New Releases by Michael Burgan

Some of the most important changes in American culture have been driven by people born outside the United States. Immigrants may come as refugees, as workers, or as students. They may come as children or as adults. Once here, many speak out for the rights of others or try to build a better country by working within the government. Some give money to good causes. Others point out problems that need to be fixed. Still others create art and music that gives voice to the downtrodden. Here are 25 immigrants who have made a difference by taking a stand.

Pollution, climate change, and overfishing are killing the world''s coral reefs. But you can help! Navigate through three different stories in this ecological rescue mission. With dozens of possible story outcomes, it''s up to you to save the coral reefs from extinction. The planet needs you. Will YOU CHOOSE to help?

On-point historical photographs combined with strong narration bring the story of the historic first flight ever to life. Kids will feel as though they are at Kitty Hawk with Wilbur and Orville Wright as the brothers prepare to test their aircraft. They''ll also learn about the history of flight and the skepticism that greeted the Wrights when they, at first, refused to release the photograph of their successful flight.

Jesse Owens’ gold-medal winning feats at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin struck a mighty propaganda blow against Adolf Hitler. The Nazi leader had planned to use the German games as a showcase of supposed Aryan superiority. Instead, there was American black

The United States entered World War II after a surprise attack by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. U.S. officials feared that Japanese Americans would betray their country and help Japan. Nearly 120,000 Japanese Americans were taken from their homes and moved into relocation centers, which some viewed as concentration camps. The internees, backed by many other Americans, believed that their fundamental rights as U.S. citizens had been denied. Years later the government apologized for its unjust actions.

Follows the discovery and excavation of the tomb of King Tutankhamen, also known as King Tut, and the myth of the curse that afflicted those involved in the tomb''s exploration. Written in graphic-novel format.

"Historical photographs ... bring the story of CNN to life ... [including] how Ted Turner developed the idea of a 24/7 news network ... [which] changed the way news was delivered, and gave rise to the 24-hour news cycle on the internet as well as TV"--

For some early explorers, the trip to the New World wasn''t their first adventure. Readers will be fascinated by these daring men and what drove them to discover new lands. Each has an amazing and unique story.

Describes the history of the Department of Energy, and how it has evolved, what the pressing issues are today, and what lies ahead in the near future. Takes a potentially dry topic and makes it accessible for the younger reader. Sidebars highlight important issues and figures in history.

Every battle has two sides, and the D-Day Invasion during World War II is no different. Experience the event from perspective of the Allies, and then read the perspective of the Germans. A deeper understanding of the battle from both sides will give readers a clearer view of this historic event.

The long-term damage from an accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant more than 30 years ago is still unknown. When explosions ripped through the reactor in rural Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union, they spewed huge amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere and caused the worst nuclear disaster in history. About 10,000 people have died or will die because of their exposure to radiation, and experts worry about the children born to parents who were living near the disaster area. With international help, Ukraine has enclosed the damaged reactor, giving scientists time to figure out what the future holds.

On the night of April 14, 1912, as it made its first voyage, the luxury steamship Titanic struck an iceberg. Then, a few hours after midnight on April 15, the ship sank thousands of feet before settling on the ocean floor. And that''s where it stayed, whereabouts unknown, for the next 73 years until it was discovered by oceanographer Robert Ballard and his crew. The pictures and video Ballard brought back from the 1985 discovery helped stir new interest in the Titanic''s voyage and its resting spot.

In 1888, London's Whitechapel district was terrorized by a mysterious man with a knife targeting women. Between the end of August and beginning of November, he committed five known murders--possibly more. Dubbed "Jack the Ripper" by the press, he continues to fascinate as his legend lives on. 5/8.

President Theodore Roosevelt called Jacob Riis _the best American I ever knew.î The pioneering photojournalistÜan immigrant from DenmarkÜdrew attention to the poverty and evils of slum life in the late 1800s. Riis won national acclaim when his photos illustrated his bestselling book How the Other Half Lives. The book focused on the difficult time immigrants faced as thousands of newcomers flooded into the United States each year. Riis called for reform and hoped to prod government officials to help the poor people who were forced to live under horrible conditions. The impact of Riis� photos came from capturing the poor and homeless as they lived and worked, with the subjects� eyes often staring directly into the camera. The great photographer Ansel Adams called them _magnificent achievements in the field of humanistic photography.î But the reforms that came from Riis� work have not eliminated urban poverty and homelessness, and important work remains to be done.

"Discusses the iconic photograph of the German airship Hindenburg in flames as it attempted to land in New Jersey in May 1937"--

"3 story paths, 37 choices, 14 endings"--Cover.

"Discusses Jackie Robinson's breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball and an iconic photograph that captured the historic even"--

What would you do with a billion dollars? This question gets a definitive answer from billionaire Richard Branson: do everything! Born into a wealthy family in London, Branson suffered from dyslexia and was a poor student. Still, his knack for business started early with a successful parakeet-breeding enterprise at age 11.The charismatic entrepreneur launched his first major business, Virgin Records, at age 22 and spent the next few decades building the Virgin group that now includes more than 400 companies. Known for his eccentric lifestyle and trillion-watt smile, Branson’s hot air balloon flights, innovative leadership, and world record attempts have made him an instantly-recognizable global icon.

"Explores various perspectives on espionage in the Civil War. The reader''s choices reveal the historical details"--

He was only 42 years old when he was sworn in as President of the United States in 1901, making TR the youngest president ever. But did you know that he was also the first sitting president to win the Nobel Peace Prize? The first to ride in a car? The first to fly in an airplane? Theodore Roosevelt’s achievements as a naturalist, hunter, explorer, author, and soldier are as much a part of his fame as any office he held as a politician. Find out more about The Bull Moose, the Progressive, the Rough Rider, the Trust Buster, and the Great Hunter who was our larger-than-life 26th president in Who Was Theodore Roosevelt?

"Discusses the iconic photo of a lone protester, Tank Man, stopping a row of tanks near Tiananmen Square during protests in 1989"--

Tensions have been brewing in Europe for years. Finally the 1914 assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary sets off four bloody years of war that eventually involved the entire world, including the United States. It will be called the "war to end all wars." Experience it from two opposing perspectives.

A jet plane soars through the sky. A drone hovers above an enemy target waiting to release its deadly rocket. A GPS satellite circles Earth, sending information that helps you get where you want to go. Behind all these activities are the men and women of the U.S. Air Force.

Air raid! The world''s great powers are at war again. This is the Second World War, but it is history''s first war in which airplanes play a major role. You want to fly and you want to fight. Will you: Fly with the Royal Air Force as a British pilot and fight in the Battle of Britain? Dogfight as an American fighter pilot over the Pacific Ocean? Join the Tuskegee Airmen and be one of the first African-American aviators in the U.S. military?

"Describes the role spies played during World War II. Readers'' choices reveal various historical details"--

Recounts photographer Lewis Hines' fight against child labor in the early 1900s and discusses how his work and the work of others revealed truths about the issue to the public.

Encourages readers to think critically about their food choices, and choose what they eat and where it comes from with attention to the effect on the environment.

Presents a history of influenza, discusses how it is spread, and explains how vaccines are developed.

"Describes the lives of gladiators in the Roman Empire. The readers'' choices reveal the historical details of gladiators rebelling with Spartacus, training at a gladiator school in Pompeii, and trying to earn their freedom"--Provided by publisher.

A look at the Danish resistance to the Nazis during World War II.