Best Selling Books by Carla Killough McClafferty

"No picture accurately resembled him in the minute traits of his person . . . there was an expression of his face that no painter had succeeded in taking."—London''s New Monthly Magazine in 1790 George Washington''s face has been painted, printed, and engraved more than a billion times since his birth in 1732. And yet even in his lifetime, no picture seemed to capture the likeness of the man who is now the most iconic of all our presidents. Worse still, people today often see this founding father as the "old and grumpy" Washington on the dollar bill. In 2005 a team of historians, scientists, and artisans at Mount Vernon set out to change the image of our first president. They studied paintings and sculptures, pored over Washington''s letters to his tailors and noted other people’s comments about his appearance, even closely examined the many sets of dentures that had been created for Washington. Researchers tapped into skills as diverse as 18th-century leatherworking and cutting-edge computer programming to assemble truer likenesses. Their painstaking research and exacting processes helped create three full-body representations of Washington as he was at key moments in his life. And all along the way, the team gained new insight into a man who was anything but "old and grumpy." Join award-winning author Carla Killough McClafferty as she unveils the statues of the three Georges and rediscovers the man who became the face of a new nation.

When the 1905 football season ended, nineteen players were dead and countless others were critically injured. The public was outraged. The game had reached a make-or-break moment?fourth down and inches. Coaches, players, fans, and even the president of the United States had one last chance: change football or leave the field. Football''s defenders managed to move the chains. Rule changes and reforms after 1905 saved the game and cleared the way for it to become America''s most popular sport. But they didn''t fix everything. Today, football faces a new injury crisis as dire as 1905''s. With increased awareness about brain injury, reported concussions are on the rise among football players. But experts fear concussions may only be the tip of the iceberg. The injuries are almost invisible, but the stakes couldn''t be higher: the brains of millions of young football players across the country. Award-winning author Carla Killough McClafferty takes readers on a bone-crunching journey from football''s origins to the latest research on concussion and traumatic brain injuries in the sport. Fourth Down and Inches features exclusive photography and interviews with scientists, players, and the families of athletes who have literally given everything to the game. It''s fourth and inches. Can football save itself again?

The untold story of the enslaved people of Mount Vernon, and the illuminating history that is still being discovered in George Washington''s historic home today. When he was eleven years old, George Washington inherited ten human beings. His own life has been well chronicled, but the lives of the people he owned--the people who supported his plantation and were buried in unmarked graves there--have not. Using fascinating primary source material and photographs of historical artifacts, Carla McClafferty sheds light on the lives of several people George Washington owned; the property laws of the day that complicated his decision to free them; and the Cemetery Survey, an archeological dig that is shaping our understanding of Mount Vernon''s Slave Cemetery. Poignant and thought-provoking, Buried Lives blends the past with the present in a forward-looking account of a haunting piece of American history. Includes a foreword by Zsun-nee Matema, a descendant one of the enslaved people at Mount Vernon who is highlighted in this book, backmatter outlining the author''s sources, and an index. A Junior Library Guild selection A Bank Street Best Children''s Book of the Year

On August 4, 1940, an unassuming American journalist named Varian Fry made his way to Marseilles, France, carrying in his pockets the names of approximately two hundred artists and intellectuals – all enemies of the new Nazi regime. As a volunteer for the Emergency Rescue Committee, Fry''s mission was to help these refugees flee to safety, then return home two weeks later. As more and more people came to him for assistance, however, he realized the situation was far worse than anyone in America had suspected – and his role far greater than he had imagined. He remained in France for over a year, refusing to leave until he was forcibly evicted. At a time when most Americans ignored the World War II atrocities in Europe, Varian Fry engaged in covert operations, putting himself in great danger, to save strangers in a foreign land. He was instrumental in the rescue of over two thousand refugees, including the novelist Heinrich Mann and the artist Marc Chagall.

Sneak kids ages 8 to 12 behind enemy lines with this book about America''s first spies If you want to get kids interested in history, the intrigue-filled tales of spies are a great place to start. Packed with exciting stories about the brave men and women who fought off the battlefield, this unique look into the American Revolution helps history come alive through explorations of secretive plots, inventive tools, and daring disguises that are sure to captivate kids. Go beyond other Revolutionary War books for kids with: Spies and the American Revolution—This book teaches kids about the American Revolutionary War and the many spies that played key roles in the conflict. Techniques, tools, and more—Kids will find out about the clever ways spies did their jobs with invisible ink, hidden messages, yarn balls, and hanging laundry. Illustrated history—Keep kids engaged with awesome full-color drawings of historical moments, spy gadgets, battle maps, and more. Show kids how exciting US history can be with Spies in the American Revolution for Kids.

Full-color series-six bios in one! It takes more than one person to bring about change and innovation. Explore the lives of the people who have had a huge impact on technology today. So much more than just your typical biography, PROFILES: TECH TITANS focuses on six of the most prominent figures in the technological world. This book includes all of the biographical information kids need to know (background, family, education, accomplishments, etc.) about Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, and Jeff Bezos--the men behind Windows, Apple, Facebook, Google, and Amazon! Photographs and quotes are interwoven throughout the text.

This is an honest look at a mother''s spiritual and emotional battles after los ing her son. McClafferty''s poignant story will help and comfort those who are struggling with painful circumstances in their own lives.

Meet Manya Sklodowska, better known today as Marie Curie, the co-discoverer of radium, and who became the first woman awarded the Nobel prize for her work on the discovery. Learn what life was like for Marie, and the effect her discovery had on the world.

A fascinating look at a scientific discovery that changed the world. Through an engaging text and numerous photographs and illustrations, Carla Killough McClafferty tells the history of the X-ray, from its discovery to its uses today. The story begins in 1895, when Wilhelm Roentgen accidentally saw the bones of his own hand while experimenting with cathode rays in his laboratory in Germany. His gift to science led to an amazing revolution in medicine, but not without a terrible price: it was only through many scientists'' injuries and deaths that the dangers of X-ray exposure were revealed. McClafferty''s chronicle also covers such things as the use of X-rays in examining fine art and identifying forgeries; the study of Egyptian mummies by X-rays; and X-ray use in everything from astronomy to paleontology, from airplane manufacture to the familiar dentist''s office. McClafferty writes with an infectious excitement about her subject, with plenty of humor and respect for her intended young audience.