Despite a rough childhood and many setbacks early in his career, Tyler Perry’s spirit never broke. He has since come to dominate Hollywood, even building and operating his own film studio. Through sheer determination, Perry has risen to the top and become an advocate for people in underrepresented groups in the film industry. He now uses his influence and wealth to create opportunities for underdogs like himself.
As a minister and an activist, Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to helping others. He fought for equality during a time when Black people in America experienced great injustice. His life and legacy continue to inspire others to push for change.
A biography of South African humanitarian Nelson Mandela, examining his long imprisonment and position as South Africa’s first black president, as well as his emphasis on reconciliation and other social stances.
A biography of Albanian-born nun Mother Teresa, examining her position as a leader of the Missionaries of Charity in India, as well as her emphasis on compassion and other social stances.
This fascinating biography profiles the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder and the events in her life that helped shape her beloved children's books. Students will focus on the author's early years, from her westward travels by covered wagon into "Indian territory" to her adventures living on a homestead. Breathe life into the pages of history with primary source documents that offer significant clues on what life might have been like for Laura Ingalls Wilder during the 1800s. Authentic artifacts, including maps, government documents, and other primary sources offer an intimate glimpse of life during this era.
A biography of American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., examining his position as a voice of the movement, as well as his emphasis on nonviolent resistance and other social stances.
A biography of Tibetan Buddhist leader Tenzin Gyatso, examining his position as the 14th Dalai Lama and his exile to India, as well as his emphasis on nonviolence and other social stances.
A biography of Indian activist Mahatma Gandhi, examining his position as a leader of nonviolent civil disobedience, as well as his emphasis on fasting and other social stances.
A biography of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, examining his position as the founder of Buddhism, as well as his emphasis on compassion and the lifestyle of the Middle Way.
Students will explore the heroic life of Harriet Tubman, the courageous woman who helped free other slaves. With the Harriet Tubman: Leading Others to Liberty e-Book, students will examine her life, from her early days born into slavery to her brave efforts as the first female conductor for the Underground Railroad. Breathe life into the pages of history with primary source documents that offer significant clues on what Harriet Tubman's life must have been like during the 1800s. Authentic artifacts, including maps, government documents, and other primary sources offer an intimate glimpse of life during this era. Students will build content knowledge across geography, history, and other social studies strands, with content that can be leveled for a variety of learning styles, as well as below-level, above-level, and English language learners. This reader contains text features, including captions, bold print, glossary, and index to increase comprehension and academic vocabulary. A "Your Turn!" activity continues to challenge students as they extend their learning. Aligned to McREL, WIDA/TESOL, NCSS/C3 Framework, and other state standards, this text readies students for college and career readiness.
This biography highlights the life and accomplishments of J. Cole. Readers learn about J. Cole's early life, inspiration to pursue music, and successes as a hip-hop artist. With striking photographs and sidebars, the book explores J. Cole's academic drive, relationship with his mom, and charity work. Features include a timeline, glossary, references, websites, source notes, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
From the ancient Greek poet Homer to American poet Walt Whitman, Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, and Gwendolyn Brooks, a Chicago poet who chronicled black culture, this book profiles 12 outstanding poets from around the world. Each chapter includes attention-grabbing photos, biographical details, and fascinating facts. Sidebars go beyond the basics, and prompts invite readers to think for themselves. Additional mini-bios encourage further exploration.
From Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, to Nobel Prize winner Bob Dylan, civil rights activist Nina Simone, and rapper Tupac Shakur, this book profiles 12 famous musicians from around the world. Each chapter includes attention-grabbing photos, biographical details, and fascinating facts. Sidebars go beyond the basics, and prompts invite readers to think for themselves. Additional mini-bios encourage further exploration.
From Julius Caesar to the fierce Celtic Queen Boudica, British admiral Horatio Nelson, and Michelle Howard, the first female admiral in the US Navy, this book profiles 12 powerful military leaders from around the world. Each chapter includes attention-grabbing photos, biographical details, and fascinating facts. Sidebars go beyond the basics, and prompts invite readers to think for themselves. Additional mini-bios encourage further exploration.
From Booker T. Washington to Maria Montessori, Head Start creator Edmund Gordon, and Savitribai Phule, who is fighting for girls in India, this book profiles 12 leading educators from around the world. Each chapter includes attention-grabbing photos, biographical details, and fascinating facts. Sidebars go beyond the basics, and prompts invite readers to think for themselves. Additional mini-bios encourage further exploration.
From Julia Child, who taught America the art of French cooking, to TV personality Giada De Laurentiis, Ethiopian Swedish American chef Marcus Samuelsson, and Iron Chef Masaru Morimoto, this book profiles 12 top chefs from around the world. Each chapter includes attention-grabbing photos, biographical details, and fascinating facts. Sidebars go beyond the basics, and prompts invite readers to think for themselves. Additional mini-bios encourage further exploration.
From Jim Thorpe, the first Native American to win Olympic gold, to tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King, soccer superstar Pelé, and Chinese badminton champ Lin Dan, this book profiles 12 legendary athletes from around the world. Each chapter includes attention-grabbing photos, biographical details, and fascinating facts. Sidebars go beyond the basics, and prompts invite readers to think for themselves. Additional mini-bios encourage further exploration
From real Renaissance man Leonardo da Vinci to revolutionary American artist Georgia O’Keeffe, Chinese activist Ai Weiwei, and the mysterious, anonymous Banksy, this book profiles 12 influential artists from around the world. Each chapter includes attention-grabbing photos, biographical details, and fascinating facts. Sidebars and thought-provoking prompts keep readers interested. Four more mini-bios pique readers’ curiosity.
From Spain’s Antonio Gaudi to France’s Le Corbusier, Iraq’s Zaha Hadid, and America’s Norma Sklarek, the first black woman to get a degree in architecture, this book profiles 12 prominent architects from around the world. Each chapter includes attention-grabbing photos, biographical details, and fascinating facts. Sidebars go beyond the basics, and prompts invite readers to think for themselves. Additional mini-bios encourage further exploration.
Using interviews with people who knew the great Abraham Lincoln, Wayne Whipple tries to build a character that's as great as the 16th President of the United States. Follow his journey from a motherless boy living in a humble hut to his great challenges that ultimately built his magnificent personality and prepared him for his final battle, the battle that would change America forever.
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is an 1845 memoir and treatise on abolition written by a former slave, Frederick Douglass. It is generally held to be the most famous of a number of narratives written by former slaves during the same period. The text describes the events of his life and is considered to be one of the most influential pieces of literature to fuel the abolitionist movement of the early 19th century in the United States.
A beautiful biographical story - the novel, published in 1852 when he was 23 years old, is the first in Leo Tolstoy’s autobiographical trilogy, which also includes Boyhood, and Youth.
One Earth profiles Black, Indigenous and People of Color who live and work as environmental defenders. Through their individual stories, the book shows that the intersection of environment and ethnicity is an asset to achieving environmental goals. The twenty short biographies introduce readers to diverse activists from all around the world, who are of many ages and ethnicities. From saving ancient trees on the West Coast of Canada, to protecting the Irrawaddy dolphins of India, to uncovering racial inequalities in the food system in the United States, these environmental heroes are celebrated by author and biologist Anuradha Rao, who outlines how they went from being kids who cared about the environment to community leaders in their field. One Earth is full of environmental role models waiting to be found.
Theodosia Burr, daughter of Vice President Aaron Burr, came of age in New York City when the New Nation was growing up. She attended the inauguration of President George Washington in 1789, was at her father's side on the campaign trail and at his inauguration in 1801, attended presidential addresses to Congress, and hosted the most prominent politicians and thinkers of her time. The Burrs' ideas about educating young women were revolutionary. Theodosia was an experiment in the equal treatment of women—regardless of social status—in education, family life, society, and the law. The family believed that women had an important role to play in the New Nation, and Theodosia was fully prepared. Based on research at libraries and archives, and from the rich body of letters Theodosia and her family left behind, this historical narrative introduces readers to a most unusual girl who pursued a radical new path for women.
Connected Lives, a contemporary nonfiction series for teens, features the fascinating life stories of popular artists. Each book presents two singers in a similar musical genre who have lived extraordinary lives, exploring how their lives interconnect and how they are different. As similar as these artists may seem, their rise to fame may have been very different. Multiple musical genres are represented across the series, including pop, hip-hop, jazz, and country. Graphic elements, such as timelines, charts, and Venn diagrams, are featured in every chapter.
