Books in Story of... series

This wonderful book introduces children to the story of life and how it all began. Using bitesize text and beautifully bright illustrations this is the perfect book for budding scientists and those eager to learn more about our amazing planet. Are you ready for an exciting and dramatic story about how life began and developed on Planet Earth? Packed full of fascinating facts and funny illustrations, this is the perfect introduction to life on earth for even the youngest of readers. At first, nothing lived on Earth. It was a noisy, hot, scary place. Choking gas exploded from volcanoes and oceans of lava bubbled around the globe...Then in the deep, dark ocean, something amazing happened. Find out how the first living cell was created, and how the cells multiply and create jellyfish and worms, and then fish with bendy necks, which drag themselves out of the water into swampy forests. Discover the story of the biggest creatures that have ever walked on land – the dinosaurs. Long after that, hairy creatures who have babies, not eggs, take over, stand on two legs and spread around the world, some of them living through cataclysmic events such as ice ages and volcanic eruptions. Everyone living today is related to these survivors- including you! This is the perfect first book about evolution for young readers.

Get read to through time as the incredible story of human beings unfolds before our very eyes... When did the first humans live? How did humans spread all over the world? How has science and technology changed the way we live? And what will happen to humans in the future? The team behind The Story of Space and The Story of Life present a first book about the human world for very young children, looking at how humans evolved and the history of humanity up to the present day.

This new entry in the innovative Story line of chapter-book biographies focuses on John Lewis, a leader in the civil rights movement of the 1960s and a revered Congressman today. The son of an Alabama sharecropper, John Lewis experienced the injustice of segregation early in life. Inspired by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Lewis joined with civil rights leaders who believed in fighting segregation peacefully, In the face of physical attacks, he persevered with dignity and a devotion to nonviolence, standing in the forefront of major civil rights protests and helping southern black people gain the right to vote. In 1986 Lewis was elected to represent Georgia in the United States Congress, where he continues to serve today. Lewis's passionate belief in justice is a beacon for all who wish to make our country a better place.The Story of Civil Rights Hero John Lewis celebrates the life of a living legend of American history. This chapter book includes black-and-white illustrations as well as sidebars on related subjects, a timeline, a glossary, and recommended reading.

This entry in the innovative Story line of chapter-book biographies focuses on Anna May Wong, whose trail-blazing career in Hollywood broke new ground for future generations of Asian American actors. Born in 1905, Anna May Wong spent her childhood working in her family's laundry in Los Angeles's Chinatown. Whenever she could afford it, Anna May slipped off to the movies, escaping to a world of adventure, glamour, and excitement. After seeing a movie being filmed in her neighborhood, young Anna May was hooked. She decided she would become a movie star! Anna May struggled to pursue an acting career in Hollywood in the 1930s. There were very few roles for Asian Americans, and many were demeaning and stereotypical. Anna May made the most of each limited part. She worked hard and always gave her best performance. Finally, after years of unfulfilling roles, Anna May began crusading for more meaningful roles for herself and other Asian American actors. Her spirited determination in the face of discrimination is an inspiration to all who must overcome obstacles so that their dreams may come true. This chapter book includes black-and-white illustrations as well as sidebars on related subjects, a timeline, a glossary, and recommended reading.

This inspiring entry in the Story of line of chapter-book biographies features Wangari Maathai, the first African woman, and environmentalist, to win a Nobel Peace Prize. As a young girl in Kenya, Wangari was taught to respect nature. She grew up loving the land, plants, and animals that surrounded her -- from the giant mugumo trees her people, the Kikuyu, revered to the tiny tadpoles that swam in the river.Although most Kenyan girls were not educated, Wangari, curious and hardworking, was allowed to go to school. There, her mind sprouted like a seed. She excelled at science and went on to study in the United States. After returning home, Wangari blazed a trail across Kenya, using her knowledge and compassion to promote the rights of her countrywomen and to help save the land, one tree at a time.The Story of Environmentalist Wangari Maathai brings to life the empowering story of Wangari Maathai, the first African woman, and environmentalist, to win a Nobel Peace Prize. This chapter-book edition includes black-and-white illustrations as well as sidebars on related subjects, a timeline, a glossary, and recommended reading.

This exciting entry in the Story of line of chapter-book biographies introduces readers to Robert Smalls, an enslaved steamboat wheelman who commandeered a Confederate ship during the Civil War and escaped with his family and crew to freedom. Growing up enslaved in South Carolina, Robert Smalls always dreamed of the moment freedom would be within his grasp. Now that moment was here. Robert stood proudly at the Planter's wheel. Only seven miles of water lay between the ship and the chance of freedom in Union territory. With precision and amazing courage, he navigated past the Confederate forts in the harbor and steered the ship toward the safety of the Union fleet. Just one miscalculation would be deadly, but for Robert, his family, and his crewmates, the risk was worth taking. The Story of Civil War Hero Robert Smalls is the compelling account of the daring escape of Robert Smalls, an enslaved steamboat wheelman who became one of the Civil War's greatest heroes. His steadfast courage in the face of adversity is an inspiring model for all who attempt to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. This chapter book edition includes black-and-white illustrations as well as sidebars on related subjects, a timeline, a glossary, and recommended reading.

The Story chapter-book line debuts with this compelling biography of Soichiro Honda, the innovative motorcycle and car manufacturer and Japanese business pioneer. When Soichiro Honda was seven years old, an astonishing, moving dust cloud appeared in his small Japanese town. The cause was a leaky, noisy machine called an automobile--the first Honda had ever seen. At that moment he fell in love with cars, and a dream took hold: He would one day make them himself. It took Honda many years to reach his goal. In the process he became an expert mechanic and manufacturer of car parts. After World War II he developed a motorized bicycle, the forerunner of his innovative motorcycles. Eventually Honda began manufacturing first racecars and then consumer cars. He constantly sought new ways to make his products better and cheaper than his competitors'. Soichiro Honda had an inventive mind and a passion for new ideas. A legendary figure in the world of manufacturing, Honda remains a dynamic symbol of determination, creativity, and the power of a dream. This new chapter book includes black-and-white illustrations as well as sidebars on related subjects, a timeline, a glossary, and recommended reading.

This brilliant book introduces 15 of the world’s most incredible inventions to children. Using bitesize text and beautifully bright illustrations this is the perfect book for science and history lovers everywhere. The world is brimming full of incredible inventions - but where did it all begin? How did these incredible inventions come about? Journey back in time, travel across the world and discover incredible inventions from throughout history. Take a ride on the very first wheel, find your way and ensure you'll never get lost again with the compass, let the lights come on with electricity, watch as the world puffs into life with the steam engine and many more astounding inventions. Written with bite sized pieces of text and illustrated with bright and engaging artwork, this is the perfect introduction to some of the most amazing inventions that have helped make history. ​ Learn fascinating facts about the people behind these inventions and how their discoveries changed the world forever. So what are you waiting for? Let's uncover The Story of Inventions! Inventions featured: The wheel, the compass, paper, clocks, gunpowder, steam engines, vaccinations, computers, electricity, the telephone, the car, planes, plastic, nuclear weapons and the internet.

This entry in the innovative Story line of chapter-book biographies focuses on Duke Kahanamoku, the six-time Olympic swimming champion and a legendary surfer who popularized surfing around the world. Growing up in Hawai'i with the Pacific Ocean as his backyard, Duke Kahanamoku learned to swim and surf at a young age. By his early twenties, Duke's lightning-fast swimming won him a place on the 1912 United States Olympic team and a gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle race. Over the years Duke struggled with racism and financial troubles, but by the end of his twenty-year Olympic career, he was a six-time medal winner. Although he became a swimming champion, Duke's real passion was surfing. He traveled the world, introducing surfboarding to Australia and the east and west coasts of the United States. Considered the father of modern surfing, Duke spread his love of the ocean and Hawai'i wherever he went. The Story of Olympic Swimmer Duke Kahanamoku introduces young readers to a man who was beloved for his modesty, sportsmanship, and amazing skill in the water. Today Duke remains a legendary waterman and an inspiration to all to live life with aloha. This chapter book in our Story line includes black-and-white illustrations as well as sidebars on related subjects, a timeline, a glossary, and recommended reading.

The Story chapter-book line debuts with this action-packed tribute to Arthur Ashe, one of the most compelling athletes and humanitarians of the twentieth century. From the start, Arthur Ashe was an unlikely tennis player. As a young boy in Richmond, Virginia, in the 1940s, he was small and skinny--and barred from most tennis courts because he was black. Still, Arthur was drawn to the game and began to play wherever he could. With patience, hard work, and humility, Arthur pursued his dream. Defeating player after player, match after match, he blazed a path on the courts, becoming the first African American man to win a Grand Slam tournament--the US Open--and the top-ranked tennis player in the world. Throughout his career, Arthur Ashe fought to overcome adversity, opening doors in his sport and promoting human rights. The Story of Tennis Champion Arthur Ashe introduces young readers to an athlete whose grace and dignity on and off the tennis court set a shining example for us all. This new chapter book edition in our Story line includes black-and-white illustrations as well as sidebars on related subjects, a timeline, a glossary, and recommended reading.

This entry in the innovative Story line of chapter-book biographies focuses on Jim Thorpe, an exceptional athlete with natural talent and the first Native American to win an Olympic gold medal for the United States. Jim Thorpe's parents knew he was special from the day he was born. He developed his athletic skills early on, playing outdoors and hunting with his father and brother. But when Jim was sent away to Indian boarding schools, he was confined to stiff uniforms and strict rules. While he struggled in academics, he always excelled in sports. As Jim moved from school to school over the years, overcoming family tragedies, he always remembered the encouragement of his brother and the words of his father--that the white man's knowledge was necessary for him and his people to survive. The Story of All-Star Athlete Jim Thorpe is a fresh look at a world-renowned champion and allows the reader to meet the person behind the celebrated athlete. This chapter book in our Story line includes black-and-white illustrations as well as sidebars on related subjects, a timeline, a glossary, and recommended reading.