Showing results for "R" in Biographies

R. L. Stine has written hundreds of children's books, including the scary, creepy Goosebumps series. His books have inspired TV shows and movies. Learn more about Stine's life as a famous writer!

Born to a poor Mahar family in April 1891, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was a victim of casteism from his very childhood. He fought for the political rights of the Dalits at a time when India was being terrorised by the British. He was also the first ‘untouchable’ to receive college education as...

In 1949, Dorothy Vaughan became the first African American woman to lead a team at NASA's Langley Research Center. Her work as a mathematician was an important part of helping the United States explore space. Learn more about Vaughan's life as a famous mathematician!

Taylor Swift went from singing karaoke in a roadhouse as a young teen to being a musical icon by her twenties. But what is her life like when the cameras aren’t flashing? High-interest details of her high-profile life will enthrall listeners.

Most people know about Madam C.J. Walker’s success selling hair care products for Black women in the early 1900s. Before she started her own business, though, she worked for Annie Turnbo Malone. Malone had built a huge business creating hair care and cosmetic products for Black women.

Most people have heard about Rosa Parks’s brave actions that led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955. But there were other Black women who challenged segregation in transportation. Three years earlier, Sarah Keys Evans—a veteran—refused to give up her seat on a bus traveling through the South.

When the United States entered World War II, it had to face its own contradictions at home. Opportunities opened up for Black people and women in support of the war effort. But ideas about race and gender didn't change as swiftly. Listen to the story of the first all-Black battalion in the Women's Army Corps—the Six Triple Eight—and its leader, Major Charity Adams. These women bravely confronted the racism and sexism they experienced. And they did it while creating a system to make sure millions of letters and packages got to soldiers fighting in Europe.

Candace Parker is a standout basketball star. Learn about her childhood and her rise to becoming a WNBA superstar.

Michelle Wie is a standout golfer. Learn about her childhood and her rise to becoming a golf superstar.

Young Pauline Baynes lives in India, a land of towering mountains, sparkling lakes, and bright flowers. She even has a pet monkey that joins her for tea. Then her life takes a turn, and Pauline is sent to dreary England. Books bring light and color to her world, so she sets out to paint the stories she loves. Years later, two iconic authors see her paintings and know she’s the illustrator for their stories—of fire-breathing dragons, towering giants, a golden lion, and four brave children.

The Puritan movement began in England during the sixteenth century and continued all the way into the early eighteenth century. Although the Church of England was formed as a result of the Reformation, the Puritans believed it needed much more reform. The book concludes with ten important lessons readers can learn from the Puritans and study questions to help them retain these fascinating stories and assist them in applying the lessons to their lives.

In the 1800s, the moist soil of the Midwest would stick to plow blades, stopping the farmers as they plowed. Young blacksmith John Deere knew about the problem, so he designed and built a self-scouring plow. With this small start, he founded the famous farm implement company Deere & Company and started down the road to success.

Tea with a hedgehog and supper with a rabbit? Beatrix Potter entertained guests that most people—certainly Beatrix Potter's proper Victorian parents—would have thought belonged in a meadow, not in a London nursery. Such unlikely companions were company for lonely Beatrix, and she spent much of her time sketching and making up stories about these small creatures. Beatrix was so well acquainted with the characters of her various animal friends that when she was older it seemed natural to write and illustrate small books about their delightful adventures.

As a small boy, Charles Dickens worked in a dark, musty London warehouse, pasting labels onto pots of boot polish. He tried not to listen to his grumbling stomach or the rats squeaking on the stairs. His dream was to escape that misery one day and become a fine, educated gentleman. Through his gift for writing, that day did come for Dickens. But he never forgot what it was like to be poor. He wrote stories about London's lower classes—tales that made people laugh, cry, and work to improve their social conditions.

Samuel Clemens grew up in a child's paradise--Hannibal, Missouri. There, mischief added humor to everyday events as Sam encountered the folks who would one day reappear as Huck Finn, Aunt Polly, and Becky Thatcher in his books, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. At eighteen, Sam left Hannibal to seek his fortune. He became a newspaperman and story writer.

You may know that Beyoncé is a gifted R & B star who has made a splash in the worlds of music, dance, and acting. Want to know more about the life of this talented celebrity? Listen to this audiobook to learn all about Beyoncé's childhood, family, career, true personality, current projects, and more!

In the past and present, Black people have developed new products and created new processes in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Their work has addressed problems such as medical and healthcare inequality and the negative impacts of climate change. Celebrate the people who have made great achievements in STEM, including PlayVS founder Delane Parnell, astronaut, doctor, and engineer Mae Jemison, and environmental justice leader Peggy Shephard.

Black politicians have served in all levels of the United States government. As mayors, congresspersons, president, and more, Black politicians have created policies and initiatives to better serve community members. They have also addressed issues such as access to education, criminal justice, and affordable housing. Celebrate politicians such as Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Ilhan Omar, and Maynard Jackson Jr. who have made astounding achievements in politics.

Activism focuses on changing systems. Black activists address injustices in everything from education to the environment. Throughout history, activists have led protests, researched policies, organized community members, and more to transform the world around them. Shine a light on how activists such as Mari Copeny, John Legend, and Marian Wright Edelman have led change in their communities and worked to make justice possible for everyone.

Yvonne Clark and Her Engineering Spark features music and special effects. Listen along and enjoy the fun! Based on a true story, this inspiring audiobook is about a curious, tinkering girl who grew up to become one of the first Black female engineers for NASA; for fans of Ada Twist, Scientist...