Most people can name some famous artists and recognize their best-known works. But what's behind all that painting, drawing, and sculpting? What was Leonardo da Vinci's snack of choice while he painted Mona Lisa's mysterious smile? Why did Georgia O'Keeffe find bones so appealing? Who called Diego Rivera "Frog-Face"? And what is it about artists that makes both their work and their lives so fascinating-to themselves, to their curious neighbors, and...

It's no secret that Beethoven went deaf, that Mozart had constant money problems, and that Gilbert and Sullivan wrote musicals. But what were these people-and other famous musicians-really like? What did they eat? What did they wear? How did they spend their time? And-possibly most interesting of all-what did their neighbors think? Discover the fascinating and often humorous stories of twenty famous musicians-people of all shapes, sizes, temperaments,...

From fairy tales and Hollywood movies to magazine ads, reality TV and the Internet, we absorb the lesson early: being beautiful is the answer to our dreams. It's harder than ever for teens to tune out the endless media messages promoting unattainable ideals, yet at no time in history have they had more tools to change the message. With In Your Face, Shari Graydon encourages readers to think critically about the culture of beauty both past and present....

"In Sneaker Century, follow sneaker fashions and the larger-than-life personalities behind the best known athletic shoe brands in history. Learn how teen sneakerheads became important style makers and drove the success of NIKE, Inc., and other shoe companies. Look behind the scenes at the labor-intensive process of manufacturing sneakers. Explore the sneaker frontier of the future--recycled shoes, earth-friendly initiatives, and high-fashion statements."--Amazon.com....

Although ancient India was unearthed by archaeologists long after Egypt and Mesopotamia, experts now believe it was one of the first civilizations in history. Ancient India has given the world Hinduism, Buddhism, advanced mathematics and astronomy, games such as chess and Chutes and Ladders, and much more. Through engaging sidebars and an in-depth timeline, augmented by full-color photographs, readers learn about the history and achievements of this...

Greece has been called the birthplace of Western civilization. However, its plunge into illiteracy during a dark age that lasted centuries has made much of its early history an intriguing mystery. This volume examines what historians know and what they can only surmise based on the archaeological record. In-depth sidebars highlight interesting facts, and full-color photographs allow readers to imagine ancient Greece at the height of its glory. Additionally,...

"Simone takes you through the events, challenges, and trials that carried her from an early childhood in foster care to a coveted spot on the 2016 Olympic team" --

Presents information on the geography, history, economy, and people of Barbados. Includes a chronology, recipes, project ideas, and more.

An introduction to the cooking of Germany featuring such traditional recipes as spaetzle, hot potato salad, Black Forest torte, and marzipan. Also includes information on the history, geography, customs and people of this European country.

What do giant squids, mantis shrimp, and fireflies have in common? These animals, along with a wide range of creatures, are able to give off light; this is called bioluminescence. Different species use different chemistries to bioluminesce, and they produce their light for a variety of reasons, including communication, hunting, and self-defense. Bioluminescence is a unique and fascinating adaptation found in the animal kingdom. Surprisingly, about...