Books with author Michael Rajczak

Gettysburg Battlefield might be the most haunted place in the United States. As the site of the bloodiest battle ever fought on American soil, it seems likely. Accounts of ghostly soldiers roaming the cemetery and the appearance of streaks of light in photographs taken there are numerousthough the existence of restless spirits has never been proven. Readers will get chills learning about the many places near Gettysburg Battlefield where ghosts and hauntings have been reported. Including important historical context, detailed sidebars, and spooky photographs, the tales of wandering spirits will engage readersbut they may have to keep the light on!

If you want to know where you are or where you are going, you can look at a map. Throughout American history, our nation's leaders and citizens were able to use maps for direction and learning. Sometimes these maps were not very accurate, and we can learn about how Americans viewed their world just by looking at the maps they had available. What would our nation look like without the 11 Confederate states? How can we reach the Pacific if there are no maps to guide us? Readers discover the story of our nation through primary sources in this intriguing volume.

Boaters on the Great Lakes often see clusters of small mussels stuck to docks, rocks, and even boats! Called zebra mussels, these organisms can cause people to cut their feet, filter out food for larval fish, and more. Through reading about how zebra mussels came to these freshwater lakes, readers learn what invasive species are and how they can cause great harm to native ecosystems. Facts about the spread of zebra mussels and efforts to stop this spread introduce readers to conservation and other science curriculum topics. Full-color photographs, fact boxes, and maps showing zebra mussel distribution augment readers understanding.

The transcontinental railroad didnt really cross North America. In fact, the famed rail building that took place in the 1860s only completed the stretch from Nebraska to California! Readers will learn many new facts about the transcontinental railroad to augment what they learn in the social studies classroom. Historical images drive home the reality of a 12-hour workday, poor treatment of Chinese immigrant workers, and the dangerous tunneling through the Sierra Nevada. Fact boxes will further fascinate readers with one of the greatest industrial marvels of US history.

The Liberty Bell cracked the very first time it was rung. However, the cracked Liberty Bell visitors can see on display in Philadelphia today isnt that bell, which means another bell was made and cracked. This and a plethora of other historical facts show readers a fun, surprising, and sometimes-humorous side of history. The main content supports many parts of the social studies curriculum, while conversational language makes it even more engaging and understandable for readers. A colorful design draws readers in further with full-color photographs, maps, and fascinating fact boxes.

"Franklin Delano Roosevelt's deep admiration for distant cousin Theodore Roosevelt guided him into politics. Roosevelt rose quickly in New York political circles. Then, he was stricken with paralysis from the waist down, but this didn't stop his ambitions. This thought-provoking pre-presidential biography, full of fascinating facts like these, describes the remarkable and vivacious man who would guide the nation through World War II. Noteworthy photographs and interesting fact boxes add to the accessible text's appeal"--