Synopses & Reviews
Who transformed George Washington’s demoralized troops at Valley Forge into a fighting force that defeated an empire? Who cracked Germany’s Enigma code and shortened World War II? Who successfully lobbied the US Congress to outlaw child labor? And who organized the 1963 March on Washington? Ls, Gs, Bs, and Ts, that’s who.
Given today’s news, it would be easy to get the impression that the campaign for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality is a recent development, but it is only the final act in a struggle that started more than a century ago. This timely resource helps put recent events into context for kids ages nine and up. After a brief history up to 1900, each chapter discusses an era in the struggle for LGBT civil rights from the 1920s to today. The history is told through personal stories and firsthand accounts of the movement’s key events, like the 1950s “Lavender Scare,” the Stonewall Inn uprising, and the AIDS crisis. Kids will learn about civil rights mavericks, like Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, founder of the first gay rights organization; Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, who turned the Daughters of Bilitis from a lesbian social club into a powerhouse for LGBT freedom; Christine Jorgensen, the nation’s first famous transgender; and Harvey Milk, the first out candidate to win a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Also chronicled are the historic contributions of famous LGBT individuals, from General von Steuben and Alan Turing to Jane Addams and Bayard Rustin, among others. This up-to-date history includes the landmark Supreme Court decision making marriage equality the law of the land. Twenty-one activities enliven the history and demonstrate the spirited ways the LGBT community has pushed for positive social change.
Kids can: write a Free Verse Poem like Walt Whitman; learn “The Madison” Line Dance; remember a Loved One with a Quilt Panel; perform a Monologue from The Laramie Project; make Up a Song Parody; and much more.
Review
"Motivated readers will be rewarded with a better understanding of the theories behind the science used today." —School Library Journal
Review
"Pohlen provides clear explanations, filled with readily graspable analogies, and often walks readers, step by step, through Einsteins own thought experiments . . . A great resource for curious kids ages 9 and up, who might not otherwise have access to this topic." —Home Education Magazine
Review
"I thoroughly enjoyed the effective melding of anecdotes, life history, and scientific achievements." —National Science Teachers Association
Review
"A great introduction to a man and an equation that are usually considered advanced fare—but are central to everybody's way of life." —GeekDad
Review
"An incredibly accessible resource for inquisitive children," and "a must for Science Teachers." —Science Project Ideas for Kids
Review
"What I love about this book is . . . everything! It's fascinating, informative and essential, plus curious kids will love and understand it." —Good Reads with Ronna
Review
"You'll find plenty of material in this fascinating book to challenge and pique your imagination." —BookLoons
Review
"I wish that something like this was around to help me out back when I was in school!" —Concert Katie
Review
“Such grassroots creativity deserves to be celebrated, even by an author (Jerome Pohlen) whos from Chicago, a city which, lets be honest, cannot hold a candle to metro Detroits oddball cred.” —Detroit Free Press
Review
"[A] wonderful, ingenious book." —ExclusiveMagazine.com
Review
“[A] good get to know us guide.” —The Motor City Blog
Review
“In 450 funny blurbs, the author covers sights people might go out of their way for, as well as attractions one might check out while just passing through, providing location, cost, and contact information for each. Amusing, brisk, surprising, and slightly educational, this is a great resource for the discerning connoisseur of cheesy and eccentric tourist attractions of the Upper Midwest.” —Library Journal
Review
“Pohlen found some real gems. I can envision tour planners and operators using Oddball Michigan as they plan an itinerary. Tour guides could weave facts from the book into their narration.” —Group Tour Magazine
Review
“This is an important book that puts the present day gains of the LGBT movement into perspective for today’s youth. Interesting, informative, and full of wonderful archival photographs, I applaud Jerome Pohlen for this significant contribution to LGBT literature for young readers. This is a wonderful book.” —Lesléa Newman, author,
Heather Has Two Mommies and
October Mourning: A Song for Matthew ShepardReview
“…lively and engaging prose… informative and appealingly told.” —Kirkus Reviews
Review
“this is an important resource that belongs in every collection.” —Booklist
Synopsis
2016 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People List Lambda Literary Award Finalist
On the Rainbow Book List
Who transformed George Washington's demoralized troops at Valley Forge into a fighting force that defeated an empire? Who cracked Germany's Enigma code and shortened World War II? Who successfully lobbied the US Congress to outlaw child labor? And who organized the 1963 March on Washington? Ls, Gs, Bs, and Ts, that's who.
Given today's news, it would be easy to get the impression that the campaign for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) equality is a recent development, but it is only the final act in a struggle that started more than a century ago. The history is told through personal stories and firsthand accounts of the movement's key events, like the 1950s "Lavender Scare," the Stonewall Inn uprising, and the AIDS crisis. Kids will learn about civil rights mavericks, like Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, founder of the first gay rights organization; Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, who turned the Daughters of Bilitis from a lesbian social club into a powerhouse for LGBT freedom; Christine Jorgensen, the nation's first famous transgender; and Harvey Milk, the first out candidate to win a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Also chronicled are the historic contributions of famous LGBT individuals, from General von Steuben and Alan Turing to Jane Addams and Bayard Rustin, among others. This up-to-date history includes the landmark Supreme Court decision making marriage equality the law of the land. Twenty-one activities enliven the history and demonstrate the spirited ways the LGBT community has pushed for positive social change.
Kids can: write a free verse poem like Walt Whitman; learn "The Madison" line dance; remember a loved one with a quilt panel; perform a monologue from The Laramie Project; make up a song parody; and much more.
Synopsis
Winner of:2013 VOYA Nonfiction Honor List Selection
Best known for his general theory of relativity and the famous equation linking mass and energy, E = mc², Albert Einstein had a lasting impact on the world of science, the extent of which is illuminated—along with his fascinating life and unique personality—in this lively history. In addition to learning all about Einsteins important contributions to science, from proving the existence and size of atoms and launching the field of quantum mechanics to creating models of the universe that led to the discovery of black holes and the big bang theory, young physicists will participate in activities and thought experiments to bring his theories and ideas to life. Such activities include using dominoes to model a nuclear chain reaction, replicating the expanding universe in a microwave oven, creating blue skies and red sunsets in a soda bottle, and calculating the speed of light using a melted chocolate bar. Suggestions for further study, a time line, and sidebars on the work of other physicists of the day make this an incredibly accessible resource for inquisitive children.
Synopsis
Theres more to Michigan than beautiful forests, shuttered factories, and miles and miles of stunning shoreline. Armed with this offbeat travel guide, youll soon discover the strange underbelly of the Great Lakes State. Michigan has monuments to fluoridation, snurfing, the designer of the Jefferson nickel, and the once-famous Mr. Chicken, as well as festivals honoring tulips, Christmas pickles, and a 38-acre fungus. Its where youll find the Worlds Largest Lugnut, the Nun Doll Museum, Joes Gizzard City, the Teenie-Weenie Pickle Barrel Cottage, Howdy Doody, and Thomas Edisons last breath. The state also has its share of weird history—its where Harry Houdini perished on Halloween night in 1926, where skater Tanya Hardings posse whacked Nancy Kerrigan, and where the Kellogg brothers invented popular breakfast cereals and less-popular yogurt enemas. Along with humorous histories and witty observations, Oddball Michigan provides addresses, websites, hours, fees, and driving directions for each of its 450 entries.
About the Author
Jerome Pohlen is a former elementary school science teacher, an engineer, an editor, and the author of a dozen award-winning science kits, including Famous Experiments, Microscopic World, and Wild Weather. He lives in Chicago.