Sharing, taking turns and treating everyone we meet with respect are ways we can show fairness to others. But how do we know what's fair? And how do we follow through on what we know is right? The six people in this graphic nonfiction book have all shown their commitment to a world of equality and fairness. Let's see what we can learn from them. As you read, you'll also ask yourself how you would have responded in some of the situations they faced.
Human negligence, engineering miscalculation, mechanical failure - human activity has been responsible for some of the gravest harm to people and the world. Thirteen famous disasters are featured is this fascinating book. Each one became well-known for the unique scientific process that led to the destruction, as well as for the structural changes and safety measures proposed in its aftermath. Topics include the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown, the sinking of the Titanic, the Russian submarine Kursk explosion, the Tacoma Narrows suspension bridge collapse, the Hindenburg airship explosion, and the Twin Towers collapse.
Life during the Civil War wasn't business as usual in the North or the South. This volume examines the economic impact of the war on the civilian population, as well as the political landscape, public opinion and morale, and the strains on the social system. The effects of the Emancipation Proclamation and the role of women and African Americans are all given particular attention.
Learning to say no to cigarettes, drugs, and other dangers is one of the most important tools a child can have. In this new book by Slim Goodbody, children are taught to understand when and why they need to say no, and how to refuse and still keep their friends.
A koala lives most of its life alone, eating and sleeping high up in the eucalyptus trees of Australia, and yet it is recognized and loved around the world. The Life Cycle of a Koala looks at the life of this ancient marsupial and explains how marsupials are different from other mammals, the birth of the koala and its life in its mothers pouch, the growing koala and how it feeds, life outside the pouch but close to mother, and the dangers faced by koalas.
What is respect? And why is it important? As you read this graphic nonfiction book, you'll learn about some amazing people who know what respect means, and who know how to honor the people and things in their world. You'll also get a chance to decide whether you show respect to those who deserve it, and to those who need it.
As the world's largest land animals, elephants inspire awe in all of us - an awe that has led to myths of might and memory. Despite its immense strength, however, the elephant is a timid creature that uses its power only to defend itself against predators. Kids will learn many facts about these gentle pachyderms, including the social structure of elephants, in which the female is the leader, the animal's many dexterous uses for its trunk, the history of the elephant's even larger ancestors, including woolly mammoths, and the dangers that poaching, loss of habitat, and the ivory trade pose to the elephants future.
This up-to-date new book describes the alarming events of 2010 after an oil rig toppled over in the Gulf of Mexico releasing millions of gallons of oil into the water. The largest accidental oil spill in history, it killed untold numbers of wildlife, poisoned over a hundred miles of coastal land, and devastated the commercial fishing and tourism industries in an area still reeling from the destruction wreaked by Hurricane Katrina.
Although he steadfastly refused to be labeled an abolitionist, Abraham Lincoln was a hero to the abolitionist cause. The emancipation of the slaves in 1863 was strategic to the president's fight against the Confederacy in the Civil War and changed the course of the nation's history.
Theodore Weld was an early agitator for abolition. This book describes how Weld successfully forced the issue of slavery into the forefront of people's consciousness through speeches and activism, particularly at the university level, where he confronted education authorities who didn't wish for slavery to be debated or even discussed.
Muhammad Ali was born as Cassius Clay in Louisville, Kentucky. Early in his life, his skills developed from those he needed to stand up to a playground bully into the championship form that earned him a gold medal in the 1960 Olympics. As a professional fighter, Ali became known not just for the speed and agility with which he won three world heavyweight championships, but also for his charm, wit, and showmanship. Outside the ring, the courage of his stand against the military draft made him both a revered cultural hero and a lightning rod for the issues that divided Americans during the Vietnam War. In the decades following his boxing career, Ali has become regarded as one of the most recognized people on the planet. He has lent his name, influence, and generosity to a host of humanitarian causes. Today, having earned the affection of billions of people worldwide, the peoples champ is, as ever, The Greatest.
Imprisoned for 27 years, Nelson Mandela became a symbol in the fight against the oppression of the black majority by South Africa's apartheid government. The first in his family to attend school, Mandela was given the English name Nelson by his teacher on his first day. As Mandela moved up the educational ladder, he became more and more involved in social justice. When he became a lawyer, he joined the African National Congress (ANC), an organization whose purpose was to increase the rights of black South Africans. In 1961, Mandela helped found a military branch of the ANC that used guerrilla attacks against the government. His imprisonment became a rallying point for black South Africansand eventually the world. International pressure against the government helped bring about the end of apartheid and Mandela's release in 1990. Mandela was elected president, serving from 1994 to 1999, and remains a figure revered and loved by his grateful nation.
Born in Romania in 1928, Eliezer (Elie) Wiesel had a childhood steeped in the traditions of his Orthodox Jewish family. From the moment of his familys deportation to the death camp at Auschwitz and the horrors that awaited there, the teenaged Elie focused all his energies on staying alive. Elie has dedicated his life to the pursuit of peaceful, humanitarian goals as a writer and activist. He is a Holocaust survivor, Nobel Laureate and the author of 57 books, including the Night trilogy, based on his experiences as a prisoner. In 1986 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and called, a messenger to mankind.
Politician Al Gore has lent both his voice and his political influence in the fight against global warming. His work and creative energy have earned him numerous forms of public recognition, most notably the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.
David Suzuki is a prominent environmental activist. Throughout his adult life, he has been the creative force behind numerous television shows on science and the environment. He has used his voice to advocate for the environment and to take to task political leaders whose action and inaction have been part of the problem behind the global warming crisis.
Rachel Carson was a marine writer, biologist, and ecologist whose work inspired millions to take seriously the danger that human activity poses to the environment. She both revealed the wonders of the natural world and exposed the sinister threat to that world posed by DDT and other pesticides.
The movie is just starting, but what happened before that to get that movie in the theater? The Economics of Making a Movie takes an interesting look at the production process and financing of a big-budget film. Various links in the economic chain include finding someone to finance the film, casting and salaries, scouting locations, set design, contracting for laborers and technicians on the set, advertising costs, film distribution deals, and box office sales.
The video game is fresh out of the packaging, but what happened before that to get that game into your hands? The Economics of a Video Game takes a fascinating look at the production process and financing of a video game. Various links in the economic chain include development of a prototype, pitching the game to a publisher for funding, development of the software by designers and programmers, testing, advertising, trade shows demonstrations, packaging, and distribution.
The concert is just starting, but what happened before that to get that concert on the stage? The Economics of a Rock Concert takes a fascinating look at the production process and financing of a stadium concert. Various links in the economic chain include ticket sales, management fees, advertising costs, and contracting for laborers to set up the stage, sound, and security.
Bullying is about power and controlling another person. The two reader's theater-style plays in this book look at bullying first from two different viewpoints - that of the victim, and that of the bully. Young people will learn how to recognize it and how to change it.
It's always important to appreciate how much we all have in common. But sometimes it's just as important to appreciate the ways in which we are different. A change of attitude is often needed when it comes to accepting diversity. These two reader's theater-style plays look at the personal consequences of rumors and bigotry.
People often tend to link their personal identity to their physical body. Two reader's theater-style plays focus on both male and female characters and their body images. Clarisse believes she is too fat and becomes obsessed with dieting. Sam's story focuses on a males impatience for change to occur - will he always be 411 and 98 pounds? Young people will learn that they may have more control over self-image than they imagine.
For adolescents, a sense of belonging to a group is an essential step in self-discovery. And yet not all popular kids are stress-free. How others view us is important, but these two reader's theater-style plays help readers distinguish the difference between social acceptance and personal acceptance.
Resentment and compassion link these two reader's theater-style plays that help teach young people how to deal with real situations. Both deal with traumatic changes within a familya separation between the two most important people in a childs life and the loss of a home and a beloved furry family member.
A flashpoint is the critical stage in some process at which action - often violence - occurs. As young people will learn in these two reader's theater-style plays, however, flashpoints can also trigger change. The plays focus on both physical and verbal outbursts of anger and ways to regain control of ones emotions.
