Books in Smart About History series

Kids will love discovering the floor plan of the White House, a list of presidential perks, and lots of interesting info about all the presidents, from George Washington to Barack Obama. (Did you know he is the only president born in Hawaii?) Each page is jam-packed with trivia, fun facts, and information on the historical events of each presidency.

The kids in Ms. Brandt's class create a special report on the United States of America, with each child doing research on ten states. There's a double-spread map of the whole U.S. and a page for every state jam-packed with trivia, interesting facts, handwritten captions, and jokes. At the end of the book is a map showing how the United States grew over time, a spread on the presidents and what states they hailed from, as well as a "bibliography" of books the kids used in their research. Written by a team of well-known author/artists, this 64-page Smart About History book is a great guide for kids.

Keesia and Henri Matisse have the same birthday—New Year’s Eve! That’s why she picks him for her artist report. She finds out that over his long career Matisse made paintings, sculpture, books, costumes, and her favorite—his cut-outs, or what Matisse called “drawing with scissors.” The report is filled with about 20 of Matisse’s masterpieces as well as artwork that Keesia has created in his “style” (cut-out leaves, drawings through windows, fauvist animals). As she follows Matisse through his life she discovers why he is considered one of the greatest artists of the twentieth century.

Emily loves to play on her Little League baseball team. She visits the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York and learns about the Negro Leagues that were formed when black players were banned from major league teams. Emily's report includes information about the early players, the greatest superstars, and the story of Jackie Robinson, who broke the "color line" in 1947. This title captures all the fun and excitement of baseball, while also exploring the serious issue of segregation in America.

Our unique, kid-friendly Smart About series continues with something for your sweet tooth! Smart About Chocolate is "chock-full" of fun facts about the history of chocolate, from the Mayans to Milton Hershey! Kids will learn how chocolate comes from beans of the rain forest's cacao trees and how candymakers in England and Switzerland first produced the chocolate we know and love today. Includes recipes and recommendations of classic books about chocolate.

Introducing Smart About Scientists! These books feature fascinating biographical information about the world's greatest scientists, ideas on scientific thinking, and real science experiments kids can try at home. Annie Marcus is just nuts about peanut butter! When Annie finds out that George Washington Carver was responsible for the popularity of peanuts, she picks him for her scientist report. Annie learns all sorts of fascinating info-George Washington Carver was born into slavery, but his dedication and unquenchable thirst for knowledge drove him to become a professor at a time when most institutions of higher learning were closed to blacks. This title explores Carver's brilliant career and discoveries, as well as his triumph over segregation to become one of the world's most renowned plant experts. Illustrated by Jill Weber.

The kids in Ms. Brandt's class are doing another group report-this time on all forty-three presidents of the United States, one per page. The book is current through the 2004 presidential election and includes two fill-in pages for kids to record its outcome. There is also a floor plan of the White House, a list of presidential perks, and lots of interesting info about all the presidents, from George Washington to George W. Each page is jam-packed with trivia, fun facts, handwritten captions, and information on the historical events of each presidency. Written by a team of well-known author/artists, this 64-page Smart About book is a great resource for kids.

The kids in Ms. Brandt's class create a special report on the United States of America, with each child doing research on ten states. There's a double-spread map of the whole U.S. and a page for every state jam-packed with trivia, interesting facts, handwritten captions, and jokes. At the end of the book is a map showing how the United States grew over time, a spread on the presidents and what states they hailed from, as well as a "bibliography" of books the kids used in their research. Written by a team of well-known author/artists, this 64-page Smart About History book is a great guide for kids. Written and illustrated by Jon Buller and Susan Schade, Maryann Cocca-Leffler, Joan Holub, True Kelley, and Dana Regan.