Books in Toy Trailblazers series

Many looked on Gladys Aylward's expedition to mainland China as foolhardy and dangerous. It was. On her own, as a single female, she carried her passport and other documents, along with the only money and belongings that she had, in a small briefcase with a teapot and a saucepan tied to the handle. After having purchased her one-way ticket to China, she left the United Kingdom with a single-minded determination to do what God had commanded her. She knew she was meant to go to China - even if no mission was prepared to support her. Unconventional is the only way to describe this journey to the country that would eventually become her home. A theme that would continue throughout her mission work in China where she thwarted authorities, became involved in the Chinese resistance and rescued over 100 children from the invading Japanese army.Written for 9-14 year olds.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the manufacturers of LEGO, the Kristiansen Family. Follow the familys story from Denmark where Ole Kirk Christiansen began making wooden toys in his Billund Carpentry Shop and Lumberyard to the companys evolution to the LEGO company. Christiansen and his sons Godtfred, Karl, and Gerhardt purchase a machine that makes plastic toys, and create the LEGO brick, and his grandson Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen expands to LEGOLAND. Learn how LEGO bricks are made, who came up with the name, how the family name came to be spelled with a K, and about other LEGO Group products. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the developer of the Barbie doll, Ruth Handler. Follow the story of Handlers early work with her husband Elliott making and selling plastic products, their collaboration with Harold Matson to form Mattel, Handlers inspiration for a new kind of doll, and the companys introduction of Barbie in 1959. Readers will follow Barbies evolution through the ensuing decades as Handler continuously reinvented Barbie to appeal to new generations. Learn how Barbies are made, who came up with the name, the role of the Mickey Mouse Club in Barbies success, and about other Mattel products. Handlers family and her retirement as president from Mattel and her subsequent work for cancer survivors with her new company Nearly Me is also covered. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

Bring history home with you and meet some of the world's greatest game changers! Get inspired by the true story of the most award-winning American gymnast. This biography series is for kids who loved Who Was? and are ready for the next level.In August 2016, American gymnast Simone Biles won four Olympic gold medals! Her irresistible smile, fierce determination, and unbeatable strength have made her a favorite around the world. Find out how the girl who taught herself to flip on her backyard trampoline blazed a trail in gymnastics.Trailblazers is a biography series that celebrates the lives of amazing pioneers, past and present, from all over the world. Get inspired by more Trailblazers: Neil Armstrong, Jackie Robinson, Jane Goodall, Harriet Tubman, Albert Einstein, Beyoncé, and Simone Biles. What kind of trail will you blaze?

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of Rubik's Cube, Erno Rubik. Follow the story of Professor Rubik as he invents the Magic Cube and moves past its disappointing flop in Hungary to winning Toy of the Year and international success as Rubik's Cube. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of Nerf, Reyn Guyer. Follow the story of Guyer from his early collaboration inventing the game Twister, to the Nerf indoor ball, Nerf Football, and Nerf Blaster. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the designer of Pokémon, Satoshi Tajiri. Follow the story of Tajiri as he founds Game Freakmagazine which turned into Game Freak video-game development company and the creation of the Pokémon video games, trading cards, television series, and Pokémon Go! Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about Nintendo innovator Hiroshi Yamauchi. Follow the story of Yamauchi as he takes over his family's playing card manufacturing company and transforms it into the video game powerhouse responsible for Donkey Kong, Super Mario Brothers, the Game Boy, and the WII. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

Bring history home and meet some of the world's greatest game changers! Get inspired by the true story of one of the world's most famous singers. This biography series is for kids who loved Who Was? and are ready for the next level.Beyoncé Knowles became famous as the lead singer of the popular group Destiny's Child. But on her own, she's had even bigger hits. From movies to Grammy Awards to performing at the Super Bowl halftime show, Beyoncé is one of the world's most amazing superstars. Find out how the girl who entered local singing competitions became one of history's greatest trailblazers!Trailblazers is a biography series that celebrates the lives of amazing pioneers, past and present, from all over the world. Get inspired by more Trailblazers: Neil Armstrong, Jackie Robinson, Jane Goodall, Harriet Tubman, Albert Einstein, Beyoncé, and Simone Biles. What kind of trail will you blaze?

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the inventor of the American Girl doll, Pleasant Rowland. Follow the story of Rowland as she creates American Girl from the original historical dolls to the updated American Girl of the Year and American Girl of Today to Truly Me and BeForever. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the innovators of the Slinky, the James family. Follow the story from Richard James's childhood and engineering education at Penn State University where he married Betty Mattas to his naval engineering career at William Cramp & Sons and the accident with a tension spring that led to Slinky. The Jameses founding of the Spring and Wire Company and its success with Slinky, the company's foundering, Richard's departure, and later success under Betty's leadership using one of the nation's most recognizable product jingles. Learn how Slinkys are made, who came up with the name, the role of the movie Toy Story in Slinky's success, and about other Slinky products. Sidebars, historic family photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.