At fifteen, Emma Stone convinced her parents - with a PowerPoint presentation - to let her move to Los Angeles, California, to pursue her dream of being an actress. This engaging book describes how, soon after, Emma became one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, landing leading roles and winning fans with her great sense of humor and incredible talent.
At only seventeen, New Zealand-born singer-songwriter Ella Yelich-O'Connor, better known as Lorde, rocketed to international fame with her hit singles Royals and Team. This book follows her meteoric rise from being the youngest solo artist to ever achieve a number one hit in the United States to being one of the most influential teenagers in the world today.
Meet the boys behind the new British Invasion! This exciting new biography tells the incredible story of pop group One Direction. From their start on the UK TV show X Factor to sold-out concerts, MTV Video Music Awards, and chart-topping hits, Harry, Niall, Liam, Louis, and Zayn show no signs of slowing down. The group's first album Up All Night made history as the first debut album by a British group to enter at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. Full-color photos and fascinating facts make this book a must for any Directioner.
John Muir spoke, wrote, and lived the wilderness, including taking President Theodore Roosevelt on an overnight trip to the Yosemite Valley. This trip led to Roosevelts signing into law a bill that placed Yosemite under federal control as a national park. Because of this and his founding of the Sierra Club, John Muir is credited as one of the key shapers of the modern environmental movement.
In 1974, an inventor named Victor Wouk became a man who could be described as ahead of his time. He had developed a prototype for the hybrid, a car that would become the most credible and commercially successful alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles.
Calvin Klein, a boy from the Bronx, took his first clothing line of three dresses and six coats to an appointment at Bonwit Teller, New York's department store for the wealthy. Before long, he had designed a line of jeans that sold 200,000 in a week, and he was called the "King of Clothes" by People magazine. Along the way, he became known throughout the world for the beauty of his elegantly uncluttered clothing. In partnership with childhood friend Bernie Schwartz, he built an empire around his ideas that came to include fragrances, cosmetics, underwear, and home decor. Today his clothes are recognized as classics, and his style represents the best in American design.
When Hollywood stars get married, they call on Vera Wang to dress them for their big day, because Vera makes the most beautiful wedding gowns in the world! Jennifer Lopez, Kate Hudson, Mariah Carey, and Jessica Simpson are among the thousands of brides this American designer has dressed. Born and raised in New York City where her parents fled from the Chinese Revolution, Vera has been in the fashion industry her whole adult life. After working for Vogue magazine as a fashion editor, she opened her own store, where she sold the wedding dresses that have made her famous. Today her brand name is on perfumes, home goods, jewelry, shoes, and eyeglasses, and her delightful style is available to everyone through her lower-price line, called Simply Vera.
Wayne Gretzky, known to millions of hockey fans as "The Great One," wasn't the biggest, fastest, or strongest hockey player ever, but he was without a doubt the best so far. When he retired from play in 1999, the National Hockey League retired his jersey number as well and inducted him into the NHL Hall of Fame immediately, without the customary waiting period. Wayne's great talent was his ability to read the game and consistently make the right moves, earning him records for scoring year after year. The Great One started playing hockey on an ice rink in his backyard as a little boy in Canada, practicing before and after school and even after eating dinner with his skates on! His life tells the story of how far hard work and smart thinking can take a kid from Brantford, Ontario.
Trader Marco Polo was one of the first Europeans to travel to China, staying away from his homeland in Italy for 24 years before returning. After he came back to Italy, Marco wrote of his travels and adventures in East Asia in his book, Il Milione, sharing his tales with other Europeans. Polo changed the way Europeans saw the world by opening their eyes to the wonderful culture and people of China. Learn the story of one of the worlds most famous explorers and traders in Marco Polo: 13th-Century Italian Trader.
All of his life, Dwyane Wade has been meeting challenges. His parents separated when he was an infant. When he was six, he had to leave his mother's home because of her drug abuse. While living with his father, Dwyane learned basketball but not academics. Because of Dwyane's low test scores, only three colleges recruited him. But after starring for two seasons at Marquette University, Dwyane left college early to enter the NBA draft in 2003. Although Dwyane was overshadowed in the draft by superstars LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, the young star has put together an exceptional NBA career. He led Miami to an NBA championship in 2006, won a scoring title in 2009, and was a key player when the Heat won a second championship in 2012. But Dwyane also remembers his roots, giving back to the community through his charitable Wade's World Foundation.
Kevin Durant is a kid at heart when he's not busy being a basketball star. He is a 6-foot-9 forward with guard skills and a drive to be the best in whatever he does. That includes acting-Durrant starred in the movie Thunderstruck. He made such an impression in his one year at the University of Texas that he became the NBA's no. 2 draft pick. Before he was 25 years old, Durrant was a three-time NBA scoring champion and an Olympic gold medalist. He rates as one of the NBA's most popular players-you can catch him on Twitter-and goes out of his way to help those in need. Durrant is a superstar in every sense of the word.
In 2006, LaDainian Tomlinson broke an NFL scoring record that had stood for nearly 50 years! What will the man they call 'LT' do for an encore?
The world's most famous soccer player gets his kicks in . . . Los Angeles? Learn how David Beckham came to thrill the world with his famous free kicks.
A winner on and off the court, Dwyane Wade has combined his amazing hoops skills with powerful determination to become an NBA superstar.
He's not even 30, and Roger Federer already owns a place among the all-time greats in tennis. Follow his rapid rise from Swiss teen star to international icon.
Read how Shaun 'The Flying Tomato' White has used his go-for-it attitude to become a superstar in two sports--skateboarding and snowboarding.
Here's the inside story of how Tiger Woods has become the most dominant athlete in the world--and perhaps the best golfer ever.
This is a collection of biographies of Maria Mitchell, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Bethenia Owens-Adair, Linda Richards, Marian Anderson, Margaret Bourke-White, and Jackie Cochran.
This book presents the diary of Gertrud Schakat Tammen who grew up in Germany during World War II. This portion of her diary relates her experiences as World War II began.
This fictionalized biography describes the life and athletic accomplishments of the track athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics, and includes a brief history of the Olympic games.
Presents a fictionalized account of the early life of Kit Carson and his travels throughout the West.
Profiles the self-educated man who arose from poverty to become the sixteenth president of the United States.
This fascinating book takes readers through the life story of influential English archaeologist and traveler Gertrude Bell. Bell explored what is now the Middle East and played a significant role in the creation of modern Iraq. Historical facts, images, and high-interest information are presented in a tabloid-style to engage readers in an accessible way. Topics include Bell’s work in archaeology, her mountain summits, and her role in World War One.
This interesting book charts the travels of Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano. Searching for a sea route to the Pacific Ocean, he explored the Atlantic coast of North America. High-interest headlines, fact boxes, and images highlight Verrazzano’s exploration of New York Bay, Cape Cod Bay, the coast of Brazil, and his interactions with Native peoples.
Trekking from Africa to the Middle East and Asia, Ibn Battuta was one of the most well-traveled explorers of all time. He encountered many different cultural groups and recorded his interactions with them. Battuta’s writings influenced trade between peoples and became an important source of information about the medieval Islamic world. Engaging headlines, historic images, and fact boxes take readers through his amazing travels in a unique tabloid style.
