Originally built in 1921 to race in the ocean, a sailboat named Bernida captures the attention and heart of a Michigan sailor. He buys the boat and brings her to the Bayview Yacht Club in Detroit. In 1925 the sailor enters Bernida in the very first Port Huron to Mackinac Island Race.
Walter the ferry dog loved to greet cars as they came on board each morning. Fetching the captain's newspaper and tasting the cook's bacon were Walter's other important jobs. Cupcake the Cat was just about the only thing Walter disliked about being a ferry dog. One rainy day the waves were rough and no one was paying much attention to Walter. Even worse, Cupcake was poking him with her paw and playing tricks as Walter was being blamed. He decided it was time to leave the ferry! Once on land he ran, and ran, and ran. Soon the day darkened, and Walter was lost and exhausted. Wondering who would do his jobs on the ferry, he felt a familiar poke from a familiar paw. Would Cupcake help him get back to ferry where he belonged?
Could Henry Ford have taken his idea for an automobile assembly line from the elves at the North Pole? Maybe so. Set just before Christmas in 1908, this charming tale finds Henry Ford puzzling over a way to make his Model T affordable for the average family. His little son Edsel suggests that Daddy write to Santa for advice. Since Santa makes toys for millions of children, Edsel points out, he must know a better way. Henry writes the letter just to please his son, but Santa actually answers by taking Henry to visit his North Pole workshop. When he sees the elves working in a line, each completing just one specific task on every toy that's made, Henry Ford envisions an automobile assembly line. The story not only illustrates that children can teach adults how to dream, but it also provides an author's note with factual information about Henry Ford and the Model T.
In 1932, Akron, Ohio was no better off than other parts of the country. Since Black Tuesday in '29, companies are closed, men all over the state are out of work, and families are running out of hope. Thirteen-year-old Rudy wants to help but doesn't know where to turn. His father, sullen and withdrawn, spends his time sulking on their front porch. His mother is desperate, not knowing how she will feed and care for her family. When Rudy learns of other boys leaving town and heading west to seek their fortunes, he hops a train figuring at least there will be one less mouth to feed at home. As Rudy lives the hobo life while he "rides the rails" to California, young readers are given a snapshot view and testament of Depression-era America.
Leaving port from Superior, Wisconsin on a sunny November day, the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald is looking forward to a routine crossing of deep Lake Superior. Heading for a port in Cleveland, the giant transport ship is loaded with ore that will be used to build cars. But disaster is building in the wind as a gale storm begins to track after the great ship. This suspenseful retelling of the last hours of the doomed vessel pays homage to all sailors who traverse deep waters, in fair skies and foul. Atmospheric paintings from award-winning artist Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen bring the story to life.
Set in the late 1950s, this is the moving story of a young boy whose father operates a ferryboat between Michigan's Upper and Lower peninsulas. As young Mark witnesses the building of the new Mackinac Bridge, he is torn between family loyalty and eager anticipation. He can't help being awestruck by the majesty of the five-mile-long bridge that will connect the two peninsulas and change the lives of so many. But the Mighty Mac will also put Mark's father out of business. As his father struggles with the flow of progress, Mark dreams of future bridges he will build. Details of the complex construction of the bridge will fascinate children as they learn an important part of America's history and come to understand the meaning of change. The Mackinac Bridge Authority provides history notes at the back of the book.
Herbie and his siblings have fun with their imaginations while on their grandparents' boat.
Herbie Bear imagines piloting a plane while on a family vacation.
Herbie Bear and his grandpa build a race car together. The project stirs Herbie's imagination and helps him to learn a lesson in bravery.
Big machines used in this book to explore force and motion. Important science words like push, pull, machines, and force highlighted in sidebars throughout.
How do you get from one place to the next? Learn how to read a map!
Young readers will explore which modes of transportation move people, and which ones move goods and provide services.
When the children on the bus get a substitute driver who they think has too many rules, they quickly learn that following rules isn't a bad idea as they get caught in a storm and Mr. Goldfluss keeps them safe until the storm passes.
These machines are very important in keeping a farm running smoothly. A tractor pulls other machines through the field. Plow through this book as a tractor pulls a plow, a planter, or a mower. Blastoff! Series
Did you know that some big trucks have 18 wheels? All different kinds of trucks travel the roads daily. Young readers will learn about pickup trucks, big rigs, and monster trucks in this simple introduction. Blastoff! Series
All aboard! There are all different kinds of trains that accomplish various tasks. Speed along with a bullet train, go underground with a subway train, or hop aboard a freight train as it transports goods. Blastoff! Series
A monster truck rolls over a car and crunches it under its huge wheels. Monster trucks are giant pickup trucks that can race around a track. Kids will roar with excitement as monster trucks dominate this books pages. Blastoff! Series
Rising high into the sky, cranes are the tallest machines on a construction site. They lift and move equipment from one part of the site to another. This book explains how these tall machines help build bridges, skyscrapers, and other structures. Blastoff! Series
These huge machines travel on the ocean and have many different uses. A ship has a huge engine and sometimes uses sails. Join the captain of a cargo ship, a supertanker, or a cruise ship, and sail the seas! Blastoff! Series
Why do police cars patrol the streets? Police cars help police officers fight crime and stop people from driving dangerously. Get a look into these cars and the equipment police use inside them. Blastoff! Series
A new road needs to be built, but first a grader must flatten the dirt underneath. A grader uses a blade to push the dirt down and prepare the way for a new road. Students will discover other jobs this powerful machine performs in this early introduction. Blastoff! Series
These important machines make sure people can still use the roads in wintertime. They clear snow so that cars can drive. Discover the different parts of a snowplow and how they make the roads safe in winter. Blastoff! Series
Wave down a taxi and catch a ride! These helpful cars take people where they need to go. Beginning readers will learn how to catch a taxi, how taxis work, and where taxis can take people. Blastoff! Series
This flying machine has the unique ability to hover in one place in the sky. It can be used for many tasks such as putting out fires or accomplishing rescue missions. Read all about how this amazing machine works. Blastoff! Series
Diggers come in all sizes and can dig very deep holes. The biggest digger weighs more than one million pounds! Find out how the different parts of this machine work together to dig into the ground. Blastoff! Series
