Tim Cooke

Robert Leroy Parker's transformation into Butch Cassidy wasn't immediate. He worked on ranches as a cowboy, was a butcher for a time, and finally chose a path of crime in the American West in the late 1800s. Cassidy's involvement with the band of outlaws known as the Wild Bunch and later partnership with Harry Longabaugh, the "Sundance Kid," resulted in a crime spree and a life on the run. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid fled to South America, where their fate remains a mystery. This lively, well-researched volume--filled with fascinating photographs and fact boxes--provides a gripping account of a fugitive's life and legend.

Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker, the notorious Bonnie and Clyde, ruled the front of newspapers and the public's imagination in the 1930s. While most of the nation suffered under the Great Depression, the duo and their gang pulled off a string of robberies, leaving many dead in their daring escapes. Readers will learn why these two famous figures have been romanticized by so many, even today, and follow Texas Ranger Frank Hamer as his posse tracks down and ambushes the outlaws. Primary sources, historical photographs, and revealing quotations shed more light on the dramatic true story.

From card tricks to reading minds, the art of magic lies in the magician's or illusionist's ability to deceive the audience. Read about the mysteries that lie behind some of the most spectacular magic tricks and illusions ever performed, including slight of hand, escapology, levitation, sword swallowing, and more

Life in the past was in many ways very different from life today, but in one way it was very similar. There were always some people who were wealthier, more powerful or more famous than everyone else- and it was those early celebrities who set the fashions of the age and who got tongues wagging withearly celebrity gossip. At Home With... uses a magazine approach to reveal what fashionable life was like in various societies. Each book in the series focuses on a highly popular and widely studied period of history. The subjects include famous individuals and their homes, fashions, pastimes, food and drink, ways of getting around - and the must-have possessions of the day.

Follow the travels of Italian merchant and adventurer Marco Polo who traveled across Asia. His major voyages, explorations, and discoveries are presented in an entertaining, tabloid-news style.

This fascinating book follows the travels of English explorer and sea navigator Henry Hudson. Historical information and high-interest fact boxes are presented in an entertaining tabloid style that guides readers through major voyages, explorations, and discoveries. Topics include what led Hudson to become an explorer, Northern exploration, life on sea voyages, merchant companies, and Hudson's legacy. Teacher's guide available.

The American Civil War affected more than just the soldiers on the battlefield--families, businesses, and schools all felt the influence of the terrible conflict. Using a variety of perspectives to introduce readers to a country at war, this volume will engage readers while providing essential, factual information. Readers will discover this often-overlooked side of war, including cities and farms, and the lives of those on the Union and those on the Confederate sides. Historical illustrations, maps, and critical thinking questions accompany detailed descriptions and bonus facts--the accessible content will fascinate readers with an in-depth look into US history.

In 1807, it became illegal to import slaves to the United States. However, that didn't put a stop to slavery in the South. While slavery wasn't the only cause of the Civil War, it certainly was a big factor. Readers learn more about why the war started with detailed accounts of the abolitionist movement and the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Among other key events, this book features in-depth information budding historians are looking for, questions and comments in the margins that will engage readers' critical thinking skills, and historical illustrations and end-of-chapter boxed insets will augment the curriculum-supporting text.