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From a shy child, Eleanor grew up to be an activist and a quietly powerful First Lady. Her life is chronicled in an understandable, well documented narrative complemented by an array of photographs. This is a solid companion to Freedman’s biography of Eleanor’s husband, Franklin Delano Roosevelt(opens in a new window).

Martha Graham was tenacious; she was a dancer with a vision who left her mark on the modern American dance. Her life and art combine in this highly readable biography revealed through photographs and narrative which incorporates interviews with those who knew her.

Powerful portraits of six Indian leaders of western tribes are presented in a handsome volume. Photographic portraits and other visuals from the period enhance the well-documented, highly readable biographies of well and lesser known chiefs.

Fifty years ago well-known civil rights leaders came together with other lesser known but key individuals in Selma, Alabama. Events leading to breaking down the barriers to voting rights for African Americans are detailed through strong images and moving, well-documented narrative.

Abraham Lincoln comes to life as a leader, a husband and a father in this enthralling account of his life and the times in which he lived. Lincoln’s writing and other primary sources are seamlessly incorporated along with telling photographs.

The East Coast had Ellis Island, comparable to the West Coast’s Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay. There immigrants, primarily Chinese, entered the U.S. from about 1910 to 1940 where they stayed sometimes for long periods. Primary sources, both text and image, combine for a poignant portrait of the people and the period.

Though different, Abraham Lincoln and formerly enslaved Frederick Douglass shared a great deal in common. Both came from poverty, achieved prominence; they developed camaraderie and a shared vision that changed a nation, all presented in this clear and accessible volume.

Many things happen when the wind blows. Dune grass bends, waves spray, and “Copper whirls ‘round/Between two magnets/High aboveground” to generate electricity that is used to power our nation. Lyrical text and realistic illustrations provide a creative introduction to wind power.

Forest animals “live as neighbors” and survive by building. The homes and their inhabitants are presented in stunning, earth-toned pop-ups accompanied by a brief but informative and engaging text.

Sophisticated baseball aficionados will appreciate the highs (and lows) of the game over decades, organized by its three seasons: spring, summer, fall. The author’s work as a sports writer is evident in his chatty, approachable style.

A word on one side is illustrated on the opposing page of each spread. Lift the sturdy flap, and the egg becomes a chick, the acorn becomes an oak tree, etc. Even a very familiar caterpillar becomes a handsome butterfly in this thoughtfully presented glimpse of spring things.

Huntsville, Alabama, home to the Marshall Space Center, was desegregated nonviolently during the 1960s. The people there nurtured the seeds planted by Martin Luther King, Jr. and others as they worked for equality. Realistic watercolors are expressive, effectively evoking the period and people.

Isabella Baumfree was born into slavery but she would not remain enslaved. Instead, she took the name Sojourner Truth and a famous orator for the abolition of slavery and for women’s rights. Sojourner’s words swirl throughout deeply colored pages of expressive illustrations.

Words are powerful; they can inspire and they can be hurtful, as Shabazz demonstrates in this touching look at her father’s early life. Realistic illustrations combine with a compelling narration to examine a man and the turbulent times in which he lived. Older, more sophisticated readers may gain more from Shabazz’s X: A Novel(opens in a new window).

This brief, broad introduction to gospel great, Mahalia Jackson, is sure to inform as well as arouse curiosity about her music and the times in which she lived. Happily, lots of audio exists to complement the richly illustrated glimpse of a fascinating woman.

Born in the Mississippi Delta in 1927, the always musically gifted Mary Violet Leontyne Price would grow up to be the first African American to star at LaScala in Italy. Evocative illustrations swirl with poetic text to bring this star to life. Leontyne was preceded and may have been inspired by Marian Anderson, so this book pairs well with When Marian Sang: The True Recital of Marian Anderson(opens in a new window).

This book tells the greatest space robot adventure of all time through the eyes — and heart — of Steven Squyres, professor of astronomy at Cornell University and lead scientist on the mission. This suspenseful page-turner captures the hair-raising human emotions felt during the adventures with two tough rovers.

The perilous, adrenaline-fueled, life-saving work of an international volcano crisis team and the sleeping giants they study, from Colombia to the Philippines, from Chile to Indonesia.

Why the once-planet Pluto was demoted to a lesser planetary status is explained in readable text and engaging illustrations.

Young people see a need and work to better their world in this upbeat chronicle of youthful activists.

The life of Wolfgang’s older sister, Maria Anna, follows the form of a piano sonata which combines with evocative illustration to portray the 18th century musicians and their music.

Move over Tom Edison! This intriguing look at Tesla’s importance in early use of electricity is well documented and handsomely illustrated first look at an important scientist and inventor.

Benjamin Franklin was always curious and thinking outside of the box, even as a boy. Youthful swimming (during a time when swimming was considered unhealthy) led Ben to invent paddles to be more fish-like. One episode from the life of a “smart, stubborn, sensible son of a soap-maker” is presented in humorous, detailed illustrations and lively language.

Are you ready to shake and mix to make new colors? “Tap the gray spot…to see what happens.” With a turn of the page many colors appear for readers to mix. Simple blobs of color and simple instructions on uncluttered pages creatively present color mixing.