Coretta Scott King is well known for being the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and for her own civil rights and world peace activism. She also received many awards and honorary degrees. But before she did all of those impressive things, Coretta was a strong little girl who could outclimb anyone in her neighborhood, was very close to her dad, and had a beautiful singing voice! Read all about how Coretta Scott King learned that if you work hard enough, your dreams can come true.

Hair, Hair, Everywhere

Someone's been digging up Mrs. Ruston's tomatoes. She thinks it's Noelle's dog, Rover, and unless Noelle can find the real thief, Rover's in big trouble.

It's the hairiest case yet for Mr. Merlin's Third-Grade Detectives. Hair in Mrs. Ruston's tomato patch, hair in Amber Lee's hamburger -- can Noelle and Todd comb through the evidence and solve the mystery?

Mr. Merlin's Third Graders are known as the Third Grade Detectives -- with some hints from secret code clues and help from Mr. Merlin's friend, the police scientist Dr. Smiley, they help solve cases. This two-in-one flip book contains the full text and illustrations for the first two Third Grade Detectives books. In their first case, "The Clue of the Left-Handed Envelope, " the Detectives find out who has been sending Amber Lee anonymous letters. And in their next case, a dirty handkerchief provides a clue to who's been trespassing in Todd's tree house.

Childhood of Famous Americans

One of the most popular series ever published for young Americans, these classics have been praised alike by parents, teachers, and librarians. With these lively, inspiring, fictionalized biographies -- easily read by children of eight and up -- today's youngster is swept right into history.

Leonardo Da Vinci is best known as the Renaissance painter who created the "Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper." he also made great contributions as a sculptor, architect, engineer. and scientist. But Leonardo wasn't always famous. Leonardo grew up in Vinci, a small town in Italy, and when he was only a few years old he was separated from his mother and sent to live with his grandparents and uncle Francesco. Although Leonardo only receiced a formal education for a few years, Francesco taught Leonardo about nature. Leonardo loved to sketch the world around him.

When he was a teenager, Leonardo moved to the city of Florence. It was here that his artistic talent was recognized and he became and apprentice to a famous artist. Leonardo worked hard at his trade and advanced quickly, but he wasn't interested in only art. To fuel his curiosity, he also studied science, mathematics, engineering and philosophy.

Read about the little boy from Vinci who became one of the most facscinating figures in world history.

WHO SENT AMBER LEE AN ANONYMOUS LETTER?

Everyone loves the new teacher, Mr. Merlin. Mr. Merlin used to be a spy, and he knows all about secret codes and the strange and gross ways the police solve mysteries.

Now there's a mystery in their very own class -- someone sent Amber Lee Johnson an anonymous letter. Noelle and Todd want to solve the mystery before anyone else. But first they have to figure out Mr. Merlin's clues. How can a bunch of envelopes tell them who sent the letter?

The Third-Grade Detectives are looking forward to their field trip to a local art museum, where a priceless fifteenth-century statue of Joan of Arc is on loan from a Paris museum. But when they arrive, they discover that the statue has been stolen
The police quickly find the statue -- smashed into pieces and thrown in a Dumpster. Why would someone steal the statue only to destroy it? It looks like a new case for the Third-Grade Detectives -- even if the museum director doesn't seem to want their help.

One of the most popular series ever published for young Americas, these classics have been praised alike by parents, teachers, and librarians. With these lively, inspiring, fictionalized biographies -- easily ready by children of eight and up -- today's youngster is swept right into history.

Pope John Paul II was born Karol Wojtyla on May 18, 1920, in Poland. As a child Karol excelled in school -- especially in religion and literature. He was a star soccer player and also hiked and kayaked. But most of all Karol loved poetry and theater. Although Karol was liked and respected by his peers, his childhood was touched by tragedy. His mother passed away when he was only nine years old, and three years later his beloved older brother, Edmund, died from scarlet fever.

Karol grew up in a time of great uncertainty for Poland. Although he was born into an independent Poland, he was a young man during the Nazi occupation of his homeland in World War II. When many Poles were anti-semitic, Karol had Jewish friends; when his country turned its back on religion, Karol studied in secret to become a priest. This fascinating biography details Karol's childhood and the events that led him to be named Pope John Paul II in 1978.

Dear Reader:

The Childhood of Famous Americans series, seventy years old in 2002, chronicles the early years of famous American men and women in an accessible manner. Each book is faithful in spirit to the values and experiences that influenced the person's development. History is fleshed out with fictionalized details, and conversations have been added to make the stories come alive to today's reader, but every reasonable effort has been made to make the stories consistent with the events, ethics, and character of their subjects.

These books reaffirm the importance of our American heritage. We hope you learn to love the heroes and heroines who helped shape this great country. And by doing so, we hope you also develop a lasting love for the nation that gave them the opportunity to make their dreams come true. It will do the same for you.

Happy Reading!
The Editors