Dennis Fradin
Born: 1945 in Chicago, Illinois
Died: August 29, 2012 in Evanston, Illinois Pen Name: Dennis Brindell Fradin, Dennis B. Fradin Connection to Illinois: Fradin was born in Chicago. He grew up in the Rogers Park neighborhood and Wilmette. He graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka and earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1967 from Northwestern University in Evanston. After college, he landed a job teaching second-graders at Faraday Elementary School on the West Side of Chicago. At the time of his death, Mr. Fradin lived in Evanston, Illinois. Biography: The award-winning author of nearly 250 non-fiction books for children and young adults, Dennis Fradin is known for his meticulous research, attention to detail and smooth, graceful writing. Fradin attributes his success in part to years of teaching in the Chicago Public Schools. In order to hold his second graders attention at the end of the day, he would spin stories about crayons in distress and birds with broken wings. Such a story caught the attention of an editor who asked him to write a series of books about the United States. The Childrens Press Sea to Shining Sea series launched Denniss career as a full-time author.Dennis Fradin has written childrens books on topics as varied as astronomy, colonial history, slave escapes and scientific discoveries. He has also written biographies of Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, and Louis Braille, among others. ''Bound for the North Star'' is a riveting collection of true slave-escape stories. ''Ida B. Wells: Mother of the Civil Rights Movement'' and ''The Power of One: Daisy Bates and the Little Rock Nine'' won the Society for Midland Authors young adult non-fiction awards; ''Daisy Bates'' was a Golden Kite Honor Book.Recently, Dennis has written ''Let It Begin Here'' and ''The Duel'', both illustrated by Larry Day. Hes completed two dozen Turning Points in American History books for Marshall Cavendish. And, along with his wife Judy, Dennis is now completing a series called Witness to Disaster for National Geographic Childrens Books. Four of those books, Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Hurricanes and Tsunamis, are currently available. The Fradins also wrote ''5,000 Miles to Freedom'', the dramatic slave-escape story of Ellen and William Craft.
Awards:
- Dennis and his wife, Judy, won many awards for their books including
Selected Titles
"We have conquered pain" : ISBN: 0689505876 OCLC: 32921968 M.K. McElderry Books, New York : ©1996. An account of the work of four doctors involved in the debate over the credit for use of anesthetics in the United States in the mid-nineteenth century. |
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Bound for the North Star : ISBN: 0395970172 OCLC: 43657066 Twelve accounts of slaves who escaped the South hoping for freedom and a new life. |
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Connecticut ISBN: 0516038079 OCLC: 29548483 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1994. An introduction to the geography, history, people, cities, and famous sites of the northeastern state know as the Constitution State. |
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Connecticut / ISBN: 051626124X OCLC: 37264630 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1997. Presents history, geography, and interesting facts about Connecticut. |
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Delaware / ISBN: 0516038087 OCLC: 31045979 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1994. An introduction to the history, geography, important people, and interesting sites of Delaware. |
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Droughts ISBN: 9781426303395 OCLC: 227205919 National Geographic, Washington, D.C. : ©2008. Describes droughts (with special eyewitness accounts of the Dust Bowl of the 1930s) and the far-reaching effects of these disasters. Chapters alternate between history and science to bring home the awesome power of nature's fury. |
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Duel! : ISBN: 9780802795847 OCLC: 173367567 Walker & Co., New York : 2008. In the early morning hours of July 11, 1804, two men stood facing each other on a New Jersey cliff side. One was the U.S. vice president, Aaron Burr, and the other was Alexander Hamilton, the secretary of the treasury. They were ready to fight to the death for honor. |
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Earthquakes : ISBN: 1426302118 OCLC: 180080589 National Geographic, Washington, D.C. : ©2008. Describes the earthquake in Alaska in 1964 as told by eyewitness accounts of this disaster. |
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Fight on! : ISBN: 0618133496 OCLC: 50941615 Clarion Books, New York : ©2003. Profiles the first black Washington, D.C. Board of Education member, who helped to found the NAACP and organized of pickets and boycotts that led to the 1953 Supreme Court decision to integrate D.C. area restaurants. |
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Georgia / ISBN: 0516438107 OCLC: 23583864 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1991. An overview of the Empire State of the South, introducing its history, geography, industries, sites of interest, and famous people. |
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Hiawatha : ISBN: 0689505191 OCLC: 22906515 M.K. McElderry Books ; New York : ©1992. Recounts the life of the fifteenth-century Iroquois Indian who brought five tribes together to form the long-lasting Iroquois Federation. |
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Ida B. Wells : ISBN: 0395898986 OCLC: 41646025 Clarion Books, New York : ©2000. Story of Ida B. Wells, one of the great, yet one of the least known, civil rights leaders. A promised journalist, she is remembered for her leadership in women's voting rights, the NAACP, and anti-lynching. |
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Indiana ISBN: 0516038141 OCLC: 29876969 Childrens Press, Chicago : 1994. An overview of the Hoosier State, introducing its history, geography, industries, sites of interest, and famous people. |
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Indiana from sea to shining sea. ISBN: 0516261258 OCLC: 948142879 Childrens Press, [Place of publication not identified] : 1997. |
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Is there life on Mars? ISBN: 9780616798430 OCLC: 1012104370 CNIB, Toronto : 2014. Historical survey of theories about life on Mars, from ancient civilizations' perceptions to twentieth-century space exploration. Discusses evidence of canals and Percival Lowell's studies of them, discoveries made by the Mariner and Viking missions, and possibilities of future colonization by earthlings. Grades 5-8. 1999. |
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Is there life on Mars? / ISBN: 0689820488 OCLC: 39654720 McElderry Books, New York : 1999. Examines the theories about life on Mars, providing both historical and current information about our exploration of the Red Planet. |
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Jane Addams : ISBN: 0618504362 OCLC: 67374929 Clarion Books, New York : ©2006. From the Publisher: Most people know Jane Addams (1860-1935) as the force behind Hull House, one of the first settlement houses in the United States. She was also an ardent suffragist and civil rights activist, co-founding the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Civil Liberties Union. But it was her work as a pacifist that put her in the international spotlight. Although many people labeled her "unpatriotic" for her pacifist activities, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931 and, at the time of her death, Jane Addams was one of the most respected and admired women in the world. In this well-researched and inspiring account, acclaimed husband-and-wife team, Dennis Brindell Fradin and Judith Bloom Fradin, draw upon hundreds of historical documents and archival photographs to create a revealing portrait of the woman whose very way of life made her an American icon. |
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Kansas ISBN: 0516038168 OCLC: 32051655 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1995. An introduction to the history, geography, important people, and interesting sites of Kansas. |
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Kansas from sea to shining sea. ISBN: 0516262920 OCLC: 795384141 Childrens Press, [Place of publication not identified] : 1998. |
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Let it begin here! : ISBN: 0802797113 OCLC: 54974505 Walker & Co., New York : ©2005. Describes the events that led up to the historic battles that began the American Revolution and discusses the consequences for the leaders and soldiers who fought in them. |
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Louisiana ISBN: 0516038184 OCLC: 31239514 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1995. An introduction to the geography, history, people, cities, and famous sites of the southern state known as the Creole State. |
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Louisiana from sea to shining sea. ISBN: 0516438182 OCLC: 948274512 Childrens Press, [Place of publication not identified] : 1995. |
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Maine ISBN: 0516038192 OCLC: 28891186 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1994. An introduction to the history, geography, important people, and interesting sites of Maine. |
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Maine from sea to shining sea. ISBN: 0516438190 OCLC: 948301844 Childrens Press, [Place of publication not identified] : 1995. |
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Maria de Sautuola : ISBN: 0382394704 OCLC: 34322914 Silver Press, Parsippany, N.J. : ©1997. The true story of María de Sautuola, an eight-year-old Spanish girl who discovered the first known prehistoric cave paintings in 1879 while working with her father in Altamira Cave. |
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Maria Sanz de Sautuola ISBN: 1593366930 OCLC: 244797476 Mondo, New York : ©2007. The true story of María de Sautuola, an eight-year-old Spanish girl who discovered the first known prehistoric cave paintings in 1879 while working with her father in Altamira Cave. |
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Mary Anning, the fossil hunter / ISBN: 0382394860 OCLC: 34690601 Silver Press, Parsippany, N.J. : 1997. A biography of the young English girl who made a major fossil discovery at age twelve and grew up to be one of the world's foremost fossil hunters. |
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Massachusetts ISBN: 0516038214 OCLC: 23464127 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1991. An introduction to the history, geography, important people, and interesting sites of Massachusetts. |
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Massachusetts from sea to shining sea. ISBN: 0516438212 OCLC: 948345840 Childrens Press, [Place of publication not identified] : 1994. |
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Minnesota / ISBN: 0516038230 OCLC: 31045970 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1995. Takes the reader on a tour of the state called "The North Star State," emphasizing its geography, history, government, and culture. |
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Mississippi / ISBN: 0516038249 OCLC: 31938130 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1995. An introduction to the geography, history, pqople, cities, and famous sites of the southern state known as the Magnolia State. |
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Missouri ISBN: 0516038257 OCLC: 28927334 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1994. An introduction to the history, geography, industries, important people, and interesting sites of Missouri. |
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Missouri in words and pictures ISBN: 0516039253 OCLC: 6087675 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1980. A brief introduction to the history, land, cities, industries, and famous citizens and sites in the Show Me State. |
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Mount Washington ISBN: 0673618595 OCLC: 56210278 Celebration Press, Parsippany, N.J. : ©2003. |
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My family shall be free! : ISBN: 0060293284 OCLC: 44594019 HarperCollins, New York : 2001. Peter Still was born a slave around 1800 on a Maryland plantation. His mother fled with his sisters to the north, leaving Peter and his brother behind in slavery. After more than 40 years in bondage, Peter bought his freedom, reunited with his mother and siblings, and returned to the South to set in motion the risky events to free his wife and children. Illustrated with archival art. |
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Nevada / ISBN: 0516038281 OCLC: 32312095 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1995. An introduction to the history, geography, important people, and interesting sites of Nevada. |
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New Mexico in words and pictures ISBN: 0516039318 OCLC: 7204578 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1981. Presents the history, cities, Indians, animal life, tourist sights, industries, and famous citizens of this state where the first atomic bomb was made and exploded. |
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North Dakota / ISBN: 0516038346 OCLC: 30036933 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1994. An introduction to the history, geography, important people, and interesting sites of North Dakota. |
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North Dakota in words and pictures ISBN: 0516039342 OCLC: 6941833 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1981. Introduces the history, geography, industries, cities, and major tourist attractions of the Flickertail State. |
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Oklahoma / ISBN: 0516038362 OCLC: 31045985 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1995. Discusses the history, places of interest, and famous people of Oklahoma. |
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Oregon / ISBN: 0516038370 OCLC: 31166785 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1995. An introduction to the geography, history, people, cities, and famous sites of the Pacific Coast state known as the Wonder State. |
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Puerto Rico / ISBN: 0516038567 OCLC: 32508969 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1995. Presents a history and description of this popular vacationland located 1,050 miles southeast of Miami, Florida. |
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Rhode Island / ISBN: 0516038397 OCLC: 32508053 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1995. An introduction to the geography, history, people, cities, and famous sites of the northeastern state known as the Ocean State. |
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Sacagawea : ISBN: 0382394895 OCLC: 34663253 Silver Press, Parsippany, NJ : ©1998. The true story of a Shoshoni Indian girl who served as interpreter, peacemaker, and guide for the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Northwest in 1805-1806. |
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Samuel Adams : ISBN: 0395825105 OCLC: 36865708 Clarion Books, New York : ©1998. Presents the life and accomplishments of the colonist and patriot who was involved in virtually every major event that resulted in the birth of the United States. |
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South Dakota ISBN: 0516038419 OCLC: 31434673 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1995. An introduction to the history, geography, important people, and interesting sites of South Dakota. |
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Stolen into slavery : ISBN: 1426309376 OCLC: 713188697 National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C. : 2012. The true story of Solomon Northup, a free black man living in upstate New York, who was kidnapped in 1841 and spent 12 years as a slave on deadly Louisiana coastal plantations. |
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Stolen into slavery : ISBN: 9781459676077 OCLC: 1062373448 |
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The Delaware Colony ISBN: 0516003984 OCLC: 25628416 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1992. Discusses some of the key people and events in Delaware's history, from the arrival of the first explorers in the 1600s to becoming the first state in 1787. |
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The founders : ISBN: 0802789722 OCLC: 57422784 A companion volume to "The Signers" looks at how the delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies met in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787, to create, debate, and eventually sign the United States Constitution. |
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The founders : ISBN: 9780545139724 OCLC: 317036195 Scholastic, New York : ©2009. |
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The Georgia colony ISBN: 0516003925 OCLC: 19921536 Children's Press, Chicago : ©1990. A historical account of Georgia's early days, from its creation as a colony for debtors in the 1700's until its admission as the fourth state in 1788. |
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The Lewis and Clark Expedition / ISBN: 0761420444 OCLC: 71800619 Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, New York : ©2008. Describes the historic expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark that paved the way for the westward expansion of the United States. |
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The Louisiana Purchase ISBN: 9780761442578 OCLC: 244177238 Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, Tarrytown, NY : ©2010. Covers the Louisiana Purchase as a watershed event in U.S. history, influencing social, economic, and political policies that shaped the nation's future--Provided by publisher. |
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The planet hunters : ISBN: 0689813236 OCLC: 36138297 Margaret K. McElderry Books, New York, N.Y. : ©1997. Provides historical information on astronomy, the discovery of the planets, and the people who have made such discoveries. |
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The planet hunters : ISBN: 0616043694 OCLC: 1011710257 CNIB, Toronto : 2000. A history of astronomy from the earliest civilizations, when man observed the stars with only the naked eye, to 1997, when the Hubble Space Telescope orbited the earth. Describes the discovery of planets and other contributions by early and recent scientists. Grades 5-8. |
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The power of one : ISBN: 9780618315567 OCLC: 54537022 Clarion Books, New York : ©2004. Born in a small town in rural Arkansas, Daisy Bates was a journalist and activist who became one of the foremost civil rights leaders in America. In 1957 she mentored the nine black students who were integrated into Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. |
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The price of freedom : ISBN: 0802721664 OCLC: 793169755 Walker Books for Young Readers, New York : 2013. Documents the efforts of an Ohio community to secure the freedom of escaped slave John Price, examining various aspects of Price's escape from Kentucky, the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, and the heroic showdown. |
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The Salem witch trials / ISBN: 076143013X OCLC: 171287705 Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, Tarrytown, NY : ©2009. "Covers the Salem Witch Trials as a watershed event in U.S. history, influencing social, economic, and political policies that shaped the nation's future"--Provided by publisher. |
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The signers : ISBN: 0439495601 OCLC: 51632748 Scholastic, New York : 2003, ©2002. Profiles each of the fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence, giving historical information about the colonies they represented. Includes the text of the Declaration and its history. |
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Tornado! : ISBN: 1426307799 OCLC: 650211794 National Geographic, Washington, D.C. : ©2011. Contains first-hand accounts of tornadoes in the United States, explains why and how tornadoes happen, and discusses ways to stay safe. |
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Tracking dinosaurs in the Gobi / ISBN: 0805045732 OCLC: 44956574 Twenty-First Century Books, New York : 1997. Describes the work of paleontologists, beginning with Roy Chapman Andrews in the 1920s, who have searched in the Gobi Desert for evidence of dinosaurs. |
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Tsunamis / ISBN: 0792253809 OCLC: 213358198 National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C. : ©2008. The words and photographs of people who have witnessed tsunamis, along with the science, history, and protection efforts surrounding this watery disaster. |
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Volcano! / ISBN: 1426308159 OCLC: 613435534 National Geographic, Washington, D.C. : ©2010. Discusses volcanoes, why they erupt, the damage they cause, and what science can do to predict their eruptions, and includes true stories of encounters with volcanoes. |
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Volcanoes / ISBN: 0792253760 OCLC: 77708508 National Geographic, Washington, DC : 2007. Provides first-person reports of those who've witnessed the violent rage of a volcanic eruption. |
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Washington ISBN: 0516038478 OCLC: 30110437 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1994. An introduction to the history, geography, important people, and interesting sites of the state of Washington. |
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Washington from sea to shining sea. ISBN: 0516261290 OCLC: 948142816 Childrens Press, [Place of publication not identified] : 1997. |
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West Virginia / ISBN: 0516038486 OCLC: 30438963 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1994. An introduction to the history, geography, important people, and interesting sites of West Virginia. |
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West Virginia in words and pictures ISBN: 0516039490 OCLC: 6087360 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1980. A history and description of the Mountain State. |
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Who was Ben Franklin? ISBN: 0329269879 OCLC: 1011471658 Penguin Workshop, New York : ©2002. Illustrations and simple text provide young readers with a brief introduction to the life and accomplishments of inventor and patriot Benjamin Franklin. |
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Who was Ben Franklin? / ISBN: 0448424959 OCLC: 49211684 A biography of the eighteenth-century printer, publisher, inventor, scientist, and statesman who played an influential role in the early history of the United States. |
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Who was Sacagawea? / ISBN: 0448424851 OCLC: 49221662 Grosset & Dunlap, New York : ©2002. A brief biography of Sacagawea, the Shoshoni woman who accompanied explorers Lewis and Clark on their expedition in the early 1800s. |
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Who was Thomas Jefferson? ISBN: 9781451736571 OCLC: 52070351 Grosset & Dunlap, New York : ©2003. A biography of the third president of the United States and writer of the Declaration of Independence. |
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With a little luck : ISBN: 0525471960 OCLC: 57965650 Dutton Children's Books, New York : ©2006. Discusses eleven scientific discoveries found as a result of chance events and unexpected laboratory results, from Newton's discovery of gravity after observing an apple fall to Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin when mold landed on a bacteria culture. |
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Wyoming / ISBN: 0516038508 OCLC: 29182064 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1994. An introduction to the history, geography, industries, important people, and interesting sites of Wyoming. |
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Wyoming in words and pictures ISBN: 0516039504 OCLC: 5613805 Childrens Press, Chicago : ©1980. Presents a brief history and description of the Equality State. |
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Zora! : ISBN: 0547006950 OCLC: 740250669 Clarion Books, Boston : c2012. A biography of African American author Zora Neale Hurston. |
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ZORA! : ISBN: 0358097460 OCLC: 1080247192 HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT, [S.l.] : 2019. |