Everyone is going to be sucked underground!Chapter TwoCynder soared through the air, snatching a sun-worshipping Mabu from the cloying quicksand and flying him to safety. The rain beat down on her wings the whole time, making it difficult to fly. She wouldnt be able to rescue them all.Zook! she cried out, spotting another Mabuwho was wearing a flowery sunhatalmost vanishing beneath the surface. Behind you!The Bambazooker turned, his eyes growing wide when he spotted the stricken Mabu. Hang on, little buddy, he shouted out as he splashed through the quagmire.T-to what? stammered the horrified tourist.To these! Zook clapped his hands together and bamboo shoots erupted around the sinking Mabu from beneath the sand. Usually, Zook used his foliage barriers for protectiontoday they would be a lifeline.Great idea, Zook, Cynder called down. Can you summon them all over the beach?No problem, the Bambazooker yelled back, spinning in a circle. Lets Zook it up!Bamboo shoots popped up here, there, and everywhere.Grab hold of the bamboo, Cynder yelled to the Mabu who were still floundering in the mud. And hang on to them until I can get to you.The rain is getting worse, Zook pointed out. Im not sure how long the bamboo will last.Long enough, murmured Hex, rising up into the air, sinister wreaths of emerald smoke swirling around her hands.For what? Zook asked.For the Darkness to fall! Hex cried out, reaching her hands up to the heavens. Smoke bloomed from her open palms, shooting into the clouds above as the elven witch recited a spell in a language not spoken for thousands upon thousands of years. There was a loud CRACK, and the sky flashed a brilliant green. Even Cynder had to look away from the sudden unnatural flare.When the dragon looked again the clouds were scuttling away like giant, fluffy spiders.Hey, hows about that? Zook laughed. Instant summer. Heh-heh!Sure enough, beams of sunlight were poking through the retreating clouds, the rain clearing away to nothing.Not that heros had time to bask in the sun. Quick, everyone, Cynder snapped, snatching a Mabu out of the drying dunes. Get clear of the sand before it gets baked hard by the heat. You dont want to get stuck.; Title: The Mask of Power: Cynder Confronts the Weather Wizard #5 (Skylanders Universe) | [
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19,352 | 0 | Loren Long (www.lorenlong.com) grew up in Missouri and attended the University of Kentucky in Lexington, where he graduated with a BA in Graphic Design/Studio Art. He then pursued graduate-level studies at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. He and his wife, Tracy, have two sons.; Title: What Does Otis See? | [
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19,353 | 2 | Nico Medina is the author of Who Was Julius Caesar? and Who Was Genghis Khan?, as well as two YA novels. He works at a publishing house in New York City and lives in Brooklyn.Where Is Mount Everest?April 18, 2014, was the deadliest day in the history of Mount Everest.Standing on the border between Nepal and China, this mammoth mountain rises more than 29,000 feetnearly five and a half milesinto the sky. It is the highest point on earth. More than four thousand people have reached the top of Everest. Hundreds more have died trying.Early that morning in 2014, around fifty men were on the mountain. Suddenly, a block of ice the size of a house broke off a cliff. It cracked into truck-size pieces. The ice chunks tumbled down the mountainside, instantly killing those in its path. For days, people dug in the snow and ice, hoping to find survivors. But in the end, sixteen men lost their lives.; Title: Where Is Mount Everest? | [
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19,354 | 18 | Sarah Fabiny has written several Who Was? titles, including biographies of Beatrix Potter, Frida Kahlo, Rachel Carson, and Gloria Steinem.Who Was Jane Austen? Every year, People magazine publishes a special issue. The magazine focuses on the twenty-five most interesting people of the year. In 1995, their list included President Bill Clinton; Brad Pitt, one of the worlds most famous movie stars; Princess Diana, the peoples princess; and Jane Austen, the author of six best-selling books. It was not a surprise that the president of the United States would be on the list, but Jane Austen had been dead since 1817! But in 1995, several very popular TV miniseries and movies based on her books had premiered. Why would books that were published so long ago be so popular two hundred years later? Perhaps it was because Jane Austens characters were smart, funny, and very entertainingeven into the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Readers in the 1800s felt a connection to the people in her books. And people today still feel as if they know her characters personally. Jane Austen created books about regular people and their everyday struggles and triumphs. She proved that ordinary characters and the drama of their daily lives could sometimes make the most interesting stories. Chapter 1:Off to School Reverend George Austen looked after the parish in Steventon, a small village about fifty miles west of London. He and his wife, Cassandra, had expected their seventh child to be born in November. But the baby did not arrive until December 16, 1775. They named her Jane. In the south of England, the winter of 1775 was very cold and snowy. The harsh weather kept the Austen children inside. But Janes siblingsJames, George, Edward, Henry, Cassandra, and Franciswere happy to have another baby to play with. And the Austens were pleased that Cassandra, who was almost three years old, now had a sister. Once spring arrived in Steventon, Jane was sent to live with a foster family in the village. Sending a baby to live with another family might sound strange, but this was common at the time. All of Janes brothers and sisters had also gone to live with other families when they were young. Janes parents felt it would be easier for their youngest children to return home when they were older, especially since the house was already very crowded. Reverend Austen also used the family homewhich was called a rectoryas a school. He tutored students to earn money to support his family. From August to December and February to June, the Austens had students living with them. Reverend Austen taught them Latin, Greek, geography, and science. The students, who were all boys, slept in the attic rooms at the top of the house. Janes father also raised cows, sheep, and chickens to bring in extra money to support his growing family. By the time Jane was three years old, she was once again living with her family, and her younger brother, Charles, had been born. In 1779, Thomas Knight, a wealthy cousin, visited the Austen family with his wife, Catherine. The Knights were charmed by Janes brother Edward, who was twelve at the time. The couple asked if Edward could join them on their travels. And in 1783, the Knights officially adopted Edward, who became the heir to their large fortune. That meant that someday he would inherit the Knights money and their property. The Austens house was crowded and noisy. But although they did not have a lot of money, it was a happy, comfortable place. The library was filled with Reverend Austens books, and Jane spent a lot of time reading there. The family also read out loud to one another. And Janes parents encouraged their children and Reverend Austens students to write and to put on skitsshort performances for their own entertainment. At the time, it was not common to send girls to school. Most people thought that was a waste of time and money. Girls learned to sew, sing, and play music. They were expected to focus on having good manners, getting married, and preparing to be good wives when they grew up. But Janes older sister, Cassandra, was sent to a boarding school in Oxford in the spring of 1783 when she was ten years old. Jane and her older sister had become very good friends, and Jane begged her parents to let her go to boarding school as well. Soon after the girls arrived, Mrs. Cawley, who ran the school, moved it to Southampton, a town on the south coast of England. Although Janewho was now seven years oldwas with Cassandra, she hated the school. She found it too serious and stern compared to the school her father ran in their home back in Steventon. Jane also missed the freedom she had in the countryside. Southampton was a busy port city at the time. Many soldiers returning from their duties overseas landed there. Some of these soldiers came home with typhoid fevera dangerous infection. The disease spread quickly through the city, and both Cassandra and Jane became very sick. Mrs. Cawley did not tell Reverend and Mrs. Austen that their daughters were ill. But the girls cousin Jane Cooper also attended the same school. She wrote her mother a letter saying that Jane and Cassandra had typhoid fever. As soon as the Austens heard the news, Mrs. Austen rushed to Southampton. She cared for her daughters until they were well enough to return home. Jane and Cassandra spent the next year at home studying with Reverend Austen. Their father let the girls read any of the almost five hundred books in his library. Jane read plays, classic poetry, and humorous novels. In 1785, the Austens decided to send their daughters back to school. They wanted them to continue their education at the Abbey School in Reading. Again, their cousin Jane Cooper joined them. The school had a good reputation, and the Austen sisters and their cousin were happy there. The girls had classes in the morning and their afternoons were free. But it was getting difficult to pay the tuition. The Austens decided to bring Jane and Cassandra back home. That would be the last time Jane Austen set foot in a school. Her formal education had ended, and she was just eleven years old. Jane would never spend much time away from her family again.; Title: Who Was Jane Austen? | [
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19,355 | 11 | Ellen Labrecque is a former Senior Editor for Sports Illustrated for Kids and the author of over twenty nonfiction books for young readers, including biographies of Jim Thorpe and Magic Johnson.Jerry Hoare is married with two musician/actor sons and a crazy terrier dog. He has provided pictorial work for many different things in many different styles, but he has a particular fondness for line work--be it loose pen or the strict thicks and thins, to denote tonal change like that of engraving.Who Was Princess Diana? On July 29, 1981, England celebrated a national holiday. Prince Charles, the thirty-two-year-old heir to the British throne, was about to marry Lady Diana Frances Spencer in the Wedding of the Century. Thousands of people lined the streets of London. Three-quarters of a billion watched on television. As the crowd cheered, twenty-year-old Diana stepped out of a horse-drawn coach, known as the glass carriage, in front of Saint Pauls Cathedral in London. She was wearing a beautiful white dress and a sparkling gold-and-diamond tiara. Her trainthe back of her dresswas twenty-five feet long! The future princess walked into the church on the arm of her proud father, Earl John Spencer. Thirty-five hundred guests stood and watched the real-life Cinderella walk down the long aisle on a red carpet. Charless mother, Elizabeth II, the Queen of England, and his father, Prince Philip, looked on proudly. Standing at the front of the church was Prince Charles. He wore his dark blue naval commanders uniform and his wavy hair was perfectly combed. The handsome prince could have married anybody, and he had chosen Diana. I couldnt take my eyes off him, Diana later said. I just absolutely thought I was the luckiest girl in the world. The royal wedding was ready to begin. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who presided over the ceremony, described the day as the stuff of which fairy tales are made. Most fairy tales end happily ever after. But real lifeeven the real life of a princessis often more complicated. In the years after her marriage, Diana sometimes felt lonely and sad. Her life was not always as happy as the storybook one she had imagined. But on the day of her weddingwhen the whole world was watchingDiana was a happy bride. She couldnt wait to marry her Prince Charming. Chapter 1: A Noble Beginning Princess Diana was born Diana Frances Spencer on July 1, 1961. The Spencers had been a rich and powerful family for centuries. They were part of the British nobility, or the wealthy ruling class. Diana had been born in Park House, a beautiful and large home on the Queens estate at Sandringham, England. In the 1930s, Dianas grandparents were invited to live in the house by King George VI. Park House was then passed on to Dianas mother, when she had a family of her own. Dianas father, John Spencer, held the title Viscount Althorp (say: VAHY-kount AWL-trupp). He had been an officer in the British Army and had fought for England during World War II. Dianas mother was Frances Spencer, Viscountess (say: VAHY-koun-tis) Althorp. Diana already had two older sisters, Sarah, who was six years old, and Jane, who was four. Because they were such close friends of the royal family, people often said that each of the three Spencer girls might someday marry one of Queen Elizabeth IIs three sons: Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward! When Diana was born, the Spencers had been hoping for a son to carry on the familys name and inherit their fortune. In fact, the Spencers had not even picked out a girls name! They decided on Diana a week after their third daughter was born. As a young child, Diana often played alone. Her two older sisters were away at boarding school. Their growing up was done out of my sight, Diana later said. Dianas parents eventually had the son they always wanted. Charles Spencer was born in 1964, when Diana was almost three years old. Charles became Dianas best friend. The youngest Spencer children had fun exploring all of Park House. The huge ten-bedroom mansion had long staircases with railings the children could slide down. Diana was an athletic child. She enjoyed riding her bike, swimming in their pool, and climbing trees. She also liked playing with stuffed animalsand kept many on her bed. She loved her real animals, too. Diana had pet hamsters, guinea pigs, and a cat named Marmalade. Like many wealthy children, Diana and her brother had nannies. Diana, though, longed to be cared for by her mother. She and Charles tried to get a few of the nannies to quit and even threw their clothes out the window. But they quickly learned that a new nanny could always be hired to replace the old one. Aside from those few stunts with her brother, Diana was kind to the nannies. She would help them clean the playroom and do other housework. From an early age, Dianas father taught her to treat everybody as an individual and never throw your weight around. This meant Diana should treat everyone with kindness and never act more important than another person. Diana followed this rule her whole life.; Title: Who Was Princess Diana? | [
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19,356 | 15 | Jim O'Connor is the author of What Was Pompeii?, What Was the Battle of Gettysburg?, and Who Is Bob Dylan?Where Is the Grand Canyon? The Grand Canyon in Arizona is one of the United States fifty-nine national parks. All are special wilderness areas that are protected by the US government. President Franklin Roosevelt said, There is nothing so American as our national parks. Why? Because the parks belong to all the people of our country. They are not private property. Back when the United States was a young country with limitless open space, not many people saw a need to set aside land for parks. Even if there had been big parks, few people could have visited them. The majority of Americans worked six days a week. Not many had the time or money to travel more than a few miles from their home. The first public park in the United States was the Boston Common, in Massachusetts, which was established in 1634. It was both a park and a common grazing area for cows. In the 1830s, Americans began building cemeteries that were more than places to bury the dead. They had winding roads, ponds, landscaped hills, beautiful statues, and fancy mausoleums. (Mausoleums are like little houses with the dead buried inside them.) People went to these beautiful cemeteries to have picnics and stroll around the grounds admiring the views. Cemeteries became popular as a kind of public park. The idea of parks protected by the government began in the mid 1800s. The population was growing. More cities were sprouting all over the country, taking over large areas of land. A small but important group of people realized that the United States had great natural treasures that needed to be preserved for all Americans forever. For instance, Yosemite, an area in northern California, was known for its special trees. They were called giant sequoias. Some were over three thousand years old. They grew up to three hundred feet high with amazingly thick trunks. A group of Americans wanted to protect Yosemites giant sequoia groves from logging and development. In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln made Yosemite a California state park. The first area to be named a national park was Yellowstone in Wyoming. (Parts of the park are also in Montana and Idaho.) Yellowstone is a special place because it is home to most of the worlds geysers. A geyser is an underground spring of boiling-hot water that erupts through the surface of the earth. Yellowstones most famous geyser is called Old Faithful. In fact, it is the most famous geyser in the world. Every ninety-one minutes, Old Faithful erupts, spraying water 125 feet into the air. Yellowstone National Park was created in 1872 under a law signed by President Ulysses S. Grant. The president who did the most for national parks was Theodore Roosevelt. He was in office from 1901 to 1909 and is often called the conservation president. He wanted to conservekeep and protectthe beauty of nature in the United States. President Roosevelt grew up in New York City, but he was a real outdoorsman. As a young man, he became a cattle rancher out west in North Dakota. All his life he loved to hunt and camp out under the stars. He wanted Americans and visitors from other countries to enjoy the beauty of the United States in its most unspoiled form. More than a century ago Roosevelt saw how dangerous industry could be to natural resources such as water and forests. He said, We have become great because of the lavish use of our resources. But the time has come to inquire seriously what will happen when our forests are gone, when the coal, the iron, the oil, and the gas are exhausted, when the soils have still further impoverished and washed into the streams, polluting the rivers, denuding the fields and obstructing navigation. In 1903 he visited the Grand Canyon. Heres his description: In the Grand Canyon, Arizona has a natural wonder which is in kind absolutely unparalleled throughout the rest of the world. By that, he meant there was no place else like it. Roosevelt said, You cannot improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it. In the summer of 1913, Roosevelt returned to the Grand Canyon with his sons Archie and Quentin. During their vacation, they rode horses along the rim of the canyon and hunted cougars.Roosevelt wrote about his trip, calling the Grand Canyon the most wonderful scenery in the world. He said, Very wealthy men can have private game preserves of their own. But the average man . . . can enjoy wild nature, only if... there are big parks or reserves provided for the use of all our people. In 1919, Grand Canyon became a national park. Chapter 1: Birth of a Canyon Every year five million people from all over the world travel to northern Arizona to see the Grand Canyon. Driving north to the Grand Canyon from Phoenix, Sedona, or Flagstaff, the road gradually climbs to the top of what is called the Colorado Plateau. (A plateau is a large elevated flat area of land.) There are plenty of signs for the Grand Canyon. All the hotels, restaurants, and stores for tourists announce that you are getting closer. The first sight of the canyon itself doesnt come until visitors arrive at the South Rim. Even then their view of the canyon is masked by trees and bushes. They must pull off the road at Mather Point Overlook, leave their cars, and walk a short distance to the rim of the Grand Canyon. ThenWOW! Suddenly they look down. People cannot help but gasp in surprise at what they see. The Grand Canyon twists and turns for 270 miles. It is eighteen miles across at its widest point. This massive canyon was formed by the constant erosion of the Colorado River for the last six million years. The river has cut through thousands of different layers of rock, so that now the canyon is over a mile deep. The youngest rock, near the top, is 250 million years old. The oldestat the bottomwas formed two billion years ago. As visitors gaze into the depths of the Grand Canyon, the shifting rays of the sun light up rock formations, smaller side canyons, and amazing colored layers of rock. Some are bright orange, some are golden brown, some are pink and white. Late in the day when the sun begins to set, the landscape turns violet, then darkens to purple before it disappears into the darkness. At first glance, the Grand Canyon seems empty, but it is teeming with wildlife and countless varieties of plants. The scale is so huge that a boulder larger than a three-story building looks like a small rock to visitors at the rim. Even the mighty Colorado River seems tiny when seen from a mile above.; Title: Where Is the Grand Canyon? | [
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19,357 | 13 | Kirsten Anderson is a freelance writer and actress who lives in New York City with her charming Pomeranian, Sunflower.Who Is Elton John? The crowd at the Troubadour club didnt pay much attention to the piano player quietly singing onstage. The twenty-three-year-old singers record company had worked hard to get many important people in the music business to come to the Los Angeles club and hear its new discovery. But on this August night in 1970, most of the audience was much more famous than the man onstage. They talked to one another and looked to see who else would walk in the door. They werent very interested in this plain Englishman who wore glasses. Although he wore a rock-and-roll T-shirt and jeans, he looked more like a salesman than a rock star. Elton John had thought it was a mistake to come to America. He had been struggling for years in England to get people to pay attention to him. He had written songs for other performers. He had played and sung in bands behind other singers. He had been waiting a long time for his big break. And now it seemed as if no one would ever notice him. Suddenly, he had had enough. All the frustration from his years of being stuck in the background boiled over. He jumped up, kicked over his piano stool, and shouted, If you wont listen, perhaps youll bloody well listen to this. He started playing again, standing at the piano. But this time he pounded away at the keys. He sang loudly and confidently. It was the way he had pictured himself performing when he was a little boy in England, listening to American rock and roll on the radio. And the audience paid attention. They heard blues, gospel, rock, and country music. Each song told its own fantastic story. Everyone knew they were hearing something special. By the end of the night, there was a line of people waiting to get backstage to meet Elton. After years of hard work, Elton John had become an overnight success.; Title: Who Is Elton John? (Who Was?) | [
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19,358 | 13 | When I was a young girl I took tap, ballet, and baton. This is a celebration of practice and the joy of dance.Natasha Wing (natashawing.com) lives in Ft. Collins, Colorado and enjoys attending performances of The Nutcracker.Amy Wummer lives in Reading, Pennsylvania.; Title: The Night Before My Dance Recital | [
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19,359 | 18 | Robin Koontz is an American author and illustrator of picture books and early readers for children as well as non-fiction for middle school readers. Her books are published in English, Spanish, and Indonesian.Monday, August 29, 2005; Title: What Was Hurricane Katrina? | [
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19,360 | 2 | Nico Medina is the author of Where Is Mount Everest? and Where Is Alcatraz? and three books in the Who Was...? series.Where is the Great Barrier Reef?August 26, 1768 The HMS Endeavour, under the command of Captain James Cook, set sail from England. The British Royal Navy, and a scientific group called the Royal Society of London, were sending Cook halfway across the globeto the South Pacific island of Tahiti. Why? With an astronomer and other scientists, Cook was to record the passage of the planet Venus across the face of the sun. They would compare their measurements to measurements other astronomers were taking around the world. This would help them figure out the distance between the earth and the sun. Months later, in June 1769, the work in Tahiti was done. But Captain Cook was not going home. Not yet. He had been given a sealed letter before he left England. Now he could open it. The letter contained a set of orders for a second missiona secret mission. Cook was to sail from Tahiti to a place known only as Terra Australis Incognita. This is Latin for Unknown South Land. Today, we call it Australia. Forty-year-old Captain Cook was a very experienced sailor and explorer. The British Royal Navy wanted him to explore Australias east coast. No European had ever seen this land. On April 19, 1770, the Endeavour reached this part of Australia. Cook later named it New South Wales and claimed it for England. Captain Cook continued north along the coast. He didnt know he was about to make another great discoverya dangerous discovery. Late on June 11, under a bright moon, the Endeavour crashed into something rock solid! The ship became stuck! Cook and his crew were twelve miles from shore. They tried to move the ship back into deep water by lightening the ships load. They threw as much as fifty tons of cannons, coal, and cargo overboard. They waited until morning, hoping that the high tide would lift the ship. But it stayed stuck. A leak sprung. Water poured into the ship. For the next twelve hours, the men scrambled to save their ship. They took turns at the pumps, trying to push seawater out as fast as it poured in. One sailor filled a canvas sail with wool and sheeps dung and used it to help plug the leak. Around ten oclock that night, high tide arrived again. The crew was able to guide the Endeavour off its rocky ledge and back into deep water. They were saved! This rocky ledge, however, was not actually rock at all. It was a coral reef. Coral is made up of millions of tiny animals called polyps (PAWL-lups). This coral reef was one of three thousand reefs that make up the Great Barrier Reef. For more than six weeks, Captain Cook and his crew repaired the Endeavour onshore. More than two months after the crash, Cook was finally able to steer the ship through the Reef and out into the open ocean. Captain Cooks discovery of the Great Barrier Reef was only the beginning. Ever since, this miracle of nature has captured the imagination of explorers, scientists, and tourists alike. Today, more than a million people visit the Great Barrier Reef each year. And weve only just begun to understand it. Chapter 1: Islands from Hilltops The Great Barrier Reef is enormous. It is the largest living structure on earth. It is so big, it can be seen from outer space! From high above the earth, it looks almost like a line of turquoise-colored toothpaste between the green of Australia and the deep blue of the Pacific Ocean. Closer up, the colors begin to change. The reefs appear reddish brown just beneath the waters surface. White, sandy islands dot the seascape. Lush green islands covered in rain forests rise up from the sea. Shallow water surrounding the islands shines bright aquamarine. Below the surface, the Great Barrier Reef presents visitors with an eye-popping spectacle. Snorkelers and scuba divers can swim amid creatures of every color. Orange-and-white-striped lionfish. Purple crabs. Schools of pink anthia fish. Blue-and-black surgeonfish wriggling their bright-yellow tails to glide through the water. There are walls of coral in reds and pinks, giant clams with gaping multicolored mouths, and sea anemones with green tentacles. The Great Barrier Reef is not one giant coral reef. It is a system of three thousand individual reefs. More than 1,400 miles long, it is the largest coral-reef system in the world. It is longer than the distance between Seattle and San Diego! About 10 percent of the worlds coral reefs are contained in the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef gets its name because it forms a sort of barrier, blocking the open ocean from the shore. It protects the mainland from storms and powerful ocean waves. There are more than six hundred islands in the Great Barrier Reef. If you include the islands in the Torres Strait (the body of water between Australia and Papua New Guinea), its closer to one thousand! A few thousand years ago, some of these islands werent islands at all. They were actually limestone hills on the mainland! How is this possible? Its because about a hundred thousand years ago, the world grew colder. Much of the water on the earths surface became ice. Glaciers and ice caps grew larger. As more water in the oceans froze, the sea level dropped by more than four hundred feet. In Australia, coral reefs that had been underwater were now above the surface. Once the coral reefs were above water, they began to die and became hard. After many years, sun, wind, and rain turned these dead reefs into limestone hills. Mud and sediment washed up and over them. Eventually, plants and trees began to grow. Animals moved in. What once was a coral reef was now an all-new grassy landscape. Then, about eighteen thousand years ago, the earths climate started to heat back up. Ice melted into the oceans. For the next twelve thousand years, the sea level rose about half an inch every year. Over time, the ocean swallowed up the land and covered up most of the limestone hills. Today, the tops of those old limestone hills are surrounded by water. They are among the islands we see in the Great Barrier Reef today. Many of these islands are surrounded by coral reefs. Today, on some islands there are popular tourist destinations. On others there are research centers, where people learn more about the Great Barrier Reef. But most of the islands remain pure wilderness, untouched by humans.; Title: Where Is the Great Barrier Reef? | [
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19,361 | 13 | Stephanie is a native of the Jersey Shore and a graduate of Boston College. She currently resides in Hoboken, New Jersey.Who Is Bruce Springsteen? December 1964 It was a cold winter day in northern New Jersey. A teenage boy brought his mother to the local music store. There, in the front window, was a black and gold electric guitar. The boy wanted it so much. He loved to play the guitar. But it cost sixty dollars. Back then, that was a lot of money. It was more money than his mother had.So they left the store without the guitar. But that is not the end of the story. A few days later, the boys mother went to the bank and took out a loan. On Christmas Day, her son woke up to find the guitar waiting for him under the tree. That teenage boy was Bruce Springsteen. And he grew up to become one of the most famous rock-and-roll stars ever. For forty years, people have been inspired by the messages in his songs. They are songs about the joy of being alive and the pain of a broken heart. They offer comfort during hard times. They make people proud to be Americans. Bruce Springsteen never forgot that special guitar. It changed everything. In fact, when he was voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, the first person he thanked was his mother. He thanked her for buying him that guitar and, most importantly, for believing in him. Chapter 1:A Young Boy Bruce Frederick Springsteen was born on September 23, 1949. He lived in Freehold, New Jersey, with his parents and two younger sisters, Virginia (called Ginny) and Pamela. Ginny was one and a half years younger than Bruce, but Pamela was much younger. Bruce was twelve when Pamela was born. Pamela was such a cute baby that Bruce didnt mind helping out. He liked playing with her or even giving hera bottle. Freehold is a medium-size town located near the New Jersey shoreline, and about a ninety-minute drive from New York City. There were lots of farms and factories when Bruce was a boy. It was not a wealthy town. People in Freehold were mostly blue collar workers. Most of the jobs in Freehold were at the local factories. The biggest was Nestl, which produced chocolate bars and coffee. While Bruce was growing up, one of the big employers, a rug factory, left town. Jobs became harder to find. Bruces mother, Adele, worked as a secretary for a lawyer. She had a good job. However, Bruces father, Doug, had trouble finding steady work. For a while he drove taxis and trucks. At one point he was a prison guard. To make ends meet, the Springsteens moved in with Dougs parents after Bruce was born. They stayed for six years. Bruces grandparents lived in a house that had cracked walls, windows that rattled, and just one kerosene heater to warm the house in winter. His grandparents didnt believe in a lot of rules for him. Bruce was allowed to stay up all night, watching television and playing with his toys. As a little boy, Bruce loved to have books read aloud to him. One of his favorites was Brave Cowboy Bill. Bill had many adventures in the Wild West. Bruce was so crazy about the story that soon he knew all the words by heart. When Bruce was old enough, his mother sent him to a Catholic school. Bruce did not like it one bit! There were so many rules, and the nuns were very strict. One time in third grade, a nun stuffed him in a trash can! Why? She said the trash can was where he belonged. As if he were no better than garbage! Bruce spent time in the principals office, too. He was not a bad kid. He was just different. He liked to be alone with his thoughts. Not all the time, of course. He also liked to hang out with other kids, play baseball, and read Archie comics. Bruce enjoyed spending time with his mother. Adele also loved music. Shed play the radio in the kitchen, singing and dancing while making breakfast. Bruce sang and danced right along with her. Adele introduced Bruce to all kinds of musicpop, rock and roll, country, and folk music. One night in 1957, Adele let Bruce stay up late to watch The Ed Sullivan Show on television. Elvis Presley was performing, and Bruce could not take his eyes off him. Elvis wasnt afraid to be different, and he looked like he was having so much fun onstage. After seeing Elvis, Bruce wanted his own guitar. If Elvis could be a rock star, why couldnt he? As Bruce grew older, all he could think about was rock-and-roll music. When he was fourteen, he was riding in the car with his mom, listening to the radio. The Beatles song I Want to Hold Your Hand started to play. As soon as Bruces mom stopped the car, Bruce jumped out and ran to the nearest pay phone. He had to call his girlfriend. He couldnt wait to tell her about the awesome song he had just heard. Then, in 1964, Bruce got that special guitar for Christmas. From then on, Bruce practiced every day. He said, It took over my whole life.... Everything from then on revolved around music. Everything. Sometimes Bruce would play the guitar and watch himself in the mirror. Even though Bruce was just a skinny boy with dark curly hair, he liked what he saw. When he held his guitar, he felt powerful.; Title: Who Is Bruce Springsteen? (Who Was?) | [
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19,362 | 18 | Jim O'Connor is the author of What Was Pompeii?, What Was the Battle of Gettysburg?, and Who Is Bob Dylan?What Were the Twin Towers?   It was a perfect end-of-summer morning in New York City. The sky was a clear, rich blue and there were no clouds.   At the tip of Manhattan, by 8:20 a.m., people were streaming in from subways and from Staten Island ferryboats. The World Trade Center’s Twin Towers gleamed in the sunlight. The North Tower and the South Tower. Some office workers lingered in the tree-lined plaza at the base of the buildings.   Many people were already upstairs at their desks starting work. At the famous Windows on the World restaurant, several companies were hosting business breakfasts. The restaurant was in the North Tower, on the 106th and 107th floors. The view was spectacular that morning. Diners could see more than fifty miles in any direction.   It was just another normal morning. Then at 8:46, everything changed. People on the street heard a roar. They looked up to see a jet airplane overhead. It was flying low, dangerously low. And it was heading straight toward the North Tower. In a matter of seconds, it slammed into floors ninety-three through ninety-nine.   This was the first blow of a terrible attack on the United States of America. In the next seventy-seven minutes, a second plane hit the South Tower. A third plane flew into the Pentagon building just outside of Washington, DC. A fourth plane crashed in central Pennsylvania. Everyone in all four planes was killed, including the nineteen men who had hijacked the flights and carried out the attacks.   By 10:28 that morning, both towers had collapsed, killing 2,606 innocent people. Another 125 died at the Pentagon. In all, 2,977 died on September 11, 2001, counting the passengers and crew on all four planes.   In the months and years that followed, there would be more victims. Many were rescue workers—police officers and firefighters—as well as construction workers who came to clean up the site. They became sick from breathing the polluted air while working at Ground Zero. That became the name for the area where the Twin Towers had once stood.   Why were the Twin Towers targeted? Who was behind the attack? And how did that terrible day change the United States?       Chapter 1: Money, Money, Money    More than any other city in the United States, New York has always been a center of business. In America in the 1600s and 1700s, many colonies were founded by groups seeking religious freedom. But not New York. It began as a Dutch trading post called New Amsterdam. Its purpose was to make money.   The Dutch took advantage of the large natural harbor that stayed ice-free all winter. This meant that ships with cargo could come and go all year. And the Hudson River, to the west of New Amsterdam, offered a route to fur trading posts farther inland.   The British forced the Dutch out of New Amsterdam in 1664 and renamed it New York. They stayed over a hundred years, until the end of the Revolutionary War in 1783. After that, New York City became the trading center of a new, young country: the United States of America.   Manhattan, where New York City began, is an island. Because of that, over time six bridges as well as four tunnels—two under the East River and two under the Hudson—were constructed to connect Manhattan to mainland areas. Many of these transportation routes are overseen by an agency called the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. It has control over the port, covering a twenty-five-mile circle, with the Statue of Liberty at the center. Tolls from bridges and tunnels provide the money for more new projects. In the middle of the twentieth century, the Port Authority headed the biggest building project in New York’s history—the construction of two skyscrapers, each 110 stories. They were the tallest buildings on the planet—at least for a while.; Title: What Were the Twin Towers? (What Was?) | [
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19,363 | 0 | Barbara Lowell is the author of George Ferris, What a Wheel! She lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.Jez Tuya is a New Zealand-based freelance illustrator, specializing in character design and children's illustration. While he creates his illustrations digitally they are rich in texture, detail and atmosphere which gives them a hand-rendered quality.From the Trade Paperback edition.; Title: Daring Amelia (Penguin Young Readers, Level 3) | [
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19,364 | 15 | Grosset & Dunlap creates high-quality books for young readers of any level. Focused on books for ages 012, Grosset offers a wide range of original fiction series, nonfiction titles, leveled readers, and licensed tie-ins to captivate every reader.; Title: Octonauts and the Decorator Crab | [
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19,365 | 18 | Kirsten Anderson is a freelance writer and actress who lives in New York City with her charming Pomeranian, Sunflower.Who Was Milton Bradley? One September evening in 1860, a young man stepped off a train in New York City. He had taken three trains to get there from Springfield, Massachusetts. Milton Bradley thought Springfield was a big city, but it was nothing compared to New York. The streets were crowded with people, horses, and carriages. Everyone seemed to be in a big hurry. Twenty-three-year-old Milton noticed how the people were dressed. The women wore fancy hats with feathers and dresses trimmed in lace. The men wore tall hats and suits with shiny satin vests. Milton thought they looked like they were all wearing their Sunday bestand it wasnt even Sunday! But he hadnt come all the way to New York City to admire the fashions. He was there to convince people to buy and play a game. The next morning, Milton bought a new hat and suit so he would fit in with the New Yorkers. Then he took a few samples of his game and walked into a stationery store. The store sold paper, pencils, and pens, plus small games and toys. He found the manager. How do you do, sir? I am Milton Bradley of the Milton Bradley Company of Springfield. I have come to New York with some samples of a new and most amazing game, sir... Milton showed the man The Checkered Game of Life. He explained how players moved across the red-and-white checkered board, making both good and bad choices about life. He said that people who loved games would find it entertaining. People who usually thought games were a waste of time would find it educational. After sitting down with Milton and playing the game, the store manager bought all of Miltons sample games. Milton returned to his hotel to pick up more. He brought samples to a different store. They bought them all. In only two days, Milton sold the hundreds of games he had brought with him. Milton was thrilled and proud. He had believed that people would see themselves in The Checkered Game of Life. And he had been right. Milton was only twenty-four years old when he decided to put all his energy into becoming a game maker. Over 150 years later, people are still playing games created by the Milton Bradley Company. And The Game of Life is one of the most popular board games of all time. Chapter 1:Two Apples Plus Four Apples Milton Bradley was born on November 8, 1836, in Vienna, Maine. His parents were Lewis and Fannie Bradley. Lewis was a carpenter and a factory worker. The Bradleys never had much money, but they were a close, happy family. They were very religious. They went to church on Sundays and did not drink, dance, go to the theater, or gamble. But they believed in having other kinds of fun. They spent their evenings reading together and playing games like checkers or chess. Miltons parents were very involved in his education. When Milton was still quite young, he didnt understand how to add or subtract. Lewis put six bright red apples on the kitchen table. He asked Milton to count them. Milton counted six. Then Lewis took away two apples. He asked Milton to count them now. Milton counted four. Lewis put back the two apples. Now there were six again. Suddenly, Milton understoodthe numbers in the math problem in front of him represented real things that you could count, put together, or take away. Using the shiny apples made all the difference for him. He thought this was a wonderful way to learn. Milton always remembered how his father helped him understand math by using apples. When Milton was eleven years old, the family moved to Lowell, Massachusetts, so Lewis could take a job in a cotton factory. Milton attended the Lowell Grammar School and immediately became best friends with a boy named George Tapley. Milton was a serious boy. George was happy and cheerful. He could always make Milton laugh. They were a perfect pair. Milton had a talent for drawing and decided that he would study art at the Lawrence Scientific School when he finished high school. Milton didnt have enough money for Lawrence when he graduated from high school, so he went to work. He got a job in the office of a draftsmana person who drew plans to build machines. Milton earned extra money by taking a job selling paper, pens, and ink. Lowell was famous for its busy factories, and many people traveled far from home to find work there. That meant they all wanted to write letters home as often as they could. At night, Milton went to the boardinghouses where the factory workers lived, asking if anyone wanted to buy paper and pens. Milton was very successful. He wrote in his diary that the female factory workers bought more from him than the other salesmen because they thought he was funny and clever. In 1855, Milton finally had the $300 he needed to attend the Lawrence Scientific School. But when his two-year art course was nearly finished, Miltons father found a better job in Hartford, Connecticut. Milton reluctantly left school and moved to Hartford with his parents. But there werent any jobs for him in Hartford. Milton wanted to do somethingeven if he didnt know exactly what yet. Milton decided to try his luck in a bigger city: Springfield, Massachusetts.; Title: Who Was Milton Bradley? | [
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19,366 | 2 | Mickie Matheis is a children's book author.; Title: A Berry Lucky St. Patrick's Day (Strawberry Shortcake) | [
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19,367 | 0 | When adopting a pet, please consider animal shelters and rescues first. Your furry friend will love you for saving him or her.Natasha Wing (natashawing.com) lives in Fort Collins, Colorado. Her first book with Grosset, The Night Before Easter, was published in 1999, and since then she has created a best-selling series that has sold more than 5 million copies. She has a cat named Purrsia.; Title: The Night Before the New Pet | [
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19,368 | 21 | Gail Herman has written several biographies, including Who Was Jackie Robinson? and What Is the World Series?What Are the Summer Olympics? Every four years during the summer, athletes from every corner of the globe meet to compete in the Olympicsthe greatest sports contest on earth. For about two weeks, athletes test their skill, their strength, and their luck in more than three hundred events. Arenas for the Olympics become a world stage, with billions of fans following the Games on TV. There have been generals, princes, and movie stars who have competed in the Olympics. But more often than not, athletes are ordinary young men and women. Except, of course, they are not ordinary. They are champions in running, jumping, swimming, rowing, cycling, gymnastics, tennis, and soccer. Name any warm-weather sport, and most likely its been played at the Summer Olympics. Weeks before the athletes meet, the Olympics have actually already begun. Where? In Olympia, Greece, the site of the original, ancient Olympic Games. There, in a valley surrounded by gentle hills, a mirror is held up to the sun. The rays light the flame on a torch. The Olympic torch will be carried to the city hosting the Games. The journey connects the Games of today to the Games of the ancient past. Long ago, fires burned in front of temples to honor Greek gods. Today the torch is passed from person to person moving by foot, car, train, boat, plane, through countries, across oceans, over mountains. On the way to Beijing, China, in 2008, the torch even reached the highest point in the world, Mount Everest. But no matter its path, the relay ends at the Olympic stadium of the host city in time for the opening ceremony. The last torchbearer lights a cauldron, a giant bowl sitting atop the stadium. And the Games begin.; Title: What Are the Summer Olympics? (What Was?) | [
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19,369 | 0 | Penguin Young Readers unite the best authors, illustrators, and brands from the Penguin Young Readers Group under one umbrella to engage all levels of early readers, from emergent all the way to fluent. With an easy numbered leveling system and the Guided Reading leveling system, these books allow educators, parents, and kids to quickly find the perfect book for any developing reader.; Title: Octonauts and the Scary Spookfish | [
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19,370 | 17 | Yona McDonough is the author of What Was the Underground Railroad?, Who Was Rosa Parks?, Who Was John F. Kennedy?, Who Was Louis Armstrong?, Who Was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart? and Who Was Harriet Tubman? She lives in New York City.Who Was Sojourner Truth? June 1, 1843 The tall woman walked down to the ferry in New York City, paid the fare, and got on. Although the woman was black and had been born a slave, she was now free to come and go as she pleased. When the ride ended, she got off the ferry and began to walk. Soon, the hustle and bustle of the city was far behind her. After a while, she grew thirsty and stopped at a farm to ask for a drink. The woman who gave it to her asked her name. The tall woman thought about this. The only full name she had was a slave name, given to her by her master. She did not want that name anymore. She was starting a new life. She was going to be doing a lot of traveling. And she was going to spread the word of God. So, right then and there she gave herself a new name. She decided to call herself Sojourner Truth, and this is her story.; Title: Who Was Sojourner Truth? | [
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19,371 | 0 | Henry Winkler is an actor, producer, and director, and he speaks publicly all over the world. In addition, he has a star on Hollywood Boulevard, was presented with the Order of the British Empire by the Queen of England, and the jacket he wore as the Fonz hangs in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC. But if you asked him what he was proudest of, he would say, "Writing the Hank Zipzer books with my partner, Lin Oliver." He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Stacey. They have three children named Jed, Zoe, and Max, and two dogs named Monty and Charlotte. Charlotte catches a ball so well that she could definitely play outfield for the New York Mets. Follow Henry Winkler on Twitter at @hwinkler4real Lin Oliver is a writer and producer of movies, books, and television series for children and families. She has written more than twenty-five novels for children, and one hundred episodes of television. She is cofounder and executive director of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, an international organization of twenty thousand authors and illustrators of children's books.CHAPTER ONE   “Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy!” I yelled at the top of my lungs. “The pizza’s here!”   “How do you know?” my best friend Frankie Townsend asked. “I didn’t hear the doorbell ring.”   “My nose knows,” I told him. “I can sniff out pepperoni a mile away.”   It was Friday pizza night. Frankie and my other best friend, Ashley Wong, and I were sitting in my living room playing this card game we made up called Florida Coconuts. I’d explain the rules to you, but they don’t make any sense, even to us. It involves dropping a deck of cards on the loser’s head, instead of a real coconut, which would leave a lump.   I got up and ran to the front door. Our dog, Cheerio, followed me. He can sniff out pepperoni a mile away, too. I taught him that. My mom was there balancing a huge pizza box in her hands. My younger sister, Emily, was next to her, holding a paper bag that smelled like Italian salad and garlic rolls. Standing next to her was a tall girl wearing a white chef’s hat.   “Mom, I’ve never been so glad to see you in my whole life!” I said. “Emily, I’m not that happy to see you. And you with the crazy hat, I have no idea who you are.”   “Hank,” my mom said, coming into our apartment. “This is your cousin Judith Ann. Remember, I told you she was coming in from Chicago to spend the weekend with us. We’re hosting her while her parents are away at a business conference.”   “Whoops,” I answered. “That must have slipped right through my brain and out my left ear. Or maybe it was my right ear. But who cares when there’s pizza involved?”   I reached out and took the box from my mom’s hands and headed for the dining-room table.   My dad brought plates and a big roll of paper towels from the kitchen. It was going to be our usual Friday pizza feast and movie night.   “Dig in, Judith Ann,” I called to her. “Take off your crazy hat and grab a slice while it’s hot.”   Judith Ann walked over to the dining-room table and stared at our pizza.   “No thanks,” she said. “I don’t eat that type of pizza.”   “Oh,” my dad said. “Are you allergic to wheat?”   “No,” Judith Ann said. “But I only like pizza I make myself, with goat cheese and artichokes.”   “Judith Ann is quite an excellent cook,” my mom explained. “In fact, in case you have forgotten,” she said, looking straight at me, “the reason she’s spending the weekend with us is that she’s competing in the Junior Chef Cook-Off.”   “Oh, that explains the crazy hat,” I said. “But I’ve got to tell you, Judy, you’re missing out on one delicious pizza here. We ordered triple cheese with pepperoni.”   “No one calls me Judy,” she said without cracking a smile. “My full name is Judith Ann. Just like your full name is Henry—which is what I’m going to call you.”   “You can do that,” I said with my mouth full. “But I won’t answer.”   Ashley and Frankie burst out laughing, shooting some pretty powerful garlic breath into the air.   “He’s been ‘Hank’ since we were in preschool,” Frankie told her.   “He’s definitely not a ‘Henry’ type,” Ashley added. “Henrys have gray hair and are math teachers.”   “Yeah.” I laughed. “I can’t even subtract, so you better stick with Hank. Tell me, Judy . . . I mean Judith . . . I mean Judith Ann. What’s your favorite thing to cook, aside from weird pizza?”   “Well, for the Junior Chef Cook-Off this weekend, I’ll be preparing my special vegetarian meatballs.”   “Wait a minute.” I stopped eating and scratched my head. “What makes it a meatball if there’s no meat? I mean, if there’s no meat, then it’s just a ball.”   Frankie and Ashley cracked up again. Judith Ann was not amused.   “My vegetarian meatballs are made of chopped eggplant, carrots, mushrooms, white beans, and of course, bread crumbs.”   “Oh, they sound . . . so . . . um . . . interesting,” Ashley said.   “And round,” Frankie added.   Judith Ann seemed pleased. “I got the idea from watching my favorite TV show, Country Cooking for the City. They were making vegetarian hot dogs.”   The idea of a hot dog made of mushed-up cauliflower almost made me gag. So I decided it’d be best to just eat some pepperoni pizza and talk about TV shows.   “Wait a minute—on all of TV, that’s your favorite show?” I said to Judith Ann, taking a bite of my new slice of pizza. “My favorite is Zombats. It’s about these really scary zombie bats. You’d love it.”   “I don’t really like hairy rodents,” Judith Ann said. “Besides, I only watch cooking shows on TV.”   “Too bad,” I said. “Just like this pizza, you’re missing out.” I tried to offer Judith Ann a slice, one with a juicy piece of pepperoni right in the middle, but she just made a face.   “How about if I make you guys some real food?” Judith Ann said. “I need to practice for the contest anyway, and you can be my tasters. Maybe my cooking will take your taste buds on a new adventure.”   “Oh, that sounds like such fun, doesn’t it, kids?” my mom said with a little too much enthusiasm.   “Yeah, it really does,” Emily agreed.   “Emily, you have a chore to do first,” my dad said. “Katherine’s cage needs cleaning. When you have a pet, you have to take care of it.”   Cheerio wagged his tail and started chasing it. When he runs in a circle, he looks just like a Cheerio. That’s how he got his name.   “Oh, that’s right, Daddy,” Emily said. Then turning to Judith Ann, she added, “Katherine is my pet iguana. She’s really pretty. And she doesn’t like a pellet-poop buildup.”   For just a second, Judith Ann looked like she was going to throw up. But she recovered in time to squeak out, “I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re finished.”   Ashley and Frankie and I had been planning to watch The Swamp Monster for the fortieth time. But before I knew it, my mom had herded us into the kitchen to watch Judith Ann wash her eggplants and carrots and mushrooms.   So long, Swamp Monster. Good-bye, fun.   It was going to be a vegetarian meatball kind of night.; Title: You Can't Drink a Meatball Through a Straw #7 (Here's Hank) | [
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19,372 | 2 | Sue Bentley is the author of the bestselling sensations the Magic Kitten,Magic Puppy, Magic Ponies, and Magic Bunny series.; Title: Magic Ponies: Books 1-3 | [
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19,373 | 0 | Dori Hillestad Butler lives in the Seattle area in Washington.Aurore Damant lives in Paris, France.EXPANDWhen ghosts make themselves largerGLOWWhat ghosts do so humans can see themHAUNTWhere ghosts livePASS THROUGHWhen ghosts travel through walls, doors, and other solid objectsSHRINKWhen ghosts make themselves smallerSKIZZYWhen ghosts feel sick to their stomachsSOLIDSWhat ghosts call humansSPEWGhostly vomitSWIMWhen ghosts move freely through the airTRANSFORMATIONWhen a ghost takes a solid object and turns it into a ghostly objectWAILWhat ghosts do so humans can hear themKaz! Little John called from behind the wall of books. Kaz, youve got to see this!Kaz and Little John were brothers. Ghost brothers. They used to live in an old schoolhouse with the rest of their family. Now they lived in a library with their ghost dog, Cosmo, another ghost named Beckett, a solid girl named Claire, and Claires family.Claire could see the ghosts, but no one else could. Not unless the ghosts were glowing.Whats back there? Kaz called to Little John. He knew there was a secret room behind that wall. Beckett often went back there to get away from the solids. But Kaz had never passed through the wall himself.Come and see, Little John called back.In a minute, Kaz said.Little John poked his head through the wall of books. Why in a minute? he asked. Why not now?Beckett snorted. Because, Little John, your big brother is still scared to pass through a wall.I am not! Kaz protested. He had passed through walls four times already today. He was getting used to it. Sort of. I just want to wait for Claire. Otherwise she wont know where I went.I dont think Claire will be looking for you anytime soon, Beckett said.He was probably right. Claires parents had been away all week at a conference for private detectives. The family had some catching up to do.Fine, Kaz said. Ill show you Im not scared!Hooray! Little John cried. His face disappeared from the wall of books.Kazs heart went thumpety-thump. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and swam into the bookshelf. As the books, the shelf, and the back wall passed through his body, Kaz started to feel skizzy. He pumped his arms and kicked his legs harder and harder... until he finally felt himself floating freely in the air again.Little John giggled. Open your eyes, Kaz. Youre here!Woof! Woof! Cosmo barked cheerfully.Kaz opened one eye, then the other. I did it! he said with a short laugh. I passed all the way through to the secret room!Beckett drifted through the wall behind Kaz. I never wouldve believed it if I hadnt seen it with my own eyes, he said.Kaz was pretty amazed himself.See what I mean about this place? Little John said as he waved his hand around.The room was small. And dark. It didnt have any doors or windows. But the most interesting thing about it was that it was full of ghostly objects! A doll... several sets of keys... a catchers mitt... four balls... some socks... a strange-looking statue... two teddy bears... an old shoe... a yo-yo... some books... They all floated there in the air with Kaz, Little John, Beckett, and Cosmo.Where did all this stuff come from? Kaz gazed around the room in wonder.Different places, Beckett replied. A lot of it was here when I moved in. The rest was left by various ghosts who have come and gone.This looks fun, Little John said as he picked up a ghostly box. A little crank stuck through one of the sides.Little John turned the crank, and music began to play. All of a sudden, the top of the box opened and a clown popped up.Ahhh! Little John and Kaz shrieked.Beckett laughed. Are you scaredy-ghosts afraid of a little jack-in-the-box?No! Little John said, puffing up his chest. Im not afraid of anything!Cosmo swam over to Kaz and Little John with a ghostly shoe. There was something familiar about that shoe.Hey! Is this Kaz began.; Title: The Secret Room #5 (The Haunted Library) | [
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19,374 | 2 | Amy Acklesberg is the author of many books for children.; Title: Ella's Birthday Surprise (Ella the Elephant) | [
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19,375 | 1 | Irma Wilde (1907-1991) wrote and illustrated many picture books during the 1950s and 1960s. Many of her books were done in collaboration with her husband, illustrator George Wilde.; Title: The Christmas Puppy (G&D Vintage) | [
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19,376 | 2 | Gr 46Summer vacation is finally here, and Jake is looking forward to relaxing and sailing through the next three months. After his parents find out about his lucrative business idea of selling massive tires to devotees of "CrazyFit," an extreme exercise program, Jake is forced to enroll in Camp Wild Survival, a mash-up of Survivor and Man vs. Wild, hosted by TV personality Thunder Banks. Accompanied by his dad, his older sister, his best friend, and a group of rambunctious quadruplet neighbors, Jake learns that he can't do everything by himself and will need the help of his closest friends and family to survive the wilderness. This novel stands alone and will appeal to fans of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid." Spot illustrations and photographs appear throughout the text, adding touches of humor. Readers will eagerly anticipate further adventures in Jake's unusual yet fun world.New York Times Best Selling Kid Author Jake Marcionette Jake Marcionette is in ninth grade and lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with his family. His favorite sport is lacrosse. His first book, Just Jake #1, published in 2014 to great success featuring national and local televsions spots and a spot on the New York Times Middle Grade Bestseller List. He found his agent at the age of twelve by googling "how to publish a book" and cold-calling agents.; Title: Just Jake: Camp Wild Survival #3 | [
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19,377 | 2 | David Soman and Jacky Davis (www.ladybuggirl.com) live in Rosendale, New York. They are a husband-and-wife team, and the Ladybug Girl books are inspired by their daughter and son.; Title: I Love You, Bingo (Ladybug Girl) | [
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19,378 | 18 | Gail Herman has written several biographies, including Who Was Jackie Robinson?What Is the World Series?It was October 1, 1903, and the first World Series game was about to begin. Hours before the game, thousands of fans poured into the Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds in Boston. They came by foot, by horse and buggy, and by trolley car.By 2:00 p.m., all nine thousand seats were taken. Seven thousand more fans filed in, sitting on fences and standing behind ropes around the outfield. For this game, admission was double the usual cost: fifty cents for standing room and bleacher seats. One dollar for grandstand seats.Businessmen, students, factory workers. The rich and the poor. Fans from all backgrounds camewith one exception. African Americans were not welcome in the stands or on the field. (In fact, there would be no black players in Major League Baseball until 1947.)At 3:00 p.m., an announcer shouted out the lineup through a megaphone. The game pitted the Boston Americans against the Pittsburgh Pirates.In the first inning, Honus Wagner brought one of his Pirates teammates home with a line-drive single. It was the very first run scored in the very first World Series.Every October, the temperature drops. Leaves fall. Excitement fills the air for baseball fans. Its time for the World Seriesa once-a-year contest between the best of the Major Leaguesto name a championship team.But the World Series is more than a competition. Its an event with a capital E. During those autumn days, it captures the attention of the entire United States. Presidents throw out first pitches. Popular singers belt out the national anthem. In wartime, in peacetime, in good times and bad, the World Series celebrates a game that has become so popular, it is known as the national pastime.CHAPTER 1 In the BeginningSince the mid-1800s, the game of baseball has been played pretty much the way we know it today. However, until 1869, there were no professional teams with paid players. The Cincinnati Red Stockings were the first pro team. Others followed, and in time the teams joined leagues, which had rules, schedules, and player contracts.; Title: What Is the World Series? (What Was?) | [
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19,379 | 11 | Ashley Evanson lives in San Francisco with her husband and two children.; Title: San Francisco: A Book of Numbers (Hello, World) | [
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19,380 | 1 | Mary Batten is an award-winning writer for television, film, and publishing. Her many writing projects have taken her into tropical rainforests, astronomical observatories, scientific laboratories, and medical research centers. She lives in Virginia.; Title: Baby Orca | [
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19,381 | 0 | Nancy Krulik has written over one hundred books for children and young adults, including two New York TimesBest Sellers. Her very first story (in first grade) was about how she wanted to be Mary Poppins because she wanted to dance in the park with Bert and the penguins.CHAPTER ONESparky, sit. I dont know many two-leg words, but I do know that one. So I push my bottom down onto the cold snow. Good dog, Josh says. I smile. Those are two of my favorite two-leg words. Josh lowers his paw. Lie down. I drop down onto my belly. Josh flips his paw over. Roll over. I start to roll... Plunk! Something hard lands on my head. Ow! I bark. Plink. Theres another. Plunk. And another. Those hard things hurt. I look up. Two squirrels are sitting on a tree branch. They are staring down at me. Hee, hee, hee. And laughing. Whats so funny? I bark. Plink. Plunk. Plink. Plunk. The squirrels drop a whole bunch of hard round things on my head. Hee, hee, hee. Stop throwing the hard round things! I bark. Stop laughing! Plink. Plunk. Plink. Ow! Grrr. The squirrels are all the way up in the tree. I could stop them if I could reach them. So I jump high. My paws claw at the tree. Sparky, DOWN! Suddenly, I hear Josh. I know what down means. I stop jumping. Good dog, Josh says. Plink. Plunk. OW! I bark. I am so mad, I forget what Josh said. I jump up and scratch the tree again. Sparky. Stay! Josh says. I know what stay means. I stand very, very still. The squirrels get quiet. I think they are staying, too. Josh twirls his paw around in a circle. Twirl, he says. I stand on my hind legs and turn in a circle. The squirrels dont. They dont know what twirl means. Dogs are smarter than squirrels. Good dog. Josh pets me on the head. You want to do more tricks, Josh? I bark. I love doing tricks. They make Josh smile. But Josh doesnt want to do more tricks. He walks across the yard and opens the gate. I start to follow him. Sparky, stay! Josh says. I stay. Now I can hear Joshs big metal machine with the four round paws. At first the sound is loud. Then it gets softer and softer, until it sounds far away. Josh is gone. Im all alone. Plink. Plunk. Ouch! Well, not all alone. Those squirrels are still in the tree. Come down! I say. Play fair! I think the squirrels might understand, because they slide down the tree! Then they start to run. The squirrels want to play chase! Ready or not, here I come! I start to chase them through my snowy yard. The squirrels are fast. They climb onto the top of my fence. Then they leap over to the other side. I cant get them there. Our game is over. Now Im really alone in my yard, with nothing to do. Wait! There is something I can do. I can dig. I love digging. I run over to where Joshs flowers are when there isnt snow in our yard. And I begin to dig. Diggety, dig, dig. Lots of snow flies everywhere. Diggety, dig, dig. The dirt under the snow flies all around, too. I am digging a really big hole. Diggety, dig... WOW! Whats this? I found something buried deep in the dirt. Its a bone! A bright, sparkly, beautiful bone. Hello, bone! I bark. The bone doesnt answer. Bones cant bark. Sniffety, sniff, sniff. The bone smells so meaty. I just have to take a bite. Chomp. Wiggle, waggle, whew. I feel dizzylike my insides are spinning all aroundbut my outsides are standing still. Stars are twinkling in front of my eyeseven though its daytime! All around me I smell foodfried chicken, salmon, roast beef. But there isnt any food in sight. Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom!; Title: Broadway Doggie #10 (Magic Bone) | [
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19,382 | 0 | James Buckley has written more than 100 books for kids, including titles on space, sports, history, plus numerous biographies, including several in Penguins popular Who Was. . . ? series.; Title: Home Address: ISS: International Space Station (Smithsonian) | [
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19,383 | 11 | Ashley Evansonlives in San Francisco with her husband and two children.; Title: New York: A Book of Colors (Hello, World) | [
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19,384 | 15 | Chelsea Confalone has a PhD in biochemistry from UCLA, and Nick Confalone is a writer for film and television. They live in Los Angeles.; Title: Helicopters (Penguin Core Concepts) | [
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19,385 | 11 | Ellen Labrecque is a former Senior Editor for Sports Illustrated for Kids and the author of over twenty nonfiction books for young readers, including biographies of Jim Thorpe and Magic Johnson.Who Was Maya Angelou? January 20, 1993, was a sunny and crisp winter day in Washington, DC. Maya Angelou, a six-foot- tall, sixty-four-year-old African American woman, stood on the steps of the Capitol Building. She wore a black coat, bright red lipstick, and gold hoop earrings. It was the day that Americas forty-second president, William Jefferson Clinton, was taking office. Maya was about to read her poem On the Pulse of Morning in front of two hundred fifty thousand people. Millions more watched on their televisions at home. It had been thirty-two years since a poem had been read at a presidential inauguration. She was the first African American and the first woman ever to do so. Despite being a prizewinning writer, she felt nervous. I tried not to realize where I was, she said later. The crowd became silent and spellbound. She spoke powerfully in a deep voice that rose up and down like ocean waves as she read each line of her poem. The words called for peace and friendship between people around the world. It took her six minutes to read the entire poem. The last lines are: And say simply Very simply With hope Good morning. When Maya finished, the large crowd rose to its feet and broke into loud applause. President Clinton gave her a giant hug in thanks for her beautiful words. Maya Angelou was a world-famous poet and writer. She was also a teacher, a civil rights champion, and a singer and dancer. And when she spoke, she had a beautiful and strong voice that was uniquely Mayas. Through her ideas and words, Maya taught people to live with love and to treat one another with respect and kindness. Bringing joy to others, especially if they were down or sad, was very important. Try to be a rainbow in someones cloud, she said. Despite a tough childhood, Maya used her voice. She became a rainbow for the whole world to see.; Title: Who Was Maya Angelou? | [
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19,386 | 0 | Avery Reed works as a Teaching Artist at the Children's Museum of the Arts. She lives in New York City with her husband and always remembers Noah when she sees a rainbow.; Title: Noah's Ark (Penguin Young Readers, Level 2) | [
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19,387 | 2 | Mickie Matheis is a children's book author living in Ohio.; Title: The Butterfly Parade (Strawberry Shortcake) | [
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19,388 | 7 | Onk Beakman has devoted his life to chronicling the greatest adventures of the Skylanders. Though he was hatched on the icy wastes of Skylandss Frozen Desert, this book-loving penguin now lives in a shack on the beautiful sands of Blistering Beach with his two pet cucumbers.Chapter One: Professor Pucks Fantastic Fair Step right up, step right up! Professor Pucks Fantastic Fairy Fair is in town. You will be amazed! You will be astonished! You wont believe your eyes! Gurglefin the Gillman rubbed his webbed hands together with glee. Hed been waiting for this moment all year. Professor Pucks fair was famous throughout Skylands. Everyone knew about it. The crazy games, the fin-raising rides, the strange sights. And the delicious smells. Oh, the smells. Doughnuts, popcorn and pretzels, toffee apples, cotton candy and gingerbread. Just thinking about it made his mouth water. The only problem was choosing what to try first. Everywhere he turned, Gurglefin was presented with fresh treats and new opportunities for fun and excitement: Lights flashed, music played, and carnival folk called out, trying to entice him to their various stalls. Then something caught his eye. There, behind the spiral slide and the Hook-a-Chompy game, stood a small, modest-looking red tent with a hand-painted sign hung over its dark entrance: MADAME DESTINY: FORTUNES TOLD, FUTURES PREDICTED There, thought Gurglefin. Thats the place to start. Madame Destiny can tell me what Id enjoy most. He waddled over excitedly, coins ready to cross Madame Destinys hand. There she was, sitting at the mouth of the tent, hunched over a crystal ball. She was wearing a dark crimson scarf around her head and a pink sequined veil across her face. As he drew nearer, Gurglefin slowed. There was something sinisterbout theldoman. Somethingot quite right. Maybe it was her piercing red eyes or the stubby fingers she waved over the crystal. But, after coming this far, Gurglefin was in no mood to be a scaredy-catfish. This was just a harmless bit of fun, a harmless old woman. Nothing to be afraid of at all. He crept closer to the stall and cleared his throat. Um, h-hello? he croaked. Madame Destiny? The hag didnt look up. He tried again. Madame Destiny, I was wondering if you could What do you want? the woman snapped, throwing her arms around the crystal ball, as if trying to hide it from view. J-just to have my fortune told, stammered Gurglefin. And why should I do that? she shrieked. Um, because youre a fortune-teller? he suggested, holding out two coins with his shaking hand. The old woman growled, looked at the coins, and then looked at Gurglefin. Without warning, she shot out a hand, snatched the coins away, and snarled at the nervy Gillman. You want to know what the future holds? she barked, fixing him with a wicked glare. Gurglefin just nodded, wondering if he really did. Are you sure? she teased, her veil shifting as if she was smiling underneath. I g-guess so... Then I predict youll come to a STICKY END, Madame Destiny screamed. NOW SLING YER HOOK, FISHFACE! Gurglefin did just that. He quickly scampered out of the tent and into the crowd, not looking back. Madame Destiny had been so angry. But why? And what did she mean? A sticky end? He didnt like the sound of that. Gurglefin paused to catch his breath, his gills flapping and his heart racing. Perhaps coming to Professor Pucks Fantastic Fairy Fair hadnt been such a good idea after all. Then he smelled something that made him all but forget his horrible experience with the fortune-teller. Cotton candy! Gurglefin followed his nose until he found a robot producing stick after stick laden with wonderfully sweet-smelling cotton candy from a door in its chest. Hello, sir, the robot chirped happily. I am Sweet-O-Tron 3000. Can I help you? Cotton candy, please, Gurglefin said eagerly, pressing a coin into the robots outstretched metal hand. Certainly, sir, Sweet-O-Tron said, handing over the biggest stick of cotton candy Gurglefin had ever seen. You enjoy the rest of the fair. I will now, said Gurglefin, grabbing the stick and wandering away happily. Mmmmmmmm. This was the best cotton candy hed ever tried. It smelled fantastic, tasted even better, and sounded like... Hang on. It sounded like a clock. Since when did cotton candy tick? No, Gurglefin realized with a start. It sounds like a bomb! Oh my Cod! Gurglefin exclaimed, suddenly holding the treat at arms length. My cotton candy is going to explode! What was he saying? Of course it wasnt going to explode. It was cotton candy. Ticking cotton candy, yes, but candy doesnt generally explode in your face. Does it? Gurglefin laughed at his own panic. What a silly sardine he was. Then he remembered Madame Destinys words: Youll come to a sticky end! Gurglefin screamed, and the cotton candy went bang in his face.; Title: The Mask of Power: Terrafin Battles the Boom Brothers #4 (Skylanders Universe) | [
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19,389 | 0 | Dori Hillestad Butler lives in the Seattle area in Washington.Aurore Damant lives in Paris, France.Chapter 1:Whats with Mom and Beckett? One... two... three... GLOW! Little John shouted. It was nighttime, and all the solid people who lived above the library were asleep. Kaz hovered in the library entryway with his mom, pops, and little brother. They were all glowing. Kaz scrunched up his face. He gritted his teeth. He squeezed his hands into tight fists. And he tried, tried, tried to glow like the rest of his family. But no matter what he did, no matter how hard he tried, Kaz couldnt glow. I know you can do this, Mom told Kaz as the glow faded from her body. Youve mastered all your other ghost skills, Pops said. It was true. Kaz could wail now. He could also pass through solid walls and pick up solid objects. He could even transform solid objects into ghostly objects. Back when he and his family lived in the old schoolhouse, Kaz couldnt do any of those things. He could only shrink and expand. So much had happened since then. Kaz remembered how he and his brothers used to swim around the old schoolhouse. His big brother, Finn, liked to scare Kaz and Little John by sticking an arm or a leg through the Outside wall. But one day Finn stuck his head a little too far through the wall, and the wind pulled him all the way into the Outside. Grandmom and Grandpop tried to rescue him, but they couldnt. The wind blew them all away. After that, Mom and Pops tried even harder to teach Kaz his ghost skills. But before Kaz had learned any new skills, the old schoolhouse was torn down. Kaz and the rest of his family ended up in the Outside, and they all got separated in the wind. The wind blew Kaz to the library, where he met Beckett, the other ghost who lived there, and Claire. Claire was a solid girl, just Kazs age. She could see ghosts when they werent glowing, and she could hear ghosts when they werent wailing. No one knew why. Claire and Kaz started a detective agency to solve ghostly mysteries and try to find Kazs missing family. Theyd found Kazs parents last week. Now Finn was the only one left to find. Kaz was worried hed never see Finn again. Its getting light outside, Pops said now. It wont be long before Claire wakes up. Try again, son. This time dont squeeze your hands together, Mom suggested. And dont grit your teeth. Its hard to glow when youre all tensed up. Let the glow flow through your skin. I dont know what that means, Kaz said. You dont know what what means? Beckett asked as he wafted into the entryway. Oh! he said when he saw Kazs mom. Im sorry. I didnt know you were in here. Its okay, Mom said tightly. Now she was the one who was all tensed up. Kaz and Little John had hardly seen Beckett since their parents had come to the library. For some reason, Beckett and Mom didnt like to be around each other. Were trying to teach Kaz how to glow, Little John told Beckett. Maybe you can help? Beckett shook his head. I dont think so. He turned to leave. Why not? Kaz asked. Before Kazs parents had arrived, Beckett used to work with Kaz on his ghost skills all the time. But Beckett wafted away without answering. Kaz turned to his mom. Why dont you and Beckett like each other? he asked. What are you talking about? Mom asked, not quite meeting Kazs gaze. Beckett and I like each other just fine. It doesnt seem like it, Little John said. You never want to be in the same room together, Kaz pointed out. How do you two know each other, anyway? Pops asked. Mom shrugged like it was no big deal. We spent some time together when we were kids. And... ? Little John waved his hand for Mom to go on. And nothing, Mom said. It was a long time ago. Kaz could tell there was more to the story than that. What would it take to get Mom or Beckett to tell the rest of the story? ***************** Are you ghosts ready to go to Valley View? Claire asked later that afternoon. It was Sunday and she had promised to take Kaz, Little John, and their parents to visit Grandmom and Grandpop at the nursing home. Mom and Pops hadnt seen Grandmom and Grandpop in so long. Woof! Woof! Cosmo barked. Okay, Cosmo, Kaz said, grabbing his dog around the middle. You can come, too. The whole family shrank down... down... down... and swam into Claires water bottle. It was a tight squeeze. Claire flung the strap from the bottle over her shoulder and called to her family, Im going to visit people at Valley View! Thats nice, honey, Grandma Karen called back. Be back in time for dinner. Claire walked down the street, her water bottle swinging over her shoulder. She stopped for a red light near the fire station. Hey, remember when we got to see the fire trucks, Kaz? Little John asked, glancing over at the fire station. Unfortunately, the big fire doors were closed, so Little John couldnt see the trucks inside. Yes, Kaz said. I also remember that you got lost inside one of those trucks for a while. You did? Moms eyebrows shot up. I wasnt really lost, Little John said. I knew where I was. Yeah, but I didnt know where you were, Kaz said. Just like when we were looking for the five oclock ghost and you went inside that house and didnt come out. That was the first case Little John had helped Kaz and Claire solve. Its good that you thought I was lost that day because that made you pass through the wall to come find me, Little John said. Kaz couldnt argue with that. For a long time, he didnt like passing through walls. It made him feel all skizzy inside. But the more Kaz did it, the easier it got. It sounds like you boys have had a lot of adventures since weve been apart, Mom said as Claire turned onto Forest Street. We have, Kaz agreed. He turned all around inside Claires water bottle. In fact, this is where I first saw Cosmo. Claire and I were inside that house over there. He pointed. The lady who lives there thought she had a ghost in her attic, so she hired us to come find it. I looked out her window and thats when I saw Cosmo. He was right here. Right where we are now. Except he wasnt in a water bottle. He was just floating around in the Outside. Woof! Woof! Cosmo barked, his tail wagging. I think he remembers! Little John said. How did you ever catch him? Mom asked. But before Kaz could answer, a voice yelled from the window next door, Hey! Hey, you! Youre that girl who solves ghostly mysteries, arent you? Come here! Ive got a case for you.; Title: The Hide-and-Seek Ghost #8 (The Haunted Library) | [
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19,390 | 2 | Loren Long is a Midwesterner - he grew up in Missouri and attended the University of Kentucky in Lexington. After graduating with a BA in Graphic Design/Studio Art, he pursued graduate-level studies at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. He and his wife, Tracy, have two sons. You can find him at www.lorenlong.com.; Title: Let's Doodle, Otis! | [
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19,391 | 11 | Gail Hermanhas written several biographies for young readers, including Who Is Wayne Gretzky?, Who Was Davy Crockett? and Who Was Jackie Robinson?Who Is Derek Jeter? On April 2, 1996, Major League Baseballs Opening Day, the New York Yankees faced the Cleveland Indians. Once, the Yankees had been the top ball club in the country. They were a dynasty, with World Series titles. But the Yankees hadnt won a championship in eighteen years. They hadnt won the American League pennant since 1981. Maybe this would be the start of a championship season at last. Today they were playing at Clevelands Jacobs Field, and the score was tied, 00, in the top of the second. The Yankees had two men on base. New York fans grew excited. But now there were two outs. Could theYankees still score? Twenty-one-year-old Derek Jeterstepped to the plate. And he... struck out. Derek was the first Yankees rookie to start at shortstop on Opening Day in more than thirty years. Why Derek? some fans wondered. Why now? Hed had a poor spring training. They doubted his strength at bat and on the field. It seemed they might be right. Derek told himself it was okay. This was just a game like any other. He tried not to be nervous. But it was hard. He was young and inexperienced. An April Fools snowstorm had pushed the game back a day. The wait made it even harder. ButDerek was determined to make a difference. In the fifth inning, he got a second chance at bat. Derek took two pitches,both balls. Then he saw ahigh fastball. He swung. Crack! The ball sailedhigh into the left-field stands. A home run! Two innings later, Derek made anover-the-shoulder, one-handed catch. He stranded a man on base to leave the Indians scoreless. The Yankees wound up winning 71. Any doubts about Derek Jeter vanished. For the Yankees, it was the start of a championship season. And for Derek Jeter, it was the start of an amazing major league career. By the time Derek retired, he had won five World Series titles, five Gold Gloves, five Silver Sluggers, Rookie of the Year, and a slew of other awards. Hed been a Yankee for almost half his life. And before he was a Yankee, he was a Yankees fan. Surely the biggest Yankees fan from Kalamazoo, Michigan.; Title: Who Is Derek Jeter? (Who Was?) | [
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19,392 | 1 | Benjamin Brewster was one of several pseudonyms used by the historical researcher, writer, and anthropologist Franklin Folsom (1907-1995). He wrote many picture books as Benjamin Brewster, including both fiction and nonfiction.; Title: The Baby Elephant (G&D Vintage) | [
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19,393 | 1 | Irma Wilde (1907-1991) wrote and illustrated many picture books during the 1950s and 1960s. Many of her books were done in collaboration with her husband, illustrator George Wilde.; Title: Mr. Wishing Went Fishing (G&D Vintage) | [
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19,394 | 0 | Nancy Krulik has written over one hundred books for children and young adults, including two New York Times Best Sellers. Her very first story (in first grade) was about how she wanted to be Mary Poppins because she wanted to dance in the park with Bert and the penguins. Follow Nancy on Twitter at @NancykrulikSebastien Braun studied fine and applied arts at Strasbourg University. He began his career teaching art, but when he moved to London in 2000, he started to illustrate children's books and has been working on picture books ever since.CHAPTER 1 Ive got it! Ive got it! I bark excitedly. Im chasing after a ball in the air. My paws speed up. Now I am running. Fast. Faster. Fastest. My eyes are following the ball as it soars above me. Im gonna catch you! I bark to the ball. Plop. The ball hits the ground. The ball was too fast for me... this time. But Ill get it next time! I scoop up the ball in my mouth and bring it back to my two-leg, Josh. Now we can play again. I love when Josh brings me to the park. Its bigger than our yard. Theres much more room to run. Heres the ball! I bark. Throw it again! Ill catch it this time. Suddenly, I hear puppies talking. Lots of them. Look at me! one squeals. No, look at me! yips another. I can roll in the grass, a third puppy barks. Im hungry, whines the littlest one. There are four puppies playing by a tree. A bigger dog is standing nearby with her two-leg. Wiggle, waggle, weird. All those puppies look alike. Ive never seen four friends who look so much like one another. Those puppies are having fun rolling around in the grass. I want to play, too! Can I play? I bark to the puppies. Before they can answer me, Josh snaps my leash around my neck. He starts to lead me out of the park. I dont want to go! I bark to Josh. I want to play with the other puppies. But Josh keeps leading me out of the park. He doesnt understand what I am saying. Thats because Josh doesnt speak dog. And I dont speak two-leg. I will have to show him that I dont want to leave. I flop down on my belly. I dig my paws into the ground. Im not leaving. Josh gives me a funny look. I give him a funny look back. Then he gives me another funny look. I like this game! Suddenly, Josh drops my leash. He starts to walk away. Uh-oh! Is Josh leaving me here? Dont leave me, Josh! I bark. Then I run to him. Josh smiles. He takes my leash. And we go home together. ********************** When we get to our house, Josh puts me in the yard. Then he closes the gate and leaves me all alone. Boo! Vroom. Vroom. Thats the sound of Joshs big metal machine with the four round paws going away. I wonder where Josh is going. I bet its somewhere fun. No fair! I want to go somewhere fun, too! Hey. Wait a minute. I can go somewhere fun. And I dont need a metal machine to do it. I run over to the part of my yard where the flowers grow, and I start diggety, dig, digging. Im a great digger. Diggety, dig, dig. Dirt flies everywhere. The hole gets bigger and bigger. And then... there it is! My beautiful, sparkly white bone. Just where I buried it. Hello, bone! I bark. My bone doesnt answer. Thats because bones cant bark. Not even a special bone like this one. My bone isnt just any bone. Its a magic bone. It takes me places. All I have to do is take a bite andkaboomoff I go! The first time I took a trip with my magic bone, I went to London, England. London had yummy food like fish and chips. But London also had a scary place called the pound. I got thrown in there, and it was no fun at all. There were some mean dogs in the pound. Another time, my magic bone took me to Paris, France, where I got to dance in paint and eat yummy treats called croissants. Then there was the day my bone kaboomed me to New York City. It was really crowded there. And they have mean pigeons who try to steal your food. But I got to eat a New York hot dogwhich is actually not a dog at all. Sniff... sniff... sniff. My bone smells so meaty. I just have to take a bite. CHOMP! Wiggle, waggle, whew. I feel dizzylike my insides are spinning all aroundbut my outsides are standing still. Stars are twinkling in front of my eyeseven though its daytime! All around me I smell foodfried chicken, salmon, roast beef. But there isnt any food in sight. Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom!; Title: Never Box with a Kangaroo #11 (Magic Bone) | [
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19,395 | 13 | Pamela Pollack and Meg Belviso are authors of several books in this series, including Who Is George Lucas?, Who Was Alfred Hitchcock?, and Who Was Susan B. Anthony?Who Were the Three Stooges? On September 28, 1934, a new film premiered at the Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles. It was only eighteen minutes longshort enough to be shown before the main feature. The movie was called Men in Black and it had three unusual stars. Their names were Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Curly Howard. Together they were called the Three Stooges. They were a strange-looking trio. Moe had straight black hair that sat like an upside-down bowl on top of his head. Larrys frizzy hair stuck out on all sides. Curly had a head like a cue ballhe had no hair at all! Moe had a tough face like a gangster that he scrunched up when he made a fist and barked things like, Why, I oughta... Larry jumped whenever he was frightened. Curly ran around in circlessometimes even while lying on the floor, like a human pinwheel. He made funny soundsNyuk nyuk nyuk! and Woo woo woo woo! When he spoke he had a high, squeaky voice. Soitenly! Curly said in his thick Brooklyn accent when he was sure about something. Im just a victim of soi-cumstance! he said when he wasnt. In the movie, Moe, Larry, and Curly played doctorsbut they didnt cure many patients. They rode bicycles, horses, and tiny cars through the halls of the hospital. They broke windows and knocked people over the head with mallets. Mostly they fought with one another. Why, I oughta... ! Moe growled before slapping Curly on the head and poking him in the eye. Larry shrieked as Moe pulled him by the hair. Nyuk nyuk nyuk! Curly said. Then he ran down the hall, hooting, Woo woo woo woo woo woo woo! None of the Three Stooges were hurt in their fights. It was all part of their comedy act. The three men would do anything for a laugh. And the audience loved it. Men in Black was the official movie debut of the Three Stooges. But the three men had known one another for years. Curly was Moes little brother. Larry was practically part of the family, too. They would go through good times and bad in their lives, but they always stuck together. They were closer than brothersthey were Stooges! Chapter 1: A Brooklyn Beginning In 1897, Brooklyn, New York, was a city full of immigrantspeople who had come from other countries to make a new life in America. Jennie and Solomon Horwitz had traveled by boat from Lithuania to New York City. When Sol wasnt working in a clothing factory, he spent as much time as he could at the local synagogue, studying the Jewish holy books and praying. Jennie was a woman ahead of her time. She made most of the money for the family, renting out rooms and later becoming a successful real estate agent. When Moses Harry Horwitz was born on June 19, 1897, he already had three older brothers: Irving, Benjamin (known as Jack), and Sam. Sam, who was two years older than Moses, was always known as Shemp because of the way his mother pronounced his name in her Lithuanian accent. Moses quickly became known as Moe. Jack and Irving were well-behaved children. Shemp was the clown of the family. In school he was always getting in trouble for making funny faces and drawing pictures. His mother was constantly getting called to the school to talk to Shemps teachers about his behavior. She spent so much time there that when Shemp graduated from sixth grade, the principal announced (as he gave Shemp his diploma) that This young man did not graduate... his mother did. Shemps little brother Moe had his own problems in school: bullies. As a little boy Moe had long hair that fell in fat curls to his shoulders. His mother loved getting up early to curl his hair for school. The other kids thought Moes hair made him look funny. Both boys and girls teased him. Not a day went by when he didnt get into a fight. Even the principal called him the student with the beautiful hair. Moe never told his mother about the fights. He knew how much she loved his hair, and he loved her. On October 22, 1903, when Moe was six, Jennie had another son. His name was Jerome. Moe nicknamed him Babe. Shemp and Moe were thrilled to have a new brother. Not long after he was born, they took him out for a walk in his baby carriage. To make the ride more fun for the new baby, they took the carriage to the top of a hill and prepared to let it go down at full speed. Luckily, their parents arrived just in time to stop the wild ride. At school, Moe was still fighting off bullies on his own. One day when he was eleven, a boy began to pick on him. Another boy jumped in and punched the bully in the nose. He made him apologize to Moe. After school Moe went over to his new friends house. The boys bedroom was full of pictures of boxers and boxing equipment. Moe looked at himself in the mirror. His new friend looked like an ordinary boy. But Moe still had long curls. At that moment Moe made a decision. He picked up a pair of scissors from the dresser. With his eyes closed, he clipped off his curls one by one. When he opened his eyes again the curls were lying on the floor. Moes hair was flat against his head, the ends crudely chopped. He wasnt going to be bullied anymore.; Title: Who Were The Three Stooges? (Who Was?) | [
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19,396 | 11 | Roberta Edwards has written several books for young readers. She lives in New York, New York. Where Is the Parthenon?   Imagine going back in time 2,500 years to the city of Athens in ancient Greece. It is just about sunrise. You and your parents leave your small mud-brick house and join a large parade of people climbing up a steep hill that rises from the center of the city. Men and women—as well as you and the other young children—are wearing capes over loose, white tunics called chitons (say: ky-tuns). Wearing light clothing helps everyone stay cool in the heat of the sun.   Where is everyone going?   They are heading to a temple that stands on top of the hill. It is made of white marble with a ring of forty columns going around all four sides. It is called the Parthenon (say: PAR-thuh-nahn). Everyone has come here to worship the goddess Athena. The Parthenon is the goddess’s special temple.   Your family follows the parade to the front of the Parthenon. The temple is decorated with brightly painted sculptures made by the most famous artists. The outside of the temple is grand and beautiful. Still, it does not compare with what you will see inside.   You and your family pass through the columns and enter a dark room. You gaze up. Towering above you is a statue of mighty Athena. The “skin” on her face is made of ivory, and her robes are covered in sheets of real gold—more than two thousand pounds of it. The goddess of war is dressed for battle. She wears a helmet, and armor over her chest. With her shield and spear, she is ready to fight against the enemies of Athens. She is a giant. She is almost forty feet tall! What harm can possibly come to your city when mighty Athena is protecting it?   Now jump ahead to modern times. You are in Athens again, on the same sunny hilltop, standing among a crowd of people snapping photos in front of the same temple.   What do you see now?   Actually, it is easier to list all the things you don’t see. The paint on the temple is gone. The roof is gone. So are many of the columns and most of the sculptures on the outside of the temple. As for the giant statue of Athena, there is no trace of it or the room in which the statue stood.   For hundreds of years the Parthenon has been in ruins. Still, it remains one of the most famous places in the world. As famous as the Great Pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China.   In the case of the Parthenon, it is not size that makes it so special. It is because of its beauty. Each year, throngs of tourists climb up the hill and, under the blazing Greek sun, walk around the remains of the temple. Even as a ruin, it is unforgettable.   So what happened to the Parthenon? Why was this world-famous landmark almost destroyed? And who was to blame?; Title: Where Is the Parthenon? | [
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19,397 | 0 | Bonnie Bader has written several Penguin Young Readers. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.From the Trade Paperback edition.; Title: Hedge-Hedgey-Hedgehogs (Penguin Young Readers, Level 2) | [
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19,398 | 0 | Giada De Laurentiis was born in Rome and grew up in a big Italian family. They spent a lot of time together in the kitchen, which is where Giada discovered her love of cooking! Later, she honed her skills at Le Cordon Bleu, a very cool cooking school in Paris, France. Many puff pastries and a graduation later, Giada began working in a fab restaurant called Spago in Los Angeles. Shortly after, she founded her very own catering company. She is now the Emmy Award-winning star of Food Network's Everyday Italian, Giada's Weekend Getaways, Giada in Paradise, and Giada at Home, as well as the author of seven cookbooks.She lives in sunny Los Angeles. Giada loves the colors "pesto-green" and "eggplant-purple," and Nutella pancakes are her favorite treat to share with her daughter, Jade.Chapter 1 Alfie and Emilia stood in the middle of the kitchen. Emilia had her hands on her hips, and Alfie had his arms crossed over his chest. They scowled at each other. The overflowing trash can sat on the floor between them. Its your turn! Emilia cried. Alfie shook his head. No, its not! They stared each other down. Well, Im not doing it, Emilia finally said. Neither am I, Alfie replied. Alfredo! Emilia shouted, using Alfies full name. Dad appeared in the doorway. Quietare! he said in Italian. Quiet down. Whats all the shouting about? Its Alfies turn to take out the garbage, and he wont do it, Emilia said. I did it last week! Alfie cried. No, you didnt! Emilia stomped her foot. Enough! Dad held up his hands between them. Whats gotten into you two lately? You cant seem to get along for more than ten minutes at a time. Alfie and Emilia were silent as they stared at the floor. Alfie, pick up the bag. Emilia, go open the garbage can in the garage. You can do it together, Dad said. Alfie was about to protest again when he saw the serious look on Dads face. Dad was not messing around. Alfie sighed, picked up the bag, and followed Emilia into the garage. I know it was your turn, Emilia whispered as she lifted the lid on the bin. Youre just being a baby. Alfie rolled his eyes. Emilia could be such a know-it-all, especially now that shed turned thirteen. She was only a year and a few months older than Alfie, but she liked to remind him of that fact every chance she got. Alfie and Emilia stomped back through the kitchen and stood in the doorway to the family room. Dad had his back to them and was talking to their great-aunt Donatella. Maybe this is a bad weekend for us to go on our trip, Dad was saying. Those two just cant seem to get along lately. Nonsenso! Nonsense! Zia Donatella replied, sweeping aside her long salt-and-pepper hair. You and Arianna have waited ages to have a weekend away. You deserve it. We have been looking forward to it... , Dad said. Well be fine here, Zia continued. Dont you worry about a thing. All right, well stick to our plan. Dad picked up his briefcase. Well, Id better get to work. See you tonight. Arrivederci! Zia called before turning to see Alfie and Emilia sulking in the doorway. Do you think we can all get along this weekend? Zia asked. Alfie and Emilia nodded. Good. Now, anything you want to do while your parents are away? I want to play video games and maybe watch a movie! Alfie said. And were going to cook, right? Of course! Zia said. Zia was an incredible cook, and ever since shed come to stay with the Bertolizzi family, shed taught Alfie and Emilia some amazing recipes shed learned from her travels around the world. Emilia made her way over to the sofa and flopped down. I have a history presentation I need to get started on, she said, giving Alfie a look like she was being more responsible than he was. That should be fun. Zia perched on the arm of the sofa next to Emilia. Everybody knew that Emilia loved history. It was her favorite subject. Alfie, on the other hand, could never get enough of geography. His bedroom walls were plastered with maps of all kinds. And he was forever looking at maps onlineeverything from world maps to city mapseven climate maps! My presentation has to be on the history of a specific city or state, Emilia continued. I just cant decide which to focus on! Well, youve got plenty of options, Alfie replied, smiling at Zia. He thought about all the places theyd visited and experiences theyd had thanks to Zias magical recipes. You could talk about any of the cities weve gone to. I know, Emilia replied. I just cant decide if I should present somewhere weve already been or somewhere new we might go! Zia nodded. Thats a tough decision. Not to me! Alfie said. Id definitely give a talk about somewhere weve been. Thats much easier. You could talk about the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, or the Eiffel Tower in Paris! Just then Mom walked down the stairs. Whos going to the Eiffel Tower? she asked. Alfie looked at Zia, who busied herself picking lint off the arm of the sofa. Mom and Dad didnt know about any of Alfie and Emilias adventures. It was their and Zias little secret. Uh, no one, Emilia replied. We were just talking about my history presentation. Oh, I just love Paris! Mom gushed. Eating fresh croissants every morning and going to all those sidewalk cafs... And the markets! Alfie chimed in; then his eyes widened as he realized what hed said. I mean, you know... I remember how Zia was telling us about the markets... Mom nodded, but looked a little confused. Well, Zia said, straightening the brightly colored stone necklace she always wore, arent you two going to be late for school? Mom glanced at the clock on the mantel. Oh, goodness! It is late. Grab your stuff, kids. Weve gotta go! Bye, Zia! Emilia said, giving her a quick hug. Bye! Alfie gave Zia a grateful smile before slinging his backpack over his shoulder. Zia winked. Have a good day, bambini! Chapter 2 The next morning, Alfie rubbed his eyes as he shuffled into the kitchen, ready for breakfast. Every Saturday morning, Zia, Mom, and Dad made breakfast together. What they made was always a surprise, and it was always deliciouswhether it was lemon-ricotta pancakes or breakfast burritos. But the kitchen was empty. Only silence filled the airnot a single mouthwatering food smell. Mom? Dad? Zia? Alfie called, confused. Nobody answered. Emilia burst through the kitchen door. Where is everyone? she asked. Whats for breakfast? I dont know, Alfie said. Im going to check the garage. Ill go, Emilia said, jostling toward the door. No, I got it! Alfie said, elbowing past Emilia. Alfie and Emilia pushed through the door at the same time and spilled into the garage. The garage door was open, and Dad and Zia were standing in the driveway packing the car. Mom hustled past them with another bag. Im ready! she sang. Youre leaving already? Alfie asked, stepping lightly across the concrete in his bare feet. We want to get an early start, champ, said Dad. Its a bit of a drive to the cabin. But we havent had breakfast together yet! Emilia said. Dont worry, Zia said. Well make breakfast as soon as they get on the road. Alfie looked at Mom and Dad. Dad whistled as he packed the car. Mom couldnt stop smiling. Well, have a good time, I guess, Alfie said. Mom swooped in and kissed Alfies forehead. We will! And you two be good for Zia. I dont want to hear about any more bickering, either, understood? Yes, Mom, Alfie and Emilia said together. Dad opened his wallet and pulled out what Alfie thought were several twenty-dollar bills. Heres a little something extra for the weekend, he told them. In case you guys want to take Zia out for a treat or something. Then he handed the cash to Alfie. Alfie grinned and put the money in the pocket of his pajama pants. Thanks, Dad! Emilia glared at Alfie for pocketing the money, but then managed a smile. Yeah, thanks, Dad. Be good, Dad said, looking them both in the eyes. We will, they responded together. Zia put her arms around Alfies and Emilias shoulders as they watched the car back down the driveway. Dad honked the horn, and Mom waved before they pulled away. Now, lets go see about that breakfast, shall we? Zia asked. Back in the kitchen, Zia whipped up omelets with cheddar cheese and mushrooms while Emilia cut up some fresh fruit, and Alfie set the table. Breakfast was quieter than usual with Mom and Dad gone. They ate their food mostly in silence. Then Alfie flicked a piece of cantaloupe onto Emilias plate just to annoy her. It worked. Alfie, dont! Emilia said, breaking the silence. What? he replied with a sly smile. Zia stood up and sighed. I think Ill take care of the kitchen cleanup myself. Why dont the two of you spend some time on your own this morning? Away from each other. Emilia, you can get started on your history report, and Alfie, you can practice your drums. Okay, Zia, Emilia said. Alfie took his plate to the sink and then headed out to the garage to his drum set. The spring band concert had been two weeks ago, and Alfies drum solo had been a smashing success. Everybody told him how well he performed, and he knew his family was proud. Since the concert was over, Alfie didnt really have anything he needed to work on, but he always enjoyed playing. With all his practiceespecially thanks to performing at Carnival in Riohe was getting better and better. Alfie smiled, thinking of all the new friends hed made thanks to Zias adventures. He couldnt help but wonder when the next adventure might be.; Title: Hawaii! #6 (Recipe for Adventure) | [
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19,399 | 0 | Natasha Wing (www.natashawing.wordpress.com) lives in Fort Collins, Colorado. Her first book with Grosset, The Night Before Easter, was published in 1999, and since then she has created a best-selling series.Amy Wummer lives in Reading, Pennsylvania. A graduate of Kutztown University with a B.F.A. in Design, Amy has illustrated several books in the Night Before series, including The Night Before Preschool, The Night Before My Birthday, and The Night Before Hanukkah.; Title: The Night Before the Fourth of July | [
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