The author presents eight short stories about his mother and other family members as they grew up in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina.
Bubbling with beautiful princesses, dragon-slaying underdogs, and crafty tricksters, these Franco-American stories explore a heritage that has become known as "a quiet presence". Co-authors, Parent and Olivier recount the lutin's tricks on farmers, the Jack-like adventures of Ti-Jean, Pierre and his modern-day chainsaw, a beautiful princess conquering an evil witch, and family stories passed down from generation to generation. Meet Michael's grandfather, Honor Fournier, who spoiled his grandchildren with kindly generosity, and Alexis Lacasse, Julien's grandfather, who didn't let a prank stop him from arriving to dinner on time. Life in Franco-American families revolved around two entities: family and church. The authors address these two important aspects and how they have influenced their stories. Olivier and Parent inherited their families' love of stories and continue that legacy by sharing their ancestry and heritage in this charming book.
The fourteen personal stories in this delightful coming of age book apply universal elements with characters and situations that everyone will recognize so that only the names, places and times change from our own childhood stories.
Jim May writes the stories of his youth, growing up in the rural Midwest between the Truman and the JFK eras, where trading stories was as common as trading horses, and frequently required the same skills. Neighboring, as his mother called it, was part of the social fabric. These 18 poignant and humorous stories of life's joys and trials told with the freshness of youth, yet tempered with the wisdom of age evoke a simpler time in our nation's history without romanticizing the inherent hardships.
This collection of African-American folktales highlights the unbroken chain of a rich oral tradition. The stories share the richness and variety of a cultural heritage that has crossed the Atlantic, survived slavery, and triumphed over the ignorance of racism and bigotry.
Highly acclaimed, award winning author Donald Davis wants us all to remember and share our family stories. Among other tall tales, he writes about how his uncle hung onto the multitudinous Democratic votes of the Ratherton clan while at the very same time keeping them from shooting Davis' squirrels in a lean year; how he got Phyleete, wife Jolly, their eleven sub-natural sons and one forgettably natural daughter to move their log house from the unlikely place they'd built it; and how he tried to solve the problem of the chatty Misses Lena and Lucy Leatherwood, who clogged up the eight-party telephone line so badly that Uncle Frank paid for his new phone four months before he ever got the chance to talk on it. Davis offers seventeen vintage family stories, including Rainy Weather, The Southern Bells, and Old Man Hawkins' Lucky Day.
High John the Conqueror sometimes called simply High John or John was a slave trickster who always outwits Old Master. Much like Greek slave Aesop's animal characters, High John was the subject of a series of subversive narratives, whose mission was to outsmart his oppressors. Tall tales of High John's exploits flourished during slavery, but after emancipation they fell out of circulation and his antics were all but forgotten.
An examination of the differences in religious and political beliefs between Western nations and Islamic extremists, as well as the ways in which information is shared and manipulated.
A compelling look at the Mongols, including how they built the most widespread empire in history, their lifestyle, their weapons, and how they remain a part of today's culture through books and film.
A compelling look at the Vikings, including the ways they terrorized western Europe, their lifestyle, their weapons, and how they remain a part of today's culture through books and film.
Combining evocative haiku, informative text and luminous illustrations, Great Lakes and Rugged Ground is a celebration, for our youngest readers, of more than four hundred years of Ontario's history. Each detail-rich illustration depicts a particular moment in the province's dynamic saga from first European contact, the War of 1812, the building of the railroad and the Rideau Canal, the early development of the industries that have made the province the backbone of the national economy, through the emergence of a unique Canadian cultural identity, the hardships of two World Wars and modern industrial development.
Combining evocative haiku, informative text and luminous illustrations, The West Is Calling is a celebration of one hundred and fifty years of British Columbia's history. Each detail-rich illustration depicts a particular moment in the province's dynamic saga, from pre-contact Haida culture to the natural resources-fueled economic boom in the 1960s and beyond, to Expo 86, to the opening up of the North and the growing appreciation of First Nations' traditions.
In this title, examine the life of accomplished physics researcher and experimentalist Chien-Shiung Wu. Readers will enjoy digging into Wu's personal story, beginning with her childhood in China where her father encouraged her curiosity and interest in science. Students can trace Wu's success from her education at the University of California-Berkeley, where she met physics giants Oppenheimer, Fermi, and Segre, to her secret involvement with the Manhattan Project and her tenure as a researcher and professor at Columbia University. Engaging text and photos offer insight on topics such as nuclear physics, beta decay, and the law of parity. While a timeline, glossary, and index supplement the text, an entertaining science activity allows readers their own hands-on experience based on the science that inspired this woman's groundbreaking career.
In this title, examine the life of imaginative biotechnology inventor and health care pioneer Hayat Sindi. Readers will enjoy digging into Sindi's personal story, beginning with her childhood in Saudi Arabia and her innocent lie to leave and study science and medicine in London. Students can trace Sindi's success, from her education at King's College to her innovations at Cambridge University, Harvard University, and Diagnostics for All. Engaging text and photos offer insight on topics such as how biotechnology can be used for environmental and health care applications. While a timeline, glossary, and index supplement the text, an entertaining science activity allows readers their own hands-on experience based on the science that inspired this woman's groundbreaking career.
In this title, examine the life of adventurous cloud explorer and weather pioneer Joanne Simpson. Readers will enjoy digging into Simpson's personal story, beginning with her childhood flying planes out of Boston and sailing boats at Cape Cod. Students can trace Simpson's success, from her education at the University of Chicago and research at Woods Hole to her work on Project Stormfury with the National Weather Bureau and the development of the TRMM satellite with NASA. Engaging text and photos offer insight on meteorology topics such as cloud formation, hurricanes, tropical rainfall, and more. While a timeline, glossary, and index supplement the text, an entertaining science activity allows readers their own hands-on experience based on the science that inspired this woman's groundbreaking career.
In this title, examine the life of imaginative space traveler and medical innovator Mae Jemison. Readers will enjoy digging into Jemison's personal story, beginning with her childhood in Chicago where she watched Star Trek and conducted dozens of her own science experiments. Students can trace Jemison's success, from her education at Stanford University and Cornell University to her years volunteering with the Peace Corps, before her acceptance into the NASA space program and flight into space on the Endeavour. Engaging text and photos offer insight on topics such as astronomy, gravity, and biomedical engineering. While a timeline, glossary, and index supplement the text, an entertaining science activity allows readers their own hands-on experience based on the science that inspired this woman's groundbreaking career.
In this title, examine the life of dedicated children's doctor and public health servant Antonia Novello. Readers will enjoy digging into Novello's personal story, beginning with her childhood in Puerto Rico where she found inspiration in her own childhood illness to become a doctor. Students can trace Novello's success from her education at the University of Puerto Rico Medical School to her work with the National Institutes of Health, her tenure as US Surgeon General, and her service as commissioner of the New York State Department of Health. Engaging text and photos offer insight on health concerns relating to children, women, ethnic groups, and poor communities. While a timeline, glossary, and index supplement the text, an entertaining science activity allows readers their own hands-on experience based on the science that inspired this woman's groundbreaking career.
Explore diverse landscapes, travel back in time, and discover unique populations, all without leaving your chair! Start your international tour in China, land of the Forbidden City, the Yangtze River, the Great Wall of China, more than 1 billion people, and so much more. This colorful, informative book introduces China's history, geography, culture, climate, government, economy, and other significant features. Sidebars, maps, fact pages, a glossary, a timeline, historic images and full-color photos, and well-placed graphs and charts enhance this engaging title.
Explore diverse landscapes, travel back in time, and discover unique populations, all without leaving your chair! Start your international tour in Brazil, land of the Amazon River, coffee, Carnaval, and so much more. This colorful, informative book introduces Brazil's history, geography, culture, climate, government, economy, and other significant features. Sidebars, maps, fact pages, a glossary, a timeline, historic images and full-color photos, and well-placed graphs and charts enhance this engaging title.
Explore diverse landscapes, travel back in time, and discover unique populations, all without leaving your chair! Start your international tour in Egypt, land of the Sphinx, the ancient city of Alexandria, the Nile River, the Aswan High Dam, and so much more. This colorful, informative book introduces Egypt's history, geography, culture, climate, government, economy, and other significant features. Sidebars, maps, fact pages, a glossary, a timeline, historic images and full-color photos, and well-placed graphs and charts enhance this engaging title.
Explore diverse landscapes, travel back in time, and discover unique populations, all without leaving your chair! Start your international tour in Germany, land of the Bavarian Alps, Neuschwanstein Castle, the Rhine River, Bach, Beethoven, and so much more. This colorful, informative book introduces Germany's history, geography, culture, climate, government, economy, and other significant features. Sidebars, maps, fact pages, a glossary, a timeline, historic images and full-color photos, and well-placed graphs and charts enhance this engaging title.
Explore diverse landscapes, travel back in time, and discover unique populations, all without leaving your chair! Start your international tour in France, land of the Eiffel tower, the Palace of Versailles, the Loire valley, world-famous cuisine, and so much more. This colorful, informative book introduces France's history, geography, culture, climate, government, economy, and other significant features. Sidebars, maps, fact pages, a glossary, a timeline, historic images and full-color photos, and well-placed graphs and charts enhance this engaging title.
Explore diverse landscapes, travel back in time, and discover unique populations, all without leaving your chair! Start your international tour in Italy, land of the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Pompeii, the Matterhorn, dozens of World Heritage sites, world-famous cuisine, and so much more. This colorful, informative book introduces Italy's history, geography, culture, climate, government, economy, and other significant features. Sidebars, maps, fact pages, a glossary, a timeline, historic images and full-color photos, and well-placed graphs and charts enhance this engaging title.
Explore diverse landscapes, travel back in time, and discover unique populations, all without leaving your chair! Start your international tour in Japan, land of Mount Fuji, Shinto shrines, anime, technological innovation, and so much more. This colorful, informative book introduces Japan's history, geography, culture, climate, government, economy, and other significant features. Sidebars, maps, fact pages, a glossary, a timeline, historic images and full-color photos, and well-placed graphs and charts enhance this engaging title.
Explore diverse landscapes, travel back in time, and discover unique populations, all without leaving your chair! Start your international tour in Mexico, land of the National Palace, Aztec temples, Mayan architecture, Frida Kahlo, piñatas, and so much more. This colorful, informative book introduces Mexico's history, geography, culture, climate, government, economy, and other significant features. Sidebars, maps, fact pages, a glossary, a timeline, historic images and full-color photos, and well-placed graphs and charts enhance this engaging title.
