Computer Engineer Ruchi Sanghvi by
Have you ever scrolled through a news feed on Facebook? Ruchi Sanghvi was one of the company's first computer engineers. With her help, Facebook quickly became one of the largest social networking sites in the world.
Luna and Me by
Once there was a redwood treeâe"one of the world's largest and tallest trees, and one of the oldest. And once, born nearly a thousand years after the tree first took root, there was a girl named Julia, who was called Butterfly. When exploring her beloved forest, Butterfly wandered into a grove of ancient trees. One tree had broken branches and a big blue "X" on the side. It was going to be chopped down. Butterfly climbed up into the tree. A tree wouldn't be cut down if it had a person living in it. This is the story of Julia Butterfly Hill and Luna, the redwood tree she lived in for two years, never once coming down. That is, not until Luna's future was safe.
Who Is Malala Yousafzai? by
Malala Yousafzai was a girl who loved to learn but was told that girls would no longer be allowed to go to school. She wrote a blog that called attention to what was happening in her beautiful corner of Pakistan and realized that words can bring about change. She has continued to speak out for the right of all children to have an education. In 2014 she won the Nobel Peace Prize.
Alternate Reality Game Designer Jane Mcgonigal by
Jane McGonigal played video games as a kid. As an adult, she creates alternate reality games (ARGs), which may be based online but take place in the real world. Learn how she creates games for problem solving and teambuilding.
Ipod and Electronics Visionary Tony Fadell by
As a teen, Tony Fadell invented a computer processor and sold it to Apple. Years later, Apple hired Fadell to create an iPod prototype, and he helped .revolutionize portable music players. Learn more about this electronics innovator!.
My Story, My Dance by
A boy discovers his passion for dance and becomes a modern hero in this inspiring picture book biography of Robert Battle, artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. When Robert Battle was a boy wearing leg braces, he never dreamed he’d study at Juilliard. Though most dancers begin training at an early age, it wasn’t until Robert was a teenager that his appreciation for movement—first from martial arts, then for ballet—became his passion. But support from his family and teachers paired with his desire and determination made it possible for Robert to excel. After years of hard work, the young man who was so inspired by a performance of Alvin Ailey’s Revelations became the artistic director of the very company that motivated him. Today, under Robert’s leadership, Alvin Ailey continues to represent the African American spirit through dance. Featuring illustrations brimming with vibrant color and swirling motion, this biographical picture book from husband-and-wife team James Ransome and Lisa Cline-Ransome includes a foreword from Robert Battle himself as well as a bibliography, suggested further reading, and an author’s note. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater was founded in 1958 by choreographer Alvin Ailey. He envisioned a company dedicated to enriching the American modern dance heritage and preserving the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience. When Mr. Ailey began creating dances, he drew upon his “blood memories” of his home state of Texas, the blues, spirituals, and gospel inspiration, which resulted in the creation of his most popular and critically acclaimed work, Revelations. Since its founding, the company has performed in seventy-one countries on six continents. It’s repertory includes works by Mr. Ailey and ninety other choreographers, and new works are commissioned each year. Judith Jamison succeeded Mr. Ailey as artistic director, and in 2011, she selected Robert Battle to be her successor. Learn more at AlvinAiley.org.
William and Kate by
Takes readers through the courtship of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, their wedding, and their life as a royal couple; discusses life and career highlights from birth to present day.
Chien-Shiung Wu by
In this title, examine the life of accomplished physics researcher and experimentalist Chien-Shiung Wu. Readers will enjoy digging into Wu's personal story, beginning with her childhood in China where her father encouraged her curiosity and interest in science. Students can trace Wu's success from her education at the University of California Berkeley, where she met physics giants Oppenheimer, Fermi, and Segre, to her secret involvement with the Manhatten Project and her tenure as a researcher and professor at Columbia University. Engaging text and photos offer insight on topics such as nuclear physics, beta decay, and the law of parity. While a timeline, glossary, and index supplement the text, an entertaining science activity allows readers their own hands-on experience based on the science that inspired this woman's groundbreaking career. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Emmanuel's Dream by
Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah's inspiring true story--which was turned into a film, Emmanuel's Gift, narrated by Oprah Winfrey--is nothing short of remarkable. Born in Ghana, West Africa, with one deformed leg, he was dismissed by most people--but not by his mother, who taught him to reach for his dreams. As a boy, Emmanuel hopped to school more than two miles each way, learned to play soccer, left home at age thirteen to provide for his family, and, eventually, became a cyclist. He rode an astonishing four hundred miles across Ghana in 2001, spreading his powerful message: disability is not inability. Today, Emmanuel continues to work on behalf of the disabled. Thompson's lyrical prose and Qualls's bold collage illustrations offer a powerful celebration of triumphing over adversity. Includes an author's note with more information about Emmanuel's charity.
Rihanna by
Rihanna is one of music's biggest stars. The singer has had hit songs around the world. She's sold millions of albums and won many awards. Few artists reach the heights that Rihanna has--and the singing superstar is still in her early 20s! Rihanna tells the story of how a girl from Barbados grew up to be one of the most famous people on Earth! Read about Rihanna's tough childhood and how her pain drove her to succeed.
