New Releases by Pat McKissack

With only five more days of school remaining before summer vacation, nine-year-old Miami still faces several hurdles, such as how to get along with Destinee Tate, his nemesis.

Award-winning author Patricia C. McKissack''s next story about one black family''s history''perfect for Black History Month! Brothers Tank and Jimbo Turner love sneaking into Nashville''s Sulphur Dell Ballpark to watch the superstars of Negro League baseball. When Josh Gibson, the famous home-run hitter for the Homestead Grays, bunks at their house, the boys think they''re one step away from heaven. With warmth and humor, the fourth installment of Patricia C. McKissack''s family saga brings to life an era of all-black baseball for readers who may not know that Major League teams were once restricted only to white players.

In 1954, when desegregation comes to Kirkland, Missouri, ten-year-old Rosemary faces many changes and challenges at school and at home as her parents separate.

Because she is the oldest, Carolyn assumes she is loved the best. But she has doubts when her mom spoils Carolyn''s little sister when she''s sick and posts her brother''s perfect math quiz on the fridge. Illustrations.

This book describes the historical account of the "Amistad" and the freeing of Africans who had been kidnapped in the 1830s.

From the author of the Newbery Honor-winning "The Dark-Thirty" comes a deliciously funny, not-too-scary picture book featuring a spunky heroine and the Boo Hag, a crafty spirit that will stop at nothing to get inside the house. Full color.

Erased by Time In 1619 twenty Africans stepped foot on American soil. They came not as slaves, but as indentured servants. They knew if they could hold on and finish out their sentences, they would be free. They came with dreams of the future and a vision of life as good as any other person''s, black or white. Who were these people? How did they get here? What happened to them? Much of the information about them -- even their names -- has been lost. Stories about them are incomplete, and facts are blurred by centuries of neglect. But their stories are worth knowing and keeping and sharing, for they are a part of the American saga. This is their story.

Brought up in France as the African slave companion of a nobleman''s daughter, thirteen-year-old Zettie records the events of 1763, when she and her mistress escape to the New World where they are inadvertently drawn into the hostilities of the ongoing French and Indian War and, eventually, find a new direction to their lives.

During the Depression in the Louisiana bayou, a curious young girl helps the "Swamp Ghost" that her cousins warned her about and finds herself with one good friend.

Tippy Lemmey, the neighborhood dog, is a nuisance and sworn enemy to the local children, but when Tippy gets in trouble, only Leanne, Paul, and Jeannie can help him.

This book provides a basic introduction to the life and writings of Zora Neale Hurston.

Using simple text and photographs, this volume briefly examines the life and work of American poet Langston Hughes.

Describes the life of one of baseball''s greatest pitchers, who was unable to play Major League baseball due to segregation for many years, after which he became the first black pitcher in the American League.

In segregated 1950s Nashville, a young African Amrican girl braves a series of indignities and obstacles to get to one of the few integrated places in town: the public library.

Profiles the life of Sarah Breedlove, also known as Madam C. J. Walker, the black laundress who founded a cosmetics company and became the first female self-made millionare in the United States.

Examines the life of the twentieth-century African-American singer and actor who spoke out against racism and injustice.

Highlights the life of this great man, who went from being a slave to a teacher and an American icon.

After promising never to lie, Libby learns that it''s not always necessary to blurt out the whole truth either.

With only five more days of school remaining before summer vacation, nine-year-old Miami still faces several hurdles, such as how to get along with Destinee Tate, his nemesis.

Collects the true stories of brave African American rebels who fought against slavery, from Cinque, who pleaded his case before the Supreme Court, to Nat Turner, who led one of the greatest revolts in history.

In 1886 in Alabama, an eleven-year-old African American girl and her family befriend and give refuge to a runaway Apache boy.

The adventures of a kind-hearted doctor, who is fond of animals and understands their language, as he travels to Africa with some of his favorite pets to cure the monkeys of a terrible sickness.

Traces the history of baseball in the Negro Leagues and its great heroes, including Monte Irwin, Buck Leonard, and Cool Papa Bell.

Examines the civilizations of the Western Sudan which flourished from 700 to 1700 A.D., acquiring such vast wealth that they became centers of trade and culture for a continent.

Presents stories of remarkable men and women who have produced inventions that made major contributions to a wide range of fields.

Examines the lives and achievements of African-American scientists from colonial days to the present, including Benjamin Banneker, George Washington Carver, and several black astronauts.

An easy-to-read retelling of the traditional tale about the little red hen and her lazy friends.

In this rich and unique collection, Tennessee history is made real in stories which children love to read or hear. Drawn from different historical periods and ethnic groups, four engaging tales capture major episodes in the lives of famous people in Tennessee''s history. Color illustrations.

From the beginning of Reconstruction to the present, traces the struggle of blacks to gain their civil rights in America, with a brief comparison of their problems to those of other minorities.

An important figure for children to know about, Carter G. Woodson founded Negro History Week, later expanded to Black History Month, and educated people about the accomplishments and achievements of African Americans. This book is excellent for report-writing and research as well.