Gary Soto writes that when he was five "what I knew best was at ground level." In this lively collection of short essays, Soto takes his listener to a ground-level perspective, recreating in vivid detail the sights, sounds, smells, and textures he knew growing up in his Fresno, California, neighborhood. The "things" of his boyhood tie it all together: his Buddha "splotched with gold," the taps of his shoes, and the "engines of sparks that lived beneath...

Relates how four undocumented Mexican immigrants in Arizona put together an underwater robot from scavenged parts and went on to win the National Underwater Robotics Competition at UC Santa Barbara. Four undocumented Mexican American students, two great teachers, one robot-building contest ... and a major motion picture. In 2004, four Latino teenagers arrived at the Marine Advanced Technology Education Robotics Competition at the University of California,...

An inspiring portrait of the extraordinary high-school football team whose quest for perfection sustains its hometown in the heartland The football team in Smith Center, Kansas, has won sixty-seven games in a row, the nation's longest high-school winning streak. They have done so by embracing a philosophy of life taught by their legendary coach, Roger Barta: "Respect each other, then learn to love each other and together we are champions." But,...

In the early 1800s, in a remote corner of England with almost no eligible young men, the eight students at the Winthrop Hopkins Female Academy uncover a mystery while learning all the skills necessary to become a good wife.

"Before the world knew them as Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler, young Alex and Eliza fell in love amidst the turmoil of the American Revolution"--

"Can you imagine surviving in the rainforest? How did the Aztecs do it thousands of years ago and even develop a thriving civilization? This book explores the amazing world of the Aztec Empire, from their gods and palaces to the secrets they carved into buildings. Readers also study Aztec artifacts, and piece together what they've learned to draw their own conclusions about each intriguing item. This book gives readers a fun and active way to discover...

"Explore the vocabulary of identity in this book that helps make sense of the meaning behind cultural labels. Readers will explore the history behind the terms Latinx, Latino, and Hispanic and consider how and why they are used. The Racial Justice in America: Latinx American series explores the issues specific to the Latinx community in a comprehensive, honest, and age-appropriate way. This series was written by Brenda Mendoza, an author, advocate,...