Collection: Biography & Memoir

A fascinating picture book biography about Mary Leakey, a paleontologist who worked long hours in the fields of Tanzania--includes STEM activities for real-world learning!

What was the world like millions of years ago? Did early humans walk on all fours? Did giant sloths lie in trees? Did dinosaurs have feathers? Even as a young girl, Mary Leakey was fascinated by questions like these! In Fossil Huntress: Mary Leakey, Paleontologist, readers ages 5 to 8 meet Mary as a girl growing up in France and visiting the site of archeological wonders, such as Pech Merle, Fond de Gaume, and La Mouthe. As an adult, Mary spends much of her life working in the field in Tanzania, making discoveries that change the face of paleontology forever. True grit, passion, and high standards for scientific rigor made Mary a pioneer in the field of paleontology!

- In the Picture Book Biography series, children encounter real-life characters who are thrilled to learn and experiment, eager to make a difference, and excited about collaborating with crew members.

- Age-appropriate vocabulary, detailed illustrations, a timeline, simple STEM projects, such as exploring trace fossils and drawing specimens, and a glossary all support foundational learning for kids ages 5 to 8.

- Perfect for beginner readers or as a read aloud nonfiction picture book!

All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile and align with Common Core State Standards and National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. All titles are available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats.

Now in paperback - revised and expanded, with a new afterword by the author - this is the definitive biography of Duane Allman, one of the most revered guitarists of his generation. Skydog reveals the complete story of the legendary guitarist: his childhood and musical awakening; his struggling first bands; his hard-won mastery of the slide guitar; his emergence as a successful session musician; his creation of the Allman Brothers Band; his tragic death at age 24; and his thriving musical legacy.

In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the inspiring story of this iconic singer-songwriter, poet, and artist.

Bob Dylan was born in Duluth, Minnesota. As a teenager, he played in various bands and, over time, his interest in music deepened, with a particular passion for American folk music and blues. Dylan moved to New York City in 1961, where he began to perform poetry and music in clubs and cafés in Greenwich Village. There, he recorded a number of albums that made him one of the most influential musicians of history. This fascinating book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the musician's life.

Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling biography series for kids that explores the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.

This empowering series of books offers inspiring messages to children of all ages, in a range of formats. The board books are told in simple sentences, perfect for reading aloud to babies and toddlers. The hardcover and paperback versions present expanded stories for beginning readers. With rewritten text for older children, the treasuries each bring together a multitude of dreamers in a single volume. You can also collect a selection of the books by theme in boxed gift sets. Activity books and a journal provide even more ways to make the lives of these role models accessible to children.

Inspire the next generation of outstanding people who will change the world with Little People, BIG DREAMS!

A Year in Tokyo is an illustrated travel guide and memoir-the perfect companion for any would-be explorer seeking insider recommendations on the best that Tokyo has to offer all the while taking you on the journey of what it's really like to live and work in Japan's capital.

Follow Christy, a young creative from Australia, as she navigates dodgy internships, culture shock, language difficulties and moments of awe-inspiring beauty in the city of gingko leaves. In between her experiences, she weaves her very best recommendations for Tokyo-bound travellers, including museum and bookshop guides, Tokyo's best day trips out of the city, tips on finding Tokyo's best food, guides on local festivals, where to go, what to do, and even anecdotes that will help you understand Japanese culture and folklore.

From becoming a travel writer and English teacher to navigating cultural nuances, financial adversity and the abomination known as peanut cream, this book is a candid exploration of one expat's life in Japan. Here, you'll find real insights into life in Tokyo beyond the flashy neon and robot restaurants, as well as a plethora of tangible recommendations for planning a magical trip of your own.

Native Women of Courage profiles ten outstanding women leaders in the Native community. All of these successful, trailblazing women are stellar role models who have raised the profile of indigenous culture in North America. From heroines of the past to women making history today, this exciting work of non-fiction reminds readers of the extraordinary contributions of Native American women to our daily lives and to our country's social fabric.

• Winona LaDuke (Anishinaabeg) - Author, environmentalist, vice-presidential candidate
• Sarah Winnemucca (Paiute) - First Native American woman to write and publish a book
• Maria Tallchief (Osage) - Prima ballerina with the New York City Ballet
• Mary Kim Titla (Apache) - First Native American television news reporter in Arizona
• Sandra Lovelace Nicholas (Maliseet) - Petitioned the United Nations on behalf of First Nations women's rights, and won
• Susan Aglukark (Inuit) - Singer/songwriter and winner of 3 Juno music awards
• Wilma Pearl Mankiller (Cherokee) - First woman Chief of the Cherokee Nation
• Susan Rochon-Burnett (Metis) - First woman to be granted a Canadian FM broadcasting license
• Lorna B. Williams (Lif'wat First Nation) - Educator who developed native curriculum for First Nations schools in Canada
• Pauline Johnson-Tekahionwake (Mohawk) - Author and early advocate for Native women's rights

The Native Trailblazer Series shines a spotlight on the contributions of Native Americans and First Nation Canadians who provide inspirational role models for young readers.

High interest text and easy to read format is ideal for teen and adult literacy programs.

From the author of Lailah's Lunchbox and Unsettled comes a powerful picture book biography about Maryam Faruqi, the founder of the Happy Home Schools, which provided education to thousands of girls across Pakistan at a time when girls weren't encouraged to go to school.

"Powerful prose underscores Milloo's determination and the importance of gender equity in education. The detailed art invites readers to linger over each page, poring over collaged outfits and patterns, all of which evoke a strong sense of place." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Maryam was a trailblazer for women's education and the author is her granddaughter, creating a personal, inspiring tale. Perfect for fans of Malala's Magic Pencil and She Persisted!

Milloo lives in a time when school is considered unnecessary for girls. But to Milloo, education is essential.

When Milloo reads, her thoughts dance. Milloo courageously dreams of becoming a teacher, but in fifth grade her parents tell her she has had enough school. Milloo is heartbroken but finds a way to achieve her educational goals, graduating high school and college with honors. When she's married, Milloo's husband tells her to stay home, but she does not let that stop her.

She decides to open a school in her house and later opens more schools around Karachi, Pakistan, fulfilling her dreams.

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

The one and only autobiography by the iconic Lucille Ball, hailed by TV Guide as the "#1 Greatest TV Star of All Time."

Love, Lucy is the valentine Lucille Ball left for her fans--a warm, wise, and witty memoir written by Lucy herself. The legendary star of the classic sitcom I Love Lucy was at the pinnacle of her success when she sat down to record the story of her life. No comedienne had made America laugh so hard, no television actress had made the leap from radio and B movies to become one of the world's best-loved performers. This is her story--in her own words.

The story of the ingenue from Jamestown, New York, determined to go to Broadway, destined to make a big splash, bound to marry her Valentino, Desi Arnaz. In her own inimitable style, she tells of their life together--both storybook and turbulent; intimate memories of their children and friends; wonderful backstage anecdotes; the empire they founded; the dissolution of their marriage. And, with a heartfelt happy ending, her enduring marriage to Gary Morton.

Here is the lost manuscript that her fans and loved ones will treasure. Here is the laughter. Here is the life. Here's Lucy...

"The comic actress in her own words...intensley moving."--San Francisco Chronicle

"Filled with light and laughter."--New York Times Book Review

See the world through Georgia O'Keeffe's eyes and be inspired to produce your own masterpieces.

Have you ever wondered exactly what your favorite artists were looking at to make them draw, sculpt, or paint the way they did? In this charming illustrated series of books to keep and collect, created in full collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you can see what they saw, and be inspired to create your own artworks, too. In What the Artist Saw: Georgia O'Keeffe, meet famous American painter Georgia O'Keeffe. Step into her life and learn what led her to look closely at nature and paint her iconic paintings of flowers and bones. See the vast New Mexico landscapes that inspired her work. Have a go at producing your own close-up still-life artworks!

Follow the artists' stories and find intriguing facts about their environments and key masterpieces. Then see what you can see and make your own art. Take a closer look at landscapes, or even yourself, with Vincent van Gogh. Try crafting a story in fabric like Faith Ringgold, or carve a woodblock print at home with Hokusai. Every book in this series is one to treasure and keep - perfect for budding young artists to explore exhibitions with, then continue their own artistic journeys.

(c) The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Living High is the compelling story of June and Farrar Burn and their unconventional lifestyle, philosophy, and experiences-homesteading a small island in the Salish Sea, living north of the Arctic Circle before Alaska became a state, touring the U.S. in the Burn Ballad Bungalow (pictured on the front cover), and how they lived in a covered wagon while June, at age fifty, earned her master's degree in soil science and nutrition.

This seventh edition includes additional photographs and an epilogue by Skye Burn, June and Farrar's eldest granddaughter.

The authors have undertaken an incredible task: to condense the life of one of the most important and charismatic Bahá'í figures of the 20th century into a narrative directed to youth everywhere. 'Amatu'l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, author, playwright, filmmaker, poetess, Bahá'í ambassadress, and above all, wife of the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, described by 'Abdu'l-Bahá as the 'sign of God' on earth.

What if the things we keep hidden say more about us than those we put on display?

We all have a random collection of the things that made us - photos, tickets, clothes, souvenirs, stuffed in a box, packed in a suitcase, crammed into a drawer. When Jarvis Cocker starts clearing out his loft, he finds a jumble of objects that catalogue his story and ask him some awkward questions:

Who do you think you are?

Are clothes important?

Why are there so many pairs of broken glasses up here?

From a Gold Star polycotton shirt to a pack of Wrigley's Extra, from his teenage attempts to write songs to the Sexy Laughs Fantastic Dirty Joke Book, this is the hard evidence of Jarvis's unique life, Pulp, 20th century pop culture, the good times and the mistakes he'd rather forget. And this accumulated debris of a lifetime reveals his creative process - writing and musicianship, performance and ambition, style and stagecraft.

This is not a life story. It's a loft story.

'Rummage through its pages - through the plastic and nylon, the tin and vinyl - and it's real gold, its shirts second-hand, of course, but its storytelling first class' Sunday Times

**A DAILY TELEGRAPH BEST 50 BOOKS OF 2022**

Are we entering into a brave new world of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy that will radically affect the way we understand the unconscious, or are we chasing a will-o-the wisp, an illusory promise of rapid success without the painstaking work required of careful psychoanalysis?

This book of essays by Jungian analysts entertains this question in detail. Based on extensive clinical and personal experience of the place of psychedelic agents in psychotherapy, the contributors debate the issues and try to clarify the correct use of these compounds, without either idealizing their use or dismissing them as artificial substitutes for the real thing.

This book seeks to map this terra incognita, especially with reference to the practice of Jungian psychotherapy.

Essays by: Lionel Corbett, Romano Màdera, Nancy Swift Furlotti, Murray Stein, Aurea Afonso Caetano, Miriam Stein & Anne Flynn, Jerome Braun, Deborah Bryon, Walter Boechat & Ana Luisa Teixeira de Menzies, Marcel van den Akker, Leslie Stein, Renée Cunningham, John R. White, James A. Fidelibus, Felicia Matto-Shepard, Susan Williams, Linda Carter & I. Joseph McFadden.

Little Book of Schiaparelli chronicles the work of one of history's most influential and eccentric couturiers. Endowed with a strikingly imaginative and experimental approach to fashion, Elsa Schiaparelli cultivated a combination of the witty and the surreal, the cutting edge and the elegant, from her garments and jewellery to her collaborations with Salvador Dalí, Jean Cocteau and Alberto Giacometti.

Exquisitely illustrated and expertly written, the book follows a biographical chronology detailing her life, career and primary creative themes of her work. Images of Schiaparelli's finished designs, along with close-up details and illustrations of her personal sketches, showcase the brilliance of her innovative oeuvre, and the legacy that lives on in the House of Schiaprelli to this day.

BUCK 'EM!: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BUCK OWENS

A novel of lesbian identity and motherhood, and the societal pressures that place them in opposition.

The daughter of an illustrious French family whose members include a former Prime Minister, a model, and a journalist, Constance Debré abandoned her marriage and legal career in 2015 to write full-time and begin a relationship with a woman. Her transformation from affluent career woman to broke single lesbian was chronicled in her 2018 novel Play boy, praised by Virginie Despentes for its writing that is at once "flippant and consumed by anxiety."

In Love Me Tender, Debré goes on to further describe the consequences of that life-changing decision. Her husband, Laurent, seeks to permanently separate her from their eight-year old child. Vilified in divorce court by her ex, she loses custody of her son and is allowed to see him only once every two weeks for a supervised hour. Deprived of her child, Debré gives up her two-bedroom apartment and bounces between borrowed apartments, hotel rooms, and a studio the size of a cell. She involves herself in brief affairs with numerous women who vary in age, body type, language, and lifestyle. But the closer she gets to them, the more distant she feels. Apart from cigarettes and sex, her life is completely ascetic: a regime of intense reading and writing, interrupted only by sleep and athletic swimming. She shuns any place where she might observe children, avoiding playgrounds and parks "as if they were cluster bombs ready to explode, riddling her body with pieces of shrapnel."

Writing graphically about sex, rupture, longing, and despair in the first person, Debré's work is often compared with the punk-era writings of Guillaume Dustan and Herve Guibert, whose work she has championed. As she says of Guibert: "I love him because he says I and he's a pornographer. That seems to be essential when you write. Otherwise you don't say anything." But in Love Me Tender, Debré speaks courageously of love in its many forms, reframing what it means to be a mother beyond conventional expectations.

A Colorado favorite, Tomboy Bride presents the first-hand account of a young pioneer woman and her life in a rough and tumble mining town of the Old West.

In 1906 at the age of twenty, Harriet Fish hopped on a train from Oakland, California, to the San Juan Mountains of Colorado in search of a new life as the bride of assayer George Backus. Together, the couple ventured forth to discover mining town life at the turn of the twentieth century, adjusting to dizzying elevation heights of 11,500 feet and all the hardships that come with it: limited water, rationed food supplies, lack of medical care, difficulty in travel, avalanches, and many more. As she and George move from Telluride's Tomboy Mine to the rugged coast of British Columbia, to the town of Elk City, Idaho, and then back to Colorado's Leadville, Harriet paints a poignant picture of a world centered around mining, sharing amusing and often challenging experiences as a woman of the era.

With a new foreword by award-winning author Pam Houston, this 50th anniversary edition also includes previously unpublished black and white photographs documenting Harriet's journey. Tomboy Bride endures as a classic of the region to this day as it captures in heart-felt emotion and vivid detail the personal account of Harriet Backus, a true pioneer of the West.