Books in Sterling Biographies® series

If you are tired, keep going; if you are scared, keep going, if you are hungry, keep going; if you want to taste freedom, keep going. These are the words of Harriet Tubman, called the “Moses of her people” for leading slaves northward to freedom. After successfully escaping when only in her twenties, she put herself in danger again and again in order to help other slaves achieve liberty. And when the Civil War began, this freedom fighter not only spied for the Union, but became the first American woman to plan and direct a battle. Her compelling story is beautifully told here, along with a rich store of information about slave life, the Underground Railroad, and famous abolitionists.

One of the great thinkers of all time, Thomas Jefferson helped shape America in its early years, and his ideas continue to inspire us today. His amazing contributions include not only writing the Declaration of Independence, but his actions as the United States’ third President, as well as his influence as a scientist, inventor, farming pioneer, and educator. The engrossing life of this founding father is fully captured in this richly detailed biography, from Jefferson’s childhood in a simple wooden farmhouse in Virginia through his careers in law, diplomacy, and politics, in addition to his marriage to his beloved Martha and the family tragedies they endured.

The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. That was Thomas Edison’s philosophy, and it led him to create the incandescent light bulb and illuminate the world with electricity. But that was just one of the many groundbreaking inventions Edison devised, many of which changed the shape of entertainment, industry, and everyday life. Meet the Wizard of Menlo Park, and see how he grew from a lonely, inquisitive boy who carried out experiments in his basement to the smart, enterprising, and imaginative inventor who gave us the stock market ticker, helped develop the phonograph and cinema, and even came up with the first storage battery and electric car.

Honest Abe, The Great Emancipator, The Martyr: Abraham Lincoln was perhaps America’s greatest President. He is also deeply beloved by many, who are inspired by Lincoln’s unwavering sense of justice and willingness to fight for his beliefs. Young readers will marvel at Lincoln’s path to greatness from his humble beginnings as a poor Illinois rail splitter up through his election as America’s 16th President, and into the dark days of the Civil War leading to his tragic assassination. In addition to background on his childhood and his marriage to Mary Todd, numerous sidebars provide simple explanations to relevant historical events such as the Dred Scott Decision and the Mexican Wars.

Marie Curie triumphed over political tyranny, poverty, gender bias, personal tragedy, and scandal. Her influence is beyond measure: through her discovery of radium, she changed not only the course of science but the course of the world. Janice Borzendowski tells Madame Curie’s remarkable story, exploring:- Marie’s many firsts, including becoming the first woman awarded a Ph.D. in physics and the first woman to win a Nobel Prize - Her amazing personal and professional relationship with husband Pierre Curie, with whom she worked side-by-side- The tragedies that affected Marie deeply, including the loss of her mother and brother at a young age- The difficulties she had establishing herself in Parisian scientific circles, both as a woman and a foreigner- The importance of Marie’s work—and the tragic consequences of not understanding the dangers of the radioactive materials she was researching

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and integrated Major League baseball—changing the game forever. Kids will enjoy discovering more about this champion of equality, including:His astonishing skill as a four-sport athlete: football, basketball, baseball, and trackHow he was court-martialed during World War II for standing up for his rightsWhy he was chosen to become baseball’s first black playerHow he continued to build his civil rights legacy even after his baseball career ended It’s an inspiring story, beautifully told by Michael Teitelbaum.

Knowing the risks, but taking the chance anyway—that was the internal compass that guided Amelia Earhart. This fascinating biography captures:- Amelia’s impressive sense of daring, evident from a very young age- Her eagerness to promote women’s abilities, and desire to contribute to the world around her- Her many firsts—including becoming the first female to fly solo across the Atlantic- Her sudden disappearance over the Pacific, which remains one of aviation’s most haunting unsolved mysteriesChildren will love discovering how Earhart finally found her wings and began her life of adventure in the skies.

"From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever.” -Chief Joseph Chief Joseph was a peace chief, a great leader who truly believed his nation, the Nez Perce, could live in harmony with white people. Tragically, it was not to be. This fascinating biography separates fact from myth, and tells the compelling story of a man who tried to fight injustice with words, not weapons.

I have a dream. Those rousing words, spoken by Martin Luther King, Jr. at an historic civil rights rally in Washington, D.C., brought hope to those who listened: hope that in the future there might not be two Americas—one black and one white—but instead a country united, with justice for all. Here is King’s inspiring story, which began in Atlanta, Georgia in 1929 and came to a tragic end on April 4, 1968 when an assassin fatally shot him. The pastor of a small Baptist church in Montgomery, Alabama, King became the driving force of the civil rights movement when he led a black boycott of the city’s bus lines. His philosophy of nonviolence, and his breathtaking eloquence, helped free African Americans from decades of oppression and finally won them the rights—and opportunities—they deserved.

Kids will savor this fascinating trip into the life and undersea world of pioneering oceanographer Jacques Cousteau. In his quest to show off the beauty found below the waves, Cousteau dedicated himself to developing new diving technology, inventing innovative ways to photograph underwater life, and traveling the globe to explore different bodies of water. His films, including The Academy Award(R)-winning The Silent World, opened people’s eyes to a formerly unknown and spectacular marine universe. Cousteau did more than anyone to enlighten us to the stunning complexity of the oceans’ ecology, and the importance of preserving it. His message resonates more than ever today. With this biography, young readers will see how Cousteau’s mission began, and follow his thrilling, sometimes dangerous adventures into the deep.