Linda Jacobs Altman

Texas is known for cowboys and chili, rodeos and ten-gallon hats, but the Lone Star State also has a rich history and holds an important place in the development of the United States. Filled with photographs and fascinating facts, this book provides a perfect introduction to the history, geography, and culture of Texas. It features information about the origins of the nation's second-largest state, the people who live there, and the government that makes Texas run. From Sam Houston to the Houston Astros, this book showcases Texas from every angle.

The Centennial State joined the United States two days after the one-hundredth anniversary of the nation's founding. Yet before Colorado became a state, Native Americans, explorers, and fortune-seekers had already begun contributing the ideas and traditions that make the state a fascinating and diverse place to live. This book puts the history of the state in context, along with the latest information about the state's government, people, geography, and more.

Though many teens and children did not fully understand what was happening in the early days of Adolf Hitler's reign, they certainly felt the effects of anti-Semitism. Students in Nazified schools were forced to perform the Hitler salute every day, and Jewish students were increasingly persecuted by teachers and peers alike. Friends turned against friends, and there was enormous pressure on young Gentiles to adhere to Hitler's racist policies, as Aryan teens were compelled and eventually forced to join the Hitler Youth or the League of German Girls. Students may find parallels between the pressure to conform in these groups and the echo chambers of social media. These stories of Nazi teens will spur discussion of the recruiting tactics and bonding rituals of racist groups in America today.

By the time it became clear how horrific the situation in Germany would become for non-Aryans, many Jews had been rendered incapable of leaving by the slow acceleration of Adolf Hitler's anti-Semitic policies. As more Jews were stripped of their jobs, homes, and basic rights, many lacked the resources to flee, and those that successfully escaped faced terrifying obstacles even after they left Germany. This book offers readers a first-hand look at the stories of teens who managed to escape the Nazi regime, surviving only through a combination of gut instinct and luck. Readers will also see parallels between the plight of those fleeing Germany and the refugees from Syria and other countries facing similar crises today and will discover the complex reasons some people simply didn't leave before it was too late.

Nine-year-old Tamika Jordan dreads visiting her grandmother at the nursing home. Momma Lou has Alzheimer's and always forgets who Tamika is. After her father shows her Momma Lou's scrapbooks, Tamika comes up with an idea to jog Momma Lou's memory. Tamika is successful in reaching her grandmother one day when Momma Lou recognizes a newspaper clipping of a Civil Rights demonstration and leads everybody in a celebration of song.Linda Jacobs Altman tells a moving story of intergenerational love and hope, while Larry Johnson's evocative paintings bring this memorable story to life. This a book to be shared by the whole family.Altman learned about the effects of Alzheimer's when her mother was stricken with the disease. While it was a tragic experience, she learned from her mother the power of the human spirit.

Prior to the end of the Civil War in 1865, many considered slavery vital to the economy of the United States, especially in the South. Most people in the North came to reject slavery for moral or political reasons. Influential Northerners spearheaded the abolition movement. In this well-researched account, author Linda Jacobs Altman explores how abolitionists used words, money, violence, or simply courage, to fight to free the slaves. Tracing the history of slavery from its origins in America through its legal end with the Thirteenth Amendment, Altman shows how abolitionists and slaves helped make the Civil War a fight not only to preserve the Union, but to make the nation free.

Explores the complex financial underpinnings of both settlement and ultimately rebellion.

Explores the complex financial underpinnings of both settlement and ultimately rebellion.

Aimed at readers ages 12 and up, the brand new "Colonial Life" series complements the world history and American history curriculum and follows the National Standards guidelines. Easy-to-read chapters featuring full-color maps and illustrations take students from the early days of discovery and exploration, through the establishment of the first colonies by the vying European powers, to the events leading to the Revolutionary War and the founding of the United States.Comprehensive in scope, the series covers events in North, Central, and South America, including the early settlements, the thirteen British colonies, Canada, the Spanish possessions of the southwest and California, and the French territories. Thematic volumes introduce students to daily life on the settlements, the diversity of the people, rule of government, religions and beliefs, and the regional and global economies involving trade and commerce. Coverage also includes material on Native American cultural groups from the pre-Columbian era through their interactions with the European colonists and settlers.Feature boxes and sidebars in each volume discuss high interest events and developments and offer biographical information, and primary source material displays historical documents along with quoted text from important figures and excerpts of their writing. A glossary and a guide to further information including Internet resources help make this set an invaluable addition to any school or public library.