"In Revolutionary times, spies sent secret messages in clever ways. In this true story, John Darragh, a teenaged spy from a Quaker family, carries a message to General Washington sewn inside his coat buttons..Young historians will appreciate the accompanying book's simple but evocative watercolor illustrations and the production's background music, including the fifes and drums of a revolutionary band. They'll enjoy the story's plentiful dialogue as gruff soldiers, family members, and even General Washington himself make this story vivid for young history buffs." -AudioFile

"A lively fife and drum playing Yankee-Doodle-Dandy welcome the listener...A narrative tone that is sincere and respectful and a slow, even pace afford the young listener time to absorb facts." - AudioFile Magazine

From 1777 Philadelphia, fourteen-year-old Quaker John Darragh carries a secret message, in a code created by his mother, to his older brother Charles, who is a member of George Washington's army.

Learn all about George Washington, one of the most important figures in American history, in this colorful, inviting, and entertaining biography. This carefully leveled reader is written in an easy-to-grasp style to encourage the historians of tomorrow! National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources. Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Explores the establishment of the American colonies. Authoritative text, colorful illustrations, illuminating sidebars, and a "Voices from the Past" feature make this book an exciting and informative read.

The tale of how the colonial Americans won their independence from Great Britain is well-known among young and old, and its retelling continues to be an inspiration for the struggling and downtrodden. Readers will be introduced to the stressful, tense, and sometimes violent days leading up to the revolution. The instructive text then goes on to discuss major battles, war strategies, and tide-turning events. Both text and sidebars highlight important figures and events in this classic historical tale of perseverance that never grows stale.

The thrilling true story of the female spy who helped save the American Revolution Anna Smith Strong (1740–1812) was a fearless woman who acted as a spy for George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Recruited by Washington’s spymaster, Major Benjamin Tallmadge, she joined the Culper Ring, a group of American spies. General Washington placed a huge amount of trust in his spies, and Anna helped pass him important messages at a great risk to herself and her family. One of her cleverer devices was to hang laundry on the line in a planned fashion so that other spies could read the “message.” Had she been discovered by the British, she would have faced jail or execution. Thrilling and dramatic, Anna Strong tells the story of how one brave woman helped change the course of American history. The book includes an author’s note, a bibliography, an index, and a spy code so kids can get involved in the action.

THE HOUSE THAT GEORGE BUILT takes readers through the process of how the president’s house came to be—starting with the contest George held to choose the perfect design for this legendary landmark, all the way to President John Adams’s move into the grandiose home. Cleverly written in the familiar format of "The House That Jack Built," author Suzanne Slade supplements her rhyming verse with lively conversational prose, describing how George was involved in this project from beginning to end, from selecting the location to figuring out how to get the thousands of heavy bricks to the construction site. Rebecca Bond’s watercolor illustrations help readers follow the steps to what became the White House as we know it today.

Told for the first time in picture book form is the true story of James Lafayette--a slave who spied for George Washington's army during the American Revolution. But while America celebrated its newfound freedom, James returned to slavery. His service hadn't qualified him for the release he'd been hoping for. For James the fight wasn't over; he'd already helped his country gain its freedom, now it was time to win his own.