Books with author Lynne Barasch

2AZK saves the day!Back in 1923, a long-distance telephone call took hours to place, and overseas calls weren't possible at all. But a new invention, called wireless radio, permitted instant communication over long distances. A young boy, itching to get involved, buys a secondhand receiver and earphones, and studies hard to learn Morse code so that he can pass the test to qualify as an amateur radio operator and get his own station: 2AZK. Its fun talking with people all over the world just by tapping on his telegraph key (and readers can tap along - there's Morse code to follow in the pictures). Then one night he picks up a distress signal from Florida -- family stranded in flood -- and uses his skill for something more important. Based on the author's father's experiences as a young ham operator in the 1920s, Radio Rescue is an exciting story of a moment in technological history.

The story of two young Kenyan boys, one Maasai and one Kikuyu, who find a way to overcome their traditional rivalries and become friends. One day when Abaani, a Maasai boy, takes his family's cattle out to graze, he is surprised to see a Kikuyu boy, Haki, tending a new fruit and vegetable stall alongside the road. The boys know of the traditional conflicts between the Maasai and the Kikuyu. They take an immediate dislike to each other. A short while later, as customers surround Haki's stall, a dangerous situation suddenly arises. Abaani calls to Haki, and together they act quickly. Little do the boys know they have also taken the first step in overcoming their differences and forging a path to friendship.Framed by the annual great migration of animals to Kenya, First Come the Zebra looks beyond current conflicts toward the hope for peaceful coexistence. This appealing story is an encouraging tribute to the potential of today's youth to make a difference in the world. Lynne Barasch was inspired to write First Come the Zebra by the beauty of the land and people of Kenya, which she visited in 2007.

Growing up in New York City, Hiromi Suzuki missed spending time with her father, a sushi chef who worked long hours in the family's Japanese restaurant. So one day when she was eight years old, Hiromi begged her father to take her to the Fulton Fish Market, where he bought fresh fish. Hiromi was fascinated by what she saw and learned; by the time she was thirteen, she was ready to take the next step. She asked her father to teach her to make sushi. Little did Hiromi realize that her request would lead her to the forefront of a minor culinary revolution, as women claimed their place in the once all-male world of sushi chefs. Hiromi's Hands is the true story of a young girl's determination to follow her dream, and a tribute to the loving family who supported her. Readers will cheer for Hiromi's success, and maybe decide to taste some sushi, too!

An introduction to the very human side of Albert EinsteinApril’s older sister, Annabel, is in danger of failing math, so April enlists the help of a famous scientist, sending a math problem to Albert Einstein at his home in Princeton, New Jersey. While April waits for an answer, she pictures all the things Einstein might be doing instead: working on his own math problems, playing his violin, riding his bicycle, gardening, sailing, helping other children with their homework – all things that he is known to have enjoyed. But time is running out for Annabel, who doesn’t know that help is on the way. And when it comes, it takes April to show that Einstein has given Annabel a clue so that she can solve the problem herself.Energetic watercolor-and-ink pictures illustrate this sprightly little-sister-to-the-rescue story based on an actual event. The math problem and solution are included.

Clayton Bates was born in rural South Carolina in 1907, and from the age of five he just loved to dance. When he was 12, Clayton lost his left leg in a factory accident, but his dancing spirit would not die. He started to dance again using crutches, then a peg leg. Within a short time his peg leg matched the dancing ability of his other leg.Peg Leg Bates could soon perform almost every known tap dance step, and he also developed unique steps all his own. He began dancing professionally in variety shows and vaudeville. As his fame grew, he was invited to dance at the Apollo Theatre, the Cotton Club, and the Ed Sullivan television show 21 times! He was an amazing show-stopper.Peg Leg Bates never succumbed to self-pity or boasted about his success. He educated himself and became one of the world’s greatest tap dancers. “He was an inspiration to everyone he met because of his accomplishments in the face of adversity,” said Peg Leg’s daughter, and his most lasting achievement might just be the extraordinary example he set for us all.Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates died in 1998.

An inspirational biography of Clayton Peg Leg Bates (1907-1998), an African American man who overcame the hardship of losing a leg at age 12 and went on to become a world-renowned tap dancer. Clayton Peg Leg Bates was one of the legendary tap dancers of the twentieth century. As a young boy, Clayton loved to dance, but when he lost his left leg in a factory accident at age twelve, no one thought he would ever walk again, let alone dance. But Clayton's musical spirit was still alive. Soon he was dancing using crutches, then a peg leg. Within a short time his peg leg matched the dancing ability of his other leg.Peg Leg Bates performed throughout the United States and Europe, winning the hearts of audiences with his unique style of dancing. He was an amazing showstopper and an inspiration to everyone he met. With determination and a love of life, he turned misfortune into triumph. His most lasting achievement might just be the extraordinary example he set for us all.Lynne Barasch's initial inspiration for Knockin' on Wood came many years ago when she learned about Peg Leg Bates from her daughter's tap dance teacher.

Tales from a small country schoolIn 1940, Grandpa's country school had no lunchroom or indoor bathroom and used wood-burning stoves for heat, but it wasn't completely different from today's schools. Students studied spelling and geography, United States and world history, and learned the names of all the United States presidents. And Grandpa was always the smartest -- that is, up until fifth grade, when Kaye Brush arrived.With her sprightly watercolor-and-ink illustrations, including endpapers featuring a quaint map of the community, Lynne Barasch draws on family history to give today's schoolchildren a charming inside-the-classroom look at life and learning in a three-room country schoolhouse.

Tales from a small country schoolIn 1940, Grandpa's country school had no lunchroom or indoor bathroom and used wood-burning stoves for heat, but it wasn't completely different from today's schools. Students studied spelling and geography, United States and world history, and learned the names of all the United States presidents. And Grandpa was always the smartest -- that is, up until fifth grade, when Kaye Brush arrived.With her sprightly watercolor-and-ink illustrations, including endpapers featuring a quaint map of the community, Lynne Barasch draws on family history to give today's schoolchildren a charming inside-the-classroom look at life and learning in a three-room country schoolhouse.