Children deserve biographies that challenge, entertain, and delight. The Who in the World? Series delivers compelling stories with captivating illustrations that tell about the fascinating lives of some forgotten figures who changed the course of history. The biographies are easy to read and even easier to fall in love with.
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Who in the World Was the Acrobatic Empress?
The Story of Theodora. Emperor Justinian could not decide what to do. His people were rioting. An angry mob poured through the streets, looting, setting fires, and destroying houses and taverns. If they reached the palace, they might kill him.
Justinian's trusted advisors pressed him to run to the port and sail away, giving up his throne to save his life. He turned and looked at his wife, the wisest person in the room. What would she, the Empress Theodora, urge him to do?
Discover the intriguing story of Empress Theodora in this fascinating biography.
Outstanding illustrations from Jeff West complement the fabulous story, giving second-grade readers insight into the life of this 6th century ruler.
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Who in the World Was the Forgotten Explorer?
The Story of Amerigo Vespucci. "We got the chance to look at The Story of Amerigo Vespucci, the true tale of a young man passionate to become an explorer and his journey as a great captain and discoverer. This 45-page soft-covered book was easy to read and had plenty of illustrations that can be colored by your first- through third-grade children.
The book begins with a look at Amerigo Vespucci's childhood in the city of Florence, Italy. As a young child, Amerigo is fascinated by astronomy, maps, and sea exploration. His uncle Giorgio spends years teaching Amerigo and in fact gave him the theory of westward exploration. His idea was that if one traveled west via the Atlantic Ocean, they would be able to find China much faster. This was unheard of back in the 1400s when normal trade and travel were accomplished via the "Silk Road," which required long and arduous navigation through Europe and Asia. At that time, most of the countryside was ruled by the Turks, who despised Europeans, so the Silk Road became very dangerous for most travelers. Searching for another passageway to China and India was almost a necessity, and Amerigo was passionate to find it.
Being a third-born son to Anastagio Vespucci, a wealthy aristocrat, meant that Amerigo had opportunities that most third-born sons didn't. At the age of 24, he had the opportunity to assist his uncle Giorgio, who was now ambassador to the King of France. Amerigo paid close attention to the way his uncle traded spices for sheep's wool and bartered for cedar wood. He was able to tell the character of a merchant and which months were the best to trade and sell certain goods. Two years later Amerigo was given the opportunity to become a banker. Through banking came the opportunity to build a shipping business. It wasn't long before this little boy, now a man, could see his dream fulfilled.
In May 1499 the King of Spain asked Amerigo to pilot one of his ships that was sailing westward. Just seven years after Christopher Colombus headed west and founded South America, Amerigo was on his way to confirm the findings. In fact, Amerigo Vespucci affected the world in a way most people do not realize. He not only helped inspire many others to pursue their dreams but also was the inspiration for the naming of both North and South America.
This is an endearing biography and story of dreams fulfilled that every child will enjoy hearing. The way it is written is very easy to understand. It is a story that is off the beaten path and not told in the regular classroom, yet full of vital historical information and depictions of life in the 1400s. It is a story with impact, heart, and hope. I highly recommend this book as an addition to your resource library and as a supplement to your history studies."
Product review by Kelly Miller, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, LLC, August 2006
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Who in the World Was the Secretive Printer?
The Story of Johannes Gutenberg. In this engaging biography, Robert Beckham goes beyond the few facts children are usually told about the inventor of the printing press. Instead, Beckham tells us Gutenberg's story. Johannes spent his days shut away, working on a mysterious project. His neighbors wondered what he was doing in his metal shop. Why did he need so much money? Was he making expensive gold jewelry? Weapons? Armor? Why did Johannes make thousands of small mirrors? When did he learn how to make coins at the mint? Why did his girlfriend take him to court? What project could possibly take up so many hours of Johannes's time?
Beckham's chronological narrative will draw in parents and children alike, while Jed Mickle's ingenious and energetic illustrations will delight the eye and the imagination.
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Who in the World Was the Unready King?
The Story of Ethelred. Why did one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England leave his throne when Sweyn Forkbeard and the Vikings invaded? In less than forty years, England changed hands forever. How did the life of the boy-king Ethelred change English history?
Connie Clark's biography of the king who paved the way for the Viking invasion answers these questions, while Jed Mickle's ingenious and energetic illustrations give us a fresh look at Ethelred, the boy who became king at age 10, and the colorful men and women who surrounded him during his reign.
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