A PLACE CALLED AMERICA: A STORY OF THE LAND AND PEOPLE
August 2023, Abrams Books for Young Readers, 52 pp
Much of the story of human history has been about the quest for land and who controls it. A PLACE CALLED AMERICA: A STORY OF THE LAND AND PEOPLE explores the complex history of how the United States of America came to be. From the Native Americans who first lived upon the land, to European colonist settlers, enslaved Africans, and immigrants from all around the world– many people, places, and events have shaped the story of America. Detailed maps show the country’s expanding borders over time and illustrate historic events throughout the centuries. Sidebars focus on select moments in history, and an extensive timeline and list of select sources in the back matter encourages further reading.
STARRED REVIEWS
KIRKUS – “A necessary addition to any educational institution or the personal library of any kid who wants to ‘work toward a better future for all who live upon the land.”
BOOKLIST – “Manhattan (2019) author Thermes broadens her scope in this concise, inclusive, and handsomely illustrated tour of American history, which focuses on the land that came to be known as the United States and the diverse immigrants who came to populate it.”
ACCOLADES
- Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection.
THE INDESTRUCTIBLE TOM CREAN
January 2023, Viking/Penguin Random House, 55 pp
At the turn of the 20th century, Antarctica is the last unexplored continent. The ice is unforgiving. It can break the human spirit. It takes many men willing to face hardship, danger, and years away from home to journey to this uncharted end of the earth. This is the story of one. His name is Tom Crean.
The Indestructible Tom Crean reveals the true story of Crean’s most famous expeditions: the Discovery, Terra Nova, and Endurance. His days were full of hauling sleds, trudging miles over ice shelves, or drifting on ice floes, but when the Endurance became trapped, it was up to Crean and two other men to find help. After sailing a lifeboat through the most violent seas in the world and crossing an unknown glacial range on frostbitten feet, Crean always kept going. And thanks to his bravery, he saved his entire crew. Through dazzling mapwork and vivid illustrations, Jennifer Thermes brings a formidable landscape and the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration to life.
STARRED REVIEWS
KIRKUS – “A story of bitter cold infused with warmth and with the fighting spirit of its courageous subject.”
BOOKLIST – “a detail-rich presentation not to be missed.”
THE HORN BOOK – “Her illustrations are full of detail, action, and atmosphere.”
INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS
| Korean | Prooni Books |
HORSE POWER: HOW HORSES CHANGED THE WORLD
April 2021, Abrams, 48 pp
Horse and human life were intertwined for thousands of years, yet the role of the everyday horse throughout history is rarely mentioned. In HORSE POWER: HOW HORSES CHANGED THE WORLD, follow the horse from its first appearance on earth, to domestication by humans, to the ways the horse has inspired art, invention, and innovation around the world. Horses changed the course of human history! Sidebars, maps, a timeline, and an author’s note offer additional facts and information about the enduring fascination humans still have with this magnificent animal.
STARRED REVIEWS
BOOKLIST – “An equine delight that encourages horseplay and admiration.”
MANHATTAN: THE STORY OF AN ISLAND
August 2019, Abrams, 64 pp
A nonfiction picture book about the history, humans, and natural events that have shaped Manhattan for over four hundred years. Through dramatic illustrations and detailed maps, the island’s story comes to life as it becomes home to one of the greatest cities in the world, and continues to be a magnet for people from all over the world. Sidebars focusing on moments in history, a timeline, and select sources in the back matter encourage further reading.
STARRED REVIEWS
SHELF AWARENESS – “Manhattan, with tons of backmatter and fun paratextual material, uses every part of the book–front cover all the way to the final endpapers–to give young readers an in-depth and entertaining history of the city on the island.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL – “The maps, colorful illustrations, and accessible text present a comprehensive history of Manhattan as an island and a good introduction to the study of urban growth for students of all ages. Very valuable to students in the New York City metropolitan area, but also highly informative for all readers”
KIRKUS – “The vibrant history that unfolds will hold children’s attention through
repeated viewings.”
BOOKLIST – “This slice of American history is a gem.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY – “Like Manhattan itself, much is packed into this handsomely illustrated history.”
GRANDMA GATEWOOD HIKES THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL
May 2018, Abrams, 40 pp
Emma Gatewood’s life was far from easy. In rural Ohio, she managed a household of 11 kids alongside a less-than-supportive husband. One day, at age 67, she decided to go for a nice long walk…and ended up completing the Appalachian Trail. A story of true grit and girl power at any age, Grandma Gatewood proves that no peak is insurmountable.
INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS
| Japanese | Kosaido |
CHARLES DARWIN’S AROUND THE WORLD ADVENTURE
October 2016, Abrams, 40 pp
This picture book biography of Charles Darwin’s adventures on the Beagle features spectacular maps illustrating the route and tells the story of Darwin’s travels and his discoveries in each location.
INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS
| Japanese | Kosaido |
| Mongolian | Bilguun Sudar LLC |
| Simplified Chinese | Trustbridge |