Describes the history of the Statue of Liberty, including its origins as a gift from France and its construction, and explores the landmark's enduring symbolism of freedom, democracy, and friendship.

"Even though slavery had ended in the 1860s, African Americans were still suffering under the weight of segregation a hundred years later. They couldn't go to the same schools, eat at the same restaurants, or even use the same bathrooms as white people. But by the 1950s, black people refused to remain second-class citizens and were willing to risk their lives to make a change"--

"Although fans the world over have been fascinated by the modern Summer Olympics since 1896, the Winter Olympics didn't officially begin until 1924. The event celebrates cold-weather sports, displaying the talents of skiers, ice skaters, hockey players, and, most recently, snowboarders. Like its summer counterpart, the Winter Games are dedicated to bringing together the world's top athletes to honor their talents and see who gets to stand on the medal...

"Star Trek remains one of the most popular science-fiction series of all time, and Captain Kirk is one of the most famous and highly decorated captains in the history of Starfleet. Viewers follow his adventures through space as the commanding officer of starships like the U.S.S. Enterprise. But did you know that Kirk wasn't even the show's first captain? And that the Star Trek series almost didn't happen? Author M. D. Payne takes readers aboard Starfleet...

"The whimsical, wacky, and wondrous character of Willy Wonka made his first appearance in Roald Dahl's 1964 children's novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. When the fictional factory owner opened up the doors of his company, readers were welcomed into his world of pure imagination . . . and chocolate! Wonka went on to dazzle a whole new set of fans in the 1971 film that brought Dahl's characters to life. Since then, there have been other movie...