Yona Zeldis McDonough

Marcel’s bicycle used to mean freedom: fast rides through his French village, bread deliveries for his parents, and dreams of racing in the Tour de France. Now it is 1942, German soldiers control the roads, and every checkpoint can turn an ordinary ride into a dangerous test. When Marcel discovers that his family’s bakery is connected to secrets much bigger than bread, the war suddenly feels close and personal. Then his new friend Delphine and her family are threatened, and Marcel realizes that his quick thinking and strong legs may be the only help they have. The Bicycle Spy is a tense middle grade historical novel about courage, friendship, and resistance in Nazi-occupied France. Readers who like World War II stories with suspense, heart, and a brave young hero will be pulled into Marcel’s race against danger.

Anna has two exciting things on her mind: the stray cat behind her family’s doll shop is about to have kittens, and her cousin Tania is coming all the way from Russia to live with them. Anna imagines instant friendship, shared secrets, and plenty of time together. But Tania arrives shy and uneasy, and Anna’s sisters are not sure how to welcome her. Papa also has a firm rule: no pets. As Anna worries over the cats and tries to understand her cousin, she begins to see that kindness sometimes takes patience, creativity, and a careful heart. The Cats in the Doll Shop is a gentle historical chapter book set on New York’s Lower East Side during World War I. Blending family, immigration, dolls, and cats, it offers young readers a warm story about making room for someone new.

Claudine loves her home in France, and she does not want to leave it behind. She especially does not want to cross the ocean without her parents. But war has changed everything: food is scarce, Jewish people must wear yellow stars, and grown-ups speak in worried voices about danger. With her doll Violette beside her, nine-year-old Claudine travels to America to stay with relatives. Far from home, she must carry both hope and sorrow, learning that love can remain strong even when families are separated by frightening events. The Doll with the Yellow Star is a gentle, moving historical chapter book about World War II, loss, memory, and the comfort of family ties. Its tender tone makes a difficult history accessible for young readers while honoring the fear and courage of children caught in wartime.

John F. Kennedy’s story did not begin in the White House. It began with a boy who was often sick, grew up in a large and competitive family, and learned early that courage can be tested in many different ways. This illustrated biography follows Kennedy from childhood to his World War II service on PT-109, then into politics and his election as the 35th president of the United States. Along the way, readers meet a leader remembered for his energy, ambition, public service, and lasting place in American history. Part of the Who Was? series, Who Was John F. Kennedy? gives young readers an accessible look at a famous president whose life included adventure, challenge, tragedy, and national leadership. Timelines and illustrations help place his story in the larger history of the twentieth century.

Lila and Jane cannot pass Miss Whitcomb’s house without stopping to look at the beautiful dollhouse in the window. During the Great Depression, their family has little money, and a dollhouse like that feels far beyond reach. Then Miss Whitcomb invites the sisters inside, and what begins as curiosity becomes a special friendship. The tiny rooms, careful details, and changing decorations give the girls something bright to look forward to during a hard time. When sadness comes, Lila and Jane must find comfort in the kindness their friend shared with them. The Dollhouse Magic is a warm early chapter book about sisters, friendship, and hope during the Depression. With a gentle historical setting and a tender emotional center, it is well suited for young readers moving into chapter books.

Nelson Mandela grew up in South Africa at a time when unfair laws separated people by race and denied Black South Africans basic rights. Instead of accepting injustice, he chose to speak, organize, and keep working for change, even when the cost became painfully high. Peaceful Protest introduces young readers to Mandela’s journey as a civil rights activist, political prisoner, and later president of South Africa. The book explains his fight against apartheid in clear, age-appropriate language, showing how patience, courage, and moral strength can shape history. With vivid folk-art illustrations and a direct biographical style, this picture-book biography offers an accessible entry point into one of the world’s most important modern leaders. It is especially useful for readers learning about social justice, leadership, and the long struggle for equality.

Eleven American women step forward in these short, illustrated biographies, each one leaving her own mark on history. From Harriet Tubman’s bravery to Amelia Earhart’s daring, from Emily Dickinson’s poems to Margaret Mead’s ideas, the book shows that there is more than one way to change the world. Sisters in Strength introduces readers to Pocahontas, Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Clara Barton, Emily Dickinson, Mary Cassatt, Helen Keller, Eleanor Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, and Margaret Mead. Their lives span different centuries, talents, and struggles, but each woman faced obstacles and kept working toward something larger than herself. Written in an accessible, graceful style and illustrated with bright folk-art paintings, this collection is a strong choice for readers who enjoy biography, women’s history, and true stories of courage, creativity, and conviction.

In Anna’s family, dolls are more than toys. Downstairs from their home in New York City, her parents run a doll repair shop, where broken dolls are carefully mended and returned to the children who love them. Anna and her sisters enjoy helping in the shop, especially when their chores lead to time with the beautiful dolls waiting to be fixed. But when World War I begins, German-made doll parts become hard to get, and the family business is suddenly in trouble. Anna may be young, but she has an imagination strong enough to search for a solution. Inspired by the history of Madame Alexander, The Doll Shop Downstairs is a gentle historical chapter book about family, creativity, and problem solving. Young readers will enjoy its cozy setting, sisterly warmth, and glimpse of life during wartime New York.

Harriet Tubman was born enslaved in Maryland, but she refused to let slavery define the limits of her life. After escaping to freedom, she chose to return again and again to help others make the dangerous journey north on the Underground Railroad. This illustrated Who Was? biography introduces readers to Tubman’s courage, faith, and determination. It follows her from childhood through her escape, her work guiding enslaved people to freedom, and her continued service during and after the Civil War. Who Was Harriet Tubman? presents a difficult history in clear, respectful language for middle grade readers. With timelines, illustrations, and a strong narrative focus, it helps readers understand why Tubman remains one of the most admired figures in American history and a powerful example of what one determined person can do.

Before Laura Ingalls Wilder became the author of the Little House books, she was a real girl traveling with her family across the American frontier. Her childhood included log cabins, covered wagons, prairie homes, hard work, and moments that later found their way into her famous stories. Little Author in the Big Woods explores the life behind the books, helping readers see where Laura’s fiction matches her real experiences and where it differs. The biography follows her family’s journeys and shows how memory, hardship, and adventure became part of a beloved writer’s work. With a clear narrative style and charming illustrations, this biography is a strong choice for readers who enjoy pioneer history, author stories, and the world of Little House. It offers a thoughtful bridge between historical fact and the fiction many children already know.

The Underground Railroad had no train cars, tracks, or stations you could see on a map. Instead, it was a secret network of brave people, hidden routes, safe houses, and dangerous choices made by enslaved people seeking freedom. This What Was? book explains how the Underground Railroad worked and why it mattered. Through real stories of escape, close calls, conductors, passengers, bounty hunters, and safe places, readers learn about the risks people took and the sacrifices they made to reach freedom. What Was the Underground Railroad? is an accessible nonfiction history book for middle grade readers. With illustrations and historical detail, it helps readers understand slavery, resistance, and courage in nineteenth-century America while keeping the focus on the people whose lives were changed by the journey.

Take a seat on the bus that changed American history forever. In 1955, a quiet seamstress named Rosa Parks was riding home from work in Montgomery, Alabama, when she was told to give up her seat to a white passenger. When she bravely refused, her simple act of defiance sparked a massive wave of protests across the entire country. You will learn about the intense struggles of segregation and how Rosa's incredible courage earned her the title of the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement. This inspiring and easy-to-read biography shows young readers how standing up for what is right, even when it is frightening, can inspire millions of people and change the world for the better.

The Ten Commandments are among the most famous laws in religious history, but their story reaches beyond a list of rules. This book looks at Moses, the ancient Israelites, and the world in which these commandments became central to Jewish and Christian belief. Readers learn how the idea of one all-powerful God set the Israelites apart from neighboring peoples, how the commandments have been understood in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and why these teachings have influenced ideas about moral choices and just communities. Part of the What Was? series, What Are the Ten Commandments? gives middle grade readers a clear, historical introduction to a major religious text and its lasting cultural importance. It is best suited for curious readers interested in religion, ancient history, values, and the stories behind influential ideas.

Before she was known as Sojourner Truth, she was called Belle. Born enslaved in New York around 1797, she was sold, separated from family, and forced to endure injustice from a young age. Yet she grew into a woman whose voice could not be ignored. This illustrated Who Was? biography follows Sojourner Truth’s escape from slavery, her decision to travel and speak out, and her work for abolition and women’s rights. It also includes memorable moments of courage, including the time she took a streetcar conductor to court after being mistreated and won. Who Was Sojourner Truth? gives middle grade readers a clear introduction to an extraordinary activist. Her life story connects American history, civil rights, women’s history, and the power of speaking the truth even when the world refuses to listen.

Long before travel photos and guidebooks, ancient travelers wrote about the most astonishing places they had seen. Their lists became famous as the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: monuments so grand that people still wonder how they were built. This Where Is? book takes readers to the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the Temple of Artemis, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Along the way, it explores the rulers, builders, artists, and civilizations connected to each wonder. Where Were the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? is a lively nonfiction journey through ancient history, architecture, and human imagination. It is ideal for readers who like big questions, lost places, impressive inventions, and the mysteries left behind by early civilizations.

Kate’s grandmother has a very special gift for her: Dora Anne, a porcelain doll that has belonged to their family for almost 150 years. Dora Anne has shiny black hair, a painted face, a trunk of handmade clothes, and a history that makes her feel almost alive. Kate is excited to care for the doll, but her mother is not sure she is ready for something so fragile and important. To keep Dora Anne, Kate must show that she can be careful, thoughtful, and responsible. A Doll Named Dora Anne is a gentle early reader about family treasures, patience, and earning trust. With a clear Level 3 style and a warm story centered on responsibility, it is a good fit for young readers who enjoy dolls, family stories, and books about growing up.

Benjamin Franklin was never just one thing. He was a printer, writer, inventor, scientist, patriot, diplomat, and statesman, always curious and always looking for a better way to understand the world. Life of Benjamin Franklin introduces young readers to the many sides of this important American founder. The book follows Franklin’s work with words, ideas, experiments, public service, and the nation’s early history, including his role in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Written in clear prose and paired with vibrant folk-art illustrations, this biography presents Franklin as both a famous historical figure and a person full of questions, energy, and invention. It is a strong choice for readers learning about American history, leadership, science, and the people who helped shape the United States.

Can you imagine writing your very own song before you even learn how to read? Born in Austria in 1756, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a true musical genius. He composed his first piece of music, a beautiful minuet, when he was just five years old! This fascinating biography takes you back in time to explore the incredible life of history's most famous child prodigy. You will learn how young Mozart traveled across Europe, performing his brilliant music for wealthy kings and powerful emperors. Even though he lived a short life, dying at the age of thirty-five, he left behind a massive legacy of more than 600 musical works. Step into the exciting world of eighteenth-century Europe and discover the history of opera, the evolution of musical instruments, and the extraordinary career of a boy who changed classical music forever.

Listen to the vibrant sounds of early jazz through the incredible life of a true musical genius. Growing up in a tough neighborhood in New Orleans, young Louis Armstrong found himself in a reform school, where a kind teacher handed him a cornet. That single instrument changed his life forever. You will follow his journey from playing in local brass bands to becoming a world-famous trumpet player and band leader. With his unique voice and brilliant improvisations, Louis pushed music into exciting new directions that no one had ever heard before. This inspiring biography shows how a young boy with a passion for rhythm overcame massive obstacles to shape American music and become one of the most beloved entertainers in history.

Hank Greenberg could hit a baseball with astonishing power, but his story is about more than home runs. In the 1930s, when many people treated Jewish athletes as outsiders, Greenberg stepped onto the field and proved that talent, discipline, and pride could not be pushed aside. Hammerin’ Hank introduces readers to Henry Benjamin Greenberg, one of baseball’s greatest right-handed batters and the sport’s first Jewish superstar. The biography follows his rise in Major League Baseball, the prejudice he faced, and the achievements that eventually led to the Baseball Hall of Fame. With vivid illustrations and an accessible style, this picture-book biography is a strong choice for young readers who enjoy sports history and true stories of courage. It shows how one athlete became a hero both on and beyond the baseball diamond.