Ted Hammond

"The LEGO toy company was founded in 1934 by a Danish carpenter who loved making wooden pull toys. From its humble beginnings, the company has lived up to its name--which comes from the Danish phrase meaning to always "play well"--encouraging children to use their imagination and build whatever they can dream up. In this book, author Jim O'Connor describes how a simple concept--small plastic bricks that snap together--morphed into a cultural phenomenon"--...

Looks at the life and career of the physician and NASA astronaut who became the first American woman in space in 1983.

"Discover the man behind the chocolate bar! Milton Hershey's life was filled with invention and innovation. As a young man, he was not afraid to dream big and work hard. Eventually, he learned the secret to mass-producing milk chocolate and the recipe that gave it a longer, more stable shelf life. He founded a school for those who didn't have access to a good education and an entire town for his employees. Both his chocolate empire and his great personal...

"Discover the true story of the Twin Towers -- how they came to be the tallest buildings in the world and why they were destroyed. When the Twin Towers were built in 1973, they were billed as an architectural wonder. At 1,368 feet, they clocked in as the tallest buildings in the world and changed the New York City skyline dramatically. Offices and corporations moved into the towers -- also known as the World Trade Center -- and the buildings were...

"Born into slavery in 1862, Ida Bell Wells was freed as a result of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865. Yet she could see just how unjust the world she was living in was. This drove her to become a journalist and activist. Throughout her life, she fought against prejudice and for equality for African Americans. Ida B. Wells would go on to co-own a newspaper, write several books, help cofound the National Association for the Advancement of Colored...

"Born in Wisconsin in 1867, Frank Lloyd Wright became obsessed with a set of building blocks his mother had given to him on his ninth birthday. He grew up to become the father of organic architecture and the greatest American architect of all time, having designed more than 1,100 buildings during his lifetime. These included private homes such as the stunning Fallingwater, churches, temples, a hotel, and the world-famous Guggenheim Museum in New York...

Traces the life and accomplishments of the professional baseball player, from his heroics on the field to his humanitarian efforts and his untimely death.

On an airfield in New Jersey . . . a boy witnesses disaster. Lakehurst, New Jersey, 1937. Stenny Green loves to build model airships. He's excited to learn the Hindenburg will land in his town. He sneaks off to the airfield to catch a glimpse of it. The night turns to tragedy when the Hindenburg explodes in the sky. Can Stenny help the wreck's survivors?

The Connecticut countryside, 1777. A messenger arrives at Sybil Ludington's farm with bad news. British soldiers are starting to burn villages in the area. Someone must alert the colonial militia, and the messenger is too tired. Sybil volunteers to ride from farm to farm through the dark forest. Can she rouse the soldiers in time?

Nebraska, 1888. Sisters Sarah and Annie arrive at school on an unusually warm January day. When the worst blizzard in memory descends without warning, their teacher must make a decision. Should they stay in the schoolhouse after the roof caves in, or should they brave the storm in search of safety?