| This book shares facts about Frederick Douglass from his childhood as a slave to his time as a runaway slave. It tells about Douglass’ ocupation as a ship caulker and then later as an advisor to President Lincoln. Douglass was also an abolisionist and an advocate for womens rights. |
Victoria Woodhull was born into poverty in 1838; she spent most of her childhood in a variety of bad situations. Victoria and her sister began the first stock business owned by women and eventually ran for the presidency.
George Washington Carver was born into slavery around 1864 on Moses Carver’s farm near Diamond, Missouri. Moses and his wife, Susan, were German immigrants who taught George and his brother many things, but it was George’s insatiable thirst for knowledge which led him to discover many things on his own and to pursue a formal education, even though there many obstacles facing him in this quest. Nevertheless, he persevered and received a bachelor of science degree and a master’s in agriculture from Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts, the first of his race to do so there. In fact, he was a trailblazer for all races in many areas because he did many things which no one had ever done before and would write informational literature detailing his research and works. He would later receive an honorary doctorate from Simpson College where he had once attended before transferring to Iowa State.
He was different from the vast majority of scientists because he was able to join religion and science by attributing his scientfific discoveries to inspiration from God. He explained (p. 89): “The thing I am to do and the way of doing it comes to me. The method is revealed at the moment I am inspired to create something new. Without God to draw aside the curtain, I would be helpless.”
Because he wanted to be a help to his people, he took a teaching position at Tuskegee Institute, a renowned Black institution of higher learning in Alabama which was headed by another great Black historical educator and leader, Booker T. Washington. It was at Tuskegee where Dr. Carver would discover many uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes, cotton, and other common products, such as clay from which he derived pigments and formulated paints.
His love of God and his fellowmen allowed him to form lasting friendships and associations, most notably that of his friendship with Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company. They had a common interest in chemurgy, a new science whose purpose was to find industrial uses for farm products. (It is now called biochemical engineering.)
Another notable person whose life was touched by Dr. Carver was Henry A. Wallace, the inquisitive young son of one of Carver’s former professors. He would later have a successful career in agriculture and would eventully serve as the U. S. Secretary of Agriculture under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Wallace was then successfully nominated as the vice presidential candidate on President Roosevelt’s ticket and was inaugurated on January 20, 1941.
Dr. Carver died on January 5, 1943. He is buried on the Tuskegee campus (as is Dr. Booker T. Washington).
This book provides a vast amount of information regarding Dr. Carver’s life (including some of his recipes for peanuts and sweet potatoes) and the discoveries he made and the accolades and honors which he received during his lifetime and posthumously.
The author notes that he was a leader in discovering industrial uses for agricultural products and opened doors for other African-American scientists, but further states that perhaps Dr. Carver’s legacy is the individual lives he touched as a teacher and mentor and the young people he guided and inspired. He had told his students (p. 113): “When you do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.”
From her pioneer days on the prairie to her golden years with her husband, Almanzo, and their daughter, Rose, Laura Ingalls Wilder has become a friend to all who have read about her adventures. This behind-the-scenes account chronicles the real events in Laura’s life that inspired her to write her stories and also describes her life after the last Little House book ends.
This is an uplifting biography about 2008 President Elect Barck Obama. It tells of his everlasting Hope and his vision to bring people together. It is an easy read for children and it also conveys to children that you don’t have to be like everyone else. Barack Obama always knew that he was different which shows children that it’s okay.
Allen Say, the author, reminisces on his granfather’s journey in America and Japan and tells how he himself grew up and adapted to both worlds.
This book is about a amazing person who faced many obstacles. Helen Keller at a young age became both blind and deaf due to a high fever. Still she was able to learn how to read and do many other things that we sometimes take for granted.
 This is the author’s story of her life during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. She was only six years old at the time. After spending her 1st grade year in a former white elementary school, she found hope in her teacher Mrs. Henry. Mrs. Henry taught Ruby how to read and write, and although the world around her was constantly judging her, she never took notice of the color of Ruby’s skin. This story was inspirational, and showed in detail the full effect a teacher can have in a child’s life. |
This is a biography written about the life of Judy Blume. It goes into her childhood as well as why she writes.
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This book is about the author’s many accomplishments. Shel Silverstein’s life is so much more than poetry. He is also a songwriter, an illustrator, among other things!