English Heritage

Marian Anderson's majestic voice mesmerized the nation - but her courage in confronting racism was even more inspirational. She became the first African-American to record spirituals for a major recording company, and the first to appear on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House. Victoria Garrett Jones tells her remarkable story, from Philadelphia's poorest neighborhood to the world's finest concert stages.

At 13, bright-eyed straight-A student Sara Saedi uncovered a terrible family secret: She was breaking the law simply by living in the United States. Only two years old when her parents fled Iran, she didn't learn of her undocumented status until her older sister wanted to apply for an after-school job but couldn't because she didn't have a Social Security number. Fear of deportation kept Sara up at night, but it didn't keep her from being a teenager.

From award-winning novelist Mary Morris comes the remarkable story of a remote New Mexican town coming to grips with a dark history it never imagined. In 1492, the Jewish and Muslim populations of Spain were expelled, and Columbus set sail for America. Luis de Torres, a Spanish Jew, accompanies Columbus as his interpreter. His journey is only the beginning of a long migration, across many generations.

Little Moon There Are No Stars Tonight was four years old when armed federal agents showed up at her home and took her from her family. Under the authority of the government, she was sent away to a boarding school specifically created to strip her of her Ponca culture and teach her the ways of white society. Little Moon was one of thousands of Indigenous children forced to attend these schools across America and give up everything they'd ever known: family, friends, toys, clothing, food, customs, even their language.

One day, not so very many years ago, a small peasant boy was chosen to study ballet at the Beijing Dance Academy. His mother urged him to take this chance of a lifetime. But Li was only eleven years old and he was scared and lonely, pushed away from all that he had ever known and loved. He hated the strict training routines and the strange place he had been brought to. All he wanted to do was go home - to his mother, father, and six brothers, to his own small village. But soon Li realised that his mother was right. He had the chance to do something special with his life - and he never turned back.

Out with the old and in with the new! It’s time to celebrate Chinese New Year! Clean the house. Have a feast with relatives. Watch fireworks and dragon dances. Make paper lanterns. Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, is a celebration of new beginnings.

Oil, mangoes, and Angel Falls. International beauty contest winners and the golden legend of El Dorado. Wander inside this beautiful book to learn the ABCs of what makes Venezuela a South American jewel.

How do the emergency services in different countries of the world rescue people? How do they travel and what equipment do they use? This book looks at the work of firefighters around the world, including how they rescue people from burning buildings as well as the different types of fires they tackle.

Americans come from many different backgrounds and cultures. What's yours like? Let's share and celebrate what makes our cultures special!

Someone was trying to kill Malcolm X, and he knew who it was. From his troubled youth to his days as spokesman for the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X had much to say about race and civil rights. But when he split with the Nation of Islam, the charismatic Black leader made one powerful enemy. Join him on his life-altering pilgrimage to Mecca where he discovers the power of brotherhood and the cost of racial divides.

It’s time to celebrate Christmas. There’s so much to do! Make cookies and decorate the Christmas tree. Have dinner with your family. Exchange presents. This important Christian holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.

You may know of Pocahontas, but there is more to her story. Learn about life in the time that Pocahontas lived, and how she impacted the First Colonies.

Do you crack open a piñata on your birthday? Do you eat long noodles? Learn all about different birthday customs of children around the world.

It’s time to celebrate Kwanzaa! Light the kinara. Eat a big feast with your family. During Kwanzaa, people come together. They celebrate African-American heritage.

Chief Joseph wanted peace for his people. But the US Army had different ideas. As the headman and spokesperson for the Nez Perce, Chief Joseph tried to do what was best for his people. Join him as he leads his people over vast plains and rugged mountains on the run from the US Army.

Sometimes ghosts stay behind to haunt the places they once lived. Other times, they take up residence in an object. Prepare to be scared as you learn about demon-possessed dolls, cursed boxes, and enchanted works of art.

You may know of many Native American tribes, but there is more to their story. Learn about life in the time that the First Americans lived.

As though cemeteries aren't creepy enough - prepare to be spooked even more by some of the most haunted cemeteries in the world!

Visit some of the spookiest houses around the world. Prepare to be scared as you visit haunted mansions and ghostly residences.

In an effort to set the Southbound Fastest Known Time record on the Pacific Crest Trail, Jessica Pekari sets off on an adventure to hike from the Canadian border to the Mexican border. Pekari is an ultrarunner and used to pushing her body to its limits, but the challenges she faces on the trail test both her physical and mental endurance. As a veteran, she finds herself battling with flashbacks from her days as a medic in the U.S. Army as she discovers more about herself and her Blackfeet and Mexican heritage.