In the year 1070 While William the Conqueror (the newly-crowned King of England) was out on a hunting excursion, he discovered the perfect spot for a new castle. It was a locale perched high on a cliff that provided a terrific vantage point in all directions. Construction began and after 16 years, the first phase of Windsor Castle is a delightful home for the royal family and is the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world. Want to travel through the ages along the Merry Halls of Windsor? Step inside, kids; this tour is about ready to embark!
Angelina Jolie could have settled for becoming an Academy Award-winning actress. She could have been pleased enough portraying the villain-turned-heroine of Disney's smash film Maleficent. She could be quite happy being the mother of a large family she shares with her husband, actor Brad Pitt. But after a trip to Cambodia, Jolie was struck by the poverty she witnessed there, and decided to do something about it. For over a decade since, she has carried out dozens of field missions all around the globe. Jolie was named a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Goodwill Ambassador. She's funded schools, orphanages, and other centers dedicated to helping people in crisis. Discover how she encourages others to take action through web sites, newspaper ads, and charities, and see why this actor is even more magnificent than you might have imagined.
Mo'ne Davis did what most people thought couldn't be done. She dominated like no girl had done before, showing that girls could beat boys at their own Little League baseball game. At 13 years old, during a spectacular month in August 2014, Mo'ne became the most famous baseball player in the nation. She threw fastballs to rival the form of major league pitchers. She showed maturity and poise beyond her years. And perhaps the most amazing thing is, baseball is probably not her best sport. You might someday see her playing professional basketball. When it comes to Mo'ne Davis, all things are possible.
The seventh of eleven children, Edith Bolling grew up to become one of the most controversial women in American history. Early on, she became a successful businesswoman and the first female to own an automobile in Washington, D.C. It was love at first sight when widowed President Woodrow Wilson met Edith. Her husband's constant companion and confidante, Edit supported the President during World War I and accompanied him abroad and across the nation to campaign for world peace. Edith did not refer to herself as First Lady but as Mrs. Wilson. Ever at her husband's side, she screened all matters of state when a stroke left him bedridden. Her critics called her secret president, and first woman to run the government. Did Edith serve as President in an age when women were not even allowed to vote? The world may never know for certain.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, a young woman from Pakistan, was denied the privilege of attending school, shot by terrorists, and forced to leave her country. Her near assassination convinced Malala that God had kept her alive for a reason. She would continue to fight for children's rights to education. With 66 million children worldwide not attending school, Malala travels the world, inspiring politicians and other people to help them. "We should not lose hope," she said. "One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world."
He was a man who fought like no other inside the ring, yet outside the ring he fought for peace. "The Louisville Lip" went on to become a three-time champion, beating some of boxing's greatest fighters, including Joe Frazier and George Foreman. He stunned the world when he beat Sonny Liston for the title. He stunned the world even more when he joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. He was stripped of his title and banned from boxing for refusing to join the military because of his religious beliefs, then returned to become one of the most famous athletes in history. Not even Parkinson's disease could stop him. A fighter, poet, civil rights leader, humanitarian, and more, Ali remains, in his own words, the king of the world.
Deep in the Scottish Highlands resides the castle known as Balmoral. You may have heard of its owner, for she is none other than the Queen of England. Purchased by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the 1840s, Balmoral became a magical retreat for the royal family to spend their holidays alone together, much like other families do. So, let the bagpipers begin to play and the Highland dancers begin to swirl and twirl - the Scottish culture and beautiful countryside surrounding Balmoral await you.
Glamis Castle is one of the most intriguing places in all of Scotland. Visitors from all over the world make a trip to the famous residence each year. Some are drawn to the castle's long history of royal residents, including the late Queen Mother of Queen Elizabeth II. Others want to know what it's like to walk the halls of the fortress that has served as the setting for many scary tales. Still, others delight in strolling through the estate's colorful gardens. No matter what brings visitors to the wondrous estate, they are sure to remember their time at this historic and spooky site.
While America isn't ruled by a royal family, our country nevertheless has some homes worthy of the name "castle"! La Cuesta Encantada near San Simeon, California, is one of them. Better known as Hearst Castle, this once private dwelling resembles a Mediterranean town high up in the Santa Lucia Mountains. There, media mogul William Randolph Hearst originally planned to build a simple summer place for his family. But his three-decade partnership with architect Julia Morgan resulted in an enormous estate that includes multiple guesthouses, swimming pools, an airport and even a zoo! Today, the castle is open to the public. Come on inside and let's take a tour of one of America's most famous homes!
The Palace of Versailles is one of the most visited attractions in the world. But what is the importance of this place other than a beautiful dwelling? The history of Versailles - why the palace was built and who lived there over the centuries - is fully detailed in this book. You'll get a glimpse into the world of the French kings and aristocracy and discover what it was really like to live at this stunning abode. You'll also find out the fate of the last French royal family to dwell at Versailles and why they met an untimely demise. Flip open the pages - the fascinating, glamorous, and intriguing world of Versailles is waiting for you.
Gettysburg was the deciding battle of the American Civil War - three hot July days of Union and Confederate soldiers fighting and dying in and around a small Pennsylvania town that determined the fate of the United States. When it was over, after the final climactic fury of Pickett's Charge, the Confederate Army under Robert E. Lee would never again have the strength to mount an invasion of the North. Gettysburg marked the beginning of the end for the Southern cause.Many feel that Gettysburg produced something else - something that makes objects unexplainably fall, phantom images to appear, and strange noises to be heard. That something is haunted Gettysburg.
Christianity began with a small group of men and women who witnessed the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. These followers called Jesus "Christ," or "Lord." They founded the Christian church in Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago.Since then, Christianity has become a major religion around the world. The West in particular has been so influenced by Christianity that many of its customs and holidays have simply become part of our Western culture. Come learn about how it all started and what Christians believe and how they live today.
Few things stir the imagination more than ghosts and ghostly sightings. The prospect of experiencing spectral encounters with visitors from another plane or dimension draws some 400,000 tourists to the windswept ridges of the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument every year. As most ghost hunters know, there is arguably no better place to ply their trade than the scene of violent action and the irreversible loss of life - the very definition of a battlefield. And the greasy-grass knolls of the Little Bighorn killing fields stand high on the list of haunted battlegrounds.Supernatural tales o spectral sightings from visitors and park employees alike lend an irresistible mystique to the Custer legend and to the battlefield itself. Such tales go back a long way. The Crow people are thought to be the first to experience paranormal happenings. They once called the park superintendent the "ghost herder," because they believed the ghosts of the fallen arose from their graves at sundown and walked among the living until daybreak. If the stone grave markers at the Little Bighorn could talk, they would have many tales to tell. Are you ready to listen?
Cameron Parker made a new friend. His name is Arjun Gupta, and he is a Hindu of Indian descent. Cameron spent a lot of time with Arjun's family and learned a lot about their faith, which the Hindus call sanatana dharma, or the eternal religion. Arjun's grandmother told Cameron the story behind her grandson's name and about a pilgrimage she went on as a little girl. Arjun's sisters told Cameron about the connection between the Beatles and Hinduism. How did Hinduism reach Trinidad and Tobago where Arjun's mother is from? What is her connection to India, her husband's motherland? Read on to join Cameron as he discovers a new universe through the eternal religion.
Meeting someone with a different belief than your own can be confusing. When Daniel meets Ashoka, he not only meets his first Buddhist, but gets the chance to learn about Buddhist beliefs, prayers, and shrines. Follow along as Daniel learns all about the Eightfold Path and the Four Noble Truths. Find out about reincarnation karma, and meditation - as well as mantras and Dharma wheels. Will Daniel and his new Buddhist friend have anything in common?
Layla Reed is only twelve years old, but she has a big project ahead of her. Her teacher has asked her to speak to her seventh grade class about Islam. Layla's best friend, Nancy Winters, is going to help her with the project, and she's going to learn a lot about her friend's religion along the way. Who was Muhammad? What exactly is in the Quran? What is jihaad? Islam is only 1,500 years old, but Muslims believe its message is older than Creation itself. Layla's family is busy fasting for the holy month of Ramadan, and the festival of Eid Al-Fitr is only a week away. Will she and Nancy be ready?
The Battle of Verdun claims the dubious distinction of being the longest battle of World War I. The fighting began in February 1916 and raged on for ten months, finally ending in December. Its combined casualty count of French and German soldiers numbered more than 700,000, of which 262,308 were either dead or missing. The battle left a keen sense of national pride in the hearts of the French people. It also left a deep emotional scar in their collective psyche.A hundred years after the last guns fell silent along the River Meuse, the mere mention of the name Verdun still evokes ghastly and ghostly remembrances of the unspeakable horror of 1916. Nine villages that once stood on the surroundings in Verdun, vibrant and gay, disappeared in the deathly rain of artillery and mortar shells. They exist today only as names on maps and perhaps in the whispers of the spectral sentinels that patrol the verdant countryside and watch over a nation's dead.
Ella-Yelich O'Connor wasn't your typical tween. At the age of 12, her performance in a school concert landed her a recording contract with Universal record label. Five years later, that same girl, now known as Lorde, celebrated her 17th birthday by signing another contract - this time it was worth $2.5 million! And only a few months later, she was topping the charts with her megahit "Royals" Life for this New Zealand native has been far from normal as she maintains a superstar status and travels the world selling out concerts to faithful fans.
Mexico is home to pyramids and bullfighting, volcanoes and monarch butterflies. Best of all, it is home to an incredible variety of delicious food. From the juicy goodness of corn on the cob and the pop of hot peppers to the crunch of the hard taco shell and the summer freshness of salsa, there is something for everyone's appetite. Find out how to make these wonderful dishes in your own kitchen with just a few ingredients, some time-and a passion for learning how to mix, cook, and eat new foods! Welcome to the food of Mexico.
Did astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson really kill the planet Pluto? Not exactly, although he admits he did "drive the getaway car." He was a teenager when some insisted that comet was going to destroy the world. He disagreed - it would simply be a great chance to take some cool photos - and he was right. When DC Comics needed someone to find Superman's home planet, they called him. See why people turn to Tyson, one of the world's most famous scientists, for his thoughts on the universe.
Puerto Rico is a land of lush green mountains, colorful flowers, white sand beaches, and an aqua blue tropical ocean. Along with its incredible beauty, it's also a land of fresh and flavorful cuisine. Take a culinary tour of this Caribbean paradise by making the recipes in this book. You can taste some of the island's favorites for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert. Along the way, you'll learn a little about Puerto Rico's history, culture, and people. Hop inside and let's get cooking!
Minecraft - it's a game that everyone knows. Either they play it now, used to play it, or know someone who plays it. It is the kind of game that inspires worlds. Markus Persson was a quiet kid in school. He didn't play sports or go on dates, but instead spent time learning how to write computer code. His talent created one of the most popular games in history. Find out why in this story about a young man who had a brand new idea.
Cuba is a country filled with sunshine, fruit, and people who work hard to provide for their families. Life has not been easy for the Cuban people. Spain once owned their country. Cuba has also operated as a Communist state for decades. Sometimes food and other supplies are scarce. Today, Cuba is a place with people who know how to survive. They accept other cultures and love to have fun! Over the years, Cubans have created wonderful recipes that reflect their lifestyles and heritage. Read how they combine simple ingredients to create delicious dishes you can make in your own kitchen! Hay que inventar!
Sitting Bull had a vision of a great Sioux victory, but would he live to see it? Crazy Horse had an almost mythical ability to avoid death, but would it last? These were two of the greatest chiefs of the Sioux Nation, a mighty Native American people who once ruled the plains and prairies between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Lakes. The Sioux were great warriors and buffalo hunters. They were master horsemen who roamed the country living in teepees and keeping up with buffalo herds. They fought the U. S. government to keep their land and way of life. Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse led a historic victory over General George Custer in the Battle of the Little Bighorn before they were eventually beaten and driven into reservations. The Massacre at Wounded Knee ended the Sioux's dream of returning to their old way of life, but not their desire to be free. This is their story.
Guatemala is a beautiful country with lush green rainforests, active volcanoes, and beautiful white sand beaches surrounded by swaying palms. This country is home to the Maya people and was explored and settled by the Spanish in the early 1500s. Guatemalan cuisine is a blend of the cultures of all the people who have lived there. Many of the dishes have the same names as those you'd find in other Latin American countries, but they are made with a unique Guatemalan flare. Come and explore the beautiful country of Guatemala and its delicious food. You'll be glad you did!
