Books in Non-Fiction series

Set in the 1870s, young Charlotte and her family move north after the Great Chicago Fire to discover the rich heritage and natural wonders of Isle Royale, a remote island in Lake Superior which is now a U.S. National Park. In the Midwestern tradition of the "Little House" books, this heartwarming tale of growing up in a pioneer family on the edge of the wilderness will delight readers of all ages. "An excellent job of capturing the time and place . . . . Charlotte is a thoughtful and engaging character" (School Library Journal). Based on the diaries of early settlers. For ages 8-12 and older.

After establishing himself in Cuba as a fighter, gambler and fortune hunter, Cortes embarks on a expedition to find a mysterious civilization rumoured to be rich with gold. This civilization is the land of the Aztecs. Three years later, with tens of thousands of Aztecs dead at the hands of heavily armed Europeans, Cortes oversees the setting up of a new Spanish colony. The speech bubbles and strip cartoon-style illustrations of the graphic novel create a dynamic format that encourages readers to engage with the characters and get involved in the story. The opening pages provide historical context about the society destroyed by Cortes, and the world of colonialisation he came from. The closing pages describe his fall from grace and ultimate loss of wealth. It features a glossary, index, websites and recommended further reading. It supports Key Stage 2 History: 'A world history study'. It fits into Key Stage 2 History: 'Britain and the wider world in Tudor times'. It helps achieve the goals of the Scottish Standard Curriculum 5-14, promoting 'positive attitudes to learning', 'knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the world' and 'skills in literacy'.

In this companion to Gathering: A Northwoods Counting Book Betsy Bowen again captures the vibrant magic in each northwoods day through effortless prose and colorful woodcuts. While the canoe waits beneath the heavy snow and the river freezes over, bears turn in for long winter naps and people spend time reading by the fire or bundled up in layers. But when spring comes, it’s time for kayaking, fishing, and listening to the quiet pond sounds of the new season. All of this and more is celebrated in Bowen’s warm and unusual alphabet book that introduces children to the cyclical rhythms of life in our country’s northern states.

"It's so cold on the prairies that everybody wears balaclavas when they go into a convenience store. It's so cold on the prairies that politicians keep their hands in their own pockets." If you've ever had your tongue stuck to a chainlink fence this book is for you. If your in-laws have ever come to visit while weather watch systems warn of record-breaking snowfalls - this book is definitely for you. If you're ever freezing to death in a stalled vehicle during a prairie whiteout this book may save your life: it's one of the few books freedom-to-read advocates actually recommend burning in case of emergency. Each page is illustrated with a weather saying, so br-r-r-race yourself for a wickedly wry and witty look at the season we love to hate.

After the murder of his father, a young Macedonian prince became one of the mightiest leaders of the Ancient World. In just over a decade Alexander the Great - an astute strategist and a courageous soldier - used his conquests to build a cast empire that stretched from Greece to Egypt, Persia and northwest India. The speech bubbles and strip cartoon-style illustrations of the graphic novel create a dynamic format that encourages readers to engage with the characters and get involved in the story. Opening pages provide historical context about the society in which Alexander lived and the extent of his empire. Closing pages explain what became of Alexander's empire and his legacy on modern culture. This text fits into the guidelines for Key Stage 2 History. It helps achieve the goals of the Scottish Standard Curriculum 5-14.