Kim Kardashian
Reality TV Star
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Kim Kardashian. Readers will learn about Kardashian's childhood, family, education, early interest in fashion, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores the Kardashian family's deal with Ryan Seacrest to film the reality TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians that made the family famous. Kardashian's appearances on popular television shows, including Dancing with the Stars, CSI: NY, and How I Met Your Mother, her thriving career as a model and a spokesperson, and her business ventures are also described. Also discussed are Kardashian's high-profile romances with rap singer Ray J., NFL running back Reggie Bush, NFL wide received Miles Austin, and NBA star Kris Humphries, the charities important to her, and her philanthropic efforts. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
Justin Timberlake
Musician, Actor, & Dancer
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Justin Timberlake. Readers will learn about Timberlake's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Timberlake's early interest in music and acting that led to an appearance on Star Search, his big break on the Disney Channel's popular show The All New Mickey Mouse Club, and the creation of the boy band 'N Sync that released 'N Sync, No Strings Attached, and Celebrity. Timberlake's solo career and the release of his albums Justified and FutureSex/Love Sounds, his acting career, which includes hosting Saturday Night Live and appearing in several movies, including Alpha Dog, Black Snake Moan, Shrek the Third, The Social Network, and Bad Teacher, his MTV Music Video Awards, his Grammy Awards, his collaborations with other singers, his clothing line William Rast, his record label Tennman Records, and his time spent raising money for charities are also described. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
LeBron James
Champion Basketball Star
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of LeBron James. Readers will learn about James's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores James's early interest and skill in basketball that led to him joining the Cleveland Cavaliers then the Miami Heat. James's NBA championship wins, MVP awards, Olympic medals, and his charitable work are also discussed. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Emma Stone
Breakout Movie Star
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Emma Stone. Readers will learn about Stone's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Stone's early interest and talent in acting. Stone's acting roles in Drive, Superbad, The House Bunny, Zombieland, Easy A, Crazy, Stupid, Love, The Help, The Amazing Spider-Man, Gangster Squad, and more are also discussed as well as her awards and charitable work. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Nicki Minaj
Rapper & Fashion Star
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Nicki Minaj. Readers will learn about Minaj's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Minaj's early interest in music and talent in songwriting that led to her successful mixtapes and eventually the release of her albums Pink Friday and Pink Friday…Roman Reloaded. Minaj's music awards, work with charitable groups, and unique style are also described. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Contemporary Lives is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Keith Urban
Award-Winning Country Star
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the life of Keith Urban. Readers will learn about Urban's childhood in New Zealand and Australia, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read text that explores Urban's early interest in music and talent in singing and songwriting that led to the release of his albums. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing.
LeBron James: Champion Basketball Star
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of LeBron James. Readers will learn about James's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores James's early interest and skill in basketball that led to him joining the Cleveland Cavaliers then the Miami Heat. James's NBA championship wins, MVP awards, Olympic medals, and his charitable work are also discussed. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts.
Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.
Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO. Contemporary Lives introduces prominent people in present-day culture and explores how these headliners are currently making names for themselves while becoming successful business people and influencing society. Through a chronological narrative that builds a well-rounded foundation for the reader, these books also show the biographical side of each star. Readers will be left with a clear picture of who the person is, what he or she has contributed thus far in life socially and culturally, and why each individual has such a large fan base--in essence, showing why these subjects are considered markers of Contemporary Lives.
Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards.
Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
Robert Downey Jr.
Blockbuster Movie Star
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Robert Downey Jr. Readers will learn about Downey's childhood, family, education, rise to fame, his trouble with drugs, and his time in rehab . Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores how Downey's interest in acting led to leading roles in movies that include The Pickup Artist, Sherlock Holmes, which earned him a Golden Globe, and Iron Man. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
Eminem
Grammy-Winning Rapper
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Eminem. Readers will learn about Eminem's childhood, family, education, rise to fame, trouble with drugs and the law, his time in rehab, as well as controversies over his lyrics and songs. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Eminem's early interest in music and talent in songwriting that led to his freestyle raps and eventually the release of his albums Infinite, The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP, The Eminem Show, Encore, Relapse, and Recovery. Eminem's acting debut in the move 8 Mile, his Grammy Awards, and his Oscar for Best Original Song are also described. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
Lady Gaga
Pop Singer & Songwriter
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Lady Gaga. Readers will learn about Lady Gaga's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Lady Gaga's early interest in music that led to the release of her albums The Fame, The Fame Monster, and Born This Way, her Grammy Awards, her philanthropic efforts toward the gay and lesbian community and raising awareness about HIV/AIDS, and her unique style. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
Justin Bieber
Musical Phenom
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Justin Bieber. Readers will learn about Bieber's family background, childhood, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Bieber's music career and the release of his hit albums My World and My World 2.0, his popularity on Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and Twitter, his personal style, and his fans. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Jay-Z. Readers will learn about Jay-Z's childhood, family, time as a drug dealer, rise to fame, and relationship with Beyoncé. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Jay-Z's early interest in music that led to the release of his albums Reasonable Doubt, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life, Vol. 3…Life and Times of S. Carter, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia, The Blueprint, The Blueprint 2: The Gift and the Curse, The Black Album, Kingdom Come, American Gangster, his record label Roc-A-Fella Records, his clothing brand Rocawear, his Grammy Awards, his time as Def Jam's CEO, which included signing stars such as Rihanna, Young Jeezy, Ne-Yo, Nas, and the Roots, and his philanthropic efforts. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
Adele
Grammy-Winning Singer & Songwriter
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Adele. Readers will learn about Adele's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Adele's early interest in music and talent in singing and songwriting that led to the release of her albums 19 and 21. Adele's multiple Grammy Awards and charitable work are also described. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Contemporary Lives is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Pink
Pop Singer & Songwriter
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Pink. Readers will learn about Pink's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Pink's early interest and talent in music that led to the release of Can't Take Me Home, M!ssundaztood, Try This, I'm Not Dead, Funhouse, Greatest Hits . . . So Far!!!, and The Truth About Love. Pink's Grammy Awards, tours, film appearances, and philanthropy are also discussed. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Bruno Mars. Readers will learn about Mars's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Mars's early interest and talent in music that led to the release of Doo-Wops & Hooligans and Unorthodox Jukebox. Mars's Grammy Awards, tours, and charitable work are also discussed. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Katy Perry
Chart-Topping Superstar
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the life of Katy Perry. Readers will learn about Perry's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read text that explores Perry's early interest in music and talent in singing and songwriting that led to the release of her albums. Perry's multiple Number 1 singles and charitable work are also described. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing.
Pharrell Williams
Grammy-Winning Singer, Songwriter & Producer
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the life of Pharrell Williams. Readers will learn about Williams's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read text that explores Williams's early interest in music and talent in songwriting that led to writing songs for other artists and eventually the release of his solo albums. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing.
Taylor Swift
Country & Pop Superstar
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Taylor Swift. Readers will learn about Swift's childhood, family, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Swift's early interest in music and songwriting that led to the release of her albums Taylor Swift, Fearless, and Speak Now, how she deals with success, the MTV Awards fiasco with Kanye West, how her songs relate to her romantic relationships, life on the road, acting, modeling, and merchandising jobs, her philanthropic efforts, and future albums in the works. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
Drake
Actor & Hip-Hop Artist
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Drake. Readers will learn about Drake's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Drake's early interest in acting and rapping that led to his role on Degrassi: The Next Generation, his successful mixtapes, and eventually the release of his albums Thank Me Later and Take Care. Drake's music awards and philanthropic work are also described. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Contemporary Lives is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Blake Shelton
Country Singer & TV Personality
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the life of Blake Shelton. Readers will learn about Shelton's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Shelton's early interest in music and talent in singing and songwriting that led to the release of his albums. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing.
Rihanna
Grammy-Winning Superstar
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Rihanna. Readers will learn about Rihanna's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Rihanna's early interest and talent in music that led to the release of Music of the Sun, A Girl like Me, Good Girl Gone Bad, Rated R, Loud, Talk That Talk, and Unapologetic. Rihanna's multiple Grammy Awards tours, acting roles, and charitable foundation are also discussed. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Cee Lo Green
Rapper, Singer, & Record Producer
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Cee Lo Green. Readers will learn about Green's troubled childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Green's early interest in music and talent in singing and songwriting that led to group and solo projects and eventually the release of his albums Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections, Cee-Lo Green . . . Is the Soul Machine, The Lady Killer, and Cee-Lo Green . . . Is Everybody's Brother. Green's multiple Grammy Awards, flamboyant style, philanthropic work, and role on the television show The Voice are also discussed. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Contemporary Lives is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Grammy-Winning Hip-Hop Duo
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the lives of Ben Haggerty and Ryan Lewis, the hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. Readers will learn about their childhoods, families, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read text that explores the duo's early interest and talent in music that led to the release of The Heist. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing.
Kanye West
Grammy-Winning Hip-Hop Artist & Producer
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Kanye West. Readers will learn about West's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame, as well as controversies over his outspoken opinions. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores West's early interest in rap and talent in songwriting that led to producing beats for other artists and eventually the release of his albums The College Dropout, Late Registration, Graduation, 808s and Heartbreak, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and Watch the Throne. West's Grammy Awards, fashion design, and work as a producer are also discussed. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Contemporary Lives is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Jennifer Lopez
Actress & Pop Superstar
by Kristine Carlson Asselin
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Jennifer Lopez. Readers will learn about Lopez's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Lopez's early interest in music, acting, and dance that led to her breakout role in Selena and eventually the release of her albums On the 6, J.Lo, This Is Me . . . Then, Rebirth, Brave, and Love? Lopez's acting and music awards, philanthropic work, and role on American Idol are also described. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Contemporary Lives is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Lil Wayne
Grammy-Winning Hip-Hop Artist
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Lil Wayne. Readers will learn about Lil Wayne's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Lil Wayne's early interest and talent in music that led to the release of Tha Block is Hot, Tha Carter, Tha Carter III, I am Not a Human Being, and Tha Carter IV. Lil Wayne's multiple Grammy Awards, his charity foundation, and his legal troubles are also discussed. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Jennifer Lawrence
Breakout Actress
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Jennifer Lawrence. Readers will learn about Lawrence's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Lawrence's early interest and talent in acting that led to leading roles in Winter's Bone, X-Men: First Class, and the Hunger Games series. Lawrence's acting awards and work with charitable causes are also described. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web links, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and fun facts. Contemporary Lives is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.
Beyoncé
Singer, Songwriter, & Actress
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the fascinating life of Beyoncé. Readers will learn about Beyoncé's childhood, family, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read, compelling text that explores Beyoncé's early interest in music and talent in singing that led to her membership in Destiny's Child and eventually the release of her solo albums Dangerously in Love, B'Day, I Am . . .
by Jennifer Joline Anderson
Part of the Contemporary Lives series
This title examines the life of Miley Cyrus. Readers will learn about Cyrus's childhood, family, education, and rise to fame. Colorful graphics, oversize photos, and informative sidebars accompany easy-to-read text that explores Cyrus's early interest in music and talent in singing and acting that led to her breakout role on Hannah Montana and the later release of her albums. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing.