Search Results: 50 books from 1 publisher. Learn more

Antietam

Russell Roberts (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624691140

Antietam etched such names as Bloody Lane and Burnside's Bridge into the pages of American history. It was a critical battle that halted the Confederacy's 1862 invasion of the Union during the Civil War and led to the issuing of The Emancipation Proclamation. Today, the site of one of the most vicious battles of that brutal war, the ground over which great armies of soldiers once fought and died, is quiet and peaceful.Or is it? Reports persist of strange sights and sounds occurring on the battlefield - of eerie things that nobody can explain. As darkness slowly falls on the battlefield, and shadows creep across the ground, the sound of crickets chirping and owls hooting fills the air across the Antietam Battlefield. Maybe - just maybe - something else is lurking there as well.

The Navajo

Tamra Orr (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624691645

The Navajo people, who call themselves the Din, are the largest tribe of Native Americans in the United States. When they arrived from Canada, they settled in Colorado. In 1863, they were forced to march on the Long Walk to the Four Corners: Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Since then, their lives have changed dramatically. The Long Walk was a terrible chapter, but their history is one of strength and survival.

The Sydney Opera House

Nicole Orr (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624692093

If you are ever in Sydney, Australia and ask a few Sydney-siders what to see first, they will tell you to visit the Opera House. It is one of the most elaborate entertainment venues in the world and has hosted some of the biggest names in entertainment. It is home to Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet, the Sydney Theatre Company, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

The Statue of Liberty

Ann Tatlock (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624692079

What looks like a solid stone statue but inside has a staircase of 354 steps leading from pedestal to crown? The Statue of Liberty! This enormous monument in New York Harbor is both a stunning work of art and an amazing feat of engineering. If you like building things and putting puzzles together, you'll love learning about the making of Lady Liberty, America's greatest symbol of freedom and friendship.

Legends of the Leagues

Pete DiPrimio (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624692826

Brace to meet some of the biggest baseball stars of the Negro Leagues. They were men and women of glory and achievement, of spectacular ability and heartbreaking obstacles. They rose above discrimination to pursue their dreams. Cool Papa Bell was once said to be so fast, he could outrun electricity. Another story had Josh Gibson hit a towering fly ball in Pittsburgh that didn't land until the next day-in Philadelphia! Pitcher Satchel Paige won with a blistering fastball when he was young, and then with experience and creativity when he was old. He played with charm and witty sayings: "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you." Nobody messed with Oscar Charleston or fielded better than John "Pop" Lloyd.Women such as Peanut Johnson and Toni Stone also made big impressions. These are among the brightest stars of a league, gone but never forgotten.

The Taj Mahal

Karen Gibson (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624692116

It started with a promise, but was fueled by a passion for building. Shah Jahan, Mughal emperor of India in the seventeenth century, promised to build the most magnificent tomb for his dying wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Every measurement and material had deep meaning. All contributed to the perfection of the Taj Mahal. The 42-acre complex was a vision of harmony that reflected Mughal culture and the importance placed on respect for the dead. Almost 400 years later, the Taj Mahal of India remains one of the most beautiful tombs on Earth.

The Eiffel Tower

Russell Roberts (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624692031

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous structures in the world. It is instantly recognizable, a gigantic yet elegant reminder of Paris, France. The tower is such an iconic symbol that it is hard to believe that it was once considered an eyesore by many famous writers and artists. One can't imagine Paris without it, but it was once supposed to be torn down. This is the story of the Eiffel Tower and of the man that created it, explaining in detail how he used unique engineering and construction tools and techniques to build something many said was impossible.

The Space Needle

Tamra Orr (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624692055

What is that hovering over the Pacific Northwest city of Seattle, Washington? Is it part of a movie set? Is it a publicity stunt? Could it bean actual spaceship? When you first spy the soaring Space Needle, high above Seattle, it's easy to be confused. The people who designed it more than 50 years ago would be happy to know that their building still amazes and mystifies. They wanted to create something that looked as if it had come from the future, just in time for the 1964 World's Fair. The obstacles they faced, the problems they solved, and the decisions they made have turned the Space Needle into more than just an incredible site to visit - it makes for an incredible story.

Breaking the Barriers

Russell Roberts (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624692840

Like America in the first half of the twentieth century, baseball was still segregated. Every road to the major leagues was blocked by unwritten agreements never to allow black athletes entry. It seemed like the better they played, the further they were pushed back. Until, that is, a plan was hatched by two men. One seized an opportunity to advance the game of baseball forever, and the other ran a path through bigotry like he ran the bases, with strength and grace. Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson would work together to break down the color barriers of baseball, and show the world that African-American athletes were as good and as worthy as anyone to put on a major league uniform. They were not alone. From Larry Doby to Monte Irvin, and the irrepressible Satchel Paige, baseball was gifted by the emergence of a wealth of talent and personality that would truly make it, at last, America's pastime.

Big Ben

Kayleen Reusser (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624692017

London, England's Big Ben is one of the biggest bells ever made. Its melodic sound has rung in the capital city of London for more than 150 years. Big Ben hangs in the 316-foot Palace of Westminster with the Great Clock. The clock's gears move the hands on the clock's four faces. It also makes the quarter bells and Big Ben chime. Together, it is one of England's most popular tourist sites. Yet, Big Ben was almost never built. Fire, carelessness, and attacks nearly kept it a dream in some people's minds. Discover how this beloved British landmark was nearly lost several times and how determination and hard work brought it to life.

A Whole New League

Wayne L. Wilson (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624692789

Before and after the Civil War, the African American community held the same passion for baseball as the rest of the nation. But black players faced prejudice. They were banned from the major leagues. From this group emerged Andrew "Rube" Foster, one of the greatest pitchers and managers of the early twentieth century. The founder of the Negro National League, Foster was called the Father of Black Baseball. Thanks to his vision and efforts, black players were finally respected. The doors to Major League Baseball were opened to black players, and the world could enjoy such superstars as Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron.

Barnstorming

Mike DeMocker (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624692802

Banned from professional baseball in the late 19th century, African-American players were forced to go on the road to make money playing the game they loved. Enduring poor fields and long journeys between games, teams brought their unique and entertaining brand of baseball to towns big and small. Even when they had trouble securing food and lodging because of the color of their skin, these players persevered, opening the door for the ultimate return of African-American athletes to big-league baseball.

Going Underground

Amie Jane Leavitt (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624692192

The Underground Railroad was not a transportation system with metal tracks and whistling trains that zipped along a grid of tracks through tunnels below the ground. Instead, this system was an organized network of people who - in utmost secrecy - helped others escape the bonds of slavery. The routes to freedom were filled with danger, but the risks were worth it. Climb aboard to travel back in time and find out how this system of passengers, conductors, and stationmasters saved thousands of lives and helped change the nation.

The Need for Flight

Clare O'Neal (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624692178

The nightmare for enslaved Africans began on the Middle Passage - the journey across the ocean to America. Chained together by their hands and feet, the people were crammed into a ships dark belly, sometimes for weeks. When they arrived, they were sold at auction like so much cattle. Then, for generations, they faced bondage at the hands of cruel masters, forced to work sunup to sundown planting and harvesting crops, cleaning houses, or performing other tasks that would boost the white mans profits. Refused basic civil rights and often torn from their families, the slaves looked for ways to find freedom and better their lives. Flight was risky, even with the help of the Underground Railroad. For many, it was the only option.

Ancient Egypt

Khadija Ejaz (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624690440

The middle of the fourteenth century BCE was a strange time in ancient Egypt. The pharaoh had changed his name and religion and was inviting the wrath of the gods that had long watched over the land. The powerful priesthood felt threatened, the people feared the worst, and in the middle of everything was Pepi, a ten-year-old boy with a problem-he didn't want to go to school. Let Pepi explain his troubles to you as he takes you around his beloved city. Let him introduce you to his family, his friends, and their way of life, which thousands of years later might seem similar to your own.

Free at Last or Were They?

Clare O'Neal (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624692154

Free at last! Hopeful African Americans began the long journey to build their lives from scratch as U.S. law declared all slaves free in 1865. But many whites fought bitterly against change. Signs above water fountains, restrooms, and other public places clearly separated WHITES from COLOREDS, while the Ku Klux Klan terrorized the night. Leaders like Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, A. Philip Randolph, and Martin Luther King, Jr. stood up to the ugly reality of racism in America. Laws and hearts slowly changed to make the American Dream a possibility for all of its citizens. Today, the United States celebrates the rich history, music, and art of the black community. But with holdovers of hatred, pride, and prejudice, has the country achieved true equality?

The Lenape

Michael DeMocker (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624691621

When European explorers came to the New World, one of the first tribes of Native Americans they encountered was the Lenape. Also called the Delaware Indians, these people were respected by their neighbors, bound by family, and lived in harmony with their natural world. This is their story of their fascinating way of life, nearly lost to the settlers from across the sea.

The Cherokee

Russell Roberts (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624691560

The Cherokees lived primarily in the southeastern United States as farmers and hunters. As white settlers pushed deeper and deeper onto their lands, the Cherokees signed numerous treaties that surrendered more of their land in exchange for the right to live peacefully. The Cherokees even embraced many white ways, such as writing a constitution based on the U.S. Constitution and creating an alphabet, in an attempt to blend in. However, nothing they did was ever enough, and all their efforts finally led to one shattering conclusion: the Trail of Tears.

Mary Todd Lincoln

Amie Jane Leavitt (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624691720

Born of privilege and raised among the nation's political elite, Mary Todd was a highly intelligent and outspoken young woman with a love for hoop skirts and a disgust for slavery. Her passion for politics would set the stage for her to meet young Abraham Lincoln, who would one day become President of the United States, and she his driving force. On a fateful night in April, 1865, she would endure the unthinkable, and her life would be changed forever. Mary Todd Lincoln would join a nation in healing after the loss of its leader, and the effects of a brutal civil war. She would remain a First Lady to the end, and second to none.

The Comanche

Russell Roberts (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624691607

Comanche. The very word itself sent shivers down the backs of white settlers and other Native American tribes alike. The Comanches were the most feared tribe on the Southern Great Plains. They were superb horsemen and fierce fighters, and the combination was virtually unbeatable. For years, the Comanches held dominance over a vast area of territory called Comancheria. No one dared venture into Comancheria. Those who did seldom returned. Who were the Comanches? Where did they come from? What was life like in a Comanche camp, for both the Comanches and their captives? What happened to break their grip on Comancheria? The answers to these and other questions are both surprising and fascinating.

Famous Fighters

Wayne L. Wilson (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624692130

Most of the people who worked on the Underground Railroad were not well-known, but many stood out and became famous. The workers came from different races, occupations, and all walks of life. Some spread the word about the injustice of slavery through writing or lectures. Some volunteered behind the scenes, sewing clothes and donating goods to help the runaways. Others risked their lives daily, leading fugitives through swamps and forests and past slave catchers to freedom. Those who were caught were fined, jailed, or even executed. But they did not give up until freedom was won for all.

The Cheyenne

Earle Rice Jr (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624691669

With the sole exception of the Sioux, the Cheyenne are perhaps the best known of all the Plains Indians. Famous for their fearless fighting qualities, the fought a series of unforgettable battles with the U.S. Army and white settlers seeking to seize their lands and alter their lifestyles. From 1856 to 1979, they met the white interloper with unparalleled horsemanship and a fighting ferocity rarely recorded in American military annals before or since. Against the irrepressible surge of Americas westward expansion in the 1800s, Cheyenne warriors fought and died for the land they loved. They claimed a place in history at the Powder River, the Rosebud, and the Little Big Horn. In the end, they lost their lands, but they went down fighting. They were and are vastly deserving of their nickname, the Fighting Cheyennes.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Ann Tatlock (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624691768

From a shy and fearful child, Eleanor Roosevelt grew up to be not only First Lady of the United States, but one of the most influential women in U.S. history. Hers is a remarkable story of doing the thing you think you cannot do in order to work for change and to better the lives of others. Come learn about Eleanor, who challenges everyone - no matter his or her talents or gifts - to live a useful and fulfilling life.

Hillary Clinton

Tamra Orr (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624691744

Long before she decided to run for president of the United States, Hillary Rodham Clinton was a young woman with goals and dreams. Follow along as she tries to decide between becoming a journalist or an astronaut. Find out how she first gets involved in politics - while still a teenager. Learn about her dedication to helping the women and children of the world, and how she entered the world of law with those goals in mind. Finally, see the changes that becoming Mrs. Bill Clinton brought - and how they helped her achieve some of her greatest goals. Meet Hillary Rodham Clinton, who became First Lady of the United States and then presidential hopeful for 2016.

Dolley Madison

Amie Jane Leavitt (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624691706

Dolley Madison was considered the first First Lady of the United States. Even before her husband James Madison took office, Dolley was White House hostess for the widowed Thomas Jefferson. Known for her personality and style, she hosted dinners and gatherings in a White House that she decorated. She held the nation's first Inaugural Ball. She convinced her husband to start inviting members of Congress from both political parties to social events. During the War of 1812, when the British advanced to burn Washington, she stayed long enough to rescue a portrait of George Washington. When the British left, she helped convince the nation to rebuild its capital in Washington. Find out how this first First Lady defined the role for future women to follow.