Who Was William Shakespeare?
The beloved plays of Shakespeare are still produced everywhere yet the life of the world's most famous playwright remains largely a mystery. Young Will left the town of Stratford to pursue theater in London where his work eventually thrived and made him a famous and wealthy man. With black-and-white illustrations that include a diagram of the famous Globe theater Celeste Davidson Mannis puts together the pieces of Shakespeare's life and work for young readers.
Who Was Marco Polo?
Marco Polo was seventeen when he set out for China . . . and forty-one when he came back! More than seven hundred years ago Marco Polo traveled from the medieval city of Venice to the fabled kingdom of the great Kublai Khan seeing new sights and riches that no Westerner had ever before witnessed. But did Marco Polo experience the things he wrote about . . . or was it all made-up? Young readers are presented with the facts in this entertaining highly readable Who Was . . . ? biography with black-and-white artwork by John O?Brien.
Who Was Anne Frank?
In her amazing diary Anne Frank revealed the challenges and dreams common for any young girl. But Hitler brought her childhood to an end and forced her and her family into hiding. Who Was Anne Frank? looks closely at Annes life before the secret annex what life was like in hiding and the legacy of her diary. Black-and-white illustrations including maps and diagrams provide historical and visual reference in an easy-to-read biography written in a way that is appropriate and accessible for younger readers.
Who Was Martin Luther King Jr.?
The story of one of the most influential civil rights activist of our time.Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was only 25 when he helped organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott and was soon organizing black people across the country in support of the right to vote desegregation and other basic civil rights. Maintaining nonviolent and peaceful tactics even when his life was threatened King was also an advocate for the poor and spoke out against racial and economic injustice until his deathfrom an assassin's bulletin 1968. With clearly written text that explains this tumultuous time in history and 80 black-and-white illustrations this Who Was?celebrates the vision and the legacy of a remarkable man.
Who Was Leonardo da Vinci?
Leonardo da Vinci was a gifted painter talented musician and dedicated scientist and inventor designing flying machines submarines and even helicopters. Yet he had a hard time finishing things a problem anyone can relate to. Only thirteen paintings are known to be his; as for the illustrated encyclopedia he intended to create all that he left were thousands of disorganized notebook pages. Here is an accessible portrait of a fascinating man who lived at a fascinating timeItaly during the Renaissance.
Who Was Mark Twain?
A humorist narrator and social observer Mark Twain is unsurpassed in American literature. Best known as the author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain not unlike his protagonist Huck has a restless spirit. He found adventure prospecting for silver in Nevada navigating steamboats down the Mississippi and making people laugh around the world. But Twain also had a serious streak and decried racism and injustice. His fascinating life is captured candidly in this enjoyable biography.
Who Were the Beatles? (Who Was?)
Almost everyone can sing along with the Beatles but how many young readers know their whole story? Geoff Edgers a Boston Globe reporter and hard-core Beatles fan brings the Fab Four to life in this Who Was...?book. Readers will learn about their childhoods in Liverpool their first forays into rock music what Beatlemania was like and why they broke up. It's all here in an easy-to-read narrative with plenty of black-and-white illustrations!
Edgar Degas: Paintings That Dance: Paintings That Dance (Smart About Art)
Edgar Degas is famous for his paintings of ballerinas and that's what first attracts Kristin to his artwork. But as she studies him for her report she discovers that his art ranged far beyond the ballet and she gradually learns exactly what makes Degas's work so unique.
Mary Cassatt: Family Pictures (Smart About Art)
Mary Cassatt is most famous for her paintings of mothers and babies and that's what first attracts 'Claire' because she has a new baby sister. But through research for her class report Claire learns many surprising facts about Mary: she was an American who lived in France nearly all her life she never married or had children herself and she became a professional artist at a time when respectable ladies simply did not do that! With beautiful reproductions of Mary Cassatt's best-loved paintings as well as lively childlike pictures that illustrate her life this Smart About Art book gives children a wonderful 'portrait' of a great artist and fascinating woman.Illustrated by Jennifer Kalis.
Who Was Charles Darwin?
As a young boy Charles Darwin hated school and was often scolded forconducting useless experiments. Yet his passion for the natural world was so strong that he suffered through terrible seasickness during his five-year voyage aboard The Beagle. Darwin collected new creatures from the coasts of Africa South America and the Galapagos Islands and expanded his groundbreaking ideas that would change people's understanding of the natural world. About 100 illustrations and a clear exciting text will make Darwin and his theory of evolution an exciting discovery for every young reader.
