Books in Step-Up Biographies series

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.