Montrew Dunham Boeken

“Haley” Jackson grew up in poverty on the levees of New Orleans, hunting alligators along the Mississippi River for food and gathering driftwood for fuel with her brother Peter. But every Sunday, when her father preached at the Baptist Church, young Mahalia sang proudly in the choir—the youngest member at age 5! Lively illustrations and engaging text pull young readers into the world in which Mahalia Jackson grew up. Whether constructing her doll’s braid from blades of grass, stuffing a cornhusk mattress, or adjusting to life in her Aunt Duke’s home after her mother died, young Mahalia displayed the persistence and courage that foreshadowed the civil rights champion and world-famous gospel singer she would become. Working as a maid and a laundress, she always found the time for her passion—singing her special brand of music known as gospel in churches. She met the challenge of being black in what was largely a white entertainment world, overcoming poverty and prejudice and pioneering the way for all aspiring African Americans who succeeded her. Singing for royalty, presidents, and working closely with her friend Martin Luther King, Haley never forgot her early days on the levee and she found special joy encouraging young African-Americans to follow their ambitions.

The story unfolds in 1832 as a solitary 50-year-old man claims rich farmland in Illinois by bending a sapling, marking the founding of Downers Grove. This pivotal moment captures the essence of early American settlement and the determination of individuals to carve out their destinies in the vast prairie landscape. The narrative highlights themes of perseverance, community building, and the transformative power of land ownership in shaping local history.

The book explores the life of Ronald Reagan, highlighting his journey from a prominent movie star to becoming the 40th president of the United States. Through a collection of color and black-and-white illustrations, it captures key moments in his career and personal life, offering insights into how his Hollywood background influenced his political persona and legacy.

Neil Armstrong didn’t grow up wanting to be an astronaut—because there were no astronauts in 1930. But he did love to fly from an early age, and after serving in the Korean War and then finishing college, he joined the organization that would eventually become NASA.As the first man to walk on the moon in 1969, his comment, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” was heard by millions, and Neil Armstrong’s influence on the world didn’t stop there.From his early years in Ohio to his NASA career, to his later service as an aerospace professor and on Congressional panels, Neil Armstrong’s life is a legacy to be admired, and this narrative biography illuminates his childhood.