Books in American Icons series

And the contestant going home is . . . Jennifer Hudson! Standing on the AMERICAN IDOL stage, a shocked Hudson found out she had been voted off the famed singing competition. But unlike many IDOL contestants whose musical dreams end on that stage, Jennifer Hudson was just getting started. Her rapid rise to superstardom saw her win an Academy Award and a Grammy Award in only a few years. Author John Micklos, Jr., explores the life of this multi-talented music idol.

One of the first singles from THE BLACK ALBUM, a famous Jay-Z record, rap “What More Can I Say”? But the real question is what more can this music legend do? From the platinum albums to the sold-out concerts to his Rocawear clothing brand, Jay-Z has done it all. He has sold some 50 million albums worldwide. He even has a sneaker named after him. From the Brooklyn projects to the corner office in Manhattan, Jay-Z made his own way, overcoming many obstacles. Author Jeff Burlingame explores the remarkably interesting life of this hip-hop icon.

Perform the national anthem at President Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony. Wow the crowd with a spectacular Super Bowl halftime show. Win a Grammy. When you are legendary singer and performer Beyoncé Knowles, this is just a regular month's work. Beyoncé went from a child singer in her hometown of Houston, Texas, to one of the most recognizable faces on the planet. She has sold millions of records, made hit movies, and runs a clothing line. This superstar does it all. Author Michael A. Schuman chronicles the life of the amazing Beyoncé.

The Statue of Liberty is one of America's most beloved and well-known monuments. This book chronicles Lady Liberty's 21-year journey from conception to completion. Written for middle school students (aged 9-14 years), this text considers the statue's fascinating history combined with black and white images, brief biographies of the statue's main contributors, and a timeline of events. Additional features include a "Did You Know ...?" section, with interesting facts about the statue, a glossary of terms, and review questions about the book. Friendship and Freedom: The Story of the Statue of Liberty is a wonderful addition to any library, is an excellent resource for school projects, and makes a unique travel souvenir for those planning a trip to New York City. Measures 6" x 9", 126 pages, with matte softcover.

In 1965, Walt Disney World Resort opened near Orlando, Florida. The Disney company, led by animator Walt Disney, built this park. Today, millions of people from all over the world visit this resort each year. Walt Disney Worldexplores the life of Walt Disney and the history of this iconic resort. Easy-to-read text, vivid images, and helpful back matter give readers a clear look at this subject. Features include a table of contents, infographics, a glossary, additional resources, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Core Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In cooperation with the Plimoth Plantation, a living-history museum in Massachusetts, National Geographic has recreated the first Thanksgiving. Photographs by National Geographic photographers of the recreation at Plimoth Plantation illustrate this book. In 1621, in a small settlement on the edge of the sea, 52 English colonists celebrated their first harvest. The colonists were joined by 90 men of the Wampanoag tribe for a gathering that was to last three days in a town now known as Plymouth. Over the centuries, there have been countless versions of this story, creating a popular myth of the first Thanksgiving. Many Americans imagine brave, peaceful settlers inviting a few wild Indians over for a turkey dinner. But there was no pumpkin pie or cranberry sauce at this celebration. There were no Indians with woven blankets over their shoulders and large feathered headdresses. No pilgrims with somber black clothes and silver buckle hats either. The English didn't even call themselves Pilgrims. This book puts aside that myth and takes a new look at our American history. It questions what we know and recovers lost voices of the Wampanoag people. True history includes the voices of all its participants. 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving invites young people to read, listen, and think about our shared history. The book also features a foreword, a section on the actual reenactment and the concept of living history, a chronology, an index, and a bibliography.