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Books in What's Their Story? series

  • What Is the Story of Scooby-Doo?

    M. D. Payne, Who HQ, Andrew Thomson

    Paperback (Penguin Workshop, April 16, 2019)
    Your favorite characters are now part of the Who HQ library! Nothing mysterious about it! Learn all about how Scooby and his friends took over Saturday mornings--and then the world--in this debut title in the What Is the Story Of? series.Most kids are familiar with the always-hungry, scaredy-cat Great Dane called Scooby-Doo and his true-blue friends of Mystery Inc. But how did Scooby and the gang make it onto the silver screen? Author M. D. Payne lays out the whole groovy tale in this book that's sure to have readers shouting, "Zoinks!"
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  • What Is the Story of Batman?

    Michael Burgan, Who HQ, Jake Murray

    Paperback (Penguin Workshop, March 10, 2020)
    Who HQ brings you the stories behind the most beloved characters of our time.His aliases include the Caped Crusader, the Dark Knight, and World's Greatest Detective, but he's best known as Batman, and he's leaping from the night sky onto the page in this fun biography.Bruce Wayne, a wealthy American philanthropist and business owner, and Batman, his crime-fighting alter ego, have been entertaining audiences since 1939. The character was so popular after appearing in Detective Comics that DC Comics decided to give Batman a comic book of his own. In doing so, they created one of the company's most successful franchises.Author Michael Burgan details the history of Batman--from his tragic origin story and his infamous arch enemies--to his iconic depictions in television and movies throughout the years. This book shows readers why this superhero with no superpowers is so beloved around the world.
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  • What Is the Story of Looney Tunes?

    Steve Korte, Who HQ, John Hinderliter

    Paperback (Penguin Workshop, March 10, 2020)
    Who HQ brings you the stories behind the most beloved characters of our time.If you're a fan of Acme anvils and know that the question "What's up, Doc?" needs no answer, this history of the cartoon favorites Looney Tunes is for you!In the 1930s, Warner Brothers studios introduced the world to the Looney Tunes. A witty rabbit named Bugs, a stuttering pig named Porky, and an erratic duck named Daffy are just some of the characters that have left audiences hysterically laughing for almost a century. These animated short films, starring some of the most iconic cartoon characters in history, went on to have a second, long life on television.In this book, author Steve Korte details how these toons were imagined, which talented folks were tasked with animating and voicing them, the success the shows and films have garnered over the years, and what lies ahead for Bugs and the gang.
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  • What Is the Story of The Wizard of Oz?

    Kirsten Anderson, Who HQ, Robert Squier

    Paperback (Penguin Workshop, Oct. 15, 2019)
    Who HQ brings you the stories behind the most beloved characters of our time.We're off to see the Wizard...along with Dorothy, Toto, and all of her friends as they make their way onto the What Is the Story of? list. When L. Frank Baum wrote about the adventures of a young farm girl named Dorothy and her pet dog in the magical Land of Oz in 1900, he wanted to create a beautiful story based on the America he knew and treasured. But he had no idea his book would become a bestseller and grow into the cultural phenomenon that it is today. After the iconic 1939 film, numerous sequels, retellings, and musicals, it's easy to see why The Wizard of Oz has been called "America's greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale." From Baum's first book through Wicked, the story of The Wizard of Oz is as fascinating as the tale itself.
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  • What Is the Story of Frankenstein?

    Sheila Keenan, Who HQ, David Malan

    Paperback (Penguin Workshop, Aug. 13, 2019)
    Your favorite characters are now part of the Who HQ library!One of the most iconic monsters of all time comes to life in our What Is the Story Of? series.From his origins in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel, through his many movie portrayals in the twentieth century, Frankenstein is one of the most recognizable characters in the world. His iconic look is a go-to Halloween costume for kids and adults alike. But how did the mad scientist and his creation become so popular? Author Sheila Keenan explains his spooky origin story, the history of the movies, and what lies ahead for this monstrous creature.
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  • Eric The Red: The Viking Adventurer

    Neil Grant, Victor Ambrus

    Hardcover (Oxford University Press, Oct. 29, 1998)
    Eric the Red was wild and hot-headed, even for a Viking. His quick temper was always getting him into trouble. But he learned quickly how to lead, and in time became a great warrior and a fearless adventurer. He discovered a new land--Greenland--and founded a new nation.
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  • What Is the Story of Dracula?

    Michael Burgan, Who HQ, David Malan

    Paperback (Penguin Workshop, Aug. 11, 2020)
    Who HQ brings you the stories behind the most beloved--and frightening!--characters of our time.Find out how Dracula--a smooth-talking count with a dark secret--became the infamous creature we all know and fear.From appearances in films and animated features to interpretations as a Muppet and breakfast cereal mascot, Dracula has been the inspiration for many other fictional vampires and is now an established figure in pop culture.Created by Bram Stoker in his 1897 Gothic horror novel, Count Dracula is a nobleman who uses his powers as a vampire to dominate his victims. Even though Dracula didn't succeed in the novel, the fictional character has lived on to dominate the real world as one of its most popular supernatural villains.Author Michael Burgan explores Dracula's mysterious origins in the historical figures who might have shaped the character, as well as the films and actors that cemented Dracula's place in cinematic history.
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  • What Is the Story of Wonder Woman?

    Steve Korte, Who HQ, Jake Murray

    Paperback (Penguin Workshop, Aug. 13, 2019)
    Your favorite characters are now part of the Who HQ library!Wonder Woman--DC Comics' greatest female superhero--flies onto our What Is the Story Of? list. She is a founding member of the Justice League, a goddess, and an ambassador of the Amazonian people. Wonder Woman burst onto the comic book scene during World War II. For more than seventy years, she has been fighting for equality, power, and truth with her lasso of truth in one hand and her sword in the other. Author Steve Korté shares the story of how one of the first and foremost superheroines was created, and how she came to be such a powerful feminist icon.
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  • Cleopatra: The Queen of Dreams

    Haydn Middleton, Barry Wilkinson

    Hardcover (Oxford University Press, Feb. 12, 1998)
    Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, dreamed of restoring her country to its former glory. Hers is a story of ambition and struggle, of powerful romance with the Roman giants Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, and ultimately of great tragedy.
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  • Alexander the Great

    Andrew Langley, Alan Marks

    Paperback (Oxford University Press, April 24, 1997)
    A wonderful new series of well-told, beautifully illustrated biographies, for children aged 6-9 years, featuring great leaders, heroes, pioneers, inventors and scientists from the past.Each biography tells an exciting story about a real person, that can be read either alone or by a parent or teacher. The colourful artwork will stimulate the imagination and linger in the memory. The biographies link in with National Curriculum KS1 and KS2, History, English, science and othersubjects.Young children love a good story. What better way to introduce them to the giants of our past than through these delightful books?
  • What Is the Story of Doctor Who?

    Gabriel P. Cooper, Who HQ, Gregory Copeland

    Paperback (Penguin Workshop, Oct. 15, 2019)
    Who HQ brings you the stories behind the most beloved characters of our time.This What Is the Story of? title is out of this universe! Learn the history of the Time Lord, the TARDIS, and the epic battles they've faced across time and space.When Doctor Who began airing on the BBC in 1963, British audiences were introduced to the rogue Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey. Now, viewers from all over the world are glued to their screens for the mysterious Doctor's intergalactic adventures. But how did this time traveler became such a beloved character? Author Gabriel P. Cooper provides readers with the inside scoop on the Doctor's unique time machine, loyal companions, and diabolical foes. This book, just like the show, is sure to intrigue a new generation of fans.
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  • What Is the Story of Hello Kitty?

    Kirsten Anderson, Who HQ, Jill Weber

    Paperback (Penguin Workshop, April 16, 2019)
    Your favorite characters are now part of the Who HQ library! Say hello to the premier title in the What Is the Story Of? series. Hello Kitty!This cute cartoon character who's shaped like a bobtail cat and wears a bow in her hair has become an icon of our times. Hello Kitty, as she is known, is a piano-playing, cookie-baking darling from London with a heart of gold. Readers will learn all about Kitty, who was first created in Japan, but has since gone on to capture the imagination of people all around the world. Super fans of the super-fashionable Kitty will be thrilled to see her debut in the Who HQ brand.
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