Books in High-Fliers series

It was a time of panic. Swimming pools and playgrounds were closed. Children were kept inside. Why? The dreaded poliovirus was targeting young children across the United States. By the late 1940s, help arrived. Dr. Jonas Salk made the world a safer place because of his work to stop the poliovirus. This biographical historical recount highlights Dr. Stalk's career, as he follows scientific inquiry.Text Type: Biography, RecountTheme/Topic: Medicine, Life Science

Adventure! These eight astonishing women travelers have reached distant parts of the globe during the last two hundred years. They include explorers and artists, pilots and yachtswomen. Follow their footsteps and share their incredible experiences. Text Type: Biography, Expository, Explanation, ReportTheme/Topic: World Connections, Conflict and Challenge

Poor Trudy can't help being clumsy, but it's ruining her life. All of the kids avoid her at school, and even her teacher is fed up with her clumsiness. When Trudy visits elegant Ms. Willow and breaks a valuable Chinese vase, she thinks life can't get any worse. Then kind Ms. Willow shares some valuable advice, and Trudy leaves the disaster with a new outlook, and an introduction to a whole new, graceful life. Main Characters: Trudy Hubble, Rob, Lisa, Mom, Ms. WillowText Type: General NarrativeTheme/Topic: Friendship, Personal Responsibility

In a twist on a traditional tale, the Cinderella story is told by spoiled Ella's young, kind-hearted stepsister Silla. Although she is beautiful, Ella is obnoxious and cruel to her new stepmother and stepsisters. To ease Ella's tantrums, Silla and her family decide to do everything possible to help Ella shine at the upcoming ball. Ella is indeed beautiful at the ball, and the Prince falls for her, but Ella has to learn a lesson in kindness and humility before they can get married. This title also includes a chapter devoted to showing life in eighteenth-century England, to provide background for the story. Text Type: Traditional TalesTheme/Topic: World Connections, Human History

Fire! Whenever an oil rig catches fire, or a pipeline explodes in flames, people think of Red Adair. This is the story of one American and his career as the world's most famous firefighter. Before his death in 2004, he traveled the globe on his mission to prevent disaster and bring oil fires under control.Text Type: Explanation, RecountTheme/Topic: Personal Responsibility, Conflict and Challenge

Through the lives of the great astronomers, follow the history of astronomy the scientific study of the stars and planets. This book looks at some of the great astronomers who have helped us expand our knowledge of the universe - from the observations of the ancient Greeks, to the photographs from the furthest space probe. Their theories were not always correct. Sometimes, their ideas made them unpopular or put them in great danger, but without these pioneers we could not have the knowledge we have today. Text Type: BiographyTheme/Topic: Space Exploration, Physical Science

Thanks to his little sister, Jade, Clive's life is a mess! This time, Jade (with a little unexpected help from Clive) has agreed to take care of Bubble the hamster during school vacation. Things are going well until Bubble gets lost. Clive buys a replacement hamster, then Bubble is found, and soon there are hamsters galore! Mom is getting more and more upset until Clive finds the perfect solution: sell the baby hamsters, return Bubble to school, and keep a hamster as a pet for Jade. Main Characters: Clive, Jade, MomText Type: General NarrativeTheme/Topic: Family, Personal Responsibility

Virginia Woolf said of Emily Bronte that her writing could "make the wind blow and the thunder roar," and so it does in Wuthering Heights. Catherine Earnshaw, Heathcliff, and the windswept moors that are the setting of their mythic love are as immediately stirring to the reader of today as they have been for every generation of readers since the novel was first published in 1847. With an introduction by Katherine Frank.

Dr. Frankenstein successfully creates a new life, only to discover that he is terrified of what he has made. The monster flees, finds Frankenstein's family, and strangles Victor's brother. The monster then demands that Victor make him a mate. Victor starts to do so, then is so filled with disgust and fear he cannot continue. The monster takes his rage out on everyone Victor cares for, including Victor's best friend and his new wife. Victor vows to destroy the monster and chases him to the North Pole, where Victor dies from exhaustion, and the monster, grieving the loss of his master, goes to his own death. Text Type: Classic FictionTheme/Topic: Conflict and Challenge, Personal Responsibility

Running on courage. The roar of the crowd fills the air. The gold medal he wins is beautiful, but it pales next his shining smile. This was a boy who might never have walked, let alone run. The Special Olympics is regularly the scene of such triumphs. Special Olympics is an amazing organization that includes more than 1 million athletes who compete in 20,000 sporting events that are held in 150 countries around the world. This book presents the stories of some of these athletes and honors them for their accomplishments and for what they have given back to society. Text Type: BiographyTheme/Topic: Conflict and Challenge, Sports