Nicole Aunapu Mann


Book Description

On October 5, 2022, Nicole Aunapu Mann rode the SpaceX Dragon Endurance space shuttle and became the first Native American woman to reach space. For 157 days, Mann lived and worked on the International Space Station. Growing up, Mann never imagined she would become an astronaut. As a member of the Wailacki of the Round Valley, she did not have many examples of Indigenous people becoming astronauts. But her parents taught her the importance of hard work and curiosity. Mann’s curiosity led her to a love of science and flying. She worked hard at everything from playing soccer to studying engineering and test flying airplanes for the US Marine Corps. When she joined NASA, she dedicated herself to her astronaut training. Now she helps train new astronauts and inspires Indigenous children around the world to work hard to reach their dreams. From soccer star to astronaut, launch into the career of Nicole Aunapu Mann.




Fearless Firsts Read-Along


Book Description

Thrill seekers have jumped, flown, and soared in search of excitement! Historically, men have set the records and earned the fame. But women haven’t let that stop them. Who was the first woman to live underwater or in outer space? How did a female fighter pilot lead the way in aviation? And who are the women landing the top tricks at the X Games? Put the pedal to the metal and explore some of the adventurous women who weren’t afraid to fly. Every fearless first is a new step forward to shaping our world—and beyond.




The HISTORY Channel This Day in History For Kids


Book Description

An exciting, visual adventure through history with day-by-day accounts of extraordinary events, notable people, and incredible inventions for kids ages 8-12. History comes alive in this beautifully illustrated book with bite-size facts (along with a touch of humor) that will engage and entertain young curious minds. Jam-packed with important events, inspiring accomplishments by remarkable people, and groundbreaking inventions, this super-fun fact-filled book, the first kids book from History Channel, includes the most interesting historical facts--from early civilization up to the 21st century all around the world for every day of the year. Each day’s entry includes multiple events that occurred on that day in history along with charming original illustrations and photography. Plus, readers are prompted to recall their own remarkable milestones, helping them to consider their place in history. Inside, kids will discover: Historic events that happened on their birthday Major moments in sports Groundbreaking events and famous military battles Fearless explorers, inventors and freedom fighters Record-breaking stunts Weird and wacky holidays Incredible dinosaur discoveries, and much more! A great gift for an up-and-coming history buff and an engaging resource for the classroom, this book offers a fresh twist on history, looking into the past and letting you recall your own.




Little People, BIG DREAMS: American Dreams


Book Description

Dive deeper into the world of Little People, BIG DREAMS with this treasury featuring 40 great American dreamers from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy best-selling series. Learn more about each of your favorite dreamers with new in-depth stories, facts, and figures in this beautifully crafted compendium. With an emphasis on heroes of the USA, each story is rewritten to be appropriate for an older audience. Revisit best-loved figures from the series and some new ones, too, including Prince, Maya Angelou, Dolly Parton, Martin Luther King Jr., Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jordan, Amanda Gorman, Gloria Steinem, Elvis, Neil Armstrong, and Dwayne Johnson. Discover how these incredible people shaped America into the country it is today. From inspiring artists and passionate activists to intrepid explorers and groundbreaking musicians, this collection goes further than the original series into the lives of these iconic figures—perfect for curious minds who always want to know more! Each of the beautifully written biographies is accompanied by a timeline, featuring extra information, important dates, and real photos. Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling biography series for kids that explores the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. This empowering series of books offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover and paperback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. With rewritten text for older children, the treasuries each bring together a multitude of dreamers in a single volume. You can also collect a selection of the books by theme in boxed gift sets. Activity books and a journal provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children. Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!




Elon Musk


Book Description

Elon Musk, visionary behind SpaceX and CEO of both the electric car company Tesla and the social media platform Twitter, is constantly generating headlines. But how did he get there? This riveting and beautifully designed YA biography shows how a once-bullied school boy became a figure the New York Times described as "arguably the most important and successful entrepreneur in the world." Online banking, reusable rockets, electric sports cars, improved solar power, colonizing Mars—Elon Musk is full of unique, daring, and highly-publicized ideas that he believes will help save the world. But behind his legendary drive and the mind-blowing headlines seen on CNN, Forbes, or The Wall Street Journal is the story of a bullied and beaten school boy who, through creativity and determination, decided to rewrite his narrative and find groundbreaking ways to make the world a better place. With the sense of fun and style that he has become so well-known for, of course. From hosting raves to pay for college to rewriting the rules on space travel, Elon Musk has always gone his own way, to either the dismay or admiration of the general public. And now, award-winning investigative journalist Anna Crowley Redding takes readers on a well-researched trip through Elon's life and accomplishments.




The Six


Book Description

“Vivid.” —The Guardian * “Engrossing.” —Booklist * “Suspenseful, meticulously observed, enlightening.” —Margot Lee Shetterly, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Figures In this account of America’s first women astronauts “Grush skillfully weaves a story that, at its heart, is about desire: not a nation’s desire to conquer space, but the longing of six women to reach heights that were forbidden to them” (The New York Times). When NASA sent astronauts to the moon in the 1960s and 1970s the agency excluded women from the corps, arguing that only military test pilots—a group then made up exclusively of men—had the right stuff. It was an era in which women were steered away from jobs in science and deemed unqualified for space flight. Eventually, though, NASA recognized its blunder and opened the application process to a wider array of hopefuls, regardless of race or gender. From a candidate pool of 8,000 six elite women were selected in 1978—Sally Ride, Judy Resnik, Anna Fisher, Kathy Sullivan, Shannon Lucid, and Rhea Seddon. In The Six, acclaimed journalist Loren Grush shows these brilliant and courageous women enduring claustrophobic—and sometimes deeply sexist—media attention, undergoing rigorous survival training, and preparing for years to take multi-million-dollar payloads into orbit. Together, the Six helped build the tools that made the space program run. One of the group, Judy Resnik, sacrificed her life when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded at 46,000 feet. Everyone knows of Sally Ride’s history-making first space ride, but each of the Six would make their mark. “A spirited group biography…it’s hard not to feel awe for these women” (The Wall Street Journal).




Remember This


Book Description

Key Selling Points Memories are universal. This book explores the role of memory in our lives, whether we are young or old. The book discusses a number of STEAM topics including the science of the brain, how and why we make memories, societal and cultural memory, memory champions and memory loss. It speaks to issues young readers are facing in their own lives, such as the role memory plays in succeeding (or not) at school, developing your working memory to learn, forming memories as kids and using memory for creativity, etc. Full of amazing facts, such as the origin of memory foam and why mnemonics work. The author interviewed and consulted experts in memory and neuroscience, including the world-renowned Brenda Milner, who pioneered research in the human brain and revolutionized our understanding of human memory and other brain functions. Addresses connections between memory and contemporary topics, such as COVID-19, PTSD, residential schools and Alzheimer's disease. The author is an award-winning writer of dozens of books, including Why Humans Work, also in the Orca Think series.




Barbie


Book Description

Barbie changed what a doll could be. Before her, many dolls were baby dolls. Girls would care for these dolls and practice being mothers. But Barbie let girls imagine other futures. The iconic doll had many careers, inspiring girls to dream of new possibilities for themselves and for women. In the early 1950s, Ruth Handler was watching her daughter, Barbara, and her friends play with paper dolls. The dolls resembled women. Handler saw how the girls imagined themselves as the dolls. But paper dolls were flimsy and delicate. Handler thought the kids’ imaginations could take off even more if they had durable dolls. This led her to create Barbie dolls. These days about two Barbies are sold every second. Barbie has her own movies and TV series. The 2023 blockbuster Barbie dominated the box office. Learn more about Barbie and her impact.




To The Stars


Book Description

This book is the second edition of Women Spacefarers and tells the fascinating stories of the valiant women who broke down barriers to join the space program. Beginning with the orbital flight of USSR cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova in 1963 and continuing to the present day, it covers the many female players who have had a central role in the greatest adventure of our time. The book includes the biographies of, and in some cases interviews with, the brave women who have flown in space. For each entry, the author contextualizes the spacefarer's accomplishments in light of the political and cultural climate of the time. The second edition features fifteen additional profiles on figures such as Jessica Meir and Wally Funk; new interview material; a new thematic structure based on each woman's science specialty and role; an expanded glossary; and more. The result is a gallery of pioneering women who reached for the stars: women who, with exceptional skill, hard work, and dedication, reached impressive careers as accomplished pilots, researchers, engineers and managers, and left a legacy of strength for all aspiring spacefarers.




Sugarpine Chronicles


Book Description

It was early June 1974, and we were on our initial fire with the Tahoe Brigade, California's first wildland fire crew with women on it. We were transported by military half-tracks to an area near the fire and walked out to it along with an all-Hispanic crew. It was an open area steaming with heat, and the acrid smell of burned wood filled our lungs. We were near a thirty-foot hill, and both crews lined up and covered the area slowly, taking one glove off and feeling for heat with the back of a bare hand. Glancing at Sarah and Linda, I thought, This fire is a piece of cake with frosting. The fire gods had a different message for us.