Synopsis: I was the 35th President of the United States. I am John F. Kennedy. When I was young, people called me courageous and competitive. I used those qualities to serve as a commander in the U.S. Navy. The leadership skills I learned in combat helped earn me a place first as a congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives, and later as a U.S. senator-but that was just the beginning. I became another kind of commander, the commander in chief of…

Synopsis: IN THEIR OWN WORDS: POCAHONTAS tells the exciting story of the life of this famous Native American woman, using the journals and writings of English colonists. Famous for saving the life of Capt. John Smith in 1608, Pocahontas grew up as the favorite daughter of the Native American chief of the Powhatans. Pocahontas's rescue of Smith made her famous not only in colonial America, but across the ocean in England as well. Pocahontas made enormous…

Synopsis: Ten true stories of real-life civil rights heroes! Sixteen-year-old protest leader Rodney Hurst can't comprehend what's unfolding in front of him: Hundreds of hate-filled men brandishing ax handles and baseball bats are attacking any black person in their path. Hundreds of black teens in another peaceful march find themselves blasted by powerful fire hoses. The students lock arms with each other and try desperately to hold their ground.…

Synopsis: One if by land! Too many tombstones! Four funny friends! Spooky old places! Lots of clues and it's a race to the finish! When their schoolteacher cousin disappears in the middle of running the Boston Marathon, four kids wind their way through the perilous maze of Boston streets along the Freedom Trail to discover what happened! Take your mark and race with Christina, Grant and their cousins - Derian and C.F. - as they try to track down the…

Synopsis: Critically acclaimed author Kimberley Griffiths Little weaves a haunting story of friendship and family and the power of faith, once again set against the lush backdrop of the Lousiana bayou. After her mother walked out on Shelby Jayne and her dad, Shelby thought she'd never speak to her mamma again. But with her dad leaving the country for work, it turns out she doesn't have a choice: Shelby has to move back into her mamma's house, deep in the…

Synopsis: According to a Chinese myth, four animals helped create the universe. This ancient story joins nine other descriptions of Chinese life and culture—from the five tones of the Chinese musical scale to the seven zones of vegetation found in China. Jim Haskins's simple text and Dennis Hockerman's stunning illustrations give children an opportunity to get to know their neighbors across the Pacific.

Synopsis: Rascal is only a baby when young Sterling brings him home. He and the mischievous raccoon are best friends for a perfect year of adventure-until the spring day when everything suddenly changes.

Synopsis: As the recent deaths of sixteen Sherpas underscore, climbing Mount Everest remains a daunting challenge. Located in the Himalayas, Everest is the highest mountain in the world at a whopping 29,028 feet. In this compelling narrative, Nico Medina guides readers through the mountain’s ancient beginnings, first human settlers, historic climbs, and the modern commercialization of mountain-climbing. With stories of expeditions gone wrong and…

Synopsis: A young girl's courage is tested in this haunting, wordless story. When a farm girl discovers a runaway slave hiding in the barn, she is at once startled and frightened. But the stranger's fearful eyes weigh upon her conscience, and she must make a difficult choice. Will she have the courage to help him? Unspoken gifts of humanity unite the girl and the runaway as they each face a journey: one following the North Star, the other following her…

Synopsis: When his brother uses him as a boomerang on a beach near the Great Barrier Reef, the wind takes Flat Stanley halfway across Australia to the Outback.

Synopsis: A simple, graceful text and illustrations infused with warmth and love make this story of a day a boy and his dad spend together a special reading experience. Young boys and their fathers will relish this book that celebrates the ordinary things dads and kids can do together. Full color.

Synopsis: Ruby is unlike most little girls in old China. Instead of aspiring to get married, Ruby is determined to attend university when she grows up, just like the boys in her family. Based upon the inspirational story of the author's grandmother and accompanied by richly detailed illustrations, Ruby's Wish is an engaging portrait of a young girl who strives for more and a family who rewards her hard work and courage.

Synopsis: Provides an introduction to Ellis Island, including its history as the first federal immigration station, as part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, as a museum, and its importance as a symbol of the United States.

Synopsis: Provides a brief description of what Cinco de Mayo is, how it started, and ways people celebrate this cultural holiday.

Synopsis: Ever since the morning Molly woke up to find that her parents hadvanished, her life has become filled with terrible questions. Where have her parents gone? Who is this spooky old man who's taken her to live with him, claiming to be her great-uncle? Why does he never eat, and why does he lock her in her room at night? What are her dreams of the Skeleton Man trying to tell her? There's one thing Molly does know. She needs to find some answers…

Synopsis: Born in California in 1912, Julia Child enlisted in the Army and met her future husband, Paul, during World War II. She discovered her love of French food while stationed in Paris and enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu cooking school after her service. Child knew that Americans would love French food as much as she did, so she wrote Mastering the Art of French Cooking in 1961. The book was a success and the public wanted more. America fell in love with…

Synopsis: From Anishinabe artists making birch bark bowls to Zuni elders saying prayers for the day that is done, the diversity of Native American cultures is simply presented in this unique alphabet book. Striking full-color paintings depict Native Americans living in harmony with their environment.

Synopsis: Based on a true story, this beginning reader is the tale of a boy who wants to tell stories, just like his grandfather. But first he needs to visit a very special place where he can get lots of good ideas--the library. Full color.

Synopsis: Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. won the world heavyweight championship at the age of 22, the same year he joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. He would go on to become the first and only three-time (in succession) World Heavyweight Champion. Nicknamed “The Greatest,” Ali was as well known for his unique boxing style, consisting of the Ali Shuffle and the rope-a-dope, as he was for the catchphrase “float like a butterfly,…

Synopsis: Grandma Poss uses her best bush magic to make Hush invisible. But when Hush longs to be able to see herself again, the two possums must make their way across Australia to find the magic food that will make Hush visible once more. "Another treat from Mem Fox that is sure to be treasured. The whimsical illustrations are a wonderful complement."--Children's Book Review Service