樱桃视频

This is a darkly humorous biography of the Egyptian queen who ruled the Nile kingdom in the first century B.C. It covers her girlhood as a princess in the palace at Alexandria, her marriage to her brother, her rise to power, and her incredible wealth, wars, and intelligence. It includes her love affairs with two Roman generals, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, and her eventual suicide by snake. They are all wittily described with hilarious illustrations. Sidebars on Egyptian culture, plus a glossary and index, are included.

Perfect for: Young Egyptologists, those interested in ancient cultures, kingdoms, and rules. Those who like dark humor.

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This is the true story of Sylvia Perlmutter, one of only 12 children in the Lodz ghetto of Poland to survive the Holocaust; originally 250,000 people lived there. For 50 years Ms. Perlmutter refused to talk about her experience, but finally, she narrates the horrific memories to her niece (the author). In five poetic prose vignettes, the gripping story describes her life from ages 4-10, facing Nazi brutality, starvation, illness, and humiliation. While frightening and sad, she manages to provide an excellent characterization of her tenacious, quick-thinking father. The book also includes a timeline and historical notes.

Perfect for: Youth interested in the Holocaust.

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This is a dynamic and comprehensive presentation on the 10 assassination attempts of U.S. presidents (four succeeded, six failed). It includes details on the attacker鈥檚 psychological reasons and analysis of the socio-political consequences. Startling quotes are included: Jacqueline Kennedy’s refused to change her clothes, soaked with JFK鈥檚 blood, explaining, 鈥滾et them see what they’ve done.” Another fascinating fact: a president died in office every 20 years from 1840-1960 and Reagan was shot, but survived, in 1980. Conspiracy theories are addressed. Numerous black-and-white illustrations and photographs provide added details.

Perfect for: Children interested in U.S. history 鈥� unless they鈥檙e disturbed by violence. Children interested in politics and socio-political links.

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On Feb. 18, 1952, two storm-smashed oil tankers split in half in the cold North Atlantic, placing dozens of crewmen in mortal danger. A puny lifeboat with four Coast Guard sailors chugged into the night on what seemed like a suicidal rescue mission,facing the thrashing 70-foot waves of the maelstrom. In these action-packed pages a nail-biting account with visceral detail describes how 32 lives were saved. Captivating characterizations of the Coast Guard team鈥檚 heroism, perseverance, and camaraderie.

Perfect for: Adventure readers, those who like boats and the seas, and those who like to read hero stories, and triumph in the face of horrible odds.

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Do your children think their chores are tough? Get them this eloquent, powerful history book to set them straight. From 1908-1918, schoolteacher Lewis Hine photographed poor children working in conditions so depressing that a public crusade was launched, resulting in Congress passing child labor laws. Children as young as 3 are shown in the haunting photos, working in Texas cotton fields, Maine sardine canneries, New York laundries, Pennsylvania coal mines, and Georgia textile mills. The author鈥檚 explanatory text is well-researched and informative and he includes quotes from Hines. The photography, however, is the power of this book

Perfect for: Idealists eager to learn how activists can create social reform via dedicated use of their talents.

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This is a highly entertaining biography of the Roman military genius, cunning politician, Great Roman Civil War victor, and tyrannical monarch who change Rome鈥檚 history. Special attention is devoted to Caesar鈥檚 rise to power (conquering Gaul, Spain, invading Britain). Not overlooked are details about his resolute personality, his romance with Cleopatra, the complex details of his assassination (54 B.C.), and his destruction of the democracy of the Roman Republic. The book includes set apart information, photos, a timeline, a glossary and a 鈥淲icked Web鈥� of allies and enemies 鈥� Et tu, Brute?

Perfect for: Those interested in classic times, Roman history, and ambitious, megalomaniac rulers.

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The samurai 鈥渨arrior class鈥� 鈥� prominent in Japan from the medieval Heian Period to the 1860s 鈥� was made up of skilled soldiers, spies, assassins, and guards. These warriors also received aesthetic training in poetry, flower-arranging, and the traditional tea ceremony. This appealing presentation describes samurai culture and history and the influence of Shinto, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Christianity on their beliefs. It includes sidebars on intriguing subtopics (famous samurai women and World War II kamikaze pilots for example). It鈥檚 all complemented by color reproductions, a timeline, glossary, and a reference list of book and websites.

Perfect for: Japanophiles. Boys are especially interested in these feudal, formidable 鈥渒nights鈥� of East Asia, but girls will like learning that there were samurai women.

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The subcontinent鈥檚 鈥淕olden Age鈥� (320-550 A.D.) featured military expansion, benevolent rulers, public prosperity, and scientific, literary, artistic, and philosophical achievements. Packed with intriguing facts, this comprehensive volume offers portrayals of the dynasty鈥檚 highly respected monarchs (Chandragupta I, Samadragupta, Chandragupta II) and scholars (poet/playwright Kalidasa and mathematician/astronomer Aryabhata). It also exams Buddhist and Hindu influence on society and the role of women. It鈥檚 filled with beautifully illustrated with full-color reproductions of Gupta architecture, sculpture, and cave-temple paintings.

Perfect for: Indophiles and those interested in South Asian history and culture.

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The difficult lives of Depression era youngsters 鈥� boxcar children riding the rails, factory kids, sharecroppers, migrant farm laborers, African-Americans 鈥� is eloquently communicated via letters, diaries, memoirs, and archival photos. These youths were burdened by stressful conditions that included demoralized, out-of-work parents, starvation, eviction, lack of clothing, ramshackle 鈥淗ooverville鈥� settlements, and school closures. Happy times are also depicted, with movies and radio shows. The book captures the challenging realities of the 1930s and manages to be inspiring despite also being grim.

Perfect for: Children curious or concerned about poverty and those interested in this period in U.S. history.

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Told through the eyes of two survivors, this retelling offers detailed narration and sophisticated analysis of the March 6, 1836, battle in Texas. Outnumbered 20-1 by Mexican opponents, the Alamo鈥檚 soldiers fought heroically until all the adult men fighting were killed, or captured and executed. Reasons for the rebellion are objectively noted, with attention given to the Mexican perspective. Myths also are addressed. Readers can expect a vivid account of the violent massacre, discussion of the event鈥檚 aftermath, biographical information on famed participants (James Bowie, Santa Anna, Davy Crockett, William Travis), plus colorful maps, battle paintings, diagrams of the fort, old photos, and letters.

Perfect for: Youths interested in Texas, American history, American history with Mexico, and westward expansion.

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The experiences of nine boys and girls who escaped death during the Holocaust are chronicled in this intense, graphic collection. Interviewed as adults, the survivors recount their terrifying, heart-wrenching childhoods. Markus played dead in the snow; Matheis jumped out of a boxcar and fled into the woods; Luncia hid in a tiny trunk; others hid in haystacks or attics, disguised their identities, or survived the concentration camps. Every child possessed moral and physical courage, resolute optimism and the will to keep living 鈥� and yet they are scarred for life.

Perfect for: Mature children interested in the Holocaust. Those interested in stories of survival and seeing the will to live in the human spirit.

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Jack Mandelbaum, a Jewish boy in Poland, is separated from his family when he鈥檚 sent to a Nazi concentration camp. This harrowing biography recounts nightmarish conditions there that included fleas, lice, beatings, hard labor, and bread filled with sawdust. He is surrounded by incessant coughing and death. When he鈥檚 liberated at 18, he weighs only 80 pounds. Jack survives because of memories of his family, friendship, luck, courage, and a positive outlook.

Perfect for: Mature kids interested in the Holocaust, those interested in stories of survival.

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This is a tragic, honest autobiography of a teenage girl鈥檚 experiences during the Cultural Revolution in China. Brainwashing and the cult-worshipping of Mao Tse-tung caused neighbors and friends to betray each other in the chaotic upheaval. The narrator鈥檚 family is relentlessly persecuted because her grandfather was a landowner, which made all his descendants guilty of the 鈥淔our Olds鈥� 鈥� old ideas, old culture, old customs, old habits. This is an expertly written, suspenseful page-turner with a wise assessment of the era鈥檚 fanaticism. It is memorable, psychologically complex, and thought provoking.

Perfect for: Anyone intrigued by political upheaval, the dangers of propaganda, this time in Chinese history, or an engrossing family story of survival.

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Fascinating facts are revealed about the adventurous merchants and explorers who traveled from Europe to Asia, and vice versa, from 1245-1433. The book describes Marco Polo鈥檚 legendary acquaintance with Kublai Khan in Beijing, and the Mongolian Empire鈥檚 expansion and interaction with Europe is expounded. Additional portrayals include Cheng Ho, the eunuch explorer of China鈥檚 Ming Dynasty, and Ibn Battuta, the Berber traveler who roamed from Timbuktu to Sri Lanka to Beijing to Bulgaria. Maps, paintings, drawings, photographs, and a timeline fill out the book.

Perfect for: Those interested in Medieval times, Asian history, and children who dream of roaming far and wide.

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A prize-winning book that explores the unconventional life of a brash young naturalist.
She’s a turn-of-the-century Texas girl, but 11-year-old Calpurnia Tate is more interested in becoming a scientist than in knitting or cooking. With the help of her grandfather, an amateur naturalist, and Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species, she starts doing fieldwork. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is the critically acclaimed story of an outsider who has to forge her own way in the world as she discovers her unique identity.

Perfect for: Kids who like historical fiction.

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Fearless, iron-willed, intelligent, and power-hungry, Catherine the Great ruled Russia for 34 years. She expanded her empire鈥檚 borders and modernized the citizenry with Enlightenment reforms and by linking her nation politically and culturally to Europe. Part of a series on notorious leaders, readers meet the ruthless Catherine. However, they learn some of her hopes and motivations. But her grand manipulations, including how she took control of the nation and had her spouse assassinated, keep tweens reading. The book includes quotes, photos, etchings, a timeline, glossary, a map of key locations in Catherine鈥檚 life, and a 鈥淲icked Web鈥� depicting her allies and enemies.

Perfect for: Those interested in the working of monarchies, the rule of despots, and the goings-on behind castle walls.

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The Nazis occupied Amsterdam in 1942, forcing 13-year-old Anne Frank and her family to hide in the secret annex of a warehouse. Anne memorializes her two years of claustrophobic confinement in this witty, fearful, intimate diary, that concludes when the Gestapo discover the hideout. (Anne died in March 1945, in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.) This is a remarkable coming-of-age classic, set in tragic circumstances. Anne wrote, 鈥淚 want to go on living even after my death!… Will I ever be able to write anything great?鈥� Her wish has been realized.

Perfect for: Teenagers, wanna-be writers, or children interested in Nazi Germany.

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The true story of 15-year-old Prince At-mun who was captured in Africa in 1725 by slave traders, shipped in chains via the Middle Passage to Boston, and sold as a slave, and renamed Amos Fortune. Maintaining his dignity as the first son of a chief, he learns the tanning trade from a kind master, purchases freedom for himself and his family members, buys land in New Hampshire and builds a house and a barn for himself. Inspirational story of persistence, with historical details of Colonial and early American life.

Perfect for: Tweens interested in slavery, social justice, African-American history, and the Colonial Era.

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The Nobel prize-winner鈥檚 personal life and professional achievements are chronologically examined in this fact-filled, accessible presentation. His problems in school and difficulty finding a job are addressed. Readers also learn how he was affected by his family, his love of music, his Jewishness, the rise of Nazism and his departure from Germany, his marriages and children, and the development of the atomic bomb, using his theories. One-page explanations of his major discoveries in time, gravity, matter, energy, and light are provided, including, of course, his theory E = mc².

Perfect for: Those interested in science and scientists and how the genius mind works.

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This big, 360-page book tells stories drawn from the archives of American historical events, large and small. Its 100 short tales 鈥斅爀ach typically one to five pages 鈥斅爎ecount in cogent and chronological order stories of courage, struggle, discovery and freedom that shaped the American experience, from the 1565 founding of America’s first city to the confounding 2000 presidential election. … Smart and written in a lively fashion featuring clever watercolor illustrations, this book makes history digestible in appetizing bite-size pieces.

Perfect for: Kids who like history.

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