Books published by publisher Purple Toad Publishing

Journey back in time to 1503 in Florence, Italy, where ten year-old Bartolomeo del Giocondo introduces his master, Leonardo da Vinci. This Renaissance genius was a painter, sculptor, inventor, and, according to his young apprentice, sometimes a bit of a noodle. Little does Bartolomeo know that his family is going to be part of one of the greatest works of art ever created.

Kevin Durant is a kid at heart when he's not busy being a basketball star. He is a 6-foot-9 forward with guard skills and a drive to be the best in whatever he does. That includes acting-Durrant starred in the movie Thunderstruck. He made such an impression in his one year at the University of Texas that he became the NBA's no. 2 draft pick. Before he was 25 years old, Durrant was a three-time NBA scoring champion and an Olympic gold medalist. He rates as one of the NBA's most popular players-you can catch him on Twitter-and goes out of his way to help those in need. Durrant is a superstar in every sense of the word.

Journey back to seventeenth-century Holland with Mariska. She'll walk along brick streets. She'll see lights flicker on the canals. She'll watch windmills spin in the breeze. Then, she'll take an art lesson from the famous artist Rembrandt. Along the way, she'll also get to fi nd out about Rembrandt's life and art. What would it have been like to know Rembrandt? This story will help you imagine just that!

Every night, Stephen Colbert appears in countless homes throughout the country to make people laugh, share a few news headlines, and introduce celebrities. Colbert has been a familiar face for more than a decade, but behind the scenes, his life has been a challenge. Read about how he lost part of his family at a young age and how he withdrew into the world of science fiction to cope. Find out how a philosophy major turned into a theater major and how he knew he had found his future wife the moment he met her. Hang around and read about a certain piece of equipment on the International Space Station that honors Colbert's humor.

Imagine living in the days of castles and knights, lords and ladies, minstrels and troubadours! Medieval life was full of the stuff of legends, but at the same time, the people of the Middle Ages often endured plagues, famine, war, and other hardships. Even during times of peace and prosperity, their days were long and their work was hard. Let's travel back in time to Medieval England where ten-year-old William will show us what daily life was like in a fourteenth-century English city. This Core Curriculum aligned, library bound book is by award winning author Ann Tatlock.

Rainbow Dust and the Moon is the eagerly awaited new book in the Rainbow Dust series by SJ Dawson. This fabulous story is filled with fun, friendship, adventure and just a little sprinkling of danger.Jessica returns to the magical world high in the clouds to see her friend Lucy. There, she meets another unicorn called Rufus and the trio go on an exciting adventure to see the man in the moon. But Jessica's curiosity about the dark side of the moon soon leads to trouble, as she tumbles down the side and into a crater.You can read Jessica and Lucy's first adventures in 'Rainbow Dust' and remember to look out for the next in the series, 'Rainbow Dust and the Dueno'.

Comanche. The very word itself sent shivers down the backs of white settlers and other Native American tribes alike. The Comanches were the most feared tribe on the Southern Great Plains. They were superb horsemen and fierce fighters, and the combination was virtually unbeatable. For years, the Comanches held dominance over a vast area of territory called Comancheria. No one dared venture into Comancheria. Those who did seldom returned. Who were the Comanches? Where did they come from? What was life like in a Comanche camp, for both the Comanches and their captives? What happened to break their grip on Comancheria? The answers to these and other questions are both surprising and fascinating.

Like America in the first half of the twentieth century, baseball was still segregated. Every road to the major leagues was blocked by unwritten agreements never to allow black athletes entry. It seemed like the better they played, the further they were pushed back. Until, that is, a plan was hatched by two men. One seized an opportunity to advance the game of baseball forever, and the other ran a path through bigotry like he ran the bases, with strength and grace. Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson would work together to break down the color barriers of baseball, and show the world that African-American athletes were as good and as worthy as anyone to put on a major league uniform. They were not alone. From Larry Doby to Monte Irvin, and the irrepressible Satchel Paige, baseball was gifted by the emergence of a weath of talent and personality that would truly make it, at last, America's pastime.

Long before The United States was formed, the original American lived here caring for the land from coast to coast. Learn who some of these Native Americans were, how they thrived with their own cultures and beliefs, and why they continue to influence not just their descendants, but all of us who understand the importance of remembering those who were here long before us. Library bound hardcover and core curriculum aligned.

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, also known as RG3, is not Superman, although he sometimes wears Superman socks. He has become one of the nation's most popular athletes. He set Texas state track records in high school when he wasn't dominating in football. Griffin won the Heisman Trophy while at Baylor University. He became the NFL's no. 2 overall draft pick by Washington, then won NFL offensive rookie of the year honors. In his spare time, Griffin does things for those less fortunate. He is a superstar in every sense of the word.