First Names (Abrams)

Meet the woman who made coding cool-and possible!   Before she was a famous mathematician and the first computer programmer, Ada Lovelace (1815–1852) was the daughter of well-known poet Lord Byron. Byron died when Ada was very young, and Ada's mother encouraged her interest in mathematics in an attempt to prevent Ada from turning into a melancholy poet like her father. Ada grew up and married a count, and as a countess, she was given access to some of England's greatest scientists and authors, including Charles Babbage, who was working to develop an analytical engine. Seeing the potential in computers, Ada partnered with Charles and used her mathematical skills to create an algorithm that could make such a machine possible. Fascinating and lively, Ada Lovelace tells the story of the woman who helped pioneer computing! It includes a timeline, bibliography, glossary, and index.

Meet the young Swedish activist who is standing up to climate change! Before she was a well-known environmentalist activist, Greta was just a girl living in Stolkholm, Sweden. She first heard about climate change when she was only eight years old, and she couldn't understand why no one seemed to be doing anything about it. When she was 15 years old, she began spending her days outside the Swedish Parliament to call for action on climate change. She'd sit outside the whole school day with a sign that read "School strike for climate." Soon, other students began to follow Greta's lead and participate in similar protests, and together, these kids organized the Fridays for Future climate strike movement. Greta also is an inspiration to many because she has Asperger's Syndrome and is very open in talking about her diagnosis, further destigmatizing it. Today, Greta continues to fight for climate change-and continues to prove that you're never too young to make a difference! “First Names” is a highly illustrated nonfiction series that puts readers on a first-name basis with some of the most incredible people in history and of today!

Discover the man behind the magic and see how Houdini pulled off his most daring escapes. Before Harry Houdini (1874-1926) became the greatest magician in the world, he was just little Ehrich Weisz, a Hungarian-born immigrant who moved to America with his family and performed stage tricks for a little extra cash. He started off with card tricks and then eventually began performing the escape acts that would make him famous. Known for his daring and death-defying illusions, he would do some of the greatest tricks ever: escaping from a milk can, being buried alive, and being locked inside a crate and thrown into a river. He conquered each of these seemingly impossible feats and showed the world the power of a little magic. Fun, fast-paced, and highly illustrated, Harry Houdini tells the story of the curious boy who became the world's greatest magician and reveals how Houdini did some of his most stunning escapes. It includes a timeline, glossary, and index.

Meet the young activist who stood up for her rights-and changed millions of lives. Before Malala Yousafzai (b. 1997) became the youngest Nobel Prize laureate, she was a girl fighting for her education in Pakistan. Growing up, Malala's father encouraged her to be politically active and speak out about her educational rights. When she did, she was shot by a member of the Taliban and the story received worldwide media coverage. Protests and petitions from around the world helped to pass an educational-rights bill in Pakistan, and Malala used this platform to continue her activism and fight for women's rights. Inspiring and moving, Malala Yousafzai tells the story of one girl's bravery in her fight for equal rights. It includes a timeline, bibliography, glossary, and index. Lisa Williamson is an award-winning, bestselling author. She studied drama at Middlesex University and has acted on both stage and screen. She lives in England. Mike Smith is the author and illustrator of a number of children's books and the winner of the Macmillan Prize for children's book illustration. He lives in Cambridge, England; Mike Smith is the author and illustrator of a number of children's books and the winner of the Macmillan Prize for children's book illustration. He lives in Cambridge, England.

Meet the South African activist and president who fought for what was right Before he was the first Black president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela (1918—2013) was a boy with a traditional Thembu upbringing. He went on to study law and become involved with African nationalist politics. The government had established an apartheid (a system of segregation that privileged white people), and Mandela worked to overthrow this system. He was arrested, accused of treason, and thrown in jail. When he was released, Mandela negotiated an end to the apartheid and was elected president. Though he was a controversial figure at the time, he is now seen as an iconic advocate for democracy and social justice. Inspiring and informational, Nelson Mandela tells the story of one of the greatest politicians and revolutionaries. It includes a timeline, glossary, and index.

Before he led the first expedition to circumnavigate the Earth, Ferdinand Magellan (1480—1521) was a Portuguese noble who loved the sea. A skilled sailor, he led a number of voyages and is known for his incredible navigation skills. Over the course of his sailing career, he faced terrible storms and mutinies but always managed to get his crew home safely. He set off with his crew to circle the globe-a trip that no other ship had ever completed. Though Magellan died in combat in the Philippines before he could complete the voyage, his ship went on to complete the first circumnavigation of the world, and he is still known as one of the greatest explorers. However, as historians today note, many of the places that Magellan "discovered" already had people living there, and his fame is one rooted in colonialism. Ferdinand Magellan tackles the legacy-both good and bad-of this famous explorer. First Names is a highly illustrated nonfiction series that puts young readers on a first-name basis with some of the most incredible people in history and of today!

Meet the woman who changed music forever and showed that girls can run the world! Before she was an international superstar and feminist icon, Beyoncé was a girl from Texas who loved to sing and dance. As a member of Destiny's Child, she climbed the charts and became a member of one of the most famous girl groups in history. This launched Beyoncé into her solo career, and since then, she's become an unstoppable force in music and pop culture. Beyond music, she is a successful businesswoman and activist who helps bring issues of race and gender into the global conversation. Empowering and inspirational, Beyoncé tells the story of the woman who showed that girls can run the world. It includes a timeline, glossary, and index. First Names is a highly illustrated nonfiction series that puts readers on a first-name basis with some of the most incredible people in history and of today! Nansubuga Isdahl was born to Ugandan parents in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After receiving a master's degree in diplomacy, she began working in international development in East and Southern Africa. She currently works as a technical writer and editor for international organizations as well as a children's book author. She lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, with her husband and daughter. Tammy Taylor is an illustrator who enjoys drawing children's books and manga-style comics. When she isn't drawing, she teaches others about comics and makes games. She lives and works in London.

See how Amelia Earhart went from a little Kansas tomboy to a high-flying feminist icon Before Amelia Earhart (1897–1939) became a world-famous pilot, she was a little tomboy from Kansas with a taste for adventure. When she visited an airfield and took a short plane ride, she knew she had to be a pilot. She signed up for flying lessons and cropped her hair short so that the other pilots would take her seriously. She became the first woman to make a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. With each flight she took and each record she broke, Amelia became more and more of a celebrity. Her final flight was intended to be a trip around the whole world, but her plane disappeared after takeoff-and her disappearance is still a mystery today. Inspirational, highly illustrated, and full of adventure, Amelia Earhart tells the story of the feminist icon who changed the world of aviation. It includes a timeline, glossary, and index.