Florence Price (1887–1953), an American composer and pianist, was a trailblazer as the first African-American woman to gain recognition in classical music. Her compositions, blending traditional Western styles with African-American influences, include symphonies, chamber works, and the acclaimed Symphony No. 1. Price's legacy continues to inspire diversity in classical music.
George Frideric Handel (1685–1759), a German-born Baroque composer, achieved international acclaim for his operas, oratorios, and instrumental compositions. Notable works include "Messiah" and "Water Music." Handel's profound impact on English Baroque music and his ability to evoke emotion through grand and dramatic compositions solidify his legacy as a musical giant.
Clara Schumann (1819–1896), a German pianist and composer, was a prominent figure in the Romantic era. Renowned for her exceptional piano skills, she also composed notable works. Clara, married to composer Robert Schumann, had a successful solo career and is recognized for her significant contributions to 19th-century music.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893), a Russian composer, created some of the most beloved classical music of the Romantic era. Renowned for masterpieces like "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker," he skillfully blended Russian and Western influences. Tchaikovsky's emotionally charged compositions such as the “1812 Overture” continue to captivate audiences worldwide.
Frederic Chopin (1810–1849), a Polish-French composer and pianist of the Romantic era. Renowned for his emotive and expressive piano compositions, such as the Nocturnes and the Revolutionary Étude. Chopin's innovative approach to melody and musical form left an indelible mark, making him an influential figure in 19th-century classical music.
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) was a German Baroque composer and musician. Admired for his intricate and expressive compositions, he crafted masterpieces such as the Brandenburg Concertos and the Mass in B Minor. Bach's legacy endures as one of the greatest composers, influencing generations with his exceptional contributions to classical music.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791), an Austrian composer, prodigy, and prolific musical genius of the Classical era. Known for his timeless operas, symphonies, and chamber music, including "The Magic Flute" and "Don Giovanni." Mozart's unparalleled talent and versatility left an enduring impact on Western classical music.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827), a German composer and pianist, bridged the Classical and Romantic eras. Known for his emotionally charged and groundbreaking compositions, including the Ninth Symphony and "Moonlight Sonata." Beethoven overcame deafness to create some of the most influential and best-loved works in the history of Western classical music.
Fred, Luisa, and Drake are selected to write the school’s winter pageant, and Fred is excited, though quickly realizes that writing a play is harder than he thought. Luckily, Luisa’s famous uncle, Juan Pierre Reyes, a Broadway director, arrives to help. After some brainstorming, Fred comes up with the idea for the What-If Winter Wonderfest. The power of imagination transforms their play into a chaotic yet fun adventure, bringing to life characters like Frankinschool, Princesa Luisa, Drakeula, and Frank, the school’s resident ghost. Together, they explore the secrets of peace, light, and wonder during the festive winter season.
In Where Are the Women? New York City Girl Scouts discover Central Park lacks statues of women. They unite, raise funds, and persuade the city to erect the first female monument. Read about the four-year journey celebrating their impactful perseverance.
The Manatees, led by new captain Luis, find joy this baseball season. Embracing teamwork, they welcome troubled players Ty and Savannah for a second chance. Can they all work together to beat the league's best, the Dragons?
Emma is eager to see her friends Lily and Amelia when third grade begins. But her friends’ interests have changed: Lily became a ballerina, Amelia lost interest in science. And, as third grade unfolds more differences among them are revealed.
Fred’s emotions have gone to the dogs! In Book Three of the Frankinschool Mysteries, readers set off with Frankinschool through secret passageways and grand rooms of a mansion-turned-library. Along the way, they learn about managing expectations, anger, and friendships, and discover that sometimes going-to-the-dogs is a very good thing.
Fred and Luisa find themselves in trouble once again when the new student mixes up recipes at their class’s bakery field trip leading to snakes running amok. While the students scramble out of the school in fear, Fred and Luisa suspect their old friend Frank is behind the Great Cupsnake Escape. Once again they put their creativity, their cooperation, and their courage to the test—but will it be enough to save the school from the snakes?
Even though her family calls her Emma Bemma, Emma knows she is really just a dilEmma because she is just medium. That’s because she’s the middle kid between her two brothers, who everyone calls Big and Little. Big thinks he's the coolest kid on the planet now that he's 10. That means he doesn’t want to play with LEGOs, or play anything with Emma anymore. And everyone thinks Little is just adorable even when he picks his nose and eats it! Ugh! What’s a middle child to do? What if she could get out of being the middle by taking on a new role? What if she acted BIG? Or even bigger than that? Will things go as planned? Or will she have another huge dilemma?
When three soldiers leave the battle to hide in a field, a dragon rescues them. But Dragon offers them safety only if they serve him for seven years. To be set free they must answer a riddle. Will the soldiers gain their freedom or will they be servants of the Dragon forever? This is a grim retelling of “The Devil and His Grandmother” an 1800’s English tale adapted by Brothers Grimm.
While Fred is out sick, a visiting author signs Fred's book "To Frank". When Fred's desk-mate Luisa suggests Fred must really be Frank in school, this sparks an idea for Fred's creative writing assignment. Fred's What-If poem is coming together wonderfully, until--a mist fills the room and the writing assignment come to life. Suddenly Fred--now Frankinschool--and Luisa--now Princessa Luisa--need to save the school from the mysterious potion--and the even more mysterious and devious ghost living in the school attic.
Often thought to be a fairy tale from India about the practice of arranged marriage, this creepy retelling of “The Snake Prince” highlights the dangers of jealousy and greed.
It’s Spring Break and the gang is presented with a mysterious new riddle that will challenge their mathematics skills and senses. What is the perplexing, suspended ring that oscillates? Jesse and her pals must work together to find out!
It’s a beautiful day in Deanville and the gang is presented with a new challenge. How will the kids solve this difficult new task? And how does a Greek mathematician play an important role in the solution? Think like an engineer and work alongside Jesse and pals to figure it out!
When Jesse stops by The Curiosity Shop she uncovers an old painting in a dusty antique steamer trunk. But what happens later that night when she is startled by a creepy eyeball? Find out how Professor Peach helps Jesse use art skills to uncover the mystery!
A summer trip to her grandparents’ house was going great until Jesse gets caught up in a mystery in the attic. When she encounters a pair of spooky green eyes during a lightning storm, Jesse sets out to use engineering skills to solve the Case of the Clicking Clock.
It’s a breezy new day and along with a tempest in a chocolate milk glass, Jesse’s presented with a messy new mystery when Dorky Dougy loses his lunch while spinning on the merry-go-round. The big question is, why did the ballistic barf fling outwardly, as Dougy spun? Learn all about these centrifugal and centripetal forces that make up the vomit vortex!
It’s springtime again in Deanville and everything is in full bloom—including some microscopic nuisances that put a damper on outdoor activities. What could it be? Help Jesse use science skills to figure it out!
During the Middle Ages, your position in life was based on birth. This position would follow you throughout your life. To make it easy for others to know your social class, rules about what you could wear—or not wear—were created. Such rules, called sumptuary laws, determined colors of clothing, types of fabric and trims, length of garments, types of sleeves, and types of furs. The laws also regulated shoe lengths and height, hat height, types of buttons, and even the number of buttons you could wear. People were to dress according to the class in which they were born. In this way, just by looking at someone, you could tell if they were important or not.
