Nonfiction Memoir

The inspiring stories of six people who changed history, including Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher; Socrates, the great Greek philosopher; Aristotle, the first person to organise scientific knowledge; William Wilberforce, who ended the British slave trade; Karl Marx, who wrote The Communist Manifesto and Das Kapital; and Mahatma Gandhi, who helped free India from British rule.

The stories I have chosen to share include some of the special people who have touched my heart and helped to mold me. Each of the stories uncovers the direct impact that a simple day or moment has when a person shares their interests, experiences, and life's passions with another person. I have been lucky enough to have encountered some very special people in my life who have shown me how important one person can be in the life of another person.

The Girl Who Could Write and Unite pays tribute to one of the greatest modern American poets, Gwendolyn Brooks. Brooks was the first African American to win a Pulitzer and received over 70 honorary degrees from universities for writing and teaching. Her story teaches children that language is a powerful tool for change and championship.

Hollywood has produced no shortage of famous movie stars, but none have been as culturally significant as John Wayne. Marion Morrison was born in a quintessentially quaint Midwestern town, but he eventually grew up to become John Wayne, the legend of the silver screen who embodied the Western frontier. History for Kids: An Illustrated Biography of John Wayne for Children looks at the iconic actor's life on and off the silver screen, from his out-sized influence to Hollywood to his outspoken views on politics.

"Daddy, why can't you stand?" When Leslie A. Johnson was asked this question by his son, he answered with honesty and transparency. This book aims to help parents and children discuss the reality of disabilities to help build understanding and empathy.

The inspiring stories of six people who changed history. Contents: Alfred Nobel, creator of the Nobel Prize; Andrew Carnegie, the businessman who built libraries for poor people; John D. Rockefeller who made money from oil and gave it all away; Thomas Barnardo who created homes for poor children; Henry Wellcome who used his money for medical research; Madam C. J. Walker who gave her money to the African-American community.

You may never have heard of him, but you've probably heard of the many people civil rights activist Bayard Rustin influenced. He was a mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and refused to move to the back of the bus many years before Rosa Parks did. The son of a freed slave, Bayard Rustin grew up during the peak of the Jim Crow laws, which segregated Blacks and Whites.