Most Popular Books by Fredrick McKissack

Simple text and illustrations of a variety of insects introduce the numbers one through five.

An easy-to-read retelling of the traditional tale about the little red hen and her lazy friends.

With only five more days of school remaining before summer vacation, nine-year-old Miami still faces several hurdles, such as how to get along with Destinee Tate, his nemesis.

Born a slave in the State of New York, Sojourner Truth escaped to freedom in 1826 and then traveled throughout the Northeast, preaching in a tireless fight against slavery and the oppression of women. Give your readers a powerful story to remember.

From the beginning of Reconstruction to the present, traces the struggle of blacks to gain their civil rights in America, with a brief comparison of their problems to those of other minorities.

An easy-to-read retelling of the well-known fable about two mice and the discovery they make.

Don''t wait for opportunities to come...get up and make them, said Madam C. J. Walker. She rose from laundry woman to become America''s first black woman millionaire. Born in poverty, Walker set her sights on a better life and made her fortune by developing hair care and beauty products specially formulated for African Americans. As her wealth and influence grew, she also channeled her energies into working for civil rights and social change. This real-life rags-to-riches story is presented here in an engaging narrative by the McKissacks.

Highlights the life of this great man, who went from being a slave to a teacher and an American icon.

Astound your readers with a truly inspirational figure, Paul Robeson, who was an acclaimed athlete, actor, singer, and advocate of civil rights for African Americans.

An easy-to-read retelling of the fairy tale in which an ugly duckling spends an unhappy year ostracized by other animals before he grows into a beautiful swan.

An educator and social reformer, Mary Church Terrell was the first president of the National Association of Colored Women and was an advocate for the right of women to vote. Introduce your readers to this important civic leader.

Discusses, in simple text and illustrations, the meaning of life and death and God''s promise of eternal life.

"A simple biography about Frederick Douglass, Jr. for early readers"--Provided by publisher.

Presents stories of remarkable men and women who have produced inventions that made major contributions to a wide range of fields.

The story of Jesus birth.

Examines the lives and achievements of African-American scientists from colonial days to the present, including Benjamin Banneker, George Washington Carver, and several black astronauts.

The year is 1859, and it''s Christmastime on a Virginia Plantation. The slaves are cleaning and setting up the Big House--where their masters live--for the festivities. The Big House is filled with warmth, colorful decorations, and yummy food...but there is talk of war and a sense that times may be changing. In the quarters--where the slaves live--conditions are poor, dirty, and cold, but the slaves are filled with hope for better times ahead, and they sing songs of freedom.Moving deftly between two worlds, this beautifully illustrated book is a historical tale as well as a holiday treat.

After having a book snatched from her little hand, Mary McLeod, the child of former slaves, resolved to learn to read. Many years later, with 1.50 in her pocket, Mary McLeod Bethune set out to make education a reality for other African Americans. The school she started in Florida is a legacy that continues her mission today. Bethune founded the National Council of Negro Women and was appointed to the National Youth Administration by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This inspiring, readable biography shows the power of determination and a dream.

Examines the civilizations of the Western Sudan which flourished from 700 to 1700 A.D., acquiring such vast wealth that they became centers of trade and culture for a continent.

Surveys the history of African Americans in basketball, from the beginning of the sport to the present, discussing individual teams and players and the integration of the NBA. By the co-author of Black Diamond: The Story of the Negro Baseball Leagues.

Music has been in my blood from the day I was born, said Louis Armstrong. He rose from a troubled childhood and a life of poverty to set the music world on fire. Armstrong''s lively trumpet playing, trademark "scat" singing, and natural talent for showmanship dazzled audiences for more than fifty years. In clear, crisp prose, the McKissacks place Armstrong in American musical history and show the impact his extraordinary talent made throughout the world.

Bessey finally cleans up her messy room.

When Messy Bessey starts to clean up her desk at school, she inspires the rest of the class to clean up the entire room.

More than the inventor of peanut butter, George Washington Carver helped revive the economy of the South after the Civil War with his 300 uses for peanuts and 100 uses for sweet potatoes.

Uses slave narratives, letters, diaries, military orders, and other documents to chronicle the various stages leading to the emancipation of slaves in the United States.

Zora Neale Hurston, an anthropologist and storyteller, was an active writer during the Harlem Renaissance. In recent years her work has received renewed attention recently due to the efforts of the writer Alice Walker. Give your readers a compelling look at this talent.

An easy-to-read retelling of the fairy tale about three clever goats and a nasty troll.

After having fun at their family reunion, Messy Bessey''s family cleans up and leaves the park as beautiful as when they arrived.

An important figure for children to know about, Carter G. Woodson founded Negro History Week, later expanded to Black History Month, and educated people about the accomplishments and achievements of African Americans. This book is excellent for report-writing and research as well.

Read about 13-year-old Clayton Banks in August 1963 as he is about to start high school and discovers his own feelings about the Civil Rights Movement. Includes black and white photographs and an author profile.