Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award Winner “An engaging and accessible account” for young readers about the Freedom Riders who led the landmark 1961 protests against segregation on buses (School Library Journal) On May 4, 1961, a group of thirteen black and white civil rights activists launched the Freedom Ride, aiming to challenge the practice of segregation on buses and at bus terminal facilities in the South. The Ride would last twelve days. Despite the fact that segregation on buses crossing state lines was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1946, and segregation in interstate transportation facilities was ruled unconstitutional in 1960, these rulings were routinely ignored in the South. The thirteen Freedom Riders intended to test the laws and draw attention to the lack of enforcement with their peaceful protest. As the Riders traveled deeper into the South, they encountered increasing violence and opposition. Noted civil rights author Larry Dane Brimner relies on archival documents and rarely seen images to tell the riveting story of the little-known first days of the Freedom Ride.

Jerald W. “Jerry” Berry served in Vietnam with the 3rd Battalion, 506th Airborne Infantry (Paratrooper), 101st Airborne Division in 1967- 68. Originally assigned as a rifleman, he became the battalion Public Information Officer (PIO), combat photographer/reporter, shortly into his tour. Berry retired from his thirty-year career as Staff Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Forest Service in 1997. As historian for the 3-506th, he maintains a website (www.currahee.org) for his fellow Currahees. He currently resides in Libby, Montana with his wife, Donna. Other books by Berry include The Stand Alone Battalion, Psychological Warfare Leaflets of the Vietnam War, and My Gift to You.

This holiday book series takes kids on a unique cross-country journey. Through lively, chatty letters home, each of these six books follows a child on a fun visit with a friend or relative over winter vacation. Along the way, the young narrators convey a host of fascinating and kid-friendly facts about what they do and where they go. Full color.

William writes a letter home each of the twelve days he spends exploring Virginia at Christmastime, as his cousin Madison shows him everything from a cardinal in a dogwood tree to eight bluegrass fiddlers fiddling to twelve Eastern Shore plovers looping. Includes facts about Virginia.

A centuries-old favorite holiday carol, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" was one of the first to celebrate the secular tradition of gift-giving. This sumptuously illustrated version features not only the gifts of a suitor to his true love but a loving family's Christmas preparations, how to say "Merry Christmas" in 12 different language, and a vast array of charming woodland animals.

Isabella writes a letter home each of the twelve days she spends exploring Arizona at Christmastime, as her cousin Carlos shows her everything from a cactus wren in a palo verde tree to twelve Grand Canyon mules. Includes facts about Arizona.