"Just A Few Words, Mr. Lincoln"--Written by Jean Fritz, illustrated by Chris Robinson : Abraham Lincoln had to run the country, win the war and look after his family. When he was asked to honor the soldiers who died in the great battle of Gettysburg, he made time to say a few words about them, too. Narrated by Rex Robbins. Music by Bruce Zimmerman. Iconographic, 22 minutes. Lexile 390L / GRL: N / Ages 7-12 -- [back cover package]. "George Washington's...

Examines the issue of slavery in the United States and the rift it created between states and explores the circumstances leading up to the Emancipation Proclamation, and the impact of the abolition of slavery.

"When Abraham Lincoln assumed the presidency in 1861, the United States' constitutional arrangements were not the ones we know today. It was widely believed that the federal government could not use armed force to prevent a state from seceding. It was also assumed that it had no authority over slavery in states where the institution existed and that basic civil liberties could not be suspended during a rebellion without the consent of Congress. As...

Duke Ellington was hailed as the "King of the Keys." This is a most fitting tribute to a great man who proudly celebrated the history of African-Americans from slavery to civil rights struggles. Told in the voice of a cool cat named Scat, this dramatic story tells how Ella got her sound on the way to a most remarkable and inspiring career. In this reflective poetic tribute, the author remembers growing up when many of the great figures in African-American...

"This is not just a series of books," says bestselling author Brad Meltzer. "This is my dream for my daughter. My dream for my sons. These aren't just the stories of famous people. They're what we're all capable of on our very best days. This is our history and, I hope , our greatest legacy."

"The oppression of Blacks is America's original sin -- a sin that took root in 1619 and plagues the country to this day. Yet there have been instances of interracial bonding and friendship even in the worst of times. In Stars and Shadows -- a term taken from Huckleberry Finn -- Saladin Ambar analyzes two centuries of noteworthy interracial friendships that served as windows into the state of race relations in the US and, more often than not, as models...

Account of the leaders who tried to avert the Civil War.