Synopses & Reviews
The 1840s ushered in the beginning of the largest migration in US history. People in crowded Eastern cities and Missouri River towns were feeling the pull of the Western frontier. It was the dawn of a new era of expansion, and over the next few decades, the making of a new kind of pioneer. It was the birth of the cowgirl!
and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160; Welcome to the world of nimble equestriennes, hawkeyed sharpshooters, sly outlaws, eloquent legislators, expert wranglers and talented performers who made eyes pop and jaws drop with their skills, savvy and bravery. In this fascinating account of an ever-evolving American icon, Holly George-Warren invites readers to saddle up with a host of these trailblazers who helped settle the West and define the cowgirl spirit.
Review
"Far juicier and more revealing reading than more usual pious sports biographies."and#8212;Publishers Weekly "Krull hits another home run. . . . Interesting, entertaining, and fact-filled."and#8212;American Bookseller
Review
"Unstuffs a host of shirts and delivers wonderful musical trivia."--
Newsweek* "Bravo! A collective biography that is informative and fun to read."--School Library Journal, starred review
* "Living, breathing anecdotes--the stuff of which the best biography is made."--Publishers Weekly, starred review
Review
* and#8220;Thereand#8217;s enough substance here for a quick report or to enliven a longer one. . . . An irresistible package.and#8221;and#8212;School Library Journal, starred review
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and#8220;The stories Krull tells will be enough to whet readersand#8217; appetites for more biography and for the writersand#8217; actual works.and#8221;and#8212;Booklist
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"This compendium of brief biographies of literary luminaries is as much fun as a tete-a-tete with a gossipy friend. Krull knows exactly how to captivate her audience; she goes right for the juicy stuff, adding to historical fact the kind of chatty incidentals and amusing anecdotes that put flesh and blood on dry literary bones. . . .These exuberant thumbnail sketches are ably matched by Hewittand#8217;s sophisticated caricatures, which will delight sharp-eyed readers with their many visual references to particulars and oddities about each of the subjects. A must-have for the reference shelf.and#8221;and#8212;Publishers Weekly
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and#8220;Another colorful, enthralling excursion into our cultural heritage.and#8221;and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
Review
"There are plenty of books about cowboys. Now itand#8217;s the ladiesand#8217; turn. . . . This offers a refreshing slant on the West and its women. Best of all are the many, many wonderfully reproduced photographs, posters, and even paper dolls that chronicle the history in this handsomely designed book."and#160; and#8212;Booklist and#160; "With ample dynamic photos and lively quotes throughout, George-Warren presents a thoroughly absorbing overview of the history of cowgirls up to the present."and#160; and#8212;School Library Journal and#160; "Thoroughly researched and filled with interesting facts, photographs and full-color art, the book shines in its ability to highlight a neglected story in American history. . . . George-Warren tells their stories in colorful, fascinating detail. This book would make an excellent addition to a unit on the American West or a celebration of Women's History Month."and#160; and#8212;VOYA and#160; "For horse-loving girls, this unique title meets a need they may not have known they had and might spur them on to cowgirl careers of their own."and#160; and#8212;Horn Book
Review
"Craftily mining the personalities of each woman, Downing contributes watercolor and colored pencil portraits of the mothers on their home turfs, humorously underscoring their many diverse eccentricities."and#8212;
Publishers Weekly"Young readers will enjoy perusing this engaging and utterly browsable collection of quick facts about these little-known, but very important women."and#8212;School Library Journal
"Colorfully illustrated and surprisingly entertaining."and#8212;Booklist
Synopsis
Wild or mild, hated or beloved, these twenty women dared to stand up and be a leader.
Synopsis
Not all governments have been run by men.
Lives of Extraordinary Women turns the spotlight on women who have wielded power, revealing their feats--and flaws--for all the world to see. Here you'll find twenty of the most influential women in history: queens, warriors, prime ministers, first ladies, revolutionary leaders. Some are revered. Others are notorious. What were they really like?
In this grand addition to their highly praised series, Kathleen Krull and Kathryn Hewitt celebrate some of the world's most noteworthy women, ranging from the famous to those whose stories have rarely been told.
Synopsis
What is your favorite athlete's biggest fear? Strangest habit? Craziest quirk? And what did their neighbors have to say about them? Find out all you ever wanted to know about your favorite sports stars in Lives of the Athletes.and#160;Biographical information has never been this much fun to read!
Synopsis
Almost everybody can reel off stats about a favorite athlete, but few fans know the person behind the trophies and medals. Lives of the Athletes: Thrills, Spills (and What the Neighbors Thought) tells more than just the physical achievements of twenty groundbreaking athletes. What did they like to eat, to drink, to wear? What childhood games did they play? How did they handle fame and fortune? Avid sports fans and phobics alike will relish this collection of fears, habits, quirks, and what the neighbors found to gossip about. and#160;and#160;
Synopsis
What are musicians
really like?
Synopsis
History comes to life in this dynamic volume! Itand#8217;s no secret that Beethoven went deaf, that Mozart had constant money problems, and that Gilbert and Sullivan wrote musicals. But what were these peopleand#8212;and other famous musiciansand#8212;really like? What did they eat? What did they wear? How did they spend their time? Discover the fascinating and often humorous stories of twenty famous musicians from various countries and historical periods, beginning with Vivaldi and ending with Woody Guthrie.
Synopsis
Shakespeare wrote with a feather quill and ink; Emily Dickinson wrote with a fountain pen; Isaac Bashevis Singer wrote on a Yiddish typewriter. But what did such writers do when they weren't writing? What did Jane Austen eat for breakfast? What could make Mark Twain throw his shirts out the window? Why would Zora Neale Hurston punch a fellow elevator passenger? Lives of the Writers tells all that and more.
Synopsis
Aand#160;beautiful and fascinatingand#160;nonfiction book about the history of cowgirls, by the author of Shake, Rattle, and Roll, and Honky-Tonk Heroes and Hillbilly Angels.
Synopsis
Who were the moms behind the U.S. presidents? Get the scoop in this amusing picture book featuring mini biographies about presidential moms. Full of fun facts and embarrassing childhood stories, written in a snappy style by celebrated nonfiction author Beverly Gherman.
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Synopsis
Did you know that Thomas Jefferson's mother ran a plantation by herself, or that Abraham Lincoln's mother was a wrestler? James Madison's mom called him "Jemmy" and made his shirts while he went to college, and Woodrow Wilson created Mother's Day to celebrate all mothers--especially his.and#160;Join Beverly Gherman and Julie Downing in this celebration of the women behind the White House.and#160; Gherman delightfully dishes fun facts about each mother, and Downing's livelyand#160;illustrations are sure to enthrall and entertain.
About the Author
Kathleen Krulland#160;has written muchand#160;innovative nonfiction for young people, including all of the books in the
Lives of . . . series, and has made a chatty, accessible approach to biography her hallmark. She lives in San Diego, California. Visit her website at
www.kathleenkrull.com