In 1897, whaling in the Arctic waters off Alaska’s coast was as dangerous as it was lucrative. And in that particular year, winter blasted early, bringing storms and ice packs that caught eight American whale ships and three hundred sailors off guard. Their ships locked in ice, with no means of escape, the whalers had limited provisions on board, and little hope of surviving until warmer temperatures arrived many months later. Here is the incredible story of three men sent by President McKinley to rescue them. The mission? A perilous …

Provides the story of the thirteen women connected with NASA’s Mercury 13 space mission, who braved prejudice and jealousy to make their mark and open the door for the female pilots and space commanders that would soon follow.

Explores the literary, artistic, and intellectual creativity of the Harlem Renaissance and discusses the lives and work of Louis Armstrong, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and other notable figures of the era.

A biography of U.S. Supreme Court judge, Sonia Sotomayor.

Emily and Ben have just lost their mother to cancer. The children are struggling to come to terms with their mother’s death and make sense of their changed world. They experience a range of feelings: anger, sadness, fear, and hopelessness. Guided by conversations with their father, the children learn to better understand and express their feelings. Gradually, they begin to adjust to their loss.

Goldie learns sportsmanship. These character traits help children grow up and “let their goodness shine.” You can be a positive role model. Find out how to take care of our Earth or try something new. Which gem or stone are you?

This is the true story of Syvia Perlmutter — a story of courage, heartbreak, and finally survival despite the terrible circumstances in which she grew up.

Imagine being the tallest person in the world. As a child. You just keep growing and growing and growing…six feet…seven feet…eight feet up. The world is made in miniature and you must constantly endure. The crush of public attention is relentless. Some people are kind, some are mean. All are curious. This may sound like a tale from long ago, but this is the inspirational true life story of young Robert Wadlow. The victim of an overactive pituitary gland, Robert lived from 1918 to 1940. He stood just shy of …

At the age of eight, little Sonia Korn is declared an enemy of the German State. She and her family are given the choice to either find a way to leave Germany on their own, without any resources, or be deported. After a series of frightening narrow escapes, Sonia finds that she must give up everything she knows and loves just to survive. This is the complex true story of one girl, who rises from war’s ashes to sing the songs of hope and love world-wide. A heart-wrenching and poignant …

A Life in Hiding… When the German army occupied Holland, Annie de Leeuw was eight years old. Because she was Jewish, the occupation put her in grave danger-she knew that to stay alive she would have to hide. Fortunately, a Gentile family, the Oostervelds, offered to help. For two years they hid Annie and her sister, Sini, in the cramped upstairs room of their farmhouse. Most people thought the war wouldn’t last long. But for Annie and Sini — separated from their family and confined to one tiny room — the war seemed to go on forever.