"El mundo no está en peligro por las malas personas sino por aquellas que permiten la maldad" -Albert Einstein
Corría el año 1941, y bajo los inescrutables y secretos búnkeres bajo tierra los físicos del Tercer Reich trabajaban fatigosamente por desentrañar el mayor secreto de la historia...
One of the earliest species of the genus Homo to be discovered is Homo habilis, which basically means “handy man.” The name comes from the belief at the time of its discovery that this species was the first to start using stone tools. The first fossils to be uncovered in Olduvai Gorge were from the same stratigraphic layer as simple stone tools. Fossils of the crania and postcranial skeleton for this species have been found in both eastern and southern Africa and date to around 2.5–1.6 million years ago.
Given the gradual changes that take place in evolution, Homo habilis shares a number of characteristics that are similar to the genus Australopithecus, such as in the postcranial elements. That said, the size and shape of the Homo habilis skull are markedly different. The size of the brain is much larger relative to the size of the body, being around 680 cc. In order to house a larger brain, the skull features a more vertical frontal bone, creating a more vertical forehead. The brow ridges that sit on the lower portion of the frontal bone are also reduced in size. Other reductions in the face include reduced prognathism and a reduction in the size of the premolars and molars.
Postcranial elements display clear signs of bipedalism, such as the large toe being in line with the other toes instead being off to the side as they are in modern apes. Furthermore, the arches of the foot are present, allowing the full weight of the body to be supported and act as a shock absorber when walking. The leg bones are also longer than in Australopithecus, but Homo habilis retained long arms. Other primitive features include hand and finger bones that would have made climbing in the trees easier. The robustness of the finger bones is more comparable to those of modern apes than humans.
A folksy, larger-than-life picture book biography about Ann Richards, the late governor of Texas who has inspired countless women in politics today.
Dorothy Ann Willis hailed from a small Texas town, but early on she found her voice and the guts to use it.
During her childhood in San Diego and her high school years back in Texas (when she dropped the 'Dorothy'), Ann discovered a spark and passion for civic duty. It led her all the way to Washington, DC, where she, along with other girls from around the country, learned about the business of politics. Fast forward to Ann taking on the political boys' club: she became county commissioner, then state treasurer, and finally governor of Texas. In this stunning picture book biography, full of vim, vigor, and folksy charm, two Texan creators take us through the life of the legendary 'big mouth, big hair' governor of Texas, a woman who was inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt, and in turn became an inspiration to Hillary Clinton and countless others.
Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger comes a chapter book series about women who stood up, spoke up and rose up against the odds!
In this chapter book biography by Meg Medina, the award-winning author of Merci Suarez Changes Gears and Mango, Abuela, and Me, readers learn about the amazing life of Sonia Sotomayor--and how she persisted.
Sonia Sotomayor is the first Latina Supreme Court Justice in the history of the United States, but her road there wasn't easy. She overcame many challenges along the way, including a diagnosis of diabetes at age seven. But she didn't let that stop her from achieving her dream and inspiring children all over the world to work hard and believe in themselves.
Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Sonia Sotomayor's footsteps and make a difference!
Praise for She Persisted: Sonia Sotomayor:
'Engaging and accessible . . . The compelling story of an inspirational role model.' --Kirkus Reviews
'This would be a good title for a unit on pioneering women or Latinx individuals. An engaging read for elementary classrooms and a welcome addition to library biography sections.' --School Library Journal
A new middle-grade tale from critically acclaimed, award-winning author Kristin Levine about facing your fears, set in Vienna during the Bosnian genocide.
Most twelve-year-olds would be excited to fly to Austria to see their dad for the summer but then Becca is not most twelve-year-olds. Suffering from severe anxiety, she fears that the metal detectors at the airport will give her cancer and the long international flight will leave her with blood clots. Luckily, she's packed her Doomsday Journal, the one thing that always seems to help. By writing down her fears and what to do if the worst happens, Becca can get by without (many) panic attacks.
Routines and plans help Becca cope but living in a new country is full of the unexpected--including Becca's companions for the summer. Like Felix, the short and bookish son of Becca's dad's new girlfriend. Or Sara, the nineteen-year-old Bosnian refugee tasked with watching the two of them for the summer. As Becca explores Vienna and becomes close to her new friends, she soon learns she is not alone in her fears. What matters most is what you do when faced with them.
Winner of the American Library Association's 2021 Asian/Pacific American Award for Best Picture Book!
An inspiring picture-book biography of animator Tyrus Wong, the Chinese American immigrant responsible for bringing Disney's Bambi to life.
Before he became an artist named Tyrus Wong, he was a boy named Wong Geng Yeo. He traveled across a vast ocean from China to America with only a suitcase and a few papers. Not papers for drawing--which he loved to do--but immigration papers to start a new life. Once in America, Tyrus seized every opportunity to make art, eventually enrolling at an art institute in Los Angeles. Working as a janitor at night, his mop twirled like a paintbrush in his hands. Eventually, he was given the opportunity of a lifetime--and using sparse brushstrokes and soft watercolors, Tyrus created the iconic backgrounds of Bambi.
Julie Leung and Chris Sasaki perfectly capture the beautiful life and work of a painter who came to this country with dreams and talent--and who changed the world of animation forever.
A SYDNEY TAYLOR NOTABLE BOOK • Learn about the importance of vaccines and the scientific process through the fascinating life of world-renowned scientist Jonas Salk, whose pioneering discoveries changed the world forever.
Dr. Jonas Salk is one of the most celebrated doctors and medical researchers of the 20th century. The child of immigrants who never learned to speak English, Jonas was struck by the devastation he saw when the soldiers returned from battle after WWII. Determined to help, he worked to become a doctor and eventually joined the team that created the influenza vaccine. But Jonas wanted to do more. As polio ravaged the United States--even the president was not immune!--Jonas decided to lead the fight against this terrible disease. In 1952, Dr. Jonas Salk invented the polio vaccine, which nearly eliminated polio from this country. For the rest of his life, Dr. Salk continued to do groundbreaking medical research at the Salk Institute, leaving behind a legacy that continues to make the world a better place every day.
This compelling picture book biography sheds light on Dr. Salk's groundbreaking journey and the importance of vaccination.
In this three-book collection of historical fiction stories centered on life behind the Berlin Wall in East Germany between 1948 and 1989, middle school readers 8-12 can experience action-packed, suspenseful, and historically accurate stories that bring history to life from a kids' perspective.
Life Behind the Wall is perfect for:
- kids interested in stories about spies, mysteries, adventure, and friendship
- providing a fun and interesting series that helps readers 8-12 understand history in a real and understandable way
- homeschool or school libraries
- back to school reading, birthdays, and holiday gifts
Included in this three-in-one collection are the titles Candy Bombers, Beetle Bunker, and Smuggler's Treasure, which together follow a family from the end of World War II to the fall of the Berlin Wall, with each entertaining story highlighting what kids experienced at key moments in history.
Middle-school students ages 8-12 can experience a story of action and adventure in Candy Bombers, book 1 in the Wall Trilogy series that presents historically accurate fiction which brings the past to life in a kid-friendly way. Cousins Erich and Katarina find themselves trapped behind the Berlin Wall in 1948, and must find a way to survive-despite the growing dangers around them.
Candy Bombers is perfect for:
- kids interested in stories about spies, mysteries, adventure, and friendship
- providing a fun and interesting series that helps students ages 8-12 understand history in a real and understandable way
- homeschool or school libraries
- back to school, birthdays, and holiday gifts
Candy Bombers takes you to Berlin, Germany in the spring of 1948. Teenage cousins Erich and Katarina are just trying to survive Soviet isolation and starvation when they see the Americans have food. When Erich sneaks inside a US cargo plane, he is caught by an American sergeant who tries to befriend him. Though Erich has plenty of reasons to resent this man, in the end he must decide-should he cling to bitterness or learn to forgive?
If you enjoyed Candy Bombers, be sure to check out the other books in the Wall Trilogy that continue the story: Beetle Bunker and Smuggler's Treasure
Middle-school students ages 8-12 can experience a story of action and adventure in Beetle Bunker, book 2 in the Wall Trilogy series which presents historically accurate fiction that brings the past to life in a kid-friendly way. In 1961 East Berlin, Sabine discovers a forgotten underground bunker that could possibly take her family under the wall to West Berlin and freedom … if they can find a way to get her across.
Beetle Bunker is perfect for:
- kids interested in stories about spies, mysteries, adventure, and friendship
- providing a fun and interesting series that helps students ages 8-12 understand history in a real and understandable way
- homeschool or school libraries
- back to school, birthdays, and holiday gifts
In Beetle Bunker, Sabine lives in 1960s East Berlin, where neighbors spy on each other, books are forbidden, and people sometimes disappear in the middle of the night … to the west side of the Berlin Wall. When Sabine discovers a forgotten underground bunker, she first uses it to escape her crowded home and comments on her physical disability, then thinks of a new use for the bunker. Could it take her family under the wall to freedom?
If you enjoyed Beetle Bunker, be sure to check out the other books in the Wall Trilogy for the entire story: Candy Bombers and Smuggler's Treasure
Middle-school students ages 8-12 can experience a story of action and adventure in Smuggler's Treasure, book 3 in the Wall Trilogy series which presents historically accurate fiction that brings the past to life in a kid-friendly way. As the Cold War begins to thaw, West Berliner Liesel discovers a shocking family secret, with answers that can only be uncovered in East Berlin.
Smuggler's Treasure is perfect for:
- kids interested in stories about spies, mysteries, adventure, and friendship
- providing a fun and interesting series that helps students ages 8-12 understand history in a real and understandable way
- homeschool or school libraries
- back to school, birthdays, and holiday gifts
In Smuggler's Treasure, life is good for Liesl in West Germany in 1989. But as she works on a class project, she stumbles onto a startling secret no one will talk about. Will she ever learn the whole story about her family and what happened to them after the building of the Berlin Wall?
If you enjoyed Smuggler's Treasure, be sure to check out the first two books in the Wall Trilogy for the entire story: Candy Bombers and Beetle Bunker
For fans of The War That Saved My Life and other World War II fiction, A Place to Hang the Moon is the tale of three orphaned siblings who are evacuated from London to live in the countryside with the secret hope of finding a permanent family.
It is 1940 and William, twelve, Edmund, eleven, and Anna, nine, aren't terribly upset by the death of the not-so-grandmotherly grandmother who has taken care of them since their parents died. But the children do need a guardian, and in the dark days of World War II London, those are in short supply, especially if they hope to stay together. Could the mass wartime evacuation of children from London to the countryside be the answer?
It's a preposterous plan, but off they go-keeping their predicament a secret, and hoping to be placed in a temporary home that ends up lasting forever. Moving from one billet to another, the children suffer the cruel trickery of foster brothers, the cold realities of outdoor toilets, and the hollowness of empty stomachs. They find comfort in the village lending library, whose kind librarian, Nora Müller, seems an excellent choice of billet, except that her German husband's whereabouts are currently unknown, and some of the villagers consider her unsuitable.
