- Who
Is Bill Gates?
Bill Gates, born in Seattle, Washington,
in 1955, is an American business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and
author. In this Who Was...? biography,
children will learn of Gates' childhood passion for computer technology,
which led him to revolutionize personal computers. Through the success of
his now-world-famous software company, Microsoft, Bill Gates became one of
the wealthiest philanthropists in history.This
fascinating story of a child technology genius is sure to captivate any
audience!
- Who
Was Marco Polo?
Marco Polo was seventeen when he set out for China
. . . and forty-one when he came back! More than seven hundred years ago,
Marco Polo traveled from the medieval city of Venice
to the fabled kingdom of the great Kublai Khan, seeing new sights and
riches that no Westerner had ever before witnessed. But did Marco Polo
experience the things he wrote about . . . or was it all made-up? Young
readers are presented with the facts in this entertaining, highly
readable Who Was . . . ? biography with
black-and-white artwork by John O'Brien.
- Who
Were the Wright Brothers?
As young boys, Orville and Wilbur Wright loved all things
mechanical. As young men, they gained invaluable skills essential
for their success by working with printing presses, bicycles, motors, and
any sort of machinery they could get their hands on. As adults, the
brothers worked together to invent, build, and fly the world’s first
successful airplane. This is the fascinating story of the two inventors
and aviation pioneers who never lost sight of their dream: to fly, and to
soar higher!
- Who
Was Galileo?
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 Brennan Demuth offers a sympathetic portrait of a brilliant
man who lived in a time when speaking scientific truth to those in power
was still a dangerous proposition.
- Where
Are the Great Pyramids?
The Great Pyramids of Egypt--all
kids over the age of five recognize them instantly. These massive tombs
were built thousands of years ago, and still no one knows exactly how the
ancient Egyptians did it! In this informative account, Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler tell the story of the powerful pharaohs who
commissioned the pyramids at Giza and offer a
fascinating look at the culture of the afterlife in ancient Egypt,
explaining exactly how mummies were made. Easy to read and scrupulously
researched, this explores the mysteries that have attracted countless
visitors to the pyramids for centuries.
- Where
Is the Great Wall?
More than two thousand years ago, with his land under constant attack from
nomads, the First Emperor of China came up with a simple solution: build a
wall to keep out enemies. It was a wall that kept growing and growing. But
its construction came at a huge cost: it is believed that more than a
million Chinese died building it, earning the wall its nickname--the
longest cemetery on earth. Through the story of the wall, Patricia Brennan
Demuth is able to tell the story of China
itself, the rise and fall of dynasties, the greatness of its culture, and
its present-day status as a Communist world power.
- Where
Is the Taj Mahal?
The Taj Mahal may look
like a palace, but it's actually a tomb and a lasting testament to one of
the world's great love stories. In 1612, Mogul emperor Shah Jahan married Mumtaz Mahal. It had been love at first sight and for
nineteen years they were so inseparable that Mumtaz
even accompanied Shah Jahan to battlefields.
When she died suddenly giving birth to their fourteenth child, the emperor
set about building a magnificent memorial to his wife. Everything about
the Taj was perfectly planned, from the white
marble walls that shimmer in the sunlight and sparkle by moonlight, to the
countless decorative flowers made from precious gems that still astound
visitors today. Recent discoveries at the site make this a timely account
of a timeless monument.
- Where
Is the Eiffel Tower?
When the plans for the Eiffel Tower
were first announced, many people hated the design of the future landmark,
calling it ungainly and out of step with the beautiful stone buildings of
the city. But once it went up for the World's Fair in 1889, the people of Paris
quickly fell in love with the tower. Today it seems impossible to imagine Paris
without the Eiffel Tower,
which greets millions of visitors each year who climb up its wrought-iron
stairs, ride its glass elevators, and enjoy the wonderful views of the
city spread out below it.
- What
Was the San Francisco
Earthquake?
One early April morning in 1906, the people of San
Francisco were jolted awake by a mammoth
earthquake—one that registered 7.8 on the Richter Scale.
Not only was there major damage from the quake itself but broken gas lines
sparked a fire that ravaged the city for days. More than 500 city blocks
were destroyed and over 200,000 people were left homeless. But the city
quickly managed to rebuild, rising from the ashes to become the major
tourist destination it is today.
- What
Was Hurricane Katrina?
On August 25th, 2005,
one of the deadliest and most destructive hurricanes in history hit the Gulf
of Mexico. High winds and rain pummeled coastal communities,
including the City of New Orleans,
which was left under 15 feet of water in some areas after the levees
burst. Track this powerful storm from start to finish, from rescue efforts
large and small to storm survivors’ tales of triumph.
- What
Was the Great Chicago
Fire?
On Sunday, October 8, 1871,
a fire started on the south side of Chicago.
A long drought made the neighborhood go up in flames. And practically
everything that could go wrong did. Firemen first went to the wrong
location. Fierce winds helped the blaze jump the Chicago River
twice. The Chicago Waterworks burned down, making it impossible to fight
the fire. Finally after two days, Mother Nature took over, with rain smothering
the flames. This overview of a stupendous disaster not only covers the
fire but explores the whole history of fire fighting.
- What
Was the Hindenburg?
At 800-feet long, the Hindenburg was the largest airship ever built--just
slightly smaller than the Titanic! Also of a disastrous end, the zeppelin
burst into flame as spectators watched it attempt to land in Lakehurst,
New Jersey on May 6, 1937. In under a minute, the
Hindenburg was gone, people jumping from windows to escape. However, only
62 of the 97 crew members and passengers onboard survived. The exact cause
of the disaster is still unknown and remains a fascinating historical
mystery perfect for this series.