History, Biographies, Social Studies

When Portuguese sailor Ferdinand Magellan set sail from Spain in 1519, he believed he could get to the Spice Islands by sailing west through or around the New World. He was right, but what he didn't know was that the treacherous voyage would take him...

Did you know that John Adams had to coax Thomas Jefferson into writing the Declaration of Independence? The shy Virginia statesman refused at first, but then went on to author one of our nation's most important and inspiring documents. The third U.S...

Ada Ríos grew up in a small, poor town in Paraguay that was built on a landfill. Most inhabitants eked out a living by digging through the trash to find things to recyclable things to sell. One day, her grandmother saw a sign that changed Ada's life. ...

Told from the perspective of his daughter, the life of renowned Mexican artist Diego Rivera is described and presented along with his most influential works and stunning family photographs. This bilingual book will teach about the life and legacy of one...

This book introduce readers to the inventions, art, and life of the original Renaissance man--Leonardo da Vinci. A timeline is included at the end of the book for quick reference.

During a visit to the Smithsonian Museum Lucy dreams she is Andrew Russell, the photographer who documented the inaugural voyage of the first transcontinental railroad. The illustrations and engaging text teach children how this amazing feat was...

Everyone has heard of Albert Einstein, but what exactly did he do? How much do kids really know about him besides the funny hair and genius label? For instance, do they know that he was expelled from school as a child? Finally, here's the story of Albert...

After the tragic events of 9/11, a seven-and-a-half ton steel beam from one of the World Trade Towers was given to the U.S. Navy. It was sent to a foundry in Louisiana and eventually became the bow of the USS New York. Readers of all ages will be moved...

This inspiring photo essay shows the difficult journeys many children around the world have to undertake on a daily basis just to get to school. Each picture is a testament to the importance of education.

José Martí was barely 16 years old when he began to fight for the independence of his homeland through his writing. At 17, he was declared an enemy of Spain and sentenced to six years of prison and hard labor. That did not stop him. Martí dedicated his...

Every kid has heard of Harry Houdini, the famous magician who could escape from handcuffs, jail cells, and locked trunks. But do they know that the ever-ambitious and adventurous Houdini was also a famous movie star and the first pilot to fly a plane in...

Rosa Parks was an amazing woman. She stood up for herself and for her beliefs. One day, Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man on a bus. Her actions helped spark the civil rights movement. Today, people have more freedom in America because of...

This book introduces young children to the life and presidency of Barack Obama.

Martin Luther King, Jr. grew up knowing that there needed to be a change in the way that African Americans were treated. In this biography, readers will learn about his inspirational life as he fought for equality and desegregation for African Americans...

The years between World War I and World War II were years of change and reform. This enlightening discusses some of the most prominent events during this time, including the Harlem Renaissance, a rise in new literature and entertainment, suffrage, the...

Readers will learn all about the United States' westward expansion in this interesting book that uses appealing images, helpful maps, and supportive text to keep children engaged from beginning to end! The captivating facts will have readers excited and...

Readers will learn about the events that led up to the Declaration of Independence, including unfair taxation from King George III and the Boston Tea Party. The vivid images, engaging sidebars, and supportive text explain what roles John Adams, Benjamin...

Readers will learn about the three branches of government--executive, legislative, and judicial--as well as the way each of those branches works to keep order and the various aspects including Congress, the Supreme Court, the House of Representatives and...

Born a slave in Maryland, Harriet Tubman knew first-hand what it meant to be someone's property. It was from other field hands that she first heard about the Underground Railroad, which she traveled by herself north to Philadelphia. Throughout her long...

Amelia Earhart was a woman of many 'firsts.' In 1932, she became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1935, she also became the first woman to fly across the Pacific. From her early years to her mysterious 1937 disappearance while...

A quiet, shy, and humble little girl grew up to become a VERY important writer. How important was she? She was the first Latin American writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, the most prestigious award given to writers in the world!

This book introduces readers to the lives of José Martí, Frida Kahlo, and César Chávez.

Immigrants from all over Europe flocked to America in the 1800s, bringing their hopes and their dreams with them. This fascinating book allows readers to discover topics such as Ellis Island, Angel Island, and assimilation. The influx of immigrants...

With its stunning facts, images, supportive text, and a helpful glossary, this book allows readers to learn about some of the most notable aspects of slavery in America, including slave auctions and masters, abolitionists, the Underground Railroad, Dred...

Simón Bolívar is known as El Libertador because he freed an enormous territory--an area that today is shared by six South American countries--from the yoke of the Spanish Empire. Come meet him in the pages of this book.

During a field trip to the Smithsonian Museum, a little girl named Emma envisions herself escaping to freedom on the Underground Railroad. The expressive illustrations will enable readers to picture themselves as participants in arduous journey.

During a visit to the Smithsonian Museum, Kevin dreams he is Warren Upson, known as Boston, who was the greatest rider in the history of the Pony Express. Kevin's vivid imagination takes him on a perilous ride to California to deliver the sad news that...

Georgina Lázaro presents the life of Rubén Darío, father of Modernism, in the award-winning series Cuando los grandes eran pequeños.

Ben Franklin was the scientist who, with the help of a kite, discovered that lightning is electricity. He was also a statesman, an inventor, a printer, and an author--a man of such amazingly varied talents that some people claimed he had magical powers!...

This book explains the life and times of King Tut, covering the story of his tomb's discovery, as well as myths and so-called mummy curses.

Children will be encouraged to tell a story about their own family as they move through this charming book about a woman and her family. It features numerous photographs of a family, interesting text, and a helpful table of contents, glossary, and...

What makes Abigail Adams such an amazing American? Young readers will find out in this intriguing biography.

It is important for us to remember the events of the past. One way to preserve our history is by building landmarks. Visiting these places and learning about them helps us appreciate our past and guides our future. Colorful images, supporting text, a...

As young boys, Orville and Wilbur Wright loved all things mechanical. As young men, they gained invaluable skills essential for their success by working with printing presses, bicycles, motors, and any sort of machinery they could get their hands on. ...

In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. This seemingly small act triggered civil rights protests across America and earned Rosa Parks the title 'Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.'

As a child he dreamt of changing South Africa; as a man he changed the world. Nelson Mandela spent his life battling apartheid and championing a peaceful revolution. He spent 27 years in prison and emerged as the inspiring leader of the new South...

Born in Warsaw, Poland, on November 7, 1867, Marie Curie was forbidden to attend the male-only University of Warsaw, so she enrolled at the Sorbonne in Paris to study physics and mathematics. There she met a professor named Pierre Curie, and the two soon...

If not for a stint in reform school, young Louis Armstrong might never have become a musician. It was a teacher at the Colored Waifs' Home who gave him a cornet, promoted him to band leader, and saw talent in the tough kid from the even tougher New...

Born a humble girl in what is now Albania, Agnes Bojaxhiu lived a charitable life. She pledged herself to a religious order at the age of 18 and chose the name Sister Teresa, after the patron saint of missionaries. While teaching in India, where famine...

In 1775, Paul Revere of Boston made his now-famous horseback ride warning colonists of an impending attack by the British. This event went largely unnoticed in history until Longfellow celebrated it in a poem in 1861. So who was Paul Revere? In addition...