Books with author Laura Baskes Litwin

Benjamin Banneker, born in 1731, was a man ahead of his time. As a free African American in a time of slavery, Banneker was not welcome in white society, and he spent most of his life on his Maryland farm. There he harnessed his keen and curious intellect to teach himself complex mathematics and astronomy. Banneker secured a place in history with his role in surveying the site for the capital city, Washington D.C., and his published almanacs with precise tide calculations and weather predictions. Also, Banneker himself was one of the first African Americans to speak out against slavery. Banneker's accomplishments were used by abolitionists as proof of the intellectual powers of his race.

Benjamin Banneker, born in 1731, was a man ahead of his time. As a free African American in a time of slavery, Banneker was not welcome in white society, and he spent most of his life on his Maryland farm. There he harnessed his keen and curious intellect to teach himself complex mathematics and astronomy. Banneker secured a place in history with his role in surveying the site for the capital city, Washington D.C., and his published almanacs with precise tide calculations and weather predictions. Also, Banneker himself was one of the first African Americans to speak out against slavery. Banneker's accomplishments were used by abolitionists as proof of the intellectual powers of his race.

Zora Neale Hurston's THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD is a heated tale of love and passion. The novel also broke new ground celebrating folk traditions, particularly of African-American women. The folklore traditions that Hurston pursued with the trained eye of the anthropologist engage the reader and play a vital role in preserving the cultural heritage of African Americans.

The tale of the giant white whale immortalized in Herman Melville's classic 1851 novel was inspired by horrifying real events: the shipwreck of a whaling boat and the desperate efforts of its twenty-man crew to survive. With accessible text and vivid full-color imagery, this engrossing volume investigates both the legend and the true story behind Moby Dick. Entertaining fast facts and insightful sidebars will keep elementary-level readers engaged throughout. A Further Reading list with books and websites encourages further exploration.

A horror story succeeds if it strikes terror in the reader. A good horror story is like a good ride at an amusement park. Feeling scared without having to face real danger is exhilarating. The story builds with tantalizing ideas. The reader inches out on the coaster track, knowing the precarious drop is seconds away. In WRITE HORROR FICTION IN 5 SIMPLE STEPS, author Laura Baskes Litwin shows aspiring writers how to write a terrifying tale of horror.

A horror story succeeds if it strikes terror in the reader. A good horror story is like a good ride at an amusement park. Feeling scared without having to face real danger is exhilarating. The story builds with tantalizing ideas. The reader inches out on the coaster track, knowing the precarious drop is seconds away. In WRITE HORROR FICTION IN 5 SIMPLE STEPS, author Laura Baskes Litwin shows aspiring writers how to write a terrifying tale of horror.

Dorothea Lange was an influential American photographer and photojournalist. Lange is best known for her Depression-era work, which gave a face to the widespread human suffering that was taking place across the country at that time. Langes work during this period, in addition to her later work, would profoundly influence the development of documentary photography.