Books in For Young Readers series

Selected as a Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Book of the Year for 2018 (Category: Twelve–Fourteen)“A biography for the times … An excellent read for anyone hoping to believe one person can make a difference.” —Kirkus (starred review)“This well-told, age-appropriate account of a vital and essential activist deserves a place in all middle grade collections.” —School Library Journal (starred review)Today, we know Dolores Huerta as the cofounder, with Cesar Chavez, of the National Farmworkers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers of America. We know her as a tireless advocate for the rights of farmworkers, Mexican American immigrants, women, and LGBTQ populations. And we know her as the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2012. Before all that, though, Huerta was a child in the farming community of Stockton, California, and then a teenager whose teachers underestimated her because she was Chicana. When she became a teacher herself, she witnessed her students coming to school shoeless and hungry. Many took days off from school to work in the farm fields to help feed their families. What could she do to help them? A young mother at the time, Huerta quit her teaching job to organize their parents. That began her journey to educate a nation about who produces our food and the conditions under which they work.Dolores Huerta Stands Strong follows Huerta’s life from the mining communities of the Southwest where her father toiled, to the vineyards and fields of California, and across the country to the present day. As she worked for fair treatment for others, Dolores earned the nation’s highest honors. More important, she found her voice.

Though he was only twelve years old, young Brother Andrew snuck out late at night, passing out secret messages during World War II to help his native Holland break free from Nazi occupation. Following war's end, Andrew fought eagerly for his country in the Dutch East Indies and then, returning to Holland, discovered a new life of adventure transporting Bibles to countries where they were strictly forbidden. Despite danger and uncertainty, Brother Andrew and his international ministry, Open Doors, continue to take Bibles to closed-off countries throughout the world. Now Heroes for Young Readers makes Brother Andrew's remarkable story available in this picture book all ages will treasure.

A Junior Library Guild selectionSociety of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Official 2016 Summer Reading ListIn this biography for middle-grade readers, Nancy Roe Pimm tells the story of Geraldine “Jerrie” Mock, the first woman to fly solo around the world. In her trusty Cessna, The Spirit of Columbus—also known as Charlie—she traveled from Columbus, Ohio, on an eastward route that totaled nearly twenty-three thousand miles and took almost a month. Overcoming wind, ice, mechanical problems, and maybe even sabotage, Mock persevered.Mock caught the aviation bug at seven years old, when she rode in a Ford Trimotor plane with her parents. In high school, she displayed a talent for math and science, and she was the only woman in her aeronautical engineering classes at Ohio State University. Although she then settled into domestic life, she never lost her interest in flying. What began as a joking suggestion from her husband to fly around the world prompted her to pursue her childhood dream. But the dream became a race, as another woman, Joan Merriam Smith, also sought to be the first to circle the globe.Even though Mock beat Smith and accomplished what her heroine Amelia Earhart had died trying to do, her feat was overshadowed by the Vietnam War and other world events. Now, Pimm introduces Mock to a new generation of adventurers.

Can Carlene really be remembering things from a past life?Strange, fragmented memories have been haunting Carlene since she and her mother came to Lake Isadora. The vivid recollections don't seem to relate to anything in Carlene's own past. Until now, she hadn't even seen the place where Keith, the brother she never knew, disappeared during a storm fifteen years ago. Some think he drowned, but his mother thinks he was kidnapped and is still alive somewhere. She is sure the little boy's clothes that have just been found near the lake belonged to her son. Carlene knows that her bizarre memories have something to do with Keith. They might even help her discover the truth about what happened the day he disappeared. But she can't possibly be remembering things that happened before she was born-unless the memories are from a past life.

This unique, sensitively written novel for young readers about life on a modern farm skillfully interweaves two stories, one from the animal perspective of a cow named Emily and the other from the human viewpoint of a twelve-year-old boy named Chris. Author Nicholas Read eloquently describes how two very different lives encounter similar disruptions and are ultimately brought together in a life-and-death adventure.Though Emily's early experiences on the farm are pleasant, she soon senses her mother's unmistakable signals that all is not well. Before long she must face the cruel realities of branding, a livestock market, confinement in a feedlot, and finally a frightening ride in a cattle truck. Chris, too, is dealing with the harsh reality of a broken home and being forced to move from the city to the country to start a new life when his mother decides to remarry. Compared to the busy city, Chris finds the country to be a lonely place, and he has trouble making friends until he meets Gina, a true free spirit with a love for animals. How Chris and Gina scheme to rescue Emily from a sad fate makes a fascinating and instructive tale.Parents who care about animals will want their children to read this charming, engrossing story.

Rhyming, hardcover picture books all ages will treasure! Introduce young children to the exciting true stories of Christian heroes!Nick's differences don't hold him backfrom having lots of fun.He surfs big waves, goes snorkeling,rides horses and plays drums.Though some things are much easierfor those with feet and hands,there's nothing that will stop Nick fromthe full life God has planned.Born without arms or legs, Nick Vujicic (1982-) overcame tremendous physical and emotional challenges as he grew up. Rather than shrink back from trouble or give up in times of trial, this bold Australian pursued a life filled with exploration of what he could do. Now a world-renowned speaker and author, he encourages others to see themselves as precious to God and to live without limits. Nick's example of Christian character is an inspiration to everyone who feels weighed down by the challenges of disabilities, mistreatment, feelings of inferiority, and more.Whether reading for themselves or being read to, children love the captivating rhyming poems and unforgettable color illustrations of the Heroes for Young Readers series.

For more than 270 years, readers everywhere have been fascinated by the young fool who ran away from wealth, security, and family for a rough life at sea—and came to his senses too late, alone on a tropical island. Alone except for cannibals, that is, and God.Robinson Crusoe's adventure takes place on a remote island. Adjusting to the primitive conditions, he learns to make tools, shelters, bread, and clothes. More importantly, he becomes a Christian.Modern editions tend to leave out Crusoe's long struggle with God and his change as he studies God's Word. As part of the Classics for Young Readers Series, Kathryn Lindskoog faithfully preserves such details.

Cy Young was one of the hardest-throwing pitchers of all time. He recorded three no-hitters—including a perfect game—and accumulated more than 2,800 strikeouts on his way to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Scott H. Longert uses Young’s life story to introduce middle-grade readers to the game, explaining balls, strikes, and outs in an easy-to-understand way. Longert narrates each season and each milestone game with an enthusiastic play-by-play that is sure to draw readers into the excitement on the field and in the crowd, fostering a better understanding of and a passion for baseball.Baseball fans today know Cy Young’s name chiefly through the award given in his honor each year to the best pitcher in the National and the American Leagues. Denton True “Cyclone” Young won more than five hundred games over a career that spanned four decades, a record that no other major league pitcher has come close to matching. In addition to being the winningest pitcher in baseball history, he was also a kind, self-effacing, and generous man. Born into a farm family in rural Ohio, he never lost touch with the small-town values he grew with.

A reassuring look at the cycles of life."When I found a dead ladybug one day, my sister, Wilma, buried it for me. She painted a rock to use as a tombstone."It doesn't take much to start a bug cemetery-a dead ladybug or inchworm, a pitcher of lemonade, and a few tears for a show of proper respect. But when a beloved pet suddenly dies, funerals are no longer any fun. A bug is one thing, but how do you mourn a special friend?With warmth and sensitivity, this subtle picture book explores the difficult emotions associated with losing a loved one.

Witness loving, working hands in action in this vivid portrait of life in a Maya village."Grandmother Apolonia has gone to market for the day to weave and sell her baskets."Experience a day in the life of a Maya village. The wisdom of the phrase "Many hands make light work" comes across in vivid detail as the community prepares a warm meal, weaves clothing, constructs roofs, and creates art and music. Best of all-in the morning or at the end of the busy day, a pair of strong, gentle hands never seems hard to find.With its lyrical prose and richly textured photographs, this engaging picture book captures the hard work, love, and respect of the Maya culture.The proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to a high-school scholarship fund for the children of Maya Centre.