Ronald Himler

When his grandfather arrives from Mexico, Francisco helps him find work as a gardener even though he is really a carpenter. When they mistakenly pull all the plants but leave the weeds, Abuelo, upset at Francisco’s lie, refuses to accept payment until the job is done correctly.

When John and Abigail first met, they didn’t really like each other but came to appreciate the other’s strengths: Abigail had her own opinions; John was honest and witty. After their marriage, Abigail expertly handled home, family, and more during her husband’s frequent travel and was the earliest First Lady to live in the Executive Mansion. This is a graceful introduction to an early first family. View this exclusive digital version of Abigail and John

A homeless boy and his dad make their home in a busy airport.

When Nettie and her family travel to the South, they see enslaved people. Nettie is literally sickened by it and realizes how wrong slavery is. This fictional story is both realistic and heart wrenching. Readers sense that Nettie will grow into an Abolitionist much like Louisa May Alcott became.

A boy describes the trip he takes with his father to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Together, they look for the name of his grandfather, who died before he was born.

In the 1850s, “Orphan Trains” carried children from New York City orphanages to new homes in the West. Many, like Marianne, hoped to be reunited with their parents. Though not all of the children found happiness, Marianne’s story provides hope and an introduction to an intriguing period in American history.