The unique and historically accurate Lone Star Heroines trilogy by Melinda Rice brings real events in Texas history to life as it shows young readers how girls living at different eras experienced and contributed to dramatic events. In Messenger On The Battlefield (1556227884, ...) is set in 1835 when 11-year-old Isabelina Montoya is happy to hear that her older sister has accepted the marriage proposal of a handsome Mexican solder. But when Texas goes to war against Mexico, dividing Isabelina's family, a decision must be made as to whether they should remain true to their Mexican heritage or fight for their new Texas homeland! Fire On The Hillside (1556227892, ...) is set in the spring of 1847 and finds 13-year-old Katherine Haufmann arriving from Fredericksburg, Texas with her family as immigrants from Germany. As she struggles to get used to her new home, Katherine becomes intrigued by the mysterious fires that start appearing in the nearby hills. While the rest of the townsfolk focus on peace talks with the Comanche, Katherine decides to discover the cause of those mysterious fires. Secrets In The Sky (1556227876, ...) is set in 1943 as World War Two is raging overseas. 12-year-old Bethany Parker lives in Sweetwater, Texas, when the Women Air Force Service Pilots come to town. When one of the women dies during a training flight, Bethany is convinced the mysterious crash was the work of a Nazi spy -- and sets out to prove it! The Lone Star Heroines is an outstanding and very highly recommended series of historical novels for young readers that are each enhanced with a "Sources" bibliography for the further study and more detailed study of Texas history.

The year is 1847, and thirteen-year-old Katherine Haufmann lives with her family in Fredricksburg, Texas. The Haufmanns and their neighbors are immigrants from Germany who founded the town the year before. Even though she has been in Texas a year, Katherine still thinks of Germany as her home, and longs to return. After her father joins a peacemaking expedition to the Comanche Indians, Katherine and the other residents of Fredricksburg notice strange fires on the hillside outside of town, that appear each evening at dark in the same exact two places and last until dawn. With fear rising of a possible attack, either by the Comanche or by bitter Americans who feel the Germans have stolen their land, Katherine takes it open herself to find the origin of the mysterious fires - and puts herself in far greater danger than she ever could have imagined. Based on real events in Fredricksburg, Texas, in the spring of 1847, this is the story of a spunky and courageous young girl who, in her quest for the truth, finds that her home is where she least imagined it being.

I found this book after reading the prequel "Titanic Crossing" to be just as good, if not better, than the first book. Anyone who lives in Baltimore will definitely enjoy the turn of the century references, as I did to such things as the amusement park and "Roland Park", where I actually live close to! A great read and definitely a page turner as you find out Emily's coming to grips with being a Titanic survivor and learning a lot about life and herself. A must read.

Fans of Titanic Crossing will remember Emily Brewer, a girl that Albert, the main character, befriended aboard the Titanic. In this sequal, twelve-year-old Emily is the main character. Barely a week after the ship sank, and just a few days after they finally arrived in America, Emily, her widowed mother, and her younger brother and sister have come to live in Baltimore. Thankfully, Emily's brother quickly recovers from the mysterious illness that plagued him in India, where Emily's parents were missionaries until her father's death. Emily is haunted by visions of those that did not survive, especially because none of those people had to die if the Titanic had carried enough lifeboats. Emily's mother tells her to stop dwelling on those she couldn't save and start helping those she can save. So the rest of the book from that point onward is about Emily discovering the terrible conditions of child laborers, and her struggle to help them, even though she is putting herself in more danger than she realizes. This story could have been told without the Titanic background, but I liked reading about what happened to the characters of Titanic Crossing, so I didn't mind. There's less action in this one, but readers who want to know more of Emily and Albert's (he's in this one for a short time) adventures will enjoy it anyhow.

This is a book that I delight in reading over and over to my 6-year old. The rhymes and glorious illustrations keep my daughter engrossed while enjoying the story and learning life's lessons in a kind and subtle tone.

Your child will be riveted by the tales involving the most lovable bear in children's literature (and you will too!). This memorable character will remain in your hearts and minds for a lifetime. I am purchasing a copy for my friend's five-year-old so that they can experience the pearls of wisdom imparted by Martin Bear with inimitable humor and good nature. The book is modern yet provides moral depth and values. The paintings are sumptuous! Read it and be transported into the realm of Martin Bear and his fears, joys, and tremendous courage. The Penguin, Magic Raccoon, and Nasty Monster are terrific characters too! My children adore this book and I never tire of reading it with them.

I was one of the students that help revise this book, which makes it so much more better to me. I was only one of the students at McGee Middle School that Carroll and Thomas visited to ask us to read the book, which was 80 something photo-copied pages, and make it better. It sure came out Better! It came out the BEST! -Chris Meyer

The best book I've read in a long time. A very exiting book that keeps you on your feet.

We have read a lot of biographies, but this one was different. I don't really know why. My son, 6, was captivated by this book. He now devours EVERYTHING he hears about Martin Luther King, Jr. My son learned about a man like himself in many ways who experienced difficulties and fought unfair laws just because of his color. He also learned about a man named Gandhi and the influence he had on Dr. King. I was so impressed by the impression that this book made on my son. And he recognized scenes from the book when we watched the movie "KING." Rarely does any book have this much impact on a young child. It definitely deserves 5 stars.

This is the perfect biography for kids around 8-12 years old to read. It has lots of information and is a little more advanced than a Martin Luther King biography you would find in a first grade classroom would be.This would also be a great book to read if a child has to do a report.

Although my 2 year old adores trains, I resisted introducing him to the Thomas series of merchandise, books, and videos because I've heard it can be an expensive addiction. I also was turned off by the one Thomas video I saw because I dislike the creepy rolling eyes in the traditional films. However, I saw found this book in a used book store and decided to get it. The text is not so excessive that it would bore a toddler, but is a nice graduation up from simple rhyming books. It doesn't have a "plot," but is a great preparation for longer stories.

Each character is introduced with photos from the Shining Time Station video. When they eyes aren't rolling around manaically, I can handle it (!). My 2 year old loves this book and I've read it countless times.

My only gripe with the book is that the section on the freight cars ("troublesome trucks" in other books) does not have an accompanying photo that makes it clear who is being described. A close up of a single car would have been better. Also, because several of the trains are the same color, it can be hard for a toddler to distinguish them, but that's not a problem with the book. It does create the opportunity to ask a child to identify the numbers on the side of the different trains.

This book is a great stand-alone Thomas book for any toddler who loves trains.

My 2 year old son adores this book! I've read it to him so many times and he never tires of it.

Easy reading with short chapters. Tells the story of how he got started,(high school and college days)and how he broke into the big leagues. Filled with great photos and interesting facts.

This book has lots of good information for any Piazza fan and i highly reccomend it to all who like him or the Mets(by the way i wrote this on october 13, so i hope he stays a Met).This book is a must for Piazza fans.

As a schoolteacher, I have used this book with children in the classroom, and found it a very useful tool to engage children in discussions about spaceflight, science, and environmental issues. It is a very well-written book, with beautiful and useful photos, that every teacher should own. I'm hoping it will become a set book on the curriculum.

NASA astronaut Tom Jones has created a fabulous book here, one which both children and adults will enjoy, and which for most of us will be the nearest we will come to experiencing the wonders of spaceflight. Jones guides us through his two Shuttle missions with breathtaking clarity, using words and pictures to describe living and working in space. The environmental aims of his missions highlight problems we face on Earth, and how space flights can help solve them. This book would be a wonderful tool for schoolteachers or parents to introduce a wide range of subjects- science and the environment among them- to children. Adults, too, will enjoy journeying into space with Jones. I would HIGHLY recommend it!!!

The Month Brothers, A Slavic Tale by Samuel Marshak

Everyone knows that the twelve months of the year never meet but in this charming folk tale a little girl saw all twelve months at one time. Deep in the forest around a blazing fire the Months meet together as brothers in the depths of the Winter.

On a freezing January night, a wicked woman ordered her stepdaughter to go into the forest to find flowers. The poor child, bundled in her ragged clothes, sets out on her impossible quest. She is without hope knowing that she cannot return without flowers and that flowers won't bloom until March. The young girl weeps as she walks on until she comes upon a glade where twelve men stand warming themselves by a huge fire. They listen to her story, and you must read this book if you want to find out how they help her.

This children's book is based on a Soviet-era Russian play The Twelve Months by Samuel (or Samuil) Marshak. With delightful color illustrations by Diane Stanley, this book is a delight to read. A longer version of Marshak's story was released in English in 1967 by Dorothy Nathan.

This is a delightful tale for children in early grade school. Younger children will enjoy the realistic and warm illustrations by Diane Stanley. This story tells the tale of a young girl who is forced to go out in a January storm by her stepmother to look for flowers for her stepsister. While stumbling around in the snow, she meets all twelve Month Brothers, representing all the months of the year. My 8 year old has checked this book out of the school library so many times that we are finally purchasing the book for our personal library. That is the highest recommendation any author can get, the repeated reading by a child.

I teach 3rd grade, and I read this book aloud to my students each year. Ann Cameron gives a realistic picture of a child abandoned by his mother, and taken in by his grandmother.
She gives a wonderful message about the importance of education and asking for what is really important to you. Although this book is written in easy to read language and great illustrations, the author's messages are best discussed with young ones. I thank Ann Cameron every time I read this book.

This is a delightful children's book about a boy living in San Pablo, a small town on the shores of Lake Atitlán, in Guatemala - truly one of the most beautiful places in the world. The story is a heartwarming, but authentic depiction of the trials and joys of a boy's life in rural Guatemala. The drawings are also accurate portraits of village life. The themes of responsibility, love, and quest for knowledge are timeless. Not only will children enjoy this charming tale, but adults will enjoy reading it to them.