New Releases by Bonnie Christensen

Sunshine Ervila Lee Walston may not know how to read, but she''s darn good with her hands and helping out on her family''s cotton farm in 1933 Oklahoma. Trouble is, it doesn''t matter how hard you work if the rain doesn''t come. After the bank takes away her homestead, Sunny and her family move to the small, dusty town of Lark Springs, North Carolina, where they have a chance to start anew. But the incessant drought follows the family to Lark Springs, evil bank men from a whole new bank get in the way, and it seems that the only way out is an extremely dangerous one-and if she makes just one mistake, there''s more to lose than just the farm. From award-winning children''s book author Bonnie Christensen and her daughter Emily Herder comes a new historical adventure of an unshakable girl who will do anything to save her family. With help from her smarty-pants sister and some new and interesting friends, will Sunny find the courage to do what it takes? How much is she willing to risk to save her family and their life in Lark Springs?

An only child, a mama''s boy-Elvis was a shy kid who struggled to make friends and found comfort singing in church and learning guitar. While in high school, he continued his music but was often ridiculed by students. On a whim, he recorded a song for his mom''s birthday at Sun Record Studios as part of a customer promotion. The studio loved it so much that they sent it to local record stations . . . and the rest is history. Here is the story of how a poor kid from Tupelo, Mississippi, became an American legend.

In 9th century China, a little girl sends a small jade pebble to travel with her father along the Silk Road. The pebble passes from his hand all the way to the Republic of Venice, the end of the Silk Road, where a boy cherishes it and sees the value of this gift from a girl at the end of the road. A Neal Porter Book

From the award-winning picture book biographer of Woody Guthrie comes the inspirational story of Nellie Bly. Born in 1864, during a time in which options were extremely limited for women, Nellie defied all expectations and became a famous newspaper correspondent. Her daring exploits included committing herself to an infamous insane asylum in New York City to expose the terrible conditions there and becoming the first American war correspondent of either sex to report on the front lines of Austria during World War I. In 1889, Nellie completed her most publicized stunt, her world-famous trip around the world in just 72 days, beating the record of Jules Vernes’ fictional hero in Around the World in 80 Days. With an informative text and pen-and-ink illustrations reminiscent of the graphic style of the late 1800s, The Daring Nellie Bly captures the independent spirit of America’s first star reporter, Nellie Bly.

Marcy and Miss Rosa start a campaign to clean up an empty lot and turn it into a community garden.

Examines the life of the Italian scientist from a first-person perspective that surveys his achievements while covering his world-changing ideas about a heliocentric solar system and his imprisonment for heresy.

Christensen tells the remarkable story of artist Andy Warhol, famous Pop Art icon, especially for young readers. Full color.

Describes the life and career of Django Reinhardt, who overcame a childhood in poverty and debilitating injuries to become a famed jazz guitarist.

Up until the early 1400s, books were hand-lettered with knife-sharpened quills by industrious monks and were so rare and valuable that they were chained to the shelves of monastery libraries. But once the printing press was invented, the world of reading and access to information opened up to everyone, enabling explorers, scientists, and writers to easily share knowledge for the first time. This beautifully illustrated book for young adults, with a clear text, rich in historical details, demonstrates the dramatic impact this invaluable invention had on society. Exquisite wood engravings recall a way of life before the printing press changed the world. "It''s a gorgeous format that does complete justice to the subject." An American Bookseller "Pick of the Lists".

"Tracing the story of Red Lodge from the 1880s to the present, Christensen tells how a mining town managed to endure the vagaries of the West''s unpredictable extractive-industries economy. She connects Red Lodge to a myriad of larger events and historical forces to show how national and regional influences have contributed to the development of local identities, exploring how and why westerners first rejected and then embraced "western" images, and how ethnicity, wilderness, and historic preservation became part of the identity that defined one town."--BOOK JACKET.

Biography of the great American folk musician Woody Guthrie.

Presents a collection of verses that use pictures in place of some words.