Who was-- ?
Author
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap
Pub. Date
[2004]
Description
A biography of the woman who served as First Lady for the longest time, and who was the first President's wife to speak out about important issues of the day, by writing newspapers articles and books, giving radio interviews and speeches, and teaching classes.
17)
Who was Johnny Appleseed?
Author
18)
Who was Leonardo da Vinci?
Author
24)
Who were the Beatles?
Author
25)
Who was Anne Frank?
Author
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap
Pub. Date
[2009]
Description
"In 1789, George Washington became the first president of the United States. He has been called the father of our country for leading America through its early years. Washington also served in two major wars during his lifetime: the French and Indian War and the American Revolution"--Amazon.com.
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap
Pub. Date
[2010]
Description
In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. This seemingly small act triggered civil rights protests across America and earned Rosa Parks the title "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement."
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap
Pub. Date
[2011]
Description
Ted Geisel loved to doodle from the time he was a kid. He had an offbeat, fun-loving personality. He often threw dinner parties where guests wore outrageous hats! And he donned quirky hats when thinking up ideas for books like his classic The Cat in the Hat. This biography, with black-and-white illustrations throughout, brings an amazingly gifted author/illustrator to life.
Author
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap
Pub. Date
[2012]
Description
"In 1995, on a four-hour-delayed train from Manchester to London, J. K. Rowling conceived of the idea of a boy wizard named Harry Potter. Upon arriving in London, she began immediately writing the first book in the saga. Rowling's true-life, rags-to-riches story is as compelling as the world of Hogwarts that she created. This biography details not only Rowling's life and her love of literature but the story behind the creation of a modern classic"--...
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap
Pub. Date
[2012]
Description
Roald Dahl is one of the most famous children's book authors ever. Now in this Who Was-- ? biography, children will learn of his real-life adventures. A flying ace for the British Air Force, he was married to an Academy Award-winning actress. He also wrote books and screenplays for adults. Entertaining and readable, this biography has 80 black-and-white illustrations.
Author
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, An Imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc
Pub. Date
c2013.
Description
Presents the life and accomplishments of the First Lady of the United States, from her childhood in Chicago and her career as a lawyer to her marriage to Barack Obama and her initiatives in the White House.
Author
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap
Pub. Date
[2013]
Description
"While other kids played sports, Steven Spielberg was writing scripts and figuring out camera angles. He went from entertaining his Boy Scout troop with home movies to amazing audiences around the world with epic blockbusters. He has directed four of the most successful films of all time and has won two Academy Awards for Best Director. From Jaws to Lincoln, young readers and aspiring filmmakers will be fascinated by the life of this famous director"--...
Author
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Pub. Date
[2013]
Description
"An illustrated biography of the inventor of the telephone"--
"Did you know that Bell's amazing invention--the telephone--stemmed from his work on teaching the deaf? Both his mother and wife were deaf. Or, did you know that in later years he refused to have a telephone in his study? Bell's story will fascinate young readers interested in the early history of modern technology!"--
Author
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap ; An Imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc
Pub. Date
[2013]
Description
Offers insight into the historical events that prompted Columbus' efforts to establish new trade routes to the Indies, his struggles to obtain financial support for his voyages, and the important discoveries that caused him to become known as the "Great Admiral of the Seas."
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an Imprint of Penguin Group (USA)
Pub. Date
[2013]
Description
"Davy Crockett, the King of the Wild Frontier, is a man of legend. He is said to have killed his first bear when he was three years old. His smile alone killed another, and he skinned a bear by forcing him to run between two trees. Fact or fiction? Find out the real story of this folk hero, who did love to hunt bears, served as a congressman for Tennessee, and fought and died at the Alamo"--
"An illustrated biography of famous frontiersman Davy Crockett,...
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap
Pub. Date
[2013]
Description
"As a boy he preferred reading sea stories to doing homework and, at age 16, became an apprentice seaman. Subsequently, Ernest Shackleton's incredible journeys to the South Pole in the early 1900s made him one of the most famous explorers of modern times. His courage in the face of dangerous conditions and unforeseeable tragedies reveal the great leader that he was. His historic 1914 journey aboard the Endurance has all the drama of an action movie"--...
Author
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap
Pub. Date
[2013]
Description
"You can always recognize a painting by Kahlo because she is in nearly all--with her black braided hair and colorful Mexican outfits. A brave woman who was an invalid most of her life, she transformed herself into a living work of art. As famous for her self-portraits and haunting imagery as she was for her marriage to another famous artist, Diego Rivera, this strong and courageous painter was inspired by the ancient culture and history of her beloved...
52)
Who Was Laura Ingalls Wilder?
Author
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap
Pub. Date
[2013]
Description
"It seems entirely fitting that Maurice Sendak was born on the same day that Mickey Mouse first made his cartoon debut--June 10, 1928. Sendak was crazy about cartoons and comic books, and at twelve, after seeing Disney's Fantasia, he decided that he was going to become an illustrator. His love of childrens books began early: often sick and confined to bed, little Maurice read and read and read. Though many of his own stories were light and funny,...
59) Who is Stan Lee?
Author
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Pub. Date
[2014]
Description
Profiles the life and accomplishments of Stanley Lieber, comic book author, publisher of Marvel Comics, and creator of such famous comic-book characters as Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, and the Fantastic Four.
60)
Who was Abigail Adams?
Author
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Pub. Date
[2014]
Description
As a child, Charles Dickens worked in a shoe polish factory where his gritty surroundings inspired some of the most memorable characters and settings in literary history. Known for his masterful storytelling in books likeOliver Twist, Great Expectations, and A Christmas Carol, Dickens toured the globe as one of the most famous people of his era. Widely considered the greatest writer of the Victorian age, Dickens's literary masterpieces continue to...
Author
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Pub. Date
[2014]
Description
Profiles the life and accomplishments of Clara Barton, a teacher who organized efforts to bring nursing care to wounded soldiers during the Civil War and who went on to become the founder of the American Red Cross.
68) Who was Gandhi?
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Pub. Date
[2014]
Description
An introduction to the life and accomplishments of the champion of an independent India and global icon of peace and freedom.
Author
Series
Formats
Description
Named Temujin at birth by his nomadic family in early Mongolia, the great Genghis Khan used his skill and cunning to create the Mongol Empire and conquer almost the entire continent of Asia. As ruler of the largest empire in human history, he was as respected as he was feared.
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Pub. Date
2014.
Description
Julius Caesar was a force to be reckoned with as a savvy politician, an impressive orator, and a brave soldier. Born in Rome in 100 BC, he quickly climbed the ladder of Roman politics, making allies and enemies along the way. His victories in battle awarded him the support of the people, but flush from power, he named himself dictator for life. The good times, however, would not last much longer. On the Ides of March, Caesar was brutally assassinated...
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), LLC
Pub. Date
[2014]
Description
Louis Braille certainly wasn't your average teenager. Blind from the age of four, he was only fifteen when in 1824 he invented a reading system that converted printed words into columns of raised dots. Through touch, Braille opened the world of books to the sightless, and almost two hundred years later, no one has ever improved upon his simple, brilliant idea.
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, An Imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Pub. Date
[2014]
Description
"Born in Warsaw, Poland on November 7, 1867, Marie Curie was forbidden to attend the male-only University of Warsaw, so she enrolled at the Sorbonne in Paris to study physics and mathematics. There she met a professor named Pierre Curie, and the two soon married, forming one of the most famous scientific partnerships in history. Together they discovered two elements and won a Nobel Prize in 1903. (Marie later won another Nobel for chemistry in 1911.)...
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Pub. Date
[2014]
Description
"Robert E. Lee seemed destined for greatness. His father was a Revolutionary War hero and at West Point he graduated second in his class! In 1861, when the Southern states seceded from the Union, Lee was offered the opportunity to command the Union forces. However, even though he was against the war, his loyalty to his home state of Virginia wouldn't let him fight for the North."--Amazon.com.
Author
Pub. Date
2014
Description
No one knew the boy they called "Jumping Badger" would grow to become a great leader. Born on the banks of the Yellowstone River, Sitting Bull, as he was later called, was tribal chief and holy man of the Lakota Sioux tribe in a time of fierce conflict with the United States. As the government seized Native American lands, Sitting Bull relied on his military cunning and strong spirituality to drive forces out of his territory and ensure a future homeland...
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Pub. Date
[2014]
Description
He was only 42 years old when he was sworn in as President of the United States in 1901, making him the youngest president ever. But did you know that he was also the first sitting president to win the Nobel Peace Prize? The first to ride in a car? The first to fly in an airplane? Theodore Roosevelt's achievements as a naturalist, hunter, explorer, author, and soldier are as much a part of his fame as any office he held as a politician. Find out more...
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap
Pub. Date
c2015
Description
"When Derek Jeter was eight years old, he announced that he was going to play baseball for the New York Yankees. Jeter earned the attention of major league scouts in high school and was drafted to the New York Yankees in 1992. Named Rookie of the Year, he helped the Yankees win the World Series five times, and became team captain in 2003. With his good looks, easygoing personality, and sense of humor, Derek has always been a fan favorite. Retiring...
84)
Who is Jeff Kinney?
Author
85)
Who is Malala Yousafzai?
Author
88)
Who was Blackbeard?
Author
Author
Formats
Description
Filled with broken hearts and black ravens, Edgar Allan Poe's ghastly tales have delighted readers for centuries. Born in Boston in 1809, Poe was orphaned at age two. He was soon adopted by a Virginia family who worked as tombstone merchants. In 1827 he enlisted in the Army and subsequently failed out of West Point. His first published story, The Raven, was a huge success, but his joy was overshadowed by the death of his wife. Poe devoted his life...
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Pub. Date
c2015.
Description
"Born in Wisconsin in 1867, Frank Lloyd Wright became obsessed with a set of building blocks his mother had given to him on his ninth birthday. He grew up to become the father of organic architecture and the greatest American architect of all time, having designed more than 1,100 buildings during his lifetime. These included private homes such as the stunning Fallingwater, churches, temples, a hotel, and the world-famous Guggenheim Museum in New York...
91) Who was Galileo?
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Pub. Date
[2015]
Description
"Like Michelangelo, Galileo is another Renaissance great known just by his first name--a name that is synonymous with scientific achievement. Born in Pisa, Italy, in the sixteenth century, Galileo contributed to the era's great rebirth of knowledge. He invented a telescope to observe the heavens. From there, not even the sky was the limit! He turned long-held notions about the universe topsy turvy with his support of a sun-centric solar system. Patricia...
Author
Series
Pub. Date
2015.
Formats
Description
Born in 1860s Missouri, nobody expected George Washingtoni Carver to succeed. Slaves were not allowed to be educated. After the Civil War, Carver enrolled in classes and proved to be a star student. He became the first black student at Iowa State Agricultural College and later its first black professor. He went on to the Tuskegee Institute where he specialized in botany (the study of plants) and developed techniques to grow crops better. His work...
94)
Who was J. R. R. Tolkien?
Author
97) Who Was Jesus?
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Pub. Date
[2015]
Description
"... presents young readers with a biography that covers what is known historically about Jesus and places in his life in the context of his world when Jerusalem was part of the Roman Empire. Also explains the early origins of Christianity and how it became a major religion"--Provided by publisher.
Author
Series
Description
Born in Gary, Indiana, on August 29, 1958, Michael Jackson was definitely not a regular kid. A superstar with The Jackson 5 before he was eight years old, he became the King of Pop as a solo artist. Michael was a creative--yet deeply troubled--genius who always remained devoted to his art right up until his death is 2009 before a much anticipated tour. He had a pitch-perfect voice and footwork that his idol Fred Astaire admired. Who will ever forget...
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Pub. Date
2015.
Description
"Enter a world of shrunken heads, mystic holy men, shriveled aliens, and bizarre relics in the delightfully odd tale of Robert Ripley. Born in California, Ripley began his career as a sports cartoonist. He went on to chronicle global records and oddities in his weekly column, Believe It Or Not! After publishing mogul William Randolph Hearst took an interest in the column, it became a syndicated global success. Ripley spent his life traveling to more...
103) Who was Seabiscuit?
Author
Series
Description
Describes the life and accomplishments of the race horse Seabiscuit, who thrived with a loving jockey and trainer and won the hearts of millions around the country.
104)
Who was Sojourner Truth?
Author
105)
Who was Steve Irwin?
Author
Author
Series
Description
First he was known as Tommy, then Woodrow, and eventually, Mr. President. Born on December 28, 1856, in Staunton, Virginia, Thomas Woodrow Wilson was a born leader. He was the president of Princeton University, served as governor of New Jersey after that, and was then elected president of the United States. But not everything was so easy for Wilson. He was ahead of his time in wanting a League of Nations after World War I to help prevent another war...
108)
Who were the Brothers Grimm?
Author
Author
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap
Pub. Date
2016.
Description
Not only was Bruce Springsteen "Born in the USA," he has risen to become a twenty-time Grammy winner and American icon. Bruce Springsteen grew up in a blue-collar New Jersey town, where his parents struggled to make ends meet. Bruce didn't fit in at school but found solace in rock and roll and playing guitar. After the breakup of a local band he'd joined, Springsteen went out on his own and people began to take notice. He signed with Columbia Records...
110) Who is Elton John?
Author
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Pub. Date
2016.
Description
"How does a little boy from the London suburbs named Reginald Kenneth Dwight grow up to become one of the biggest pop stars of all time? A lot of talent and a lot of personality! Elton John, as he would later call himself, started playing piano at the age of three. Although he was trained to play classical music, Elton's real love was rock and roll. He cut his first album in 1969 and has dominated the airwaves ever since with songs like "Your Song,"...
Author
Publisher
Penguin Young Readers Group
Pub. Date
2016
Description
Who Is Hillary Clinton? Readers of our At age fourteen, Hillary Clinton thought it would be thrilling to become an astronaut, so she sent an application to NASA. The reply was a flat out rejection: the space program didn't take women. It was a critical moment for the young girl, one that made her realize the world she lived in needed changing and that she had better try to make those changes happen. Clinton's life has been a thrilling series of firsts—First...
Author
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, and imprint of Penguin Group
Pub. Date
[2016]
Description
"Alexander the Great conquers the New York Times best-selling Who Was...? series! When Alexander was a boy in ancient Macedon, he already had grand ambitions. He complained that his father, the great king of Macedon, wasn't leaving anything for him to conquer! This, of course, was not the case. King Alexander went on to control most of the known world of the time. His victories won him many supporters, but they also earned him enemies. This easy-to-read...
Author
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Pub. Date
[2016]
Description
"Through this engaging Who Was? biography, kids will discover the woman behind the sunglasses. Private and bookish, Jackie Kennedy found herself thrust into the world spotlight as the young and glamorous wife of the President John F. Kennedy. As First Lady she restored the once neglected rooms of the White House to their former glory, and through her charm and elegance became a style icon whose influence is still felt even today. Kids will be fascinated...
116)
Who was Joan of Arc?
Author
117) Who was Jules Verne?
Author
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap
Pub. Date
2016.
Description
"Meet the father of science fiction, Jule Verne. Born in France in 1828, Jules Verne always dreamed of adventure. At age 11, he snuck onboard a ship headed for the Indies only to be discovered by his father and have his dreams dashed. After his father made him swear to only travel "in his imagination," Verne kept his promise for the rest of his life. He began writing adventure stories as a young man and became a popular writer throughout France. Known...
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Pub. Date
[2016]
Description
Born in Missouri in 1928, Maya Angelou had a difficult childhood. Jim Crow laws segregated blacks and whites in the South. Her family life was unstable at times. But much like her poem, "Still I Rise," Angelou was able to lift herself out of her situation and flourish. She moved to California and became the first black and first female streetcar operator before following her interest in dance. She became a professional performer in her twenties and...
Author
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Pub. Date
[2016]
Description
"Meet the man behind the board games: Milton Bradley. Born in Maine in 1836, Milton Bradley moved with his family to the working-class city of Lowell, Massachusetts, at age 11. His early life consisted of several highs and lows, from graduating high school and attending Harvard to getting laid off and losing his first wife. These experiences gave Bradley the idea for his first board game: The Checkered Game of Life. He produced and sold Life across...
Author
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Pub. Date
[2016]
Description
"Discover more about the comedy team that perfected the art of the pie fight! The Three Stooges were the hardworking children of immigrants and discovered a love of performing at an early age. Starting out as a vaudeville act, they soon transitioned into movies, becoming a worldwide sensation in feature films and shorts. Never the critics' darlings, audiences loved them for their mastery of physical comedy and their willingness to do anything for...
123) Who is Pope Francis?
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Pub. Date
[2017]
124) Who is Ralph Lauren?
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
2017.
Description
"The polo player with the raised mallet - everyone knows the Ralph Lauren logo. Now readers can learn the amazing story of the man who is a true American fashion icon. Born in the Bronx, even as a teenager Ralph Lauren was known for his distinctive fashion sense, having a taste for both classic preppy clothes and vintage looks like beat-up leather jackets. He got his start in the fashion business by selling ties that he designed. From ties he went...
Author
Description
Outspoken, energetic, and fun, Sonia Sotomayor has managed to turn every struggle in life into a triumph. Born in the Bronx to immigrant parents from Puerto Rico, Sonia found out at age nine that she had diabetes, a serious illness now but an even more dangerous one fifty years ago. How did young Sonia handle the devastating news? She learned to give herself her daily insulin shots and became determined to make the most out of her life. It was the...
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Pub. Date
[2017]
Description
Highlights the life and accomplishments of the founding father, from his childhood as an orphan in the West Indies to his role in developing the Constitution and his tragic death in a duel with Aaron Burr.
128) Who was Bob Marley?
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap
Pub. Date
[2017]
Description
"Bob Marley was a reggae superstar who is considered to be one of the most influential musicians of all time. Born in rural Jamaica, this musician and songwriter began his career with his band, The Wailing Wailers, in 1963. The Wailers went on to spread the gospel of reggae music around the globe. Bob's distinctive style and dedication to his Rastafari beliefs became a rallying cry for the poor and disenfranchised the world over and led to a hugely...
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC
Pub. Date
[2017]
Description
Presents the life and achievements of Coretta Scott King, discussing her vital role in the Civil Rights Movement, her awareness campaigns, and her efforts to continue the work of her husband, Martin Luther King, Jr.
132) Who was Jane Austen?
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
2017.
Description
"Step into the world of Georgian England and learn more about the genteel life of this beloved author. Although Jane Austen's works were first published anonymously and brought her little personal recognition, today they are rarely out of print and have inspired movies, television shows and mini-series, literary anthologies, and many other adaptations all around the world. Her writing--principally her five novels--is a critique of the British landed...
133)
Who was Lewis Carroll?
Author
134)
Who was Lucille Ball?
Author
135) Who was Pete Seeger?
Author
Series
Publisher
Grosset & Dunlap
Pub. Date
[2017]
Description
Presents the life of the folk singer and social activist, and discusses his role in the union, anti-war, civil rights, and environmental movements and the opposition he sometimes aroused for his radical views.
Author
Pub. Date
2017.
Description
"Learn how Lady Diana Spencer became the People's Princess as she takes her place in the ranks of the Who Was? series. A shy twenty-year-old girl stepped out of a horse-drawn coach and into the world spotlight, capturing the imagination of millions as a real life fairytale princess. Although the storybook marriage didn't have a happy ending, Diana learned to use her fame as a way to champion charitable causes near to her heart. She became the People's...
137)
Knock! Knock! Who was there?
Author
139) Who is Bono?
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2018]
Description
"By age 16, Paul David Hewson was such a good singer that he had earned the nickname "Bono Vox," a Latin phrase that translates to "good voice." When he became the frontman of the newly formed rock band U2 in 1976, he adopted part of the nickname and "Bono" was introduced to the world. In addition to having stellar vocals and a compelling stage presence, Bono is also recognized for his commitment to social justice. This book shares the story of this...
140) Who is Judy Blume?
Author
Description
"Learn how Judy Blume went from a stay-at-home mother to one of the most beloved American authors of the twentieth century. Readers adore Judy Blume for her personal stories about the journey from childhood to adolescence. She has always been an imaginative person and an avid reader. As a child, Judy spent time looking through library shelves for the perfect books, and if she couldn't find the right ones, she entertained herself by making up stories...
141) Who is Pele?
Author
Pub. Date
[2018]
Description
Presents the life of the soccer star, discussing his childhood in Brazil, his relationship with his father, who taught him the sport, his role on the first Brazilian team to win the World Cup, and scoring his thousandth goal.
144) Who was Henry VIII?
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Pub. Date
[2018]
Description
Mainly remembered for his six marriages and his self-appointment as the "Supreme Head of the Church of England," Henry VIII was also attractive, educated, and athletic. When Henry Tudor ascended to the English thrown at the age of 17, his reign looked promising. But by the time of his death in 1547, King Henry VIII was characterized as an extremely egotistical, harsh, and insecure king.
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Pub. Date
[2018]
Description
"Hold on to your Viking helmets as you learn about the first known European to set foot on North America in this exciting addition to the Who Was? Series! Leif Erikson was born to be an explorer. His father, Erik the Red, had established the first European settlement in present-day Greenland, and although he didn't yet know it, Leif was destined to embark on an adventure of his own. The wise and striking Viking landed in the area known as Vinland...
146) Who was Napoleon?
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2018]
Description
Born in the Mediterranean island of Corsica, Napoleon Bonaparte felt like an outsider once his family moved to France. But he found his life's calling after graduating from military school. Napoleon went on to become a brilliant military strategist and the emperor of France. In addition to greatly expanding the French empire, Napoleon also created many laws, which are still encoded in legal systems around the world.
147)
Who was Neil Armstrong?
Author
149) Who was Selena?
Author
Series
Description
"As a young girl, Selena Quintanilla sang in a band called Selena y Los Dinos with her brother and sister. The family performed at fairs, weddings, quinceañeras, and on street corners in their native Texas. Selena learned how to sing in Spanish and soon became hugely popular within the Latino community--so much so that she became the best-selling Latin artist of the 1990s. Selena was poised to be a great success, but her life was cut short after...
Author
Series
Appears on list
Description
"During World War II, black Americans were fighting for their country and for freedom in Europe, yet they had to endure a totally segregated military in the United States, where they weren't considered smart enough to become military pilots. After acquiring government funding for aviation training, civil rights activists were able to kickstart the first African American military flight program in the US at Tuskegee University in Alabama. While this...
Author
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2019]
Description
"The story of how a young Southern girl who was raised on a pig farm became one of the most influential and inspiring people in the world. We all know Oprah Winfrey as a talk-show host, actress, producer, media mogul, and philanthropist, but the "Queen of Talk" wasn't always so fortunate. She suffered through a rough childhood and went on to use her personal struggles as motivation. Oprah's kindness, resilience, and determination are just some of...
153) Who is R. L. Stine?
Author
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2019]
Description
"Reader beware! The biography of R. L. Stine, author of the hugely popular Goosebumps series, is a scary-good time! R. L. Stine began writing stories at the age of nine, after finding a typewriter in his family's attic. (Was it a haunted typewriter? Who can be sure?) Often referred to as the 'Stephen King of children's literature,' R.L. has created some of the scariest books to have ever been passed around a campfire, leaving readers wide awake at...
154) Who was Che Guevara?
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, New York
Pub. Date
[2019]
Description
"Viva la revolucion! Find out how Che Guevara--a doctor turned communist leader and much more than a face on a T-shirt--ended up paying the ultimate price for his cause. His very image has become associated with a spirit of rebellion, but Ernesto Guevara--known around the world simply as Che--didn't dream of becoming a revolutionary. Author Ellen Labrecque takes readers on a journey through Che's life starting with his childhood in Argentina, to his...
155) Who was H.J. Heinz?
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2019]
Description
Learn how this son of German immigrants from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, turned his small food-packaging company into a booming business known for its fair treatment of workers and pioneering safe food preparation standards. This American success story follows Heinz from his early days as a pickle and vinegar merchant in the 1800s to the name behind the nation's number-one brand of ketchup.
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2019]
Description
"Even though he's best known for his successful PBS series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Fred Rogers never dreamed of working in television. In fact, he hated the very first program that he ever watched! Join author Diane Bailey as she takes readers through the journey that brought Mister Rogers into our living rooms. From his childhood interest in puppet-making and music, to his courageous visit to Russia during the Cold War, this book details Mister...
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
2019.
Description
"Brush up your knowledge on popular American painter and illustrator Norman Rockwell with this exciting Who Was? title. Norman Rockwell often painted what he saw around him in nostalgic and humorous ways. After hearing President Franklin Roosevelt's address to Congress in 1943, he was inspired to create paintings that described the principles for universal rights: four paintings that portray iconic images of the American experience. Over the course...
158)
Who was P. T. Barnum?
Author
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
2019.
Description
"Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is famous for her stylish collars (called jabots) and her commanding dissents. This opera-loving New Yorker has always spoken her mind; as a young lawyer, RBG advocated for gender equality and women's rights when few others did. She gained attention for the cases she won when arguing in front of the Supreme Court, before taking her place on the bench in 1993. Author Patricia Brennan Demuth answers all the question about...
160) Who was Sam Walton?
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2019]
Description
"Sam Walton used the money he earned in the army, along with some financial help from his family, to open his first store. Then he opened fourteen more. Then Sam had an even bigger idea. He wanted to build large stores in small towns and reduce the price of everything they stocked. Although other businessmen and potential partners laughed at him, this entrepreneur with humble beginnings used his resourcefulness to create Walmart, which would become...
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Pub. Date
[2019]
Description
"Learn more about the renowned British scientist, professor, and author who spent his entire career trying to answer the question: "Where did the universe come from?" Stephen Hawking was born exactly three hundred years after the death of the scientist Galileo, so maybe it was written in the stars that he would become a famous scientist in his own right. Although he was diagnosed with a neurological disease at age 21, Stephen did not let the illness...
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2020]
Description
"Whenever a young David Beckham was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he'd always answer with the same response: I want to be a footballer. This English native got his wish when he joined the Manchester United team in 1991. Since then, he has been crossing, bending, and free-kicking his way to stardom. In his twenty-year career as a professional soccer player, he has won nineteen major trophies, and appeared at three FIFA World Cup tournaments....
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
2020.
Description
"When she was just fifteen years old, Greta Thunberg knew she wanted to change the world. With a hand-painted sign that read "School strike for the climate" in Swedish, Greta sat alone on the steps of the Swedish parliament to call for stronger action on climate change. Her one-person strike would soon spark a worldwide movement"--
164) Who is Jackie Chan?
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2019]
Description
"When Kong-sang was a young boy in Hong Kong, he enjoyed practicing martial arts with his dad but hated going to school. He was eventually enrolled in the China Drama Academy, where he improved his martial arts skills and became a stuntman. That training led to a successful career as an actor. Kong-sang, now known as Jackie Chan, never gave up on his passion for screwball physical comedy. Luckily for Jackie, his determination paid off. His humor and...
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2020]
Description
"Temple Grandin wasn't officially diagnosed with autism until she was in her 40s, but she knew at an early age that she was different from her family and classmates. She couldn't show affection, she acted out when noises or other stimuli overwhelmed her, and she only felt comfortable when spending time with the animals on her aunt's ranch. But instead of seeing her differences as limitations, Temple used them to guide her education and career in animal...
Author
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2020]
Description
"Benedict Arnold fought for the colonies during the American Revolution and was even considered a patriotic war hero after being wounded in battle. But in 1780, he made a decision that no one could anticipate. He betrayed his fellow Americans and joined the British army"--
167)
Who was Celia Cruz?
Author
168) Who was Confucius?
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2020]
Description
"Born in 551 BC, Confucius was a young man when he set his heart and mind on learning as much as he could. By his thirties, he'd become a brilliant teacher who shared his knowledge of several subjects, including arithmetic, history, and poetry, with his students. Confucius wanted to make sure that everyone in China had access to an education and devoted his whole life to learning and teaching so he could transform and improve society. His lessons--now...
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
2020.
Description
"A pivotal fixture of the Harlem Renaissance, Duke Ellington was the bandleader of the historic Cotton Club and a master composer -- writing close to 3,000 songs in his lifetime and capturing the spirit of the Black experience in the Unites States. Over a 50-year career, Ellington became one of the biggest names in jazz as we know it"--
170) Who was Harvey Milk?
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2020]
Description
"Although he started out as a teacher without aspirations to be an activist or politician, Harvey Milk found himself captivated by the history-making movements of the 1960s. He would eventually make history of his own by becoming the first openly gay elected politician in California. While in office, Harvey Milk advocated for equal rights for the gay community. Even though his life and career were cut short, Harvey is still seen by many as one of...
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2020]
Description
"Born into slavery in 1862, Ida Bell Wells was freed as a result of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865. Yet she could see just how unjust the world she was living in was. This drove her to become a journalist and activist. Throughout her life, she fought against prejudice and for equality for African Americans. Ida B. Wells would go on to co-own a newspaper, write several books, help cofound the National Association for the Advancement of Colored...
172) Who was Kobe Bryant?
Author
Series
Description
"Kobe Bryant was just an eighteen-year-old high-school basketball player when he decided to enter the National Basketball Association's draft. Though he was the thirteenth overall pick by the Charlotte Hornets, he would never play a single game for them. Instead, Kobe was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he would spend his entire twenty-season career, winning five championships and numerous awards. Author Ellen Labreque takes readers through...
173) Who was Nellie Bly?
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2020]
Description
"Known for her extraordinary and record-breaking trip around the world and her undercover investigation of a mental institution, Nellie Bly was one of the first female investigative reporters in the United States and a pioneer in the field of journalism"--
Author
Series
Description
"On August 8, 1974, millions sat stunned as they watched Richard Nixon on TV when he announced he was stepping down as the President of the United States. He'd participated in a scandal that included secret tape recordings, a burglary, and a cover-up, and now his secrets and lies were catching up to him. How could Nixon, a man who had been reelected in a landslide victory just two years earlier, now be leaving office in disgrace? Author Megan Stine...
Author
Publisher
Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Pub. Date
[2021]
Description
"On June 26, 2018, twenty-eight-year-old Alexandria Ocasio -Cortez, a bartender from New York City, became the youngest woman ever elected to serve on Congress. Her win shocked the political world and she became a celebrity overnight. Soon, everyone knew her by her initials: AOC. As soon as she was sworn into office, AOC became a vocal champion for healthcare for all and the fight against climate change. This exciting story details the defining moments...
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2022]
Description
"When he was just twelve years old, Cristiano Ronaldo was recruited to play professional soccer for a team in Portugal, 600 miles from his island home on Madeira. For the next twenty years, Cristiano would prove to the world that he is one of the greatest to ever play the game. Author James Buckley Jr. takes readers through each exciting moment--from his first championship with Manchester United to each of his five Ballon D'or award-winning seasons--all...
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2021]
Appears on list
Description
On November 7, 2020, Kamala Harris, a senator from California, became the first woman and the first African-American and South Asian-American person to be elected to the vice presidency. While her nomination for this position was not unexpected, her rise to national prominence was one filled with unexpected turns and obstacles. After failing her first bar exam to become a lawyer, she tried again and passed. From there, she quickly rose through the...
179)
Who is Ken Jennings?
Author
180)
Who is Neil Degrasse Tyson?
Author
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
c2021.
Description
"In 1936, the life of ten-year-old Princess Elizabeth of York changed forever. Although she was a member of the British royal family, she never expected to become queen. But when her uncle Edward gave up the throne, suddenly her father was the new king, which meant young Elizabeth was next in line! Queen Elizabeth has reigned since 1953, and while there are palaces galore, the crown jewels, and trips around the world, her life has been one of strict...
182)
Who is RuPaul?
Author
Author
Series
Pub. Date
2021
Description
On February 7, 2021, Tom Brady lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy into the air for the seventh time in his career. After winning the Super Bowl six times with the New England Patriots, this was Brady's first win with his new team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The record-breaking win further solidified what many people had already believed for two decades: Tom Brady is the GOAT: Greatest Of All Time. This moving story details the life of Tom Brady and the...
184) Who was A.A. Milne?
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2021]
Description
Born in England in 1882, Alan Alexander Milne grew up with a love for exploring the woods with his brother and writing poems about their adventures. Alan carried that love into his adult life by exploring the woods with his son, Christopher Robin. Well known for his articles, plays, and novels, Alan considered himself a "serious" author. But one story about a stuffed bear changed his image forever. Inspired by his son and their time playing in the...
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2021]
Description
"This exciting Who Was? title explores how Catherine the Great was able to turn Russia into one of the great powers of Europe by expanding its borders, helping improve its educational system, and advocating for the arts. Her three-decade reign is considered the Golden Age of Russia"--
186)
Who was David Bowie?
Author
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
2021.
Description
Born in 1860 in Savannah, Georgia, Juliette Gordon Low grew up having the finest clothes and education. She was expected to be a prim and proper lady, but Crazy Daisy--as she was nicknamed by her friends and family--preferred to climb trees, ride horses, and hike. She also tried to find ways to help people in need. She carried that caring spirit with her into adulthood and used it to develop the Girl Scouts of the United States of America in 1912....
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2021]
Description
"As a young working-class German immigrant, Levi Strauss left his family's dry goods business in New York City to journey out west for the California Gold Rush. Only Levi wasn't looking for gold--he wanted to provide the miners with sturdy clothes to wear while they worked in the dusty river beds. His solution? Blue jeans--pants made of strong denim fabric--which have become one of the most beloved and fashionable clothing items in the world"--
189)
Who was Walt Whitman?
Author
Author
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
2021.
Description
"The world was fascinated and concerned. Dr. David Livingstone's 1866 expedition to find the source of the Nile River in Africa was only supposed to last two years. But it had been almost six years since anyone had heard from the famous British explorer. That's when a young American newspaper reporter named Henry Morton Stanley decided to go on his own expedition to find Dr. Livingstone. Author Jim Gigliotti chronicles the lives of both of these men...
Author
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
2021.
Description
"By the time the United States joined the Second World War in 1941, the fight against Nazi and Axis powers had already been under way for two years. In order to win the war and protect its soldiers, the US Marines recruited twenty-nine Navajo men to create a secret code that could be used to send military messages quickly and safely across battlefields. Author James Buckley Jr. explains how these brave and intelligent men developed their amazing code,...
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
2022.
Description
"No one was surprised when Dale Earnhardt Jr. began his racing career at age seventeen. His father and grandfather were professional racers, and he spent most of his childhood servicing cars at his dad's dealership. Now Dale was ready for his own turn in the driver's seat. He started out racing in the Street Stock division but would go on to win several NASCAR championships before retiring from driving full time in 2017. Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s passion...
Author
Series
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Pub. Date
[2022]
Description
"Charles (otherwise known as Sparky) Schulz always loved drawing from the time he was a young child, and as he grew older, he turned this passion into a phenomenally successful career. His early doodles of a shy boy and of his mischievous dog inspired two of his most familiar and beloved characters, Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Here's the story about the Peanuts gang and Charles's life that's sure to excite those who love the classic cartoon series"--...
Author
Publisher
Penguin Workshop
Description
"Ernest Hemingway wasn’t just a novelist. He was a hunter and a fisherman; he became an ambulance officer in Paris, France, during World War I; and he worked as a reporter during the civil war in Spain in the 1930s. All of these experiences had such an important impact on Ernest’s life that he used them as inspiration for some of his most notable works of fiction, including The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell to Arms, and For Whom the Bell Tolls. He...
.png)