Books with author Steven Otfinoski

Vivid storytelling brings World War II history to life and place readers in the shoes of the people who experienced the United States' Japanese internment camps. On the heels of Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. Through this order, more than 110,000 people of Japanese descent, many of them U.S. citizens, were forced to relocate to military camps for the duration of the war. Suspenseful, dramatic events unfold in chronological, interwoven stories from the different perspectives of people who experienced these events while they were happening. Narratives intertwine to create a breathless, "What's Next?" kind of read. Students gain a new perspective on historical figures as they learn about real people struggling to decide how best to act in a given moment.

A Step Into History series takes a step into some of the most important moments in history, and discovers how these moments helped shape the world we live in today.Wars between rival nations are usually fought on the battlefield. However, from the end of World War II until the early 1990s, the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in a Cold War in which neither side ever directly attacked the other. Readers will learn about the Cold War's origins and find out how the rival nations competed with each other. They will also learn about the conflict's effects on people around the world, its lasting impact, and more.

Step back in time and visit Connecticut during the Colonial period. Despite conflicts with England and Native Americans, such as the Pequot Indian War, Dutch and English settlers flocked to Connecticut for its rich farmland and religious freedom. Find out what made Connecticut unique, how it got the nickname "the Constitution State," what role it played during the Revolutionary War, and what daily life was like in Colonial times and the early days of statehood.

The Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War have brought an official end to slavery, yet some Southern slave owners are refusing to comply. The road to freedom is still long and hard for many African Americans, but you’re not giving up. Will you: Overcome obstacles as you make your way north from Texas, looking to begin a new life of freedom? Seek out your family, from whom you were separated as a child, after emancipation? Fight back when you take work as an apprentice but find that you’re still treated as a slave? YOU CHOOSE offers multiple perspectives on history, supporting Common Core reading standards and providing readers a front-row seat to the past.

For members of the U.S. Army, the call to arms is a great honor and a solemn duty. Defending their country takes strength, determination, and an uncommon amount of courage. U.S. soldiers have faced life and death on battlefields throughout American history. Experience for yourself the sights and sounds of war as brave men and women become extraordinary heroes when they display courage under fire.

Find out what it takes to build robots, from how they are designed to which manufacturing processes and materials are used in their construction.Calling All Innovators series introduces students to careers in science and technology. The complex text allows readers (Grades 5-8) to determine the main idea and explain how it is supported by key details. From durable robots that can weather the intense heat inside a volcano and gather important research data to high-tech humanoids that can carry on conversations with people, today's boldest robotics innovations are changing the way we think about technology. Readers will learn how robots were first invented and how they have been improved over time.