Book Description

Today is election day in Mrs. Connor's class. The students will listen to speeches and vote for a new class president. Today is also Becky's first day at Robin Hill School. She thinks she would make a great class president, but she's new and has no friends yet. When Becky takes a chance and makes a speech, the whole class is surprised by the winner! ... Read more

Book Description

What presidential family loved animals so much they kept a raccoon -that was given to them as a main dish for Thanksgiving-as a pet? Who was president in 1839 when the first baseball diamond was built in Cooperstown, New York? Kids learn the answers to these questions while also learning more serious presidential facts. Tons of information contained in a kid-friendly text bring American history to life. More than 280 stickers portray the wives of the presidents, symbols of each presidency, and changes in the American flag as states joined the union. This entertaining bestseller has been revised and updated to include our 43rd president. ... Read more

Book Description

Are You a Cynical Beginner?

You may not have a Ph.D. in history, but you already know -- or can readily believe -- that Columbus didn't exactly "discover" America. Or that the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence was a slaveholder. Or that our leaders may not be entirely committed to the effort to make sure that in fact no child is left behind.

But the truth of individual lives can be more compelling than they initially appear: surprising, informative, and maybe even inspiring. This book explores a few such lives, and the lessons they offer in ways that might actually mean something outside a classroom.

These biographical case studies -- which include General George Washington, who was once invited to lead a military coup against the new American government; Ida Wells, who responded to lynchings by publicly mocking the manhood of those who murdered African Americans; and Eugene Debs, who chose to go to jail to protect free speech -- explore a series of questions. How does one keep true to one's principles in the face of social pressure? What strategies work best in addressing your opponents? Can public acts atone for private flaws?

In different ways, the profiles in courage here provide answers to these questions -- not definitive answers, but real ones. You can weigh them, accept them, reject them, or -- who knows? -- maybe even apply them. You may not end up any less cynical after leafing through this book. But you will be less of a beginner.

Book Description

The press secretary is one of the most visible members of the national government. Appointed by the president, the secretary speaks on behalf of the president and makes sure the president has good relations with the media and the American people. ... Read more

Book Description

Hey Kidz! Buy This Book provides a solid grounding in the current media strategies that target youth as the most sought-after demographic target, and leads readers to the understanding that advertising drives most of everything they experience. The author goes on to explain how youth can tap into an unrealized power through creating their own messaging content and use it to change the world. With an emphasis on community building, teamwork, historical research, and self-expression, this empowering book is a primer on media activism for young people, their teachers, parents, youth organization leaders, librarians, and activists. It serves as a guide for youth who have a problem with the way the world works but don't yet know how to articulate their demands or how to achieve their goals for world change. Chapters explore topics including how the same six companies own the majority of media outlets and that real politics consist of the actions of people. The book also provides easy-to-follow directions for performing basic activist tasks, such as holding meetings, designing flyers and posters, and hooking up a PA system. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Women Finally Get To Be Heard!
Would you ever stand outside in the freezing cold, while getting beat and stared at all just to be heard and fight for something that you know you may never ever win? Well most wouldn't, however the brave yet very young shirtwaist girls did, day after day until something was done about it! The novel We Shall Not Be Moved by the author Joan Dash clearly and vividly informs readers about the "Women's Factory Strike Of 1909". Though many look upon the matter as insignificant it is truly the opposite as the author obviously demonstrates in her writing and enthusiasm.
The story is a very influential and heartbreaking; however it is all of this as well as more all while being incredibly precise. It explains that not only hardworking "men" get tired but hardworking women need a break also. Though it is indeed a story of triumph it sends an important and strong message across to its readers. The story starts in a shirtwaist building as many, many girls started their days in 1909. Young women, so deep into their silent yet busily done work they almost overlooked one little fact. The almost did not and at times ignored the simply stated fact that they were being "pushed around". Any one of the girls could have told a story of going hungry, not having a home and numerous more mishaps that occurred. All of them due to a extremely unfortunate cause, the very undersized amount of pay they received, especially for such carefully done work. Finally, a fed up girl speaking and crying out in Yiddish tongue announced her pain to the entire room of people, each and every one with the same exact opinion on the subject matter. Soon, that one girl would change the world.
Dash's writing plainly shows her passion and beliefs on the subject matter. The author uses descriptive and vibrant words to express emotion and feeling. Very specific detail and accurate facts also contribute to the wonderful story. In addition, occasional quotes and/or excerpts from original speeches dating back as far as the late early 1900's add to the exceptional story line. One of the plentiful examples include: "Many were paralyzed by their ignorance of the new country". This quote is not only strong and powerful but truthful all at the same time. It has a deeper meaning than what it says, it goes way beyond that simple meaning it seems to have. It conveys the seriousness of young girls (immigrants) coming to America with no skills and whatnot trying to make a living anyhow. She accurately and intensely captures what exactly the girls went through at the time period.
Dash uses real life situations that many of the young adults were faced with. For instance "One girl is given the factual name of Rea Lupatkin. She is nineteen, and like thousands of other young, single Jewish women she has come to America entirely on her own. Working in a shirtwaist factory, Rea earns four dollars for a fifty-six-hour week. Out of this she pays four dollars a month for lodging in a tenement apartment shared with a married couple and their child. She walks forty-five minutes to work each day to save the expense of carfare. Her food costs $2.25 a week so her regular weekly costs of living are $3.25, leaving seventy-five cents for every other expense. All the same Rea sends an occasional two dollars abroad to her family in Europe." This story is just one of the several young shirtwaist girls' stories. It proves that there were treated unfairly by their bosses and such. In addition it demonstrates that the young women were living and supporting not only themselves, but usually their family as well on close to nothing! These are just some of the various stories and testimonies of the shirtwaist makers.
Clara Lemlich, the one how happened to luckily start the strike and ILGWU (International Ladies Garment Workers Union) movement, clearly had spirit and nerve! She would go on to lead the young women and countless others in a march that not only changed the world for their advantage, but for the better!

We Shall Not Be Moved
The Story is about women in America. It was the year 1909 and new immigrants are coming from different countries. They get jobs as shirtwaist-makers. Some of the women workers go on strike because of the low wages and unbearable conditions. They are picketing even though they get sent to jail or beaten up.Then, some other women in the middle classes and higher classes start unions for these workers. American girls and Immigrant girls alike join together in some strikes.
I liked the book very much. It was very educational. It was also exciting and exhilirating. I liked the book because it had girl power. It told me of how men dominated the world from women. It showed me to be very strong about something you believe in. It was a big morale booster, especially for girls.
I chose this book because of the cover. I thought the cover was very much enticing.The cover of this book caught my eye. Also because when I read the back of the book it grabbed my attention. I like historical books. I read some reviews of this book and it looked pretty good.

Startling
I was shocked that these women(and a few men)were willing to risk so much,their jobs, their homes, their respect, their pride and their safty for higher wages and for more resect.Many of them were beaten by hird thugs.Stricker and streetwalker(hooker) were sininims,it was so scary to the strickers because if the strick did not in time they might be driven to being a streetwalker by hunger.Although this book is slitly depressing it is a good book.My words don't even begin to describe the pain these women felt.

An account of the famous 1909 women's garment makers strike.
Though intended for a juvenile audience, this book is a lively and powerful account of perhaps the most famous labor strike in American history. In 1909, after years of abusive and unfair wages and working conditions, those who sewed women's garments -- mostly women themselves -- joined with suffragists and society matrons in a protest against those conditions. Ms. Dash weaves her narrative of the days before and during the strike through the fabric of the daily lives of the women. This is a book for anyone interested in women's history and feminism, no matter what age she (or, hopefully, he) is. ... Read more

Book Description

AMERICA WAS FOUNDED on the idea of liberty for all. But it has not always achieved that ideal. To Establish Justice is an honest and powerful examination of the Supreme Court’s role in legalizing—or negating—civil rights for various groups. From the struggles of Native Americans at the country’s birth to the African American civil rights movement of the 1960s, from the vote for women to the internment of the Japanese during World War II, To Establish Justice shows how the Supreme Court has paved the way for both justice and discrimination, and how this important arm of our government has impacted all of our lives. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A title essential for any middle school collection

The pairing of Newbery Honor winning author McKissack with attorney Arlene Zarembka lends to a title essential for any middle school collection concerned with representing the history and operations of the American justice system: To Establish Justice examines the role the Supreme Court has played in civil rights issues. Chapters use easily understood examples and language to examine civil rights struggles, from the efforts of Native Americans to reclaim native lands to women's efforts to vote. To Establish Justice would be a fine guide in any year; but in an election year it holds particular relevance.
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Book Description

On September 11th horrific events occurred, yet through the simple text and vibrant art of first graders, we are reminded that the world continued the next day. On each page, children experience the comforts of ordinary routines, such as their teacher reading books to them, having homework and recess, and knowing that 2 + 2 still equals 4. This is a poignant message of hope that reassures us all that even after bad things happen, tomorrow always brings a new day. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

And a Child Shall Lead Them.
SEPTEMBER 12TH was written and illustrated by children in a first-grade class. The book is filled with hope and displays that even though none of us will ever be the same since September 11th, we did and will press forward to continue living our lives, perhaps cherishing what we did not consider valuable before. The book is very poignant and some find it amazing that it was written by a class of first-graders. I don't find that so amazing as I do that these young children seem to be more at peace with the world and all that went on than most adults do. I find it hard to believe that the kids who wrote this book are afraid to fly in planes or travel overseas because of what happened on September 11th. I think this book illustrates that the future of our country will be in good hands. I highly recommend this book not only to children, but to anyone who still faces anxiety as a result of September 11th. Read this book, take comfort, and let yourself be led to peace by a child.

September 12th
This book is incredible. I am excited to see that children made this book as a comforting tool for other children. If you have a child that is terrified about the September 11th events, this book is a must. Every time that I feel anxious about the "war on terrorism" I read this book, and it provides me with comfort.

September 12th : We Knew We Would Be All Right
This is a wonderful children's book which explains how we as Americans (especially our children) knew we would be all right after the hideous experience of September 11, 2001.

The emphasis is on the day after and all the days after and I can almost hear our First Lady's voice soothing our children in the aftermath. This story (written and illustrated by children) has a soothing charm that brings tears to your eyes and hope to your heart.

Innocent View
This book is a delight and comfort to read. The entire book is written by first graders, and each page tells another reason as to how they knew that everything would be all right after the tragedy of 9-11. Some reasons include "The sun came up" and "2+2 still added up to 4."
The book was also entirely illustrated by the children and the bold, colorful pictures display the hope these young people have. While this tragedy will never be forgotten, by reading this book we can see the innocent view that young children take on this, and it gives readers a hope that can only be had by children.
This book is a must for anyone with small children or anyone working in an education environment. For those children who may not understand quite what went on, this book should comfort all those who read it. This wonderful book should be read by all, no matter what the age!

Innocent Perspective
This book is a delight and comfort to read, and the story wouldn't be the same without a child's perspective. September 11th was a day that few will forget, but by reading this book, it lets us all, no matter what age, know that everything will be alright. Every page reveals a way that young children know that everything will be alright.
The illustrations are also done by children, and this gives us an insight into how the younger generation percieves this tragedy. While we know that most children cannot fully understand the ramifications of 9-11, this book helps us to see what they see.
This book is a must for those with small children or those working in an education environment. And while the book is solely done by children for children, we can all learn a little something from this hopeful and delightful read. ... Read more

Book Description

"LET FREEDOM RING" WITH THIS NEW BOOK WRITTEN BY A 10-YEAR-OLD.The first children’s book to teach freedom, the cornerstone of American society, to our young people, "Let Freedom Ring" is about a 7-year-old girl named Lydia who learns what freedom means to both her and her family. When Lydia overhears a news broadcast about America fighting a "war on freedom," the inquisitive child questions her father about why America is fighting such a war.

To show Lydia how important freedom is to the family, her father and mother spend the entire day pointing out "freedom" to Lydia as she goes through her daily activities. A wonderful primer for parents, teachers, and kids alike, "Let Freedom Ring" is destined to become a classic both in the classroom – and the living room! ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the same spirit as Baby Einstein's Poems for Little Ones, BabySanta's Christmas Joy puts playful poetry alongside large pictures ofbrightly colored, easy-to-recognize scenes--perfect for small eyes and shortattention spans. And in keeping with Baby Einstein's multisensory approach,Christmas Joy also includes a 23-track audio CD of Christmas classics.

Both the book and the CD prove to be a mixed bag. The excerpts include quite afew carols ("We Wish You a Merry Christmas," "Jingle Bells") along with shortpieces from E.E. Cummings, Thomas Buchanan Reed, and others. But each pageappears as if it's been printed on the same piece of holiday letterhead, andthat repetition can only be a missed opportunity for a book that sets out toengage visually. That said, the big, colorful photographs should be a hit,featuring wintry scenes like snow-covered holly and the proverbial one-horseopen sleigh.

Parents already tolerant of kiddified music should be pleased with the CD'sselections. A smattering of classical (Mozart, Bach, and Handel) accompanies adozen traditional carols and Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. But bewarned: even the most unfrayable holiday nerves might not respond well to the"Twelve Days of Christmas" on marimba. (Baby to age 3) --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Beautiful Christmas Book
I bought this for my daughter for her first Christmas (she will be 3 months by the holidays). The artwork is beautiful and the CD that is included is a wonderful collection of Christmas music. My only complaint (and it's not really much of a complaint) is that the book is a bit long for young children. The poems, while nice, are just too numerous for very little child. But I think we will be able to enjoy this book for many Christmases to come, even if we can only get through parts of it this year.

Stunning...for all ages!
This fabulous book is made up of photography that relates to Christmas, winter and the holidays. The photographs and beautiful and my son loves pointing to the various objects. The pictures are all coupled with poems and songs that realte to the image and the holidays. My nine-year-old enjoys this book, too. HIGHLY recommended! ... Read more

Book Description

How do professionals catch criminals and solve mysteries? Examine the evidence and see the masterminds of law enforcement at work! These 48-page books about fascinating subjects like pirates, mummies, and volcanoes are for proficient readers who can understand a rich vocabulary and challenging sentence structure. In addition to the stunning photographs, informative sidebars, and glossary, readers will find archival photographs and paintings. Averaging 4,500 to 5,000 words in length, Level 4 books are 40 percent pictures and 40 percent text.The Dorling Kindersley Readers combine an enticing visual layout with high-interest, easy-to-read stories to captivate and delight young bookworms who are just getting started. Written by leading children's authors and compiled in consultation with literacy experts, these engaging books build reader confidence along with a lifelong appreciation for nonfiction, classic stories, and biographies. There is a DK Reader to interest every child at every level, from preschool to grade 4. ... Read more