Julia McDonnell

Laws affect almost every part of our daily lives, so students should understand both why we have them and how they come to be. From introduction as a bill to reaching the president's desk in the oval office, the process is outlined step-by-step in this excellent volume. Key players in the process are highlighted along with landmark laws, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Full-color photographs, and quotes from famous Americans further enhance...

Harriet Tubman's fame as a conductor on the Underground Railroad led to her nickname: Moses. She displayed considerable courage leading fugitive slaves to freedom and, incredibly, never lost a "passenger." Less well known is Tubman's service in the Union army as a scout and spy during the Civil War. This captivating volume uses Tubman's own remembrances as well as other primary sources to provide a greater understanding of her astonishing life story...

"Legendary lumberjack Paul Bunyan is often depicted as larger than life. Many places around the United States claim Bunyan really lived there. Scholars are still trying to discover whether Bunyan was an actual person or not. According to many stories, he was basically one of the first superheroes of fiction! Readers will love the folk tales describing the exploits of Bunyan and his pet, Babe the Blue Ox. Amusing images accompany the lively text, while...

What makes a metal precious? It's rare, and it's useful. When a metal is both these things, like gold, it's very precious-and expensive. This book takes readers underground where they'll discover the processes and elements that shape precious metals. They'll learn about the features of metals that make them desirable, such as luster, ductility, and reactivity, and how certain metals are utilized. While readers may know something about gold and silver,...

"The meal celebrated by the Pilgrims and Native Americans in 1621 is called the first Thanksgiving just about everywhere. But, this was not the first Thanksgiving at all! European settlers had celebrated many such meals since coming to America. In this book, commonly held myths about colonial history are debunked for curious readers. Readers are invited to think critically about what they know as fact boxes add even more fascinating information to...