Commended for the 2009 Best Books for Kids & Teens Canadian World War II pilot Charley Fox, now in his late eighties, has had a thrilling life, especially on the day in July 1944 in France when he spotted a black staff car, the kind usually employed to drive high-ranking Third Reich dignitaries. Already noted for his skill in dive-bombing and strafing the enemy, Fox went in to attack the automobile. As it turned out, the car contained famed German General Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox, and Charley succeeded in wounding him. Rommel, who at the time was the Germans' supreme military commander in France orchestrating the Nazis' resistance to the D-day invasion, was never the same after that. Author Steve Pitt focuses on this seminal event in Charley Fox's life and in the war, but he also provides fascinating aspects of the period, including profiles of noted ace pilots Buzz Beurling and Billy Bishop, Jr., and Great Escape architect Walter Floody, as well as sidebars about Hurricanes, Spitfires, and Messerschmitts.

Illustrated with detailed artworks and full-colour photographs, Tanks is a comprehensive study of the key tanks and armoured fighting vehicles built since their first use in World War I. Arranged chronologically, each vehicle has a cutaway artwork labelled with key items of interest, and accompanying photographs showing both the tank's interior and exterior in detail. Each entry also has full design and development history. With detailed specifications for each vehicle, all the major tank types are featured, including the Tiger, Panther, T-72 and M1 Abrams, making Tanks an essential reference guide for modellers, military historians and tank enthusiasts.

This book tells the history of Scotland between 1249 and 1371 from the Golden Age of Alexander III to Robert II, the first Stewart king. This takes in the Scottish Wars of Independence: William Wallace and the Battle of Stirling Bridge; and Robert the Bruce and the decisive Battle of Bannockburn. Find out ...* Who was the 'Maid of Norway' * How John Balliol got his nickname * What was the 'Ragman Roll' * What the name Wallace means * What is the Stone of Destiny

What Are We Fighting For? explores the concept of war in a brilliantly accessible way for younger readers. Fascinating and moving in equal measure, there are poems about incredibly brave dogs, cats and pigeons; the Christmas truce of WWI when soldiers played football in No Man's Land; poems about rationing and what it was like to be an evacuee, poems about modern warfare and the reality of war today; plus lots of amazing true historical facts. This cross-curricular poetry book is a brilliant way to get young readers thinking about both the historical and philosophical aspects of war.

The life story of a daredevil who became a war hero will fascinate adventurous young readers with its tales of survival. At age thirteen, following the death of his father, young Eddie dropped out of school and joined the workforce. Through a combination of smarts, hard work, and perseverance, Rickenbacker would grow up to become an automobile mechanic, a race car driver, a fighter pilot, an entrepreneur, a war hero, a business executive, and a staunch advocate for hard work and personal responsibility. Along the way he lived on the line between recklessness and courage. He survived dozens of accidents, coming close to death more than once. During the earliest years of American automobile racing, Rickenbacker was "the most daring and withal the most cautious driver" on the circuit. How could he have been both daring and cautious? This book invites young readers to decide for themselves as they follow Rickenbacker on his many hair-raising adventures.

I'm trying to concentrate so that I can do my homework (reading) but I simply can't. Something is going on in town. You can hear gunfire from the hills!

This entry in Zlata's diary in April 1992 shows how the war draws relentlessly closer to her home in Sarajevo. When she starts her diary, Zlata tells of her normal, happy life with her family and friends. But soon they are fighting to survive. Zlata's very personal account is a vivid portrait of an innocent child caught up in a terrible war.

A clear and informative account of how the Second World War began, the infamous battles and the conclusion and aftermath of the war. Illustrated with maps, evocative archive photographs and illustrations. Includes descriptions of the most famous events including Pearl Harbor, Battle of Midway, D-Day and the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Part of series three of the Usborne Reading Programme for children whose reading ability and confidence allows them to tackle longer and more complex information. Produced in association with the Imperial War Museum, London.

This book gives an exciting overview of the US National Guard, from when it first formed to its missions and members today, as well as their tasks, equipment, and training. Short paragraphs of easy-to-read text are paired with plenty of photos to make reading engaging and accessible. The book also includes a table of contents, fun facts, sidebars, comprehension questions, a glossary, an index, and a list of resources for further reading. Apex books have low reading levels (grades 2-3) but are designed for older students, with interest levels of grades 3-7.

This book describes the key battles that took place on the Eastern Front during World War II, including the Battle of Stalingrad, which was longest and deadliest battle of the war. In addition to historic photos, this book includes a table of contents, two infographics, critical thinking questions, two "A Closer Look" special features, a reading comprehension quiz, a glossary, additional resources, and an index. This Focus Readers title is at the Voyager level, aligned to reading levels of grades 5-6 and interest levels of grades 5-9.

This book describes the events and alliances that led up to World War II, including the reasons that various nations joined the fight. In addition to historic photos, this book includes a table of contents, two infographics, critical thinking questions, two "A Closer Look" special features, a reading comprehension quiz, a glossary, additional resources, and an index. This Focus Readers title is at the Voyager level, aligned to reading levels of grades 5-6 and interest levels of grades 5-9.

This book gives an exciting overview of the US Marine Corps, from when it first formed to its missions and members today, as well as their tasks, equipment, and training. Short paragraphs of easy-to-read text are paired with plenty of photos to make reading engaging and accessible. The book also includes a table of contents, fun facts, sidebars, comprehension questions, a glossary, an index, and a list of resources for further reading. Apex books have low reading levels (grades 2-3) but are designed for older students, with interest levels of grades 3-7.

This visual guide tells the story of the bloodiest war America ever fought through photos and easy-to-understand explanations. This book for children aged 9 - 12 ventures into the history of America's Civil War and familiarises children with American history and how it became the country it is today. Each chapter explores people, causes, and consequences of America's bloodiest conflict. Inside the pages of this children's civil war book, you'll discover: - Full-page profiles about key figures and battles - Civil War-era photography and illustration depicting important events and artefacts - Accurate historical information, faithful presentation of African American history in the context of the Civil War - Unusual and remarkable stories such as the Thanksgiving drummer boy's and accounts of the war through personal letters America spent five years fighting its most destructive war and one that showed a deeply divided country with union states on the one side and confederate states on the other. This civil war book shows what led up to the conflict and zooms into the most important events, battles, and leaders. This book further explores war memorabilia, eyewitness accounts and the abolition of slavery. Children will be excited to learn about famous figures such as Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee and gain insight into reasons for the war and the viewpoints of the opposing sides. This book also provides children with a fascinating history of how railways, the telegraph were used to fight the war and literature and music that this conflict produced. DK's Visual Encyclopedia series delves into the world's most intriguing historical events, people, natural phenomena and animals. These books will delight children with simple explanations and impactful photography that will provide hours of learning fun.