Search Results: 19 books from 1 publisher. Learn more

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.

Maria Von Trapp

Amy Tiehel (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624692581

Here is the incredible true story of the woman inspired the beloved movie The Sound of Music. See how she became stepmother to the von Trapp children, and how the family escaped the Nazis and became a revered singing group.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Angelina Jolie

Kayleen Reusser (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624691850

Angelina Jolie could have settled for becoming an Academy Award-winning actress. She could have been pleased enough portraying the villain-turned-heroine of Disney's smash film Maleficent. She could be quite happy being the mother of a large family she shares with her husband, actor Brad Pitt. But after a trip to Cambodia, Jolie was struck by the poverty she witnessed there, and decided to do something about it. For over a decade since, she has carried out dozens of field missions all around the globe. Jolie was named a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Goodwill Ambassador. She's funded schools, orphanages, and other centers dedicated to helping people in crisis. Discover how she encourages others to take action through web sites, newspaper ads, and charities, and see why this actor is even more magnificent than you might have imagined.

Malala

Kayleen Reusser (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624691836

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, a young woman from Pakistan, was denied the privilege of attending school, shot by terrorists, and forced to leave her country. Her near assassination convinced Malala that God had kept her alive for a reason. She would continue to fight for children's rights to education. With 66 million children worldwide not attending school, Malala travels the world, inspiring politicians and other people to help them. "We should not lose hope," she said. "One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world."

The Constitution: Defender of Freedom

Amie Jane Leavitt (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624690068

After the Revolutionary War established the independent United States of America, a different kind of revolution took place. Between Shays' Rebellion and the final flourish of a quill pen on the Constitution, the country's greatest leaders faced a challenge that would either keep the states together or tear them apart. From the roads of Boston to Independence Hall in Philadelphia, delegates battled out the particulars of how the new country would be governed. In this inspiring story of leadership, discover how diplomacy and compromise created a document that would defend the nation's freedom at once and for the future.

The Amendments to the Constitution

Tamra Orr (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624690709

Reading the 27 amendments built into America's constitution may not seem exciting at first. Look beyond the old-fashioned phrasing and the government terms, however, and you will find remarkable details. You will meet political leaders and representatives struggling to make the wisest choices, American citizens fighting for basic rights, and a country that is constantly adjusting to the changes it faces with every passing year. The story behind each amendment is important to understand-and fascinating to learn.

The Spanish Empire: The Inquisition

Tamra Orr (author)

Publisher: Purple Toad Publishing ISBN: 9781624690488

Life in Spain was peaceful and simple for Rifka and her family, until Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand made a new decision for the country. Eager to bring the kingdoms closer, the royals felt everyone should share the same religion. Jews and Muslims were forced to convert-or leave. Explore Rifka's world as she, her brother, and her parents, decide to leave their homeland behind and head into the unknown. Along the way, you will meet the cloaked familiars, cruel men determined to get confessions no matter what they have to do, on the orders of the teenaged king and queen. Spain, in all its beauty, will never be the same after this, and Rifka's family will bring you along on the journey.