Synopsis: What would you do with a billion dollars? This question gets a definitive answer from billionaire Richard Branson: do everything! Born into a wealthy family in London, Branson suffered from dyslexia and was a poor student. Still, his knack for business started early with a successful parakeet-breeding enterprise at age 11.The charismatic entrepreneur launched his first major business, Virgin Records, at age 22 and spent the next few decades…

Synopsis: Thomas Edison was born in 1847, in a time without phonographs, moving pictures, or reliable electric light bulbs…because he hadn’t invented them yet!From his early beginnings in Ohioto his legendary lab in Menlo Park, the childhood and life of Thomas Edison are illuminated in this narrative biography.

Synopsis: A legend in his time! Tiger Woods has been a fixture in the world of golf since playing in his first professional tournament in 1992 at the age of 16. Since then he was won 37 tournaments, including all four majors. On April 8, 2001, at the age of 25, Tiger won the Masters and in doing so became the only golfer in history to hold all four major professional golf championship titles simultaneously.

Synopsis: The life of George Washington is introduced in this early reader biography. After General Washington led the American colonists to victory in the Revolutionary War, everyone thought he should become the first president of the United States. Washington would turn out to be a strong leader and a wise president. Beginning readers will learn about the milestones in George Washington’s life in this Level Two I Can Read biography, which combines a…

Synopsis: In 1894, Laura Ingalls Wilder, her husband, Almanzo, and their daughter, Rose, packed their belongings into their covered wagon and set out on a journey from De Smet, South Dakota, to Mansfield, Missouri. They heard that the soil there was rich and the crops were bountiful -- it was even called "the Land of the Big Red Apple." With hopes of beginning a new life, the Wilders made their way to the Ozarks of Missouri.During their journey, Laura…

Synopsis: When Mary McLeod was a girl in rural South Carolina, no school would accept her as a student, because she was black. But one day, a woman from the city came to open a mission school. "It changed my life overnight," Mary later wrote. Her lifelong goal was to improve the quality of life for black Americans. In the face of constant opposition, she showed that change was possible. Book jacket.

Synopsis: Rosa Parks is best known for the day she refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus, sparking the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott. Yet there is much more to her story than this one act of defiance. In this straightforward, compelling autobiography, Rosa Parks talks candidly about the civil rights movement and her active role in it. Her dedication is inspiring; her story is unforgettable."The simplicity and candor of this courageous woman's…

Synopsis: When Laura Ingalls Wilder was a little girl in the late 1800's, her family moved nine times in three years. The Wilders faced great hardships on the prairie. The crops they planted were destroyed by grasshoppers. Brutal snowstorms brought them close to starvation. But for Laura, who was born with her father's pioneer spirit, home wasn't a house--it was being with Ma, Pa, Mary, and baby Carrie. At the age of 65 she put pen to paper and wrote…

Synopsis: Gripping and inspiring, these true stories of bravery, terror, and hope chronicle nine different children's experiences during the Holocaust.These are the true-life accounts of nine Jewish boys and girls whose lives spiraled into danger and fear as the Holocaust overtook Europe. In a time of great horror, these children each found a way to make it through the nightmare of war. Some made daring escapes into the unknown, others disguised their…

Synopsis: I created the Star Wars franchise. I am George Lucas. Learn all about this remarkable man, whose accomplishments are truly inspiring, in the continuation of the I AM series. I AM GEORGE LUCAS will follow one man's journey to become the most famous filmmaker in the world. Discover everything you wanted to know about this celebrated movie guru and creator of Star Wars. This book will feature a full-color illustrated cover, one-color illustrations…

Synopsis: Key Features Description When America was a brand new nation, great leaders were drafting important documents and setting up a unique system of government. We call these resourceful Americans the Founding Fathers. When America was a brand new nation, great leaders were drafting important documents and setting up a unique system of government. We call these resourceful Americans the Founding Fathers. Standards RI.3.4. Determine the meaning of…

Synopsis: I am the creator of Mickey Mouse. I am Walt Disney. As a child, I had a wild imagination and a great curiosity. As I grew up, I used those qualities to become a cartoonist. Eventually, I turned these drawings into films and began my own animation business. One of my characters, Mickey Mouse, became so popular that movie theaters sold out and I won an Academy Award. After pursuing a career as a film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor,…

Synopsis: Ten true stories of real-life survivors of the Titanic!Eleven-year-old Billy Carter kneels down on the slanting deck of the Titanic and hugs his beloved dog -- a tan and black Airedale. Can Billy save himself and his pet? Fifteen-year-old Edith Brown and her mother climb into Lifeboat 14. Edith begs her father to join them. Why won't he? Seventeen-year-old Jack Thayer looks over the side of the sinking Titanic and stares into the frigid sea.…

Synopsis: Ten true stories of real-life heroes during Hurricane Katrina!Donald Colletti and Jimmy Pitre are forced to flee their flooded houses as Hurricane Katrina devastates their beloved city of New Orleans. But rather than seek shelter, the two brave men put their lives on the line to rescue hundreds of their neighbors.As Coast Guard helicopter 6514 is buffeted by severe winds, rescue swimmer Laurence Nettles is lowered into the dangerous waters with…

Synopsis: Bestselling author Gloria Houston lovingly recounts the story of her great-aunt's quiet yet remarkable life. Born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains, Arizona spent her childhood dreaming of all the faraway places she would one day visit. Though she never did travel to those places, Arizona did become a teacher and helped generations of children craft their own dreams. Full color.

Synopsis: "Elizabeth Stanton's father wished that Lizzie had been a boy. That way people would have recognized her extraordinary talents and accomplishments. But Lizzie didn't want to be a boy. She just wanted girls to count as much as boys did. When she got older, Lizzie believed that women should have the same rights as men -- and that included voting! Lizzie wasn't about to stay home and do what was expected while men made all the decisions. She wasn't…

Synopsis: The life story of the Russian composer known for his musical innovations.

Synopsis: A fast-paced biography of Thomas Edison, the scientist who perfected the light bulb and propelled America into the twentieth century.

Synopsis: These books are without a doubt the definitive -- and most entertaining! -- biographies of artists for young readers. Author/artist Mike Venezia provides hilarious, cartoon-style illustrations to complement his easy-to-read text and full-color reproductions of the masters' artwork. Now printed in a dozen different languages worldwide, and with more than two million copies of the English editions sold, these books have helped countless children…

Synopsis: Take a peek into the childhood of Annie Oakley in this edition of one of the most popular educational series for children ever published.This installment of the Childhood of Famous Americans series gives young readers a look at the youth of one of the best-known markswoman in American history, Annie Oakley. Using simple language that is perfect for beginning readers, this lively and inspiring biography unveils the childhood behind the Wild West…