Three cheers for the red-white-and-blue in this Smithsonian nonfiction reader!The original Star-Spangled Banner that flew over Fort McHenry, Baltimore, in 1814 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the words that would become the national anthem of the United States is the showpiece of the Smithsonian! In this lively nonfiction book, young readers will read about the story behind the flag, the song, and how the Smithsonian cares for this most precious national tr...

In 1789, George Washington became the first president of the United States. He has been called the father of our country for leading America through its early years. Washington also served in two major wars during his lifetime: the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. With over 100 black-and-white illustrations, Washington's fascinating story comes to life - revealing the real man, not just the face on the dollar bill!

From Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s daughter, Dr. Bernice A. King: “My father’s dream continues to live on from generation to generation, and this beautiful and powerful illustrated edition of his world-changing "I Have a Dream" speech brings his inspiring message of freedom, equality, and peace to the youngest among us—those who will one day carry his dream forward for everyone.”On August 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington, Martin Luther K...

Discover the amazing true story of how one Native American's suffering, generosity, and friendship led to the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims, by New York Times bestselling author Eric Metaxas.In 1608, traders came to Massachusetts, captured a Patuxet boy named Squanto, and sold him into slavery. He was later cared for by Christians, taught faith in God, and learned to speak English. Ten years after his capture, he returned to America and learned an epidemic h...

In 1775, Paul Revere of Boston made his now-famous horseback ride warning colonists of an impending attack by the British. This event went largely unnoticed in history until Longfellow celebrated it in a poem in 1861. So who was Paul Revere? In addition to being an American patriot, he was a skilled silversmith and made false teeth from hippo tusks! This biography, with black-and-white illustrations throughout, brings to life Paul Revere's thrilling ride as well as the personal side of the...

This valiant story of how young George Washington was drawn into his country's struggle for independence gives readers a vivid perspective on a crucial era in American history--and on the life of a revolutionary hero.

Booker dreamedof making friends with words,setting free the secretsthat lived in books.Born into slavery, young Booker T. Washington could only dream of learning to read and write. After emancipation, Booker began a five-hundred-mile journey, mostly on foot, to Hampton Institute, taking his first of many steps towards a college degree. When he arrived, he had just fifty cents in his pocket and a dream about to come true. The young slave who once waited outside ...

"No Taxation without Representation!" The Boston Tea Party stands as an iconic event of the American Revolution—outraged by the tax on tea, American colonists chose to destroy the tea by dumping it into the water! Learn all about the famed colonialists who fought against the British Monarchy, and read about this act of rebellion from our history! With black-and-white illustrations throughout and sixteen pages of photos, the Boston Tea party is brought to life!

Renowned artist Maira Kalman sheds light on the fascinating life and interests of the Renaissance man who was our third president.Thomas Jefferson is perhaps best known for writing the Declaration of Independence—but there’s so much more to discover. This energetic man was interested in everything. He played violin, spoke seven languages and was a scientist, naturalist, botanist, mathematician and architect. He designed his magnificent home, Monticello, which is full of ob...

YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults FinalistOne of the Best Books of the Year: Chicago Public Library, School Library Journal, Science Books & FilmsBright white teeth. Straight leg bones. Awkwardly contorted arm bones. On a hot summer day in 2005, Dr. Douglas Owsley of the Smithsonian Institution peered into an excavated grave, carefully examining the fragile skeleton that had been buried there for four hundred years. "H...

Martin is a clever, happy child born in the south of the United States of America. As he grows up he becomes angry at the way black people are treated. Find out all about Martin Luther King and his "I have a dream" speech in Washington DC in 1963 with this story that is packed with all the facts and colourful pictures.This book is part of a series of picture books, Famous People, Great Events, which are suitable for ages 6-12. They tell the stories of famous men and women and great...

Each title in this series tells the story of a man or woman whose dedication to their chosen cause led to changes that affect all our lives today. Each includes a vivid description of the world in which the famous person lived. Martin Luther King's life is vividly described through detailed text and illustrations, from his humble beginnings in America's Deep South to black Americans' civil rights campaigner in the 1960s. The story of his rise to fame is also the story of black emancipation...