Books with author Gary Johnson

In a world of microwaves, Blackberries, unmanned space travel, McDonalds and everything else in the way of “advantages,” the author wanted to pass on to the children of the 21st century, some true pioneer stories. What follows is based upon events in the years during the beginning of the Civil War in the life of her maternal Great Grandmother, including being orphaned during the Civil War by her father, being left behind when the wagon train went forward, her rescue and subsequent life following her mother’s death shortly afterwards, escaping by train from beatings and cruelty only to be brought back and finally, living a normal and productive life as an adult. The strength and resiliency of a little girl against the odds remains the theme of this otherwise tragic tale.

From the Native Americans who lived in the Chicago area for thousands of years, to the first European explorers Marquette and Jolliet, to the 2005 Chicago White Sox World Series win, parents, teachers, and kids will love this comprehensive and exciting history of how Chicago became the third largest city in the U.S. Chicago’s spectacular and impressive history comes alive through activities such as building a model of the original Ferris Wheel, taking architectural walking tours of the first skyscrapers and Chicago’s oldest landmarks, and making a Chicago-style hotdog. Serving as both a guide to kids and their parents and an engaging tool for teachers, this book details the first Chicagoan Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, the Fort Dearborn Massacre, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the building of the world’s first skyscraper, and the hosting of two World’s Fairs. In addition to uncovering Windy City treasures such as the birth of the vibrant jazz era of Louis Armstrong and the work of Chicago poets, novelists, and songwriters, kids will also learn about Chicago’s triumphant and tortured sports history.