Central Kansas Library System

Highlights the life and accomplishments of the English novelist notable for such works as "Oliver Twist" and "A Christmas Carol," including his rise from boyhood poverty, his literary career, and his personal life.

Examines the life and times of the nineteenth-century Frenchman who developed the system of raised dots by which blind people read and write.

He was only 42 years old when he was sworn in as President of the United States in 1901, making him the youngest president ever. But did you know that he was also the first sitting president to win the Nobel Peace Prize? The first to ride in a car? The first to fly in an airplane? Theodore Roosevelt's achievements as a naturalist, hunter, explorer, author, and soldier are as much a part of his fame as any office he held as a politician. Find out more...

"Hold on to your Viking helmets as you learn about the first known European to set foot on North America in this exciting addition to the Who Was? Series! Leif Erikson was born to be an explorer. His father, Erik the Red, had established the first European settlement in present-day Greenland, and although he didn't yet know it, Leif was destined to embark on an adventure of his own. The wise and striking Viking landed in the area known as Vinland...

An easy approach to get kids familiar with Jesus Who Was Jesus, Really? Book Two takes us further into deeper teachings and the works of Jesus, reveals Jesus as the healer in a world filled with sickness and disease, and how it is a faith booster for you to claim your healing in Jesus' name. This book also focuses on some of Jesus' parables, which he used to emphasize the issue of covetousness. Jesus does not want us to be greedy. He points our attention...

"Designed specifically for preschool comprehension, a board book introduction to the influential civil rights activist and speaker chronicles his early years, religious leadership and history-shaping work to promote equality for all people"--

"As a young working-class German immigrant, Levi Strauss left his family's dry goods business in New York City to journey out west for the California Gold Rush. Only Levi wasn't looking for gold: he wanted to provide the miners with sturdy clothes to wear while they worked in the dusty river beds. His solution? Blue jeans--pants made of strong denim fabric--which have become one of the most beloved and fashionable clothing items in the world."--

"Born in Ontario, Canada, in 1940, Alex Trebek grew up listening to the radio and hoping to one day become a broadcaster. His dream became a reality when he was hired as a reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 1961. Alex's composed nature and ability to skillfully improvise while on television eventually led to his role as the host of Jeopardy!, the biggest quiz game show in the United States. Alex not only earned numerous awards over...

"On January 12, 1888, a surprise blizzard broke out in the middle of the day across the Midwest. In its path, hundreds of children and teachers found themselves stranded inside schoolhouses with no food, no heat, and very few options. Days passed, and over 235 people died as result of the harsh snow of the Schoolhouse Blizzard, but many were able to survive thanks to the bravery of others in their communities. Learn all about the disastrous weather...

"In 1914, the assassination of an Austrian archduke set off a disastrous four-year-long conflict involving dozens of countries with battles taking place in all parts of the world. World War I was the first to use planes and tanks as well as deadly gases that left soldiers blinded or "shell shocked" (a condition now called Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome). There were battles that lasted for months with opposing troops fighting from rat-infested trenches,...