It is time to pay taxes to the king, but all that Joseph and his mother have to offer him is a goose. They were told that the goose is magical and lays golden eggs. But they never see a single golden egg—until they give the goose to the king. In the king's luxury, the goose begins to lay the precious eggs. But the goose has many demands of the king. She must have everything she wants in order to keep laying golden eggs. The greedy king agrees. Does the king pay too high a price? Will he be able to meet the needs of the goose? Or, will he learn that enough is enough?
A hungry fox comes upon a crow sitting in a tree. The crow holds a piece of cheese in its beak. The fox would like to eat that cheese. Of course, the crow also wants to eat the cheese. Can the sly fox trick the crow into giving up the cheese?
The town mouse visits its cousin, the country mouse. The country mouse offers the town mouse a dull meal. The town mouse tells the country mouse to come to its home to try some fine dining. The country mouse follows its cousin to town. After a series of adventures, the two reach the table to find that the food is tasty. There is plenty of it, too. But a cat and a dog bring danger. Will the mice escape the dog and cat? Will the country mouse return to its home?
A family lives in a small village. Everyone in the family must do his or her part to provide for the family. It is the youngest son's job to herd the family's sheep. He must be very careful because a wolf is nearby. But the boy does not believe there is danger. He is bored with his work. He decides to trick his family and cry, Wolf! even though the wolf is not there. The family comes to him and is angry that he lies. The boy promises not to lie again, but he does anyway. He loses everyone's trust. When the wolf really arrives, no one believes the boy's cries. Will the boy save himself and the sheep from the wolf?
A true nature lover, John Chapman, aka Johnny Appleseed, sets out to explore the western frontier with dreams of apple trees blossoming throughout the landscape. This colorful story captures his spirit and courage as he journeys the country planting seeds.
Paul Bunyan was a giant of a man who logged the great American north along with Babe, the giant blue ox who worked at his side through all his adventures. This story describes how their sheer size and actions would shape the countryside.
The fight to change the law to allow women to vote was called the Suffrage Movement. Those who joined this fight were called suffragists. Many brave suffragists organized groups, gave speeches, and held marches and parades. It took women almost 150 years to get the right to vote. This is the story of how they did it.
Hillary Clinton started her life as a little girl listening to her parents. They told her to work hard and help other people. Clinton did just that. She worked hard to graduate from college and then law school. She used her law degree to help children. She also helped her husband campaign for the presidency. When her husband was elected president of the United States, Clinton moved into the White House and became First Lady. But, she did not stop there. Clinton went on to become a New York Senator and then Secretary of State for President Obama.
Find out why General Washington names Molly Hays, also known as Molly Pitcher, a sergeant in his all-men army with this fun, colorful story that retells her acts of kindness and amazing feats during the Revolutionary War.
For centuries, women’s work was limited to the home. There were strict limits on what they could do and who they could become. Those who tested the limits faced harsh criticism. But, these women dared to be different. By breaking rules, they also broke down barriers. Their courage paved the way for the women featured in this book to achieve their dreams.
There was a time in American history where African Americans did not have the same rights as other Americans. Segregation laws forced African Americans to have separate schools, restrooms, parks, and even drinking fountains. They suffered from racism and discrimination. Despite these disadvantages, African Americans fought for equality and set out to prove their worth. Colin Powell, Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, and Condoleezza Rice are just a few of the key historical people in this book. They all became successful through their hard work and exceptional skills and thus led the way for other African Americans to follow.
After the Civil War, African Americans were still experiencing discrimination and segregation. Many people chose to move North in search of equality and freedom. Langston Hughes was one of these migrants. He moved to New York City to attend college at Columbia University. He settled in Harlem, a thriving city full of jazz and blues music, art, and culture. Hughes became the “Voice of the Harlem Renaissance” and opened a window into African American culture. He was a gifted man who inspired many people with his poetry, plays, short stories, and autobiographies. Eventually more African Americans banded together and formed groups like the NAACP, which led to the Civil Rights Movement. They organized boycotts, marches, and other peaceful demonstrations to fight to end segregation. After 10 years of protests, President Kennedy passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964. Many people today believe that Hughes’s literature and poetry inspired people to take the action needed to end segregation.
