"Osceloa-born Billy Powell-was the son of an English trader and a Creek woman. Although not Seminole by birth, he was adopted into their tribe as a child when he and his mother moved to Florida to escape the fighting of the Creek Wars. As an adult, Osceola (his Seminole name) fought to help his people keep control of their ancestral homeland. Vivid photographs augment the age-appropriate text to bring the story of this Native American hero to life...

Archaeological excavations have uncovered cities in northwestern India that are more than 8,000 years, making India the site of the oldest known civilization on the planet. Over this time period, empires have risen and fallen, and while the culture is not exactly the same today as it was in centuries past, some elements have survived. Today, India is a vibrant, bustling nation with a rich culture. Food, holidays, and ways of life here are unique and...

In many places in the United States and around the world, doing everyday activities is difficult for disabled people. Things able-bodied people take for granted-including entering a building via a staircase, crossing the street safely, and grocery shopping-can be difficult or impossible for disabled people when the proper accommodations are not in place. However, such accommodations were almost unheard of prior to the 1960s. Through accessible main...

All stars have a finite life expectancy-even our own sun. Fortunately, many stars survive for billions of years. Our sun has existed for more than 4 billion years and has not yet reached the next phase of its life cycle. While it is inevitable that the sun will burn out, it will not be within the lifetime of anyone alive today. Through accessible main text, enhanced with vivid full-color photographs and informative graphic organizers, explores the...

In the 21st century, having a website has become a sign of legitimacy. Businesses, job seekers, entertainers, and more all have websites that tell people who they are and what they do. Websites have transformed from a novelty in the 1990s to a requirement today. Learning how to make a website is an essential skill that will have great benefits for students as they forge their careers. Through engaging sidebars and eye-catching graphic organizers,...

Throughout the world, millions of people face food insecurity every day. Although the United States is a prosperous country, it is not immune to this problem. Concerns about where their next meal is coming from plague hundreds of thousands of Americans. Understanding what food insecurity means is the first step toward solving it. Informative text and engaging fact boxes give readers a better understanding of the facts surrounding this often complex...

Debate has long raged over whether graffiti can be considered an art form. Its illegal nature has caused many people to denounce it, while others contend that a work does not have to be legal to be art. The heart of the question is, what defines art? Informative text discusses competing views on the issue, presenting all sides of the debate to help readers form their own opinions. Engaging sidebars spotlight graffiti artists such as the famous Banksy,...

When YouTube was first launched in 2005, the site immediately started attracting visitors. Two years later, it created a program that allowed people to get paid for their content. Today, many people have made YouTube their full-time career. However, even people who do not intend to become professional vloggers can benefit from having a YouTube channel. Through in-depth sidebars and full-color photographs, readers learn the basics of creating and maintaining...

How do you ask forgiveness for the unforgivable? When Annie Wolff's ex-husband dies unexpectedly, she breaks her self-imposed exile and returns home to Snohomish, Washington. Annie hasn't seen her children, Grace and Connor, in eight years, and now, her in-laws are making a bid to adopt them. She only hopes the depression that once sent her running will remain in check. Annie is quickly drawn back into the lives of her now-teenage kids, under the...

Rudy Giuliani emerged from the smoke of 9/11 as the unquestioned hero of the day: America's Mayor, the father figure we could all rely on to be tough, to be wise, to do the right thing. In that uncertain time, it was a comfort to know that he was on the scene and in control, making the best of a dire situation. But was he really? Grand Illusion is the definitive report on Rudy Giuliani's role in 9/11-the true story of what happened that day and...