NEW RELEASES:
Marshall "Major" Taylor: World Champion Bicyclist, 1899-1901
lernerbooks.com
Marshall "Major" Taylor became the fastest bicyclist in the world at
the turn of the 20th century. He beat the best riders in the United States,
Europe, and Australia. In 1899, he won the prized world champion title
in Canada. Taylor triumphed despite experiencing terrible prejudice because
of his skin color. He was turned away from restaurants and hotels that
opened their doors to other racers. Competition doused him with ice water
and worked together to box him in to keep him from finishing first in
races. Yet, Taylor persevered, paving the way for African Americans in
the most popular sport of the day-bicycle racing.
What Others Say:
"Brill's accessible, personable prose vividly relates Taylor's
experiences, from the childhood trick-cycling gig that earned him
his nickname, Major . . . to his later triumphs as the first black
world cycling champion . . . . this inspiring life
story will engage children, whether or not they are cycling enthusiasts."
— Booklist
Fun Activities:
- Think of something you do well, similar to Taylor's bicycle riding.
What would you like your nickname to be? Create a costume that fits the
nickname or draw a picture of how you look dressed in something that relates
to your nickname and your special talent.
- Taylor won races around the world. Chart a map that shows the different
places where Taylor lived and competed.
Other Books about Major Taylor and Bicycle Racing:
Major Taylor, Champion Cyclist by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Go Fly a Bike! The Ultimate Book of Bicycle Fun, Freedom, and Science
by Bill Haduch
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Barack Obama: Working to Make a Difference
lernerbooks.com
Barack Obama Working to Make a Difference is the first and only
children's biography about this popular U.S. Senator. The book reveals
Obama's remarkable journey growing up in two cultures, struggling with
being different, and striving to improve people's lives within his community,
state, and now nation.
What Others Say:
"Brill offers a warm, personal portrait of the politician, beginning
with his parents' disparate backgrounds and his multinational upbringing
and moving through his political awakenings, higher education, and
public life. . . . .Brill offers an intimate portrait that is bolstered
by her own interviews with Obama's colleagues, schoolmates, and
friends."
— Booklist
Fun Activities:
- Interview a neighbor or friend. Ask what that person likes to do, what
their favorite activities and school subjects or jobs are, and the kind
of books they like to read. When you have enough information about this
person, write their story in a biography. Use Barack Obama: Working
to Make a Difference for ideas about what to include.
- Young Barack lived in Hawaii and Indonesia. Find these places on a
map. Read other books to discover what their cultures are like. Keep a
diary of activities you like to do in your neighborhood. How are they
different from where Barack grew up? How are they the same?
Books about Other Countries:
(Hawaii) Hello USA by Joyce Johnston
(Indonesia) Cultures of the World by Gouri Mirpuri
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Bronco Charlie and the Pony Express
lernerbooks.com
Do you like horses? Do you like adventure? Did you ever want
something so badly you'd do anything to get it? That's Bronco
Charlie, alias Julius Miller. Charlie loved horses
more than anything else. By eleven years old, he had tamed
wild horses, drove cattle, and roped steer. But his most exciting--and
dangerous--adventures came when he took his first ride as the youngest rider
of the Pony Express, the company that delivered mail before there
were roads, cars, and post offices.
What Others Say:
"Beginning readers will be fascinated with the tale of this 11-year-old
who fearlessly carried the mail through the mountains and forests,
in the rain and in the darkness . . . . the book is an exciting
bit of history that is fun to read."
— School and Library Journal
Honors:
IRA/CBC Children's Choice Beverly Cleary Children's Choice
Award
Fun Activities:
- Make a diorama that shows a scene from the story. Create
rocks from clay or cut trees out of cardboard and paint them.
Or build frame houses from popsicle sticks to construct one of
the two towns Charlie visited. Be as creative as you want.
- Write a story about something you did that was scary. Tell
how you overcame your fear to finish the job, whether it was
learning how to ride a bicycle or going into a dark, musty
cellar to find something important.
Other Books about the Pony Express:
They're Off!: The Story of the Pony Express by Cheryl
Harness
Harness Riding the Pony Express by Clyde Robert Bulla
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