Books published by publisher First Avenue Editions, 2001

Ever wonder where chocolate came from? We have the Mayan king Kukulkán to thank. Kukulkán is more than a king―he is also a god. One day he brings his people an amazing gift: a chocolate tree! But there is just one problem. Kukulkán’s brother, Night Jaguar, doesn’t want regular people to have chocolate. He thinks only gods should eat the tempting treat. Will Night Jaguar prevail? Or will the Mayans get to keep their chocolate tree?

Eleven-year-old Johnny Mickley longed to be a hero and have some part in helping America gain its independence. The British Army was just miles away from colonial Philadelphia, planning to invade the city and melt down all of its famous bells for cannons. The colonists were worried, they had to save the bells, especially Old Independence, now called the Liberty Bell. They finally came up with a plan – and Johnny got to help! But would it be enough to keep the bells safe?

Gazing up at the stars, Benjamin Banneker longed to understand how and why things worked as they did. In a time when most black Americans were slaves, Banneker lived a life of freedom and became known as America's first black American man of science. He helped survey Washington, D.C., and became the first black American to write an almanac. Through his accomplishments, he helped advance the cause of equality for African Americans.

Send in the cranes! Bulldozers! Earthmovers! Would you like to watch how a building goes up? During the next twelve months, these construction workers are building a school. Check out these eight action-packed scenes for a bird's-eye view of the whole process. See how the workers make the foundation, add the walls, and put on the roof. Keep your eye on the calendar too. By spending a whole year at the building site, you can watch events unfold until the school is ready for students and teachers.

It has snowed so much that Carrie has the day off from school. She wants to earn money shoveling to buy her mother a Christmas present. But what should she buy? As she goes from house to house, Carrie finds everybody making soup. Carrie's neighbors come from many places, so each one is making a different kind of soup. As she collects recipes, Carrie begins to get an idea of what to give her mother. Accompanied by simple recipes, this tale is sure to please the many readers who loved Everybody Cooks Rice and Everybody Bakes Bread as well as those who are new to Carrie's delightful and diverse neighborhood.