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American Girl (Historical Fiction)
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Again Josefina
by Valerie TrippAny child who has taken piano lessons will get a kick out of this book. Josefina finds unique ways to "practice," and even baby Antonio gets into the act of encouraging her to practice more. Humor, warmth, and lots of repetition lead Josefina to become a player of songs. Other books about Josefina are also available from Bookshare. In order for this file to make an excellent embossed braille copy, attention must be paid to the words written in Spanish.
Brave Emily
by Valerie TrippEmily Bennett, a young English girl, has come to stay with Molly's family to escape the bombing of London. Molly tries hard to make sweet, shy Emily feel at home, and Emily is grateful for Molly's friendship. Emily is delighted that she can help Molly with math and pleased and proud when she impresses Molly. But, it is mot until Emily makes a BIG mistake and has to rely on Molly for help that Emily shows how truly brave she is-and both girls learn what friendship really means.
Candlelight for Rebecca
by Jacqueline Dembar GreeneRebecca's teacher, Miss Maloney, assigns the class to make Christmas decorations -- but Rebecca's family is Jewish and doesn't celebrate Christmas. Miss Maloney tells Rebecca that Christmas is a national holiday, for all Americans to celebrate.
Although her parents came from Russia, Rebecca knows she's as American as anyone else, even without celebrating Christmas. Could Miss Maloney be wrong?
Then, on the first night of Hanukkah, Rebecca finds kindness in an unexpected place -- and learns the real meaning of the holiday season.
Candlelight for Rebecca is a children's book for children eight and up but adults can enjoy and learn something valuable from it as well. Candlelight for Rebecca is the third book in the Rebecca's six-book series. Each story in the series reveals more about Rebecca, a lively Jewish girl, who grows up in 1914 in New York. The books in the Rebecca series include: Meet Rebecca, Rebecca and Ana, Candlelight for Rebecca, Rebecca and the Movies, Rebecca to the Rescue, and Changes for Rebecca. Every book of the series not only features a fictional, realistic story and illustrations, but also has a historical "Looking Back" section. In this "Looking Back" section, the author describes some of the historical characteristics of Rebecca's 1914 time period in a style which children can understand and adults can appreciate.
Changes for Julie
by Megan Mcdonald[Back Cover] Julie is in fifth grade-and in trouble! She was only helping her friend Joy, who is deaf, but her teacher doesn't care. After serving time in detention, Julie sets out to change the system. To do that, she'll have to win the election for student body president, running against the most popular boy in the school. As the election heats up, Julie tries to get the kids to listen to her ideas. When she realizes that the other kids don't like Joy, her choice for vice president, she considers dropping out of the race. But the last thing she wants is to hurt Joy's feelings-or lose her as a friend.
Changes for Kaya
by Janet ShawSPEAKING RAIN has returned to Kaya's family, but Kaya still has one last fear-that she'll never see her beloved horse, Steps High, again. When Kaya hears of a herd of Nimiipuu horses running wild in the mountains, she hopes Steps High is one of them. Kaya soon has a chance to find out for herself when she joins the elk-hunting party traveling into the mountains. Kaya is filled with excitement and hope, but Speaking Rain is troubled by the smoke she smells on the wind-smoke from mountain fires. As Kaya searches for her beautiful horse, she has to face a fear, greater than any she's ever known.
Changes for Kristen
by Janet ShawThe Minnesota winter is bitter cold. It seems very long to Kirsten and her family, who are crowded in their tiny log cabin. Kirsten looks forward to the days she's allowed outside to help her brother Lars with his trap line. One day she brings home a baby raccoon she's found in the woods, and trouble begins for Kirsten and her family. The raccoon gets loose and starts a fire that destroys the Larsons' home and everything in it. The future seems bleak, and the family is discouraged until Kirsten and Lars make a frightening but important discovery in the woods. What they find means better times for the Larsons
Changes for Molly
by Valerie TrippFrom the book: "Dad is coming home! Molly can hardly wait to see him. She's especially excited because he'll arrive in time to see her dance the part of Miss Victory in the big Red Cross show. Molly isn't worried about her tap dancing because she's the best in Miss LaVonda's dance class. But she wants to look sophisticated so Dad will know how much she's grown up while he's been away at war. Unfortunately, Molly's hair is all wrong. When Jill finally finds a way to give Molly glorious curls, everything seems to be perfect. Then Molly gets sick. Things couldn't be worse-until the doctor comes just in time."
Changes for Rebecca
by Jacqueline Dembar GreeneRebecca thinks it's a grand idea to make a movie with her cousin Ana, but when gentle Ana plays the role of a cruel factory boss, the fun turns sour.
Later Rebecca goes to the factory where Ana's brother and father work, and she's horrified at the terrible conditions but she knows the workers desperately need their jobs.
There's got to be a way to make things better at the factory, and Rebecca is determined to do her part--even if it means marching straight into danger.
Changes for Rebecca is a children's book for children eight and up but adults can enjoy and learn something valuable from it as well. This book is the sixth book in the Rebecca's six-book series. Each story in the series reveals more about Rebecca, a lively Jewish girl, who grows up in 1914 in New York. The books in the Rebecca series include: Meet Rebecca, Rebecca and Ana, Candlelight for Rebecca, Rebecca and the Movies, Rebecca to the Rescue, and Changes for Rebecca. Every book of the series not only features a fictional, realistic story and illustrations, but also has a historical "Looking Back" section. In this "Looking Back" section, the author describes some of the historical characteristics of Rebecca's 1914 time period in a style which children can understand and adults can appreciate.
Changes for Samantha
by Valerie TrippTimes change for Samantha when she moves to New York City to live with Uncle Gard and Aunt Cornelia. They change for Nellie, Samantha's servant friend in Mount Bedford, too.
But Nellie's changes aren't as happy as Samantha's and Nellie has to find work again. When her friend disappears, Samantha thinks Nellie has been lost forever, but after a long and scary search, Samantha finds Nellie in a New York orphanage.
The orphanage is not a good place for Nellie, so the girls plan a daring escape.
Happy Birthday, Kirsten!
by Janet ShawExciting new things come to the Larsons' farm in Minnesota in the springtime-including a big new barn and a tiny new baby. But changes bring new worries and more work for Kirsten, too. First she is afraid for Mama's health. Then caring for a baby keeps her so busy that her life seems to be nothing but chores. Soon Kirsten doesn't even have time to help with the surprise she and her friends are planning for their teacher, Miss Winston. And when she has to miss school to help out at home, she worries that her friends will forget her. But Kirsten's hard work is rewarded, and her tenth birthday becomes a celebration of family and friendship.
Happy Birthday, Molly
by Valerie TrippAn English girl is coming to stay at the McIntires', and just in time for Molly's birthday! Molly and her friends are very excited, until Emily Bennett turns out to be quite different from the glamorous girl they pictured. Emily is shy, and she seems unfriendly.
Then Molly discovers that Emily is worried about her family in war-torn London, just as Molly is worried about her father, and the girls become good friends. They even plan to turn Molly's tenth birthday celebration into a real English tea party.
But the friendship starts to fall apart when they can't agree about what's important, and it takes a special birthday surprise to help them patch up their hurt feelings.
Happy New Year, Julie
by Megan McdonaldJulie knows the holidays will be difficult this year, but when her sister, Tracy, refuses to go to Dad's house for Christmas, Julie feels as if her family is falling apart. Over the holidays Julie finds comfort spending time with her best friend, Ivy Ling.
The Lings are getting ready for Chinese New Year, and helping with their preparations distracts Julie from her sadness about her own family. Then she learns that her whole family is invited to the Lings's New Year banquet. Julie tries to share Ivy's excitement, but her heart sinks-with Mom, Dad, and Tracy there, how will they all get along?
Josefina's Song
by Valerie TrippWhen Josefina and her father visit their shepherd, Santiago, they learn that Santiago is blind. He and his grandson, Angelito, care for the sheep. Even though Papa is very fond of Santiago, he is hesitant to have a blind man and a nine-year-old boy in charge of his sheep. It takes an accident to change his mind. Other books about Josefina are also available from Bookshare. Because of the words written in Spanish, this file will need some extra attention in order for it to make an excellent embossed braille copy.
Josefina's Surprise
by Valerie TrippThe second Christmas after their mother has died, Josefina and her three sisters find that participating in the traditions of Las Posadas helps keep memories of Mamá alive. Can the Montoya girls overcome their loss and move on together to honor their Mamá's memory?
Julie and the Eagles
by Megan McdonaldJulie and Ivy are eating snow cones in Golden Gate Park when they hear an odd sound. It's a baby owl-and it needs help. At a wildlife rescue center, Julie meets Shasta and Sierra, two bald eagles. Shasta's wing is injured, and Julie hopes he'll be able to fly again-but that can happen only if the rescue center raises enough money to release the eagles back into the wild. Julie feels sure that if people knew about the eagles, they'd want to help. For Earth Day, Julie thinks of a unique way to tell the public of the eagles' plight. But money isn't exactly pouring in ... and time is running out.
Julie's Journey
by Megan McdonaldJULIE is joining her cousins on an old-fashioned wagon train to celebrate the Bicentennial. She can't wait to try pioneer life, especially riding a horse. But her cousin's horse turns out to be a handful, and Julie is afraid to ride him again. When cousin April laughs at her, Julie stops talking to April-not so easy to do while living in a covered wagon! As the journey grows harder, Julie wonders why she ever wanted to come. Then she makes a remarkable discovery that could bring something of real historic value to the wagon train. But there's only one way to get it-on horseback.
Julie Tells Her Story
by Megan McdonaldJulie is enjoying working on her school project, "The Story of My Life," until she comes to the part about "The Worst Thing That Ever Happened." That would be her parents' divorce, and she doesn't want to tell her class about that. Julie tries to find a different "Worst Thing" to tell about-and after her big basketball game, she thinks maybe she's found the solution to her problem. But as her parents and sister rally around her, Julie finds herself thinking about her family in a new, and more hopeful, way.
Kaya's Escape!
by Janet ShawEnemy raiders are invading Kaya's village. Kaya's mother tells her to run for the woods with her blind sister, Speaking Rain. But as Kaya runs to help her horse escape too, she and Speaking Rain are captured.
Kaya's Hero
by Janet ShawA IS IN AWE of a young warrior woman named Swan Circling, who's so fearless, she doesn't even flinch when a runaway horse gallops straight at her! Swan Circling goes with the men into battle, bringing them fresh horses and tending to the wounded. If I were as strong as Swan Circling, Kaya thinks, I'd find a way to get my sister back. Swan Circling has heard the children calling Kaya "Magpie," the nickname she got for being irresponsible. Although Kaya has made mistakes, she wants very badly to be friends with Swan Circling. Will Swan Circling want to be friends with her? Kaya's Hero is the third in a series of beautifully illustrated books about growing up as a Nez Perce girl-before America became a country. What was it like to be a girl long ago? The American Girls Collection takes you inside the worlds of girls who lived during exciting times in the past. As you read their stories, you can imagine how different life was back then. But you'll also discover that their feelings, ideas, and dreams are just like yours.
Kaya Shows the Way
by Janet ShawSUMMERTIME MEANS salmon fishing at thundering Celilo Falls-and horse racing, games, parades, feasting, and dancing, too! Kaya loves to join in the fun, but she's also got something serious on her mind: searching for her lost sister, Speaking Rain.
Thousands of Indian families and friends gather at Celilo Falls each summer, and Kaya hopes that someone may have word of her sister. Kaya's older sister, Brown Deer, is on her mind, too. Brown Deer will soon marry Cut Cheek, a thought that makes Kaya both glad and sad. She lost one sister when she had to leave Speaking Rain with the enemies. Now will she lose Brown Deer?
Kirsten and The Chippewa
by Janet ShawWhen Kirsten Kirsten's dog is about to drown, a group of Indians rescue him for her. She had been frightened of the Ojibway, but she learns that they are friendly people. This book includes notes on the history relevant to this story and a good and easy recipe for Bird's nest Pudding. This is a wonderful book for a book report. This file should make an excellent embossed braille copy.
Kirsten Learns a Lesson
by Janet ShawKirsten has a hard time in her new American school because she doesn't speak English very well. Miss Winston, her new teacher, is strict and not very understanding. Things get worse when Miss Winston comes to live with the Larson family. Kirsten's only escape is playing with her secret friend Singing Bird, the Indian girl. When Singing Bird suggests running away forever, Kirsten must decide where she belongs. Kirsten does learn some important lessons in school, but she learns something even more important about herself.
Kirsten Saves the Day
by Janet Shaw"At last it's summer! Even Kirsten's chores, like going to the stream to catch fish for dinner, seem like play in the fine Minnesota weather. One day while she's fishing, Kirsten leaves the stream to explore the woods beyond the farm.
There she finds a treasure-a bee tree packed with honeycombs. Kirsten knows Papa could use the honey to trade for things the family needs. So she decides to surprise him by bringing the honey home. Kirsten needs help, so she asks her brother Peter to go with her. But they don't know that bears are after Kirsten's treasure, too."
Bookshare also has "Meet Kirsten," "Kirsten's Surprise," and "Kirsten Learns a Lesson."
This file should make a fine embossed braille copy.
Kirsten's Surprise
by Janet ShawKirsten wants her first Christmas in America to be special for her family. She would like to recreate St. Lucia's Day, a tradition celebrated in Sweden on Christmas Eve. To do this she needs costumes from a trunk in another town. Will she convince her father to get the trunk even though it's a long journey by horse-drawn sleigh in the bitter cold?