Resources


Drawing with Children

Brookes breaks drawing into five “visual alphabet” shapes, proving to kids (and adults) that realism is teachable, not magic. Incremental lessons build from simple animals to full scenes, so progress is visible and motivating. Parent/teacher notes explain how to give feedback that boosts confidence. A go-to manual for homeschool art or rainy-day skill building.
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Salt in His Shoes

Written by Michael Jordan’s mother, the story shows young “MJ” short on height but long on perseverance, practicing jump shots every chance he gets. Family warmth and gentle humor remind readers that encouragement and patience are as important as talent. Lush paintings capture 1950s Chicago playgrounds, grounding the legend in relatable childhood scenes. Inspires elementary readers to keep working toward big dreams.
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Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

Part adventure tale, part sports science, McDougall’s quest to understand pain-free ultrarunners leads him to Mexico’s Tarahumara tribe and a desert ultra-race showdown. Teens fascinated by human limits learn about biomechanics, nutrition, and minimalist footwear along the way. Storytelling is fast and funny, making physiology anything but dry. Sparks debate on what “natural” running really means.
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Big Plans

A pint-sized dreamer marches around town declaring he’ll build the tallest, boldest skyscraper ever—​captured in bold, cartoon art that radiates humor. The repeated refrain “I’ve got big plans, I say!” empowers preschoolers to voice their own grand ideas. Introduces the notion that architects start with imagination and confidence, not just rulers and math. Fun, fast, and perfect for story-time pep talks.
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Becoming Kareem: Growing Up On and Off the Court

Written in candid, conversational prose, Kareem recounts his transformation from shy Harlem kid Lew Alcindor to outspoken NBA legend. He tackles racism, mentorship (Coach Wooden), and finding one’s moral compass, offering teens guidance beyond the court. Reflection questions end each chapter, inviting readers to apply lessons to their own lives. An inspiring blend of sports memoir and coming-of-age story.
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The Joy of Cooking

A rite-of-passage reference that turns ambitious teens into confident home chefs. Clear, time-tested techniques—​from basic knife skills to canning—​sit beside 4,000+ recipes, so learners can start with pancakes and grow into puff pastry. Margin notes explain the why behind steps, adding science to the art of cooking. An enduring kitchen companion that will follow young culinarians to college and beyond.
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The Fashion Designer Survival Guide

From sourcing factories to crafting a lookbook, this guide turns big-dream sketches into sustainable label plans. Real interviews with designers and buyers demystify funding, production calendars, and runway costs. Gehlhar’s tough-love tone stresses grit over glamour, making it a realistic prep for fashion-school portfolios. A must-read business playbook for serious teens.
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The Pragmatic Programmer: Your Journey to Mastery

Short, conversational “tips” teach budding coders how to think like craftspeople—debug early, automate often, keep learning. Real-world anecdotes (broken builds, last-minute hacks) feel instantly relatable to teens who’ve dabbled in code. Each chapter ends with challenges that translate theory into keyboard practice. A mindset manual that grows with the reader from high-school hackathons to first internships.
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Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story

Lyrical text repeats “Fry bread is…” to explore food as history, art, nation, and love—​grounding culinary curiosity in Native culture. Warm illustrations of a bustling, multi-generational kitchen celebrate community and inclusivity. A recipe at the back invites families to cook together and taste living tradition. Great for broadening palates and perspectives at once.
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Constructing Architecture: Materials, Processes, Structures

This hefty reference demystifies everything from concrete curing to curtain-wall detailing with step-by-step photos and sectional diagrams. Organized by material, it shows how design intent meets on-site realities, bridging studio sketches with construction tech. Case studies of modern European buildings illustrate concepts in action. Ideal for advanced high-schoolers or gap-year interns eager to talk shop with engineers and contractors.
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The Water Princess

Based on model Georgie Badiel’s childhood, the lyrical story follows young Gie Gie on her long walk to fetch water, highlighting both determination and inequality. Radiant art contrasts dusty roads with the shimmering blue she dreams of. An author’s note links fiction to real clean-water projects, empowering kids to fundraise or conserve at home. A moving entry point to global citizenship.
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Bake It: More Than 150 Recipes for Kids

Oversized photos show every mixing, kneading, and decorating step, so tweens can succeed solo on breads, pastries, and celebration cakes. Science breakouts explain yeast, gluten, and caramelization, linking tasty outcomes to chemistry class. “Bake-Off Challenge” spreads invite experimentation with flavors and finishes. Perfect for kids who binge Great British Bake Off and want to replicate the tent at home.
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Steal Like an Artist

In ten punchy chapters, Kleon argues that originality is remixed influence—​a liberating message for perfection-prone teens. Doodles, blackout poems, and quotable aphorisms make the advice stick. Practical exercises (carry a notebook, build a “swipe file”) turn inspiration into habit. A pocket-sized pep talk for budding creatives facing blank-page paralysis.
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Art: A Visual History

Chronological galleries pair striking images with bite-sized commentary, giving readers a museum tour from cave art to contemporary installations. Color-coded timelines highlight parallel world events, showing how culture and politics influence style. Oversized pages invite lingering over details—​ideal for reference projects or coffee-table browsing. A one-stop survey that equips teens with art-history context for deeper study.
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The LEGO Architect

Using the universal appeal of LEGO bricks, this book walks kids (and parents) through seven architectural styles, from Neoclassical to Modernism. Photo-rich chapters pair real-world landmarks with step-by-step mini-builds, helping readers see how columns, arches, and cantilevers translate into brick form. Tips on advanced building techniques grow with the child’s skills, so the book stays relevant for years. A playful gateway to serious design concepts.
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Code Girls: The True Story of the American Women Who Secretly Broke Codes in World War II

Secret spy work meets STEM inspiration: tweens learn how teenage women cracked wartime ciphers and changed history. Side-bars unpack basic cryptography and early computers in kid-friendly terms. Period photos and primary-source quotes keep the narrative gripping. A perfect blend of girl-power history and code-breaking curiosity.
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Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building

Each spread pairs a child’s block play or sand-castle scene with the real building it inspired—​from adobe pueblos to Gaudí’s Sagrada Família—​showing that professional architecture begins with play. Bright collage art keeps younger readers engaged, while poetic text introduces basic design vocabulary. A perfect read-aloud that validates kids’ homemade creations and invites them to “dream up” their own structures.
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The Art Spirit

A century-old classic that still reads like a mentoring session: letters, critiques, and classroom talks distilled into energizing aphorisms. Henri champions seeing the world “with the eyes of the spirit” and valuing process over polish—​wisdom that resonates across all creative fields. Great for high-school portfolio students seeking depth beyond technique. Its reflective tone rewards slow, thoughtful reading.
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Katie and the Starry Night

A museum painting literally pulls Katie into Van Gogh’s swirling skies, introducing fine art through storybook adventure. Friendly reproductions of five famous canvases spark recognition the next time kids see a sun-flower or café scene. Gentle humor keeps the plot lively while slipping in facts about texture and brushwork. Great for family field-trip prep or bedtime arm-chair travel.
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Fancy Nancy and the Fabulous Fashion Boutique

Nancy adores everything “fancy,” from frilly socks to French words, sparking creativity in wardrobe and vocabulary alike. Her DIY makeover of a plain family dinner shows kids that style comes from imagination, not price tags. Warm humor and gentle family dynamics balance sparkle with substance. Perfect for budding designers who love accessorizing—and learning new adjectives!
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Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do

Each spread shows shirts, hats, and accessories flapping on a line; kids guess the job before turning the page to meet the worker. Bright, crisp art encourages color and pattern recognition while introducing design tools like measuring tapes and sketch pads. Fashion designer appears alongside baker, firefighter, and more, broadening career horizons. An interactive read-aloud that invites dress-up play afterward.
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Curious George and the Firefighters

George’s trademark mischief sparks a small kitchen blaze, giving firefighters a realistic but gentle call-out. Kids tour the engine, hose, and turnout gear alongside their favorite monkey. A safety note for caregivers follows the adventure. Blends excitement with clear lessons on caution.
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Mix It Up!

This touch-and-tilt romp turns the printed page into a paint palette—​kids tap, shake, and smoosh imaginary blobs to see colors blend before their eyes. No mess, no cleanup, just pure cause-and-effect magic that teaches color theory instinctively. Perfect for wiggly preschoolers who learn best with movement. Encourages experimentation long before they handle real paint.
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