The creators of the New York Times best-selling Encyclopedia Prehistorica series offer a mythic look at the mysteries of the past with an entire pantheon of remarkable pop-ups.

For all of recorded history, humans have sought to understand Earth’s mysteries in the realm of the divine — and aspired to conduct themselves as heroes. Only gods, of course, could push the sun across the sky,forge entire continents, and impel mountains to touch the clouds. In this stunning volume, the incomparable team of Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda take us to Ra-Atum’s land in Ancient Egypt; above the Grecian clouds to Zeus’s Mount Olympus; up to Norse god Odin’s frozen north; to the Far East, where the Jade Emperor sits in the heavens; into the wilds of Oceania, where Pele’s volcanic rage simmers below the earth; and to many more lands and times, all rich with sacred myths and legends.

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This poetic book is a resounding tribute to Tubman’s strength, humility, and devotion. With proper reverence, Weatherford and Nelson do justice to the woman who, long ago, earned over and over the name Moses.

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The New York Times bestselling series is now available in a box set!

What makes a hero? Brad Meltzer and illustrator Christopher Eliopoulos answer that question, one great role model at a time. And now you can buy the first four—Abraham Lincoln, Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, and Albert Einstein—together in a wonderfully designed slipcase that includes an exclusive, autographed print, suitable for framing.

“This is not just a series of books,” says bestselling author Brad Meltzer. “This is my dream for my daughter. My dream for my sons. These aren’t just the stories of famous people. They’re what we’re all capable of on our very best days. This is our history and, I hope, our greatest legacy.”

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Plastic bags are cheap and easy to use. But what happens when a bag breaks or is no longer needed? In Njau, Gambia, people simply dropped the bags and went on their way. One plastic bag became two. Then ten. Then a hundred.

The bags accumulated in ugly heaps alongside roads. Water pooled in them, bringing mosquitoes and disease. Some bags were burned, leaving behind a terrible smell. Some were buried, but they strangled gardens. They killed livestock that tried to eat them. Something had to change.

Isatou Ceesay was that change. She found a way to recycle the bags and transform her community. This inspirational true story shows how one person’s actions really can make a difference in our world.

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This e-book version of our printed book was conceived, written, and illustrated by 50 art teachers from all over the world who share a passion for art history and teaching. After the amazing success of Gibbons’ first book, If Picasso Had a Christmas Tree, this follow-up book was created.

Each teacher has emulated an artist of his/her choosing from history and includes an alliterative animal in a way that honors the work of that artist. By combining art, history, science (zoology) and poetry, this book becomes a unique resource for inter-curricular teaching. A combination of art genres is used, from the Renaissance era to modern works, which may bear little resemblance to zoo animals! These art teachers, from elementary level to high school, created these delightful illustrations to share and educate.

ALL images in this book are NOT the work of the famous artists we have mentioned. These are emulations by art teachers with a zoo/animal theme. This is a common project in art classes around the world–to create an image in the style of a famous artist. We gather our work collectively here in the hopes to educate people about the rich traditions of art history, and hopefully to inspire our readers to learn more about these amazing artists as we attempt to honor them here!

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One rainy night in 1888, a stray dog wandered into the U.S. Post Office in Albany, New York. Workers found him the next morning asleep on a pile of mail pouches. The dog seemed to like the post office and the smell of the mailbags and the men’s wool uniforms. When no one came to claim him, they named him Owney and made him their pet. However, Owney’s loyalty and sense of adventure soon made it clear he wasn’t just an average mutt. Over the course of nine years, Owney guarded the mail?not only in Albany but on mail trains that traveled all over the United States.

Accompanied by lively pen-and-watercolor illustrations, this is a delightful true story of a special dog whose faithful service earned him a trip around the world. Owney can be seen in the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum.
Owney, the Mail-Pouch Pooch is a 2009 Bank Street – Best Children’s Book of the Year.

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Everyone needs clean water, yet 800 million people don’t have access to it.

At school, Ava learns of a village, deep in the rainforest, that lacks clean water. That night, Ava dreams about visiting Juan, a boy who lives there. Everything in the dream seems very real!

Ava dreams of Juan, every time she sleeps. He shows her all the ways healthy water will help his family and friends. One night, Ava can’t find Juan. Where has he gone? Will she see him again? Does anyone believe that Ava’s dreams are what brought her and Juan together?

AVA DREAMS OF WATER is about the dreams we all have for a better life, and friendships that transcend time and place…

A portion of the proceeds from “Ava Dreams of Water” goes to Rainforest Flow, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that has brought clean water to villages in the Amazon of Peru since 2007.

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Imagine a force that can toss boats around like toys, wash away bridges, and create waves as high as eighteen feet. With fierce winds and torrential rains, hurricanes can do all of these things. They can cause tremendous damage and even change the shape of a shoreline. For centuries people did not know when a hurricane was coming. But now we have new methods to predict when and where these storms will occur. Young readers will learn how hurricanes are formed, how they are named and classified, and what to do if a dangerous storm is on the way. 

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Little ballerinas have big dreams. Dreams of pirouettes and grande jetes, dreams of attending the best ballet schools and of dancing starring roles on stage. But in Harlem in the 1950s, dreams don’t always come true – they take a lot of work and a lot of hope. And sometimes hope is hard to come by. But the first African-American prima ballerina, Janet Collins, did make her dreams come true. And those dreams inspired ballerinas everywhere, showing them that the color of their skin couldn’t stop them from becoming a star.

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When Monique, a young visiting nurse, steps into the home of an elderly patient, she finds herself in rooms filled with the most vivid color she has ever seen. Her patient is the artist Henri Matisse, and as Matisse recovers from his illness, he and Monique become good friends. Later, Monique enters a convent where she becomes a nursing nun?and by happy coincidence, she meets Matisse once again. Her religious order is so poor that they don’t have a chapel of their own, but Matisse decides that with Monique’s help, he can remedy that situation. He develops a sketch drawn by Monique into a brilliant set of stained-glass chapel windows, and then uses his influence to raise enough money for the chapel’s construction. This true account of Matisse and the chapel at Vence, in southern France, is the main focus of Laurence Anholt’s newest delightful children’s story. Anholt’s illustrations faithfully reproduce many of Matisse’s wonderful artworks in this beautiful storybook.

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Based on the original and best selling titles by Schim Schimmel, Children of the Earth . . . Remember and The Family of Earth ? now in a format for very young children. These two books have been condensed into board books that are perfect for little hands (and teething babies!). In sturdy board book format featuring Schimmel’s most lovable baby animals, toddlers will be captivated by the bright colors and adorable creatures. The subtle, lulling text is perfect for bedtime reading. Each book features a new cuddly cover!

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Sophia’s curiosity about her identity takes her and big brother, Elijah, on a storytelling journey back to their roots with the help of Big Mama & Grandpa Noah. During their remarkable journey back in time, they are overwhelmed with pride upon discovering how their ancestors used their resilience, intelligence, faith and courage to overcome slavery.

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“Sensei Masa was a master swordsmith known throughout all of Japan.”

Young Michio is apprenticed to the master swordsmith. He watches and learns not only the skills to make a fine sword, but also lessons in humility, hard work, and compassion, elements of Bushido, the samurai code of honor. When he and Sensei create a sword that rivals all others, warriors from around Japan come to claim ownership of it. But only one can be worthy.

Rich, symbolic art captures the Tokugawa period in ancient Japan. Includes an author’s note about the history of Japanese samurai swords and a glossary of Japanese terms.

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It’s the day before the big parade. Alta can only think about one thing: Wilma Rudolph, three-time Olympic gold medalist. She’ll be riding on a float tomorrow. See, Alta is the quickest kid in Clarksville, Tennessee, just like Wilma once was. It doesn’t matter that Alta’s shoes have holes because Wilma came from hard times, too. But what happens when a new girl with shiny new shoes comes along and challenges Alta to a race? Will she still be the quickest kid? The Quickest Kid in Clarksville is a timeless story of dreams, determination, and the power of friendship.

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In this lively picture book, children discover shapes all around them: rectangles are ice-cream carts and stone metates, while triangles are slices of watermelon and quesadillas. Many of the featured objects are Latino in origin, and all are universal in appeal. With rich illustrations, a fun-to-read rhyming text, and an informative glossary, this playful concept book will reinforce the shapes found in every child’s day!

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An inspiring story of determination, hard work, and belief in your dreams until you capture them. Former Governor Mario Cuomo shares this endearing life lesson passed down to him from his father. Papa told Mario that having a house with a yard and a tree to call our own was his very special dream. Papa was excited about moving his family to their new home, after leaving behind their grocery store for many years, and sharing his dream with them. Papa and Mario loved the magnificent Blue Spruce that grew in the front yard of their new home, often sharing quiet moments in its cool shadow. Each year the Blue Spruce grew taller and stronger, holding within its branches their secrets and dreams. Then, one evening, unusually strong winds began to blow as dark clouds filled the sky. Mario watched anxiously through the window as the Blue Spruce fought against the winds… The Blue Spruce is a story that children will love and parents will love reading. Wonderfully illustrated by Royal Academy of Arts trained Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen, illustrator of the bestselling The Legend of Sleeping Bear and The Legend of Mackinac Island.

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This is a book about Earthquakes. What causes them? Can we predict them? How are earthquakes measured? How do we prepare for them? There are lots of fun factoids and a few experiments. (Learn how to make your own seiche) What was the biggest earthquake? Find out here. Empower your children. Suggested age for readers: 6-9

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This is a new master work by worldwide best-selling illustrator Stephen Biesty. The scene is Rome in AD 128. Join up with Marcus Cotta and his 9-year-old son Titus as they spend a festival day together in Rome. Each picture shows in extraordinary detail the everyday scenes and major monuments of the imperial city. Numerous cutaways enable the reader to look into the buildings, to see what the people are doing, and how the buildings are constructed. Travel through Rome in one day and see what life was really like in ancient times. The lavish illustrations include: a wild animal show at the Colosseum (teaming with 50,000 spectators); horse racing at the Circus Maximus; bathing at the Baths of Trajan; and festival day at the Temple.

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The patriotic sacrifice of Texas remembered. This tribute to the famous 13 day siege gives the stories of real-life heroes including David Crockett, Sam Houston, and William King (who, at 15 years old, was the youngest defender to die during the conflict.) These accounts, lacking in sensationalism, reveal the true characters in one of the most important events in Texas history. This reference includes a timeline of events.

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Join Annie Mouse and her family on their Route 66 cross-country trip in this fifth Annie Mouse Adventure. Annie Mouse is excited to share the photographs that document her family’s experiences as they follow the route westward from Joliet, Illinois to Needles, California. The Mouse Family visits attractions in each of the route’s eight states, making friends and learning about the history of the Mother Road along the way. This adventure was inspired by the author’s many Route 66 trips and features her original photography combined with the familiar Annie Mouse illustrations found in the first four books of the series. This book can be used as a supplement to adult travel guides so that children can have their own guidebook to follow along. It can also be used as a Social Studies text book supplement.
This is a work of “faction” combining factual information within the context of the fictional Annie Mouse Adventures. Each volume in the series can be read and enjoyed independently.
Suggested for ages 5-12

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“Bored by cabin life in the sparse settlement, Amanda figures out how to bake a gooseberry pie in the family’s crude wood stove. Soon the prospectors are paying for her pies, and her business success spills over onto other folks, who decide to settle there…. [An] entertaining lesson in history and human nature.” – The Horn Book

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Buildings are like books with stories that last
They tell us our present and also our past!
There’s a wonderful history and story to discover about every building in Building Stories – a rich collection of photographs and facts, all told in rhyming verse to delight young readers. Captivating and unusual images from musical instruments to a pencil, a phone, a big wheel with wings, and others that adorn the buildings will encourage children to look more closely at their own neighborhoods and want to learn more about the characters, plots, and settings of these amazing buildings and buildings all around them.
Includes the location of and a brief history of each building!

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A Step 3 Biography Reader about Theodor Geisel and his transformation from a doodler into the beloved Dr. Seuss. Little Ted Geisel always had a sketchpad and pencil in hand. He was a Boy Scout with a penchant for creating zany creatures. He grew up with a love of books and words from his mother, and his inventor father spawned a wildly imaginative and perfectionist side. It’s no wonder that these qualities led to the beloved work of Dr. Seuss, the Great Doodler.
 
Follow his career as an ad man, political cartoonist, creator of forty-five indelible children’s books, and Pulitzer Prize winner. Not bad for a lifelong doodler! Includes fun facts and several of Dr. Seuss’s original sketches and artwork!
 
Step 3 Readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics. For children who are ready to read on their own.

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Birdwatching as we know it emerged sometime in the late eighteenth century, and a lively literature about birds and bird behavior positively erupted in the decades that followed. In An Exhilaration of Wings, Jen Hill has for the first time gathered together the most vital and engaging of these writings, which, while historically specific, are timeless in their evocation of what the passion for birds is all about.

As Hill remarks in her introduction, birdwatching is “an experience of the ears and intellect as much as it is of the eye,” all of which comes across clearly in the instructive, revealing, and beautifully written excerpts she has culled for this book. Over seventy-five writers, famous and unknown–from John Muir, John James Audubon, and William Wordsworth to the largely forgotten ornithologists Florence Merriam and Olive Thorne Miller and the English country poet John Clare–share their infectious observations about bird song, migration, nests, raptors, sea birds, hummingbirds, and much more. The entries are by turns practical, lyrical, humorous, literary, scientific–on occasion even mystical–as they illuminate the magical and occasionally unexpected ways in which birding connects us both to the history of the natural world and to that of human experience. This charming compendium is certain to delight birdwatchers and natural history lovers alike.

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Dick “Quiet Thunder” Gilbert is a traditional Lenape Indian elder and chief residing in the state of Delaware. For three decades, he has inspired thousands of grade schoolers and adults in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Southern New Jersey, thrilling them with his authentic presentations and stories. The Original People is a compelling collection of the chief’s childhood memories and a history of his tribe. He describes tribal ceremonies, traditions and social life before contact with Europeans. The book is a tribute to a highly esteemed Native American and extols the wisdom of his people who enjoyed a peaceful existence for untold generations. It is a story few people know. Quiet Thunder wrote: “I am fortunate to know many of the traditional ways of the Lenni-Lenape. The name Lenni-Lenape means Original People.” The Lenni-Lenape were the Grandfather Tribe of all the Algonquin (Woodland) Indians. Working for over seven years recording and transcribing hundreds of interviews, stories and conversations, author Greg Vizzi allows Quiet Thunder to speak in his own voice. His voice, like his name, has a restrained power that is hard to resist. As thunder accompanies lightening, his words bring new light to our understanding of American Indians. This book does not speculate about their lives from an archaeological or academic worldview five hundred years after the fact. Instead, it is based on the ancient practice of oral history. This is a tradition of passing down historical knowledge through family, friends and elders. It is knowledge of their culture: family and social relations, tribal law, religion, education, and their relationship to the land. The primary story comes down through Quiet Thunder’s own family lineage and oral history. In his early-eighties, this “peaceful warrior” has an important message to share coming straight from his heart and native culture: “The earth is our mother, and we all have a sacred obligation to learn to live in harmony with her and protect her for future generations.” His message has not changed over the years and becomes even more relevant today as our planet comes under escalating environmental impacts from industrial extraction and over-consumption.

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WINNER OF THE SCBWI CRYSTAL KITE

WINNER OF THE WRITER’S LEAGUE OF TEXAS PICTURE BOOK AWARD

The U.S. Army’s oddest recruits: Camels!

In this strange but true historical tale, 34 camels were imported to Texas to work as pack animals for the army in 1856. Many people had never seen such strange animals; they didn’t believe that these smelly beasts could possibly be useful. Despite many Texans’ initial doubts, the camels thrived in the state’s desert and transported important military messages and supplies.

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An elderly African American woman, en route to vote, remembers her family’s tumultuous voting history in this picture book publishing in time for the fiftieth anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
 
As Lillian, a one-hundred-year-old African American woman, makes a “long haul up a steep hill” to her polling place, she sees more than trees and sky—she sees her family’s history. She sees the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment and her great-grandfather voting for the first time. She sees her parents trying to register to vote. And she sees herself marching in a protest from Selma to Montgomery. Veteran bestselling picture-book author Jonah Winter and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner Shane W. Evans vividly recall America’s battle for civil rights in this lyrical, poignant account of one woman’s fierce determination to make it up the hill and make her voice heard.

“Moving…. Stirs up a potent mixture of grief, anger, and pride at the history of black people’s fight for access to the ballot box.” —The New York Times

“A much-needed picture book that will enlighten a new generation about battles won and a timely call to uphold these victories in the present.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred

“A valuable introduction to and overview of the civil rights movement.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred

“An important book that will give you goose bumps.” —Booklist, Starred

From the Hardcover edition.

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