Books in History, hands on series

Easter 1916. The Great War rages in Europe with two hundred thousand Irishmen fighting in the British Army. But a small group of Irish nationalists refuse to fight for Britain and strike a blow for Irish freedom. Caught up in the action in Dublin, is twelve-year-old Molly O’Donovan. Her own family is plunged into danger on both sides of the conflict. Her father, a technical officer with the Post Office dodges the crossfire as he tries to restore the telegraph lines while her wayward brother runs messages for the rebels. Molly a trained First Aider, risks her own safety to help the wounded on both sides. As violence and looting erupts in the streets of Dublin alongside heroism and high ideals, Molly records it all. The Proclamation at the GPO, the battle of Mount Street, the arrival of the British Troops. But will Molly’s own family survive and will she be able to save her brother? This is her diary.

The current generation is used to instantaneous information. Overnight mail delivery anywhere in the country from FedEx and UPS and immediate answers to e-mails have led to regular mail delivery, taking two to three days, being called "snail mail." It is hard for us to imagine what it was like 150 years ago when mail usually took a month or more to go across the country. We applaud the hearty souls, especially the Pony Express, who tried to improve the situation. The heart and mind of every boy and girl will be stirred by the picture of the Pony Express rider galloping through the night, facing discomfort and danger, to deliver the mail. The fact that most of the riders were just teenagers only adds to the drama. In a society where heroes are often movie stars and athletes, it's good for children to learn about the true heroes of the west, the Pony Express riders. Students will enjoy learning about this period of American history through poems, music, games, discussion, art and creative writing. They'll learn what a petition is and start one of their own; they'll make Pony Rider puppets and work together to dramatize a Pony Express ride and they'll compete in a relay race to discover for themselves what the Pony Riders knew, that everybody on the team has to do his best and not let the team down. Students will cooperate in putting together a Pony Express museum to illustrate what they have learned and to share their knowledge with friends and family. All this and more will open up the pages of history and involve students in a fun learning adventure they'll always remember.

Your Mission: Discover Anna’s secret message using spycraft tools to uncover hidden codes! It’s a true story of the American Revolution: Meet the secret Culper Ring, a network of American spies fighting against the army of British redcoats, and historical figures like George Washington and the soon-to-be-infamous Benedict Arnold. And meet Anna Strong, an unsung heroine who found ingenious ways to communicate top-secret messages to her fellow spies, helping to save the American colonies from British rule.It’s a mystery to solve: This hardcover library edition does not include any removable spy tools; a canny reader will unravel clues embedded in the text and illustrations to solve the book’s ultimate mystery and experience history in a whole new way.2020 KNEA Reading Circle List Title

Color your own Celtic masterpieces!A Celtic knot forms a complete loop with no beginning and no end. With their roots in prehistoric Ireland and the British Isles, Celtic knots have come to stand as a symbol of unity, wholeness, and cosmic order for many cultures around the world. This fun coloring book is based on designs drawn from the centuries-old history of Celtic art. Kids of all ages will love to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day or any time of the year with 25 coloring pages based on authentic Celtic designs.

Rose windows are the crowning achievement of Gothic architecture, with stone and stained glass compositions in beautiful geometric patterns. These dramatic works capture the imagination and aesthetic sensibility of medieval architects. This fun coloring book is based on designs drawn from authentic rose windows across Europe. Kids of all ages will love to decorate these 25 coloring pages with markers, crayons, or colored pencils.

Children of today are so used to going everywhere quickly and comfortably in the family car, they take the whole thing for granted. They don't have a clue about the problems and challenges that had to be met by early inventors and automobile factories to make a smooth ride possible for us today. So why not bring one of the inventors of the automobile right into your classroom! Introduce Henry Ford to your students and let them discover for themselves the exciting early history of cars! Henry Ford was one of the most interesting inventors in American history. Students will learn about his early life and see the curiosity that motivated him. They'll discover that he was a hard worker and that once he set his mind on a goal, he didn't give up until he reached it. Students will have an opportunity to take apart machines to see how they work, then try to put them back together as Ford enjoyed doing. They'll look at pictures of Ford's first car and his Model T to compare them and see what improvements Ford made in the later car. Through an action song students will discover that riding in a car in Ford's day was fraught with difficulties. They'll be able to design their own cars and they'll discover why Ford's Model T was the most popular car in America. They'll even get to experience working on an assembly line, and be able to set up their own automobile museum in the classroom. The study culminates with a Ford Festival with students involved in the food, decorations and entertainment.

Color your own masterpiece!In Mexico, people celebrate the Day of the Dead on November 1st and 2nd. El Día de los Muertos is a time to remember and celebrate family members and friends who have died. People decorate the gravesites of their loved ones with favorite foods, possessions, candles, and other offerings. They also set up special places in their homes to honor their loved ones who are no longer among the living. Kids of all ages will love to celebrate the Day of the Dead, Halloween, or any time of the year with 25 coloring pages based on authentic Mexican designs.

Color your own Buddhist mandalas!The word mandala is based on an ancient Sanskrit idea for "circle," but this circular form has come to stand as a symbol of unity, wholeness, and cosmic order in many cultures around the world. Kids of all ages will enjoy bringing 25 of these colorful Buddhist mandala designs to life with markers, pencils, or crayons in this engaging coloring book.

The latest in this series of lavishly photographed and fact-filled craft books invites children to explore the wildlife and indigenous peoples of Africa. Making masks from Zaire and hats in Nigerian fashion are two of the many ways readers can evoke the spirit of Africa. The crafts use common materials in unusual ways. A group of Kwanzaa projects conclude the book.