Most Popular Books by Fredrick 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.

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.

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

A fun and engaging way for young children to figure out concepts and solving problems on his or her own. Rookie Readers (Ages 5-7) have provided entertaining, high-quality introductions to reading for more than a generation. Each title features full-color, often hilarious illustrations and engaging stories that always involve a young child figuring out concepts or solving problems on his or her own. When Messy Bessey starts to clean up her desk at school, she inspires the rest of the class to clean up the entire room.

An easy-to-read retelling of the fairy tale in which an ugly duckling spends an unhappy year ostracized by other animals before he grows into a beautiful swan.

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

In 1963, thirteen-year-old Clayton Banks would be happy if life were simply about playing baseball, but the Civil Rights Movement is changing the world around him, including his family, whether he likes it or not.

Discusses, in simple text and illustrations, the meaning of life and death and God''s promise of eternal life.

Describes the customs, recipes, poems, and songs used to celebrate Christmas in the big plantation houses of the South and in the slave quarters just before the Civil War. Reprint.

Despite being a slave, Frederick Douglass learned to read and write. At age 21, he escaped from slavery and created a new life for himself as a free man. Intelligent and charismatic, Douglass became the leading voice against slavery in the 1800s. "There is no way a nation can call itself free and accept slavery," he said. The McKissacks'' lively, easy-to-read text highlights the importance of this internationally known author and orator.

Don''t wait for opportunities to come...get up and make them, said Madam C. J. Walker. She rose from laundry woman to become America''s first black woman millionaire. Born in poverty, Walker set her sights on a better life and made her fortune by developing hair care and beauty products specially formulated for African Americans. As her wealth and influence grew, she also channeled her energies into working for civil rights and social change. This real-life rags-to-riches story is presented here in an engaging narrative by the McKissacks.

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

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.

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

Simple text and illustrations of a variety of insects introduce the numbers one through five.