Most Popular Books by Laurie Calkhoven

In this biography, discover the amazing story of Martin Luther King Jr, whose powerful words and dreams for the future inspired the world. Martin Luther King Jr. will always be remembered for his famous "I have a dream" speech, which he gave during the March on Washington in 1963. But his life before and after that big event, and his other enormous contributions to the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, largely go unspoken. In this biography for kids ages 8-11, learn all about MLK - from his early family life and experiences in education, to his untimely death and the worldwide mourning and riots that followed. This new biography series from DK goes beyond the basic facts to tell the true life stories of history''s most interesting people. Full-color photographs and hand-drawn illustrations complement thoughtfully written, age-appropriate text to create an engaging book children will enjoy reading. Definition boxes, information sidebars, maps, inspiring quotes, and other nonfiction text features add depth, and a handy reference section at the back makes this the one biography series every teacher and librarian will want to collect. Each book also includes an author''s introduction letter, a glossary, and an index.

Dive into the history, geography, and culture of Massachusetts in this installment of the 50 States series. From major cities to historic events, Where Is Massachusetts? introduces you to the state in a whole new way, whether you’re proud to call it home or learning about a distant destination. Visit famous landmarks like Fenway Park. Meet important people like Massasoit, the Wampanoag leader who met Pilgrim settlers. Read about the Great Molasses Flood in Boston’s North End. Fans of sports, nature, and weird facts will all find something to love about the place where the chocolate chip cookie and the sport of basketball were invented. Not to mention the state’s exciting role in the Revolutionary War and the Boston Tea Party! Including timelines, black-and-white illustrations, and a fact-filled “At a Glance” section, this book has everything you need to know about the heritage, development, and present day of Massachusetts.

Get to know the father of modern surfing in this fascinating, nonfiction Level 3 Ready-to-Read, part of a new series of biographies about people “you should meet.” Meet Duke Kahanamoku, three-time Olympic gold medalist and the father of modern surfing. Duke gained international fame for participating in four Olympics and won five medals in total. Fans began calling Duke “the human fish.” Wherever he went, Duke would demonstrate his surfing skills and in 1915, Duke introduced board surfing to Australia. Ten years later, he found another use for a surfboard—as a lifesaving device—using it to save eight people from a capsized boat in California! A special section at the back of the book includes extras like how to speak Hawaiian and a brief history of Hawaii and its culture. With the You Should Meet series, learning about historical figures has never been so fascinating!

Get to know Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman to enter the Democratic presidential race, in this fascinating nonfiction Level 3 Ready-to-Read, part of a series of biographies about people “you should meet!” Meet Shirley Chisholm. In 1968, Shirley Chisholm made history as the first African American woman elected to Congress. That same year, Shirley was voted one of the ten most admired women in the world. She also ran for president in 1972, the first African American woman to do so for one of the two big political parties. Shirley showed people it shouldn’t matter if you’re male or female or what the color of your skin is, everyone should be able to pursue their dreams. She lived out her life determined to be “unbossed and unbought” and remained a spokesperson for change. To this day she is still an inspiration to everyone who dreams of breaking boundaries. A special section at the back of the book includes extras like an article on how voting works and a brief lesson on the three branches of US government.

Brief lives of each of the United States presidents.

Go behind enemy lines through the eyes of famous four-legged heroes in history''s biggest conflicts. In G.I. Dogs #2, you''ll meet Sergeant Stubby, the most decorated canine soldier of World War I! Meet Stubby: a stray pup who was taken in by a group of American soldiers-in-training and soon found himself whisked off to the frontlines of World War I as the official mascot of the 102nd Infantry Regiment! Stubby served bravely by his soldiers'' sides for 18 months and became a hero when he saved his regiment from a surprise gas attack, and again when he singlehandedly caught an enemy German soldier in No Man''s Land. Join Stubby on his incredible journey from puppy to soldier to high-ranking sergeant as he narrates his story of heroism. This "dog''s-eye view" takes readers into the heart of the action of WWI and will leave you cheering for Stubby and his human companions as they overcome countless obstacles and prove time and again why a dog really is man''s best friend.

Get to know Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the inspiring Supreme Court justice, in this fascinating nonfiction Level 3 Ready-to-Read, part of a series of biographies about people “you should meet!” Meet Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Also known as the notorious RBG, Ginsburg is only the second female Supreme Court justice in America’s history. She has spent her entire life fighting for equal rights for all, especially women. RBG is a true superhero and young readers are sure to love getting to know her. A special section at the back of the book includes extras like the history of the Supreme Court and how to become a lawyer. With the You Should Meet series, learning about amazing people has never been so much fun!

A biography of Mae Jemison, the first female African-American astronaut.--

Meet the environmentally-minded kids who are coming up with ways to save the planet in this fascinating nonfiction Level 3 Ready-to-Read, part of a series of biographies about people “you should meet!” Have you ever wondered what you could do to help the planet? Find out how kids are helping the environment by selling lemonade to save the honeybees, starting a petition to bring attention to climate change, raising awareness through an original comic book hero, and more! Learn all about how their ideas are preserving the environment in this story of five amazing kids everyone should meet! A special section at the back of the book includes extras such as biographies of famous young environmental activists plus interesting ideas for other ways that kids can save the environment. With the You Should Meet series, learning about amazing people has never been so much fun!

Go behind enemy lines through the eyes of famous four-legged heroes in history''s biggest conflicts. In the first G.I. Dogs book, you''ll meet Judy, a loyal canine soldier who became a World War II POW! Meet Judy: an English Pointer and member of her Majesty''s Royal Navy who served bravely alongside her crew during World War II. When her ship was sunk by the enemy, Judy became the only canine prisoner of war of the Japanese. Join Judy on her incredible journey from puppy to soldier to POW as she narrates her story of survival and heroism. This "dog''s-eye view" takes readers into the heart of the naval action of WWII and will leave you cheering for Judy and her human companions as they overcome countless obstacles and prove time and again why a dog really is man''s best friend.

This powerful collection of favorite movie moments is readers'' gateway to the most empowering witches of our age! For all the girls as clever as Hermione Granger, as strong as Leta Lestrange, and as fierce as Minerva McGonagall, this incredible compendium is packed with the stories of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts'' extraordinary heroines! Besides the series'' best-known characters, get to know the female mentors, founders, rule-breakers, and -- yes, even villains like Bellatrix Lestrange and Vinda Rosier -- who made the wizarding world what it is today.Complete with gorgeous, full-color illustrations and photography from iconic movie moments on every spread, fans will love this colorful romp with the most empowering witches of our age. Explore the many ways these women built, enriched, and saved the wizarding world, and get inspired by their stories in this compelling handbook--a must-have for fans!

With a new sister on the way, Roosevelt Banks has to give up his bedroom and move into the attic, which must be haunted because of all the squeaks and groans coming from the spooky place at the top of the stairs. After his plan to move into a fort in the woods fails, and a ghost-busting exercise goes terribly wrong, Roosevelt—with the help of Tommy, Josh, and Eddie Spaghetti—has to find the courage to defeat the biggest, spookiest ghouls ever and turn the Attic of Doom into a Room with a View.

"Get to know amazing women, from a principal ballerina to a NASA mathematician to an astronaut, in this book that includes three Level 3 Ready-to-Reads in one!" -- Cover.

The story of Jean Jennings, Kay McNulty, Frances Bilas, Ruth Lichterman, Betty Snyder, and Marlyn Wescoff, who were chosen to work on the ENIAC computer as part of a secret WWII mission.

Get to know the first woman to ever run in the Boston Marathon in this fascinating nonfiction Level 3 Ready-to-Read, part of a series of biographies about people “you should meet!” Meet Roberta Gibb. In 1966, Roberta was the first woman ever to run in the Boston Marathon. When Roberta applied for the event she received a letter saying women were not physically able to run marathons and therefore her request was denied. Roberta decided to run anyway, and told her mom, “This is really going to change things for women.” She disguised her appearance with a blue hooded sweatshirt pulled up over her head and her brother’s Bermuda shorts. Instead of being ridiculed, when the men running realized she was a woman, they cheered her on as she became the first woman to ever complete the Boston marathon! A special section at the back of the book includes extras on subjects like history and math, plus exercise and nutrition tips for kids. With the You Should Meet series, learning about historical figures has never been so much fun!

Get to know Lin-Manuel Miranda, the award-winning creator of Hamilton: An American Musical, in this fascinating nonfiction Level 3 Ready-to-Read, part of a series of biographies about people “you should meet!” Meet Lin-Manuel Miranda! Lin-Manuel is a writer, singer, actor, songwriter, and rapper who created the hit Broadway musicals In the Heights and Hamilton: An American Musical. He was also the cocomposer of Disney’s Moana and is the star of the upcoming film, Mary Poppins Returns, with Emily Blunt. His creativity appeals to children and adults alike and he has already won a Tony, Emmy, Grammy, and a Pulitzer Prize for his work. Learn all about how he grew up and the things he’s accomplished so far in this Level 3 Ready-to-Read that’s perfect for beginning readers. A special section at the back of the book includes extras like the history of Puerto Rico and how to write a play. With the You Should Meet series, learning about historical figures has never been so much fun!

When ten-year-old Roosevelt Banks discovers that his two best friends are planning a bike and camping trip, he wants more than anything to go along. There''s just one problem—he doesn''t have a bike. Roosevelt''s parents agree to buy him a bike if he can manage to be good for two whole weeks. How can Roosevelt be good and be the same fun guy his friends want on the camping trip? Trying to be good leads to more trouble than expected—and to the discovery that being a good friend is more important than any bicycle.

Discover the thrilling side of the history of the space race in this fact-tastic, nonfiction Level 3 Ready-to-Read, part of a series about the secrets of American History! Did you know that you can’t bring a sandwich on a spaceship? Or that a group of people who had lost their hearing played an important role in the race to send astronauts to the moon? Find out about those true stories and more in this book about the space race of the 1950s and 1960s. Secrets of American History is an action-packed nonfiction Level 3 Ready-to-Read series that lets beginning readers in on a little secret: history is full of surprises! Want to know what invisible ink has to do with the American Revolution? Or why shark repellant and inflatable army tanks were used in World War II? Find out in this fact-filled series of fascinating true tales, wild adventures, and spy missions, and discover the secret side of American history!

From the first time a person looked up at the sky and wondered ''What''s out there?" humans have dreamed about exploring the cosmos. About 60 years ago, the first manned spacecraft left Earth''s atmosphere for the first time. In the years since, astronauts have visited the moon several times-and have spent extended time living in outer space. We even have plans to send humans to Mars by the 2030s! Share in the joy of exploration and discovery with Human Missions to Outer Space. ABOUT THE SERIES: This book is part of A True Book series, Space Exploration, that includes the titles Human Missions to Outer Space, Mars Rovers, The International Space Station and UFO''s. The series features the latest NASA imagery and lively text to bring the wonder of space exploarion directly to readers.