Steven Otfinoski

It's 1942 - the middle of World War II - and Elephant Bill, his Elephant Company, and a group of refugees are in danger of being captured by the invading Japanese. They must flee their work camp in Burma as soon as possible to keep ahead of the enemy. Bandoola, Elephant Bill's favourite elephant leads the way. On their way to safety in India, they face many dangers through the jungle and across five mountain ranges. Will Bandoola and Elephant Bill lead them to safety? Or will they be captured by the enemy?

In an immersive, exciting narrative nonfiction format, this powerful book follows a selection of people who experienced the Underground Railroad.

Discover how today's innovators are finding ways to make 3D printers smaller, easier to use, and more affordable than ever. Calling All Innovators series introduces students to careers in science and technology. The complex text allows readers (Grades 5-8) to determine the main idea and explain how it is supported by key details. The idea of downloading and printing out a three-dimensional physical object using a personal computer might seem like something out of a science fiction story. However, the latest 3D printing technology is making this incredible dream into a reality. Readers will learn how 3D printing is changing the way we manufacture aircraft, treat injuries, and more.

Historian Theodore White called it "the most dangerous, terrifying, barbarous aerial transport run in the world...the skyway to Hell." The Hump was a perilous 500-mile flight path across the eastern Himalayan Mountains many U. S. pilots flew during World War II in order to keep the Allies well-supplied in China. Using personal accounts from pilots, rescuers, and U. S. Air Force staff, this fast-paced narrative puts young readers in the cockpit alongside some of the war's bravest pilots.

In an immersive, exciting narrative nonfiction format, this powerful book follows a selection of people who experienced the sinking of the Titanic.

In an immersive, exciting narrative nonfiction format, this powerful book follows a selection of people who experienced the sinking of the Titanic.

In an immersive, exciting narrative nonfiction format, this powerful book follows a selection of people who experienced the events surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

This comprehensive book outlines the geography, history, people, government, and economy of Hawaii. Lists of key people, events, cities, plants and animals, and political figures, plus fact boxes and quotes, provide easily accessible information that is supplemented by activities such as crafts, recipes, and a map quiz. Historic photographs, artwork, and other images enhance the narrative.

Trace the history of commercial air travel and find out how today's engineers and scientists are revolutionizing the field. Calling All Innovators series introduces students to careers in science and technology. The complex text allows readers (Grades 5-8) to determine the main idea and explain how it is supported by key details. For hundreds of years, humans dreamed of flying through the sky they way they saw birds do. Since the first successful flights in the early 20th century, air travel has grown to become one of the world's most important methods of transportation. Readers will find out what it takes to build their own careers in this fascinating field.

Throughout the 1800s millions of people pushed into the western United States. They went for gold, opportunities, and a chance for a better life. But as settlers moved in, American Indians were often pushed out. Hear the words they spoke. Read the words they read. And see the differing points of view about westward expansion through the eyes of the people who lived it.

The Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War have brought an official end to slavery, yet some Southern slave owners are refusing to comply. The road to freedom is still long and hard for many African Americans, but you're not giving up. Will you: Overcome obstacles as you make your way north from Texas, looking to begin a new life of freedom? Seek out your family, from whom you were separated as a child, after emancipation? Fight back when you take work as an apprentice but find that you're still treated as a slave? YOU CHOOSE offers multiple perspectives on history, supporting Common Core reading standards and providing readers a front-row seat to the past.

The Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War have brought an official end to slavery, yet some Southern slave owners are refusing to comply. The road to freedom is still long and hard for many African Americans, but you're not giving up. Will you: Overcome obstacles as you make your way north from Texas, looking to begin a new life of freedom? Seek out your family, from whom you were separated as a child, after emancipation? Fight back when you take work as an apprentice but find that you're still treated as a slave? YOU CHOOSE offers multiple perspectives on history, supporting Common Core reading standards and providing readers a front-row seat to the past.

Throughout the 1800s millions of people pushed into the western United States. They went for gold, opportunities, and a chance for a better life. But as settlers moved in, American Indians were often pushed out. Hear the words they spoke. Read the words they read. And see the differing points of view about westward expansion through the eyes of the people who lived it.

Powerful leaders emerged during the victories and defeats of the Civil War. Meet the people who planned the battles, led the attacks, and shaped the war between the Yankees and the Rebels. Meets Common Core standards for analyzing multiple accounts of an event.

For members of the U. S. military, the call to arms is a great honor and a solemn duty. Defending their country takes strength, determination, and an uncommon amount of courage. Throughout American history, members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines have faced life and death on countless battlefields. Experience for yourself the sights and sounds of war as brave men and women become extraordinary heroes when they display courage under fire.

Whether they occur at home or in the workplace, fires are devastating events that sometimes cause the tragic deaths of innocent people. Find out what happened when a factory in New York City caught fire in the early 1900s. And discover why so many workers were unable to escape the blazing building.

Before commercial airplanes became a common form of travel, giant airships were a popular mode of long distance transportation for those who could afford it. But airships could be quite dangerous. In an instant, they could explode or catch fire. Explore what happened when the Hindenburg ignited and became a flaming fireball in the sky. Could anyone survive such a horrific disaster?

It's the 1800s, and you are a child from a poor family. You have to go to work to keep from starving. Will you: Work as a pauper apprentice in an English factory? Emigrate from Ireland in order to work in the New England cloth mills? Make your living on the streets of New York City selling newspapers? Everything in this book happened to real people. And YOU CHOOSE what you do next. The choices you make could lead you to opportunity, to wealth, to poverty, or even to death.