During the Middle Ages, your position in life was based on birth. This position would follow you throughout your life. To make it easy for others to know your social class, rules about what you could wear—or not wear—were created. Such rules, called sumptuary laws, determined colors of clothing, types of fabric and trims, length of garments, types of sleeves, and types of furs. The laws also regulated shoe lengths and height, hat height, types of buttons, and even the number of buttons you could wear. People were to dress according to the class in which they were born. In this way, just by looking at someone, you could tell if they were important or not.
Roadway overpasses in Canada's Banff National Park allow bears and deer to safely cross roads, Readers also discover fish ladders and “salmon cannons” in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, rope swings for monkeys in China, and colorful crab bridges in Australia.
This book shows the importance of bat houses, bird houses, and butterfly shelters and how building these simple structures can save the lives of endangered species. Readers will also explore the importance of butterfly gardens and how they provide food and shelter for some of Earth’s most fragile and beautiful creatures.
Reptiles and amphibians need special help crossing roads. This book focuses on different approaches, from tiny turtle tunnels under railroad tracks in Japan, to salamander tunnels and turtle crossing guards in the U.S., to toad tunnels in the UK, and bucket brigades for frogs and toads in France.
Forest villages in France, England, the U.S. and Australia feature rope bridges and buckets of acorns for squirrels. Readers will meet some of the rescuers helping these little red squirrels survive.
Miryam's body doesn't fight off germs like it should. While doctors figure out how to make her better, Miryam needs to stay home for online classes. Trouble is: Miryam struggles to focus on her teacher and schoolwork. She likes in-person learning at school much better! Plus, she misses her friends! When Miryam's dad hears about the Helper Hounds, everything changes. Brisket the Helper Hound knows all about learning to focus and about staying in touch with friends.
Ajani loves having a dad from Denmark and a mom from Jamaica. Ajani speaks three languages and gets to spend summers with his grandparents in the coolest places. But when a classmate overhears dark-skinned Ajani speaking Danish, the boy makes a hurtful, racist comment. Ajani is crushed. Until a chance encounter with Louis the Helper Hound helps Ajani feel proud of his heritage and helps him and his classmates fight racism.
After losing her first two forever homes, Noodle the golden doodle knows all about the sadness of goodbyes. But in her new home with Andrea and as an official Helper Hound, Noodle helps Gabriel deal with the loss of his grandfather and to discover that our loved ones can be found in the little things all around us even when they’re gone.
Ming often gets teased for being “weird.” His curious mind and wild imagination make him extra nervous for his school’s upcoming lockdown drill after a deadly dance hall shooting. His teacher calls the Helper Hounds to help calm his nerves—and King Tut comes to the rescue! King Tut knows all about being weird. she’s been in some scary situations herself after being abandoned under a bridge as a puppy. King Tut helps Ming and his classmates through the lockdown drill. Discover how King Tut helps Ming and his friends see the beauty in being “weird.”
Danny is scared to tell the truth. After he saw someone steal some bikes, now he has to see that person in court and tell what he did. To help calm Danny’s fears on the big day, his parents call the Helper Hounds—and there’s no better pup for the job than Spooky. Spooky was involved in a crime herself—she lost her leg after being shot by a police officer who thought she was dangerous. Will Spooky’s best calming tricks give Danny the courage to tell the truth in court?
Max and his sister Lily are staying with relatives while their Mom is away getting her own emotional help. Max and Lily are being teased and bullied at school. Their Aunt Eileen calls the Helper Hounds – and soon Robot, an endearing Rottweiler who knows all about bullies, comes to give support. A lot of people think Rottweiler's are bullies, but that's because they don't really know how cuddly they can be. Robot and his handler Samuel help the kids at Max and Lily's school deal with bullies while Max and Lily gain new friends.
Mary’s new in town. She’s worried about starting classes at her new school. That’s why her mom called the Helper Hounds – and why Sparkplug, the wildly handsome, wickedly smart, card-carrying, world famous Helper Hound is on the scene. Sparky knows a thing or two about moving. He moved four times as a puppy, and learned to make new friends along the way. Sparky knows he can teach Mary all his best tricks and help her meet new friends, too. At least Sparky thought he could until he met Custard, Mary’s persnickety cat. Will Sparky’s best tricks be enough to win over Custard and show Mary making friends is nothing to fear?
Portia has overcome a lot in life. Born with Down syndrome, Portia has been through many surgeries, lots of doctor’s appointments, and strange looks from people who want to limit what she can do. Inside herself, Portia knows she can do anything – including getting over her fear of dogs. But when Penny shows up at Portia’s house, she isn’t so sure. After all, Penny is a pit bull – the scariest dogs of all, right? Good thing Penny has a few tricks of her own to win Portia’s trust.
Into the Wind is a middle-grade novel about the unlikely friendship between a boy and an elderly woman. Both moving and joyful, this is a poignant story about loss and love, and the surprising and sustaining bonds that can grow between the old and young.
Managing the daily influence of technology, including knowing when to ‘unplug,’ allows kids to bring balance to their lives. This leads to deeper friendships, more focus at home and school, and higher success in learning.
Being in the present moment, aware of what’s going on right now, helps kids be more focused, more patient, and likely to make better decisions for themselves. Readers will learn basic skils for being self-aware.
Thirteen-year-old Hannah Higgins is convinced her summer is ruined when she is forced to travel to Africa and work in a remote village in Kenya with her mom and uncle. Never having been to a developing country, she finds the food challenging and the community filthy. She has to live without electricity or running water. Then she is told she must attend school. Just when she thinks nothing could make this trip any worse, she learns people there are dying of hunger and preventable disease. Hannah becomes frustrated and wants to help, but when poverty threatens the lives of people she loves, all she wants to do is go home.
History recognizes the leadership and voice Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. brought to the civil rights movement in 1960s America. A 30-foot tall statue of Dr. King gazes into the future full of hope for all humanity. His words of peace are carved in the walls of the monument as a reminder to all Americans of the power of peaceful protest. Learn all about the first national memorial to an African American.
She was a gift of friendship and peace between France and the United States. “Liberty Enlightening the World” stands now as a symbol of America’s embrace of freedom and democracy. Find out why 4 million visitors each year come to see this majestic statue in New York’s harbor.
For millions of people, leaving home and coming to America meant giving up family and all things familiar. For more than sixty years, one site was the first place in America all new immigrants saw. Find out why Ellis Island holds such an important place in America’s history.
The story of Harriet Tubman and her role in leading slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad is well-known. But did you know that during the Civil War Harriet would often dress in disguise to gain important information to share with the Union Army?
It may be a parent's dream, but imagine life without the internet or world wide web. Would airlines be able to fly? Would our nation's security be at risk? What can be done to safeguard the internet?
It seems they're everywhere. But scientists believe bees are at risk of survival. What has put bees at risk and should we care? Imagine a world without these important pollinators and you'll see a world with fewer and fewer critical food sources.
Empires have been built from it, Wars have been fought for it. Imagine a world without oil. What alternatives do we have in a future with limited oil and other fossil fuels?
Look around. Plastic is everywhere. But some experts say today's plastic will be in our landfills for thousands of years to come. Imagine a world without plastic, in some communities, it's a new reality. Explore the good and the bad of plastic in our lives.
