Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species, his revolutionary tract on evolution and the fundamental ideas involved, in 1859. Nearly 150 years later, the theory of evolution continues to create tension between the scientific and religious communities. Challenges about teaching the theory of evolution in schools occur annually all over the country. This same debate raged within Darwin himself, and played an important part in his marriage: his wife, Emma, was quite religious, and her faith gave Charles a lot to think about as he worked on a theory that continues to spark intense debates.Deborah Heiligman’s new biography of Charles Darwin is a thought-provoking account of the man behind evolutionary theory: how his personal life affected his work and vice versa. The end result is an engaging exploration of history, science, and religion for young readers.
History
A Picture Book of Simon Bolivar (Picture Book Biography)
A brief biography of South America’s great soldier and patriot who led many countries out from under Spanish dominance.
Boris Yeltsin: Man Of The People (People In Focus Series)
Traces the life of the Russian leader from his childhood on a collective farm through his education as a civil engineer to his election as the first President of the Russian republic in 1991.
Behind The Mask: The Life Of Queen Elizabeth I
A biography of Elizabeth I that describes her triumphant reign as well as the childhood that shaped the woman she became. A behind-the-scenes look at Gloriana that discusses her childhood, how she overcame opposition to become queen and her subsequent manipulation of people, the court and foreigners to attain greatness. Elizabeth I (1533-1603) impressed herself more vividly on the memory of the world than any other monarch in the history of England. She successfully established and maintained power while refusing to bow to the wishes of those who believed no woman was fit to occupy the English throne. This biography describes the opulent but cruel childhood that shaped the woman Elizabeth became and details her triumphant reign, as well as the unrelenting forces that opposed her. Exploring the answers to some of history’s most persistent and intriguing questions, Jane Resh Thomas has created a compelling account of Elizabeth’s life that shatters the myths surrounding her and allows readers an unprecedented view of the queen as a human being. Full-color insert, chronology, bibliography, index.
Magellan
A middle grade adaptation of Bergreen’s adult title of the same name, about Magellan’s historic voyage around the globe.
Death On The River Of Doubt
I did have a murderous trip down South, but it was mighty interesting.” In October 1913, Theodore Roosevelt arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on a tour of South America. The thrill-seeking adventurer had no idea that he would soon receive an offer he couldn’t refuse: the chance to lead an expedition deep into the Amazon jungle to chart an unmapped river with his son Kermit and renowned Brazilian explorer Candido Mariano da Silva Rondon. Death on the River of Doubt takes readers inside the thrilling journey that unfolds as Roosevelt, Rondon, Kermit, and their companions navigate an unpredictable river through an unforgiving jungle. With new threats at every turn, from bloodthirsty piranhas and raging rapids to starvation, disease, and a traitor in their own ranks, it seems that not everyone will make it out alive. Through it all, the indomitable Teddy Roosevelt remained determined to complete their mission and rewrite the map of the world. Or die trying.
The People Shall Continue
Traces the progress of the Indians of North America from the time of the Creation to the present.
Further discussion of this book found in WOW Currents: Indigenous Children’s Literature: Stories Matter, Part IV.
An Interactive Timeline Of History-Time Atlas
Travel through time and embark on a chronological journey, charting a brief history of the world and its inhabitants. From dinosaurs to DNA and from reed boats to rockets, this book celebrates the landmarks and inventions that have made our planet what it is today and poses the question: where do we go from here?
El Pueblo Seguirá
Told in the rhythms of traditional oral narrative, this telling of the history of the Native/Indigenous peoples of North America recounts their story from Creation to the invasion and usurpation of Native lands. As more and more people arrived, The People saw that the new men did not respect the land. The People witnessed the destruction of their Nations and the enslavement of their people. The People fought hard, but eventually agreed to stop fighting and signed treaties. Many things changed and became more difficult, but The People continued to farm and create crafts. They remembered and told their children, “You are Shawnee. You are Lakota. You are Pima. You are Acoma…. You are all these Nations of the People.” The People held onto their beliefs and customs and found solidarity with other oppressed people. And despite struggles against greed, destruction of their lands, and oppression, The People persisted.
Pyramid
Text and black-and-white illustrations follow the intricate step-by-step process of the building of an ancient Egyptian pyramid.