Don Tate

Football and painting might seem like completely different worlds, but Ernie Barnes knew they both required rhythm, energy, and technique. Growing up in the 1930s, Ernie was a quiet, shy boy who was often bullied for being uninterested in sports. He found his true comfort in a sketchbook, drawing vibrant colors and flowing lines. Because of segregation laws, he was not even allowed to visit the local art museums. Tired of being teased, Ernie eventually joined his school football team and discovered he was incredibly gifted. He carried his love of art right onto the football field, playing through high school, college, and all the way to the NFL. Ernie noticed the beautiful, nimble movements of his teammates and the dynamic energy of the game, translating all of that action into breathtaking paintings. In this inspiring true story, you will discover how one man followed his heart to become both a professional athlete and a world-famous artist, proving that you never have to choose just one dream.

How do you keep the memories of thousands of people alive? For William Still, the answer was writing them down. William grew up knowing the deep pain of slavery. His parents had bravely escaped to freedom, but a terrible tragedy meant they had to leave two of their children behind. When William became a young man, he took a job with the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society. There, he helped plan daring rescues and raised money for freedom seekers traveling north on the Underground Railroad. One remarkable day, a man walked into William's office looking for his long-lost family, and William realized just how important it was to record every single person's journey. He began writing down the true stories of the brave people escaping slavery, capturing their names, their families, and their heroic routes. By keeping these secret records, he was able to reunite torn families and preserve their histories forever. This incredible biography brings you face to face with a quiet hero who dedicated his life to making sure the truth was never forgotten.

Have you ever wanted to be the strongest person in the room? When Friedrich Muller was a little boy, he was tiny, frail, and often sick. But he loved reading about ancient Roman gladiators and dreamed of having powerful muscles just like them. He tried doing exercises on his own, but nothing seemed to work. Everything changed when he met a professional bodybuilder who taught him exactly how to train. Friedrich worked incredibly hard, changed his name to Eugen Sandow, and transformed his body completely. Soon, he wasn't just strong; he was known around the globe as the strongest man on earth. People everywhere wanted to be just like him. Eugen traveled the world performing amazing feats of strength, lifting heavy weights, and even carrying horses. This fascinating biography shows you how Eugen Sandow invented the modern sport of bodybuilding and convinced everyday people that daily exercise is important for a healthy life. Grab your gym shoes and get ready to be inspired by a true legend of fitness.

Words have immense power, and George Moses Horton knew this from the time he was a young boy. Born into slavery and forced to work long, exhausting days on a farm, George was never allowed to attend school or learn how to read. But his desire to understand words could not be stopped. He listened carefully to the lessons of the farmer's children, memorizing the alphabet until he successfully taught himself to read. George's mind was full of beautiful verses, so he began composing poetry entirely in his head. When he was sent to sell fruits and vegetables at a nearby college campus, he started reciting his poems out loud. The college students were amazed by his talent, and soon, they were paying him to write poems for them. This moving and powerful biography introduces you to the first Black writer from the South to have his work published. You will discover how George used his brilliant mind and his unstoppable determination to make his voice heard, proving that creativity can shine even in the darkest of circumstances.

When danger strikes, Roto the helicopter and her brave pilot Roy are always ready to answer the call! In this thrilling adventure, a fierce forest fire threatens the woods, and it is up to this heroic duo to save the day. As the flames spread and the smoke rises, Roto and Roy must work together to fight the fire from the sky. But the mission becomes even more urgent when they spot a stranded dog who needs their help right away. Can Roto and Roy swoop in and make a daring rescue before it is too late? Jump into the pilot seat and soar through the skies in this action-packed story. You will discover the true meaning of bravery, teamwork, and what it takes to be a real hero when the heat is on.

Step onto the basketball court and get ready for a fast-paced journey through sports history. In the early days of basketball, the game was very different. But then came the Harlem Globetrotters, a team of incredibly talented Black players who decided to change the rules of gravity and entertainment. They did not just play the game; they reinvented it with dizzying dribbling, spectacular slam dunks, and unbelievable alley-oops. At a time when America was deeply divided and many professional teams were segregated, these exceptional athletes faced heavy discrimination. Yet they kept smiling, kept passing, and kept winning. Their dazzling skills on the court won over fans from every background, taking them on tours all around the world to spread joy and break down racial barriers. You will be cheering from the sidelines as you read about their spectacular moves, their hard-earned victories, and the massive impact they had on the sport. This true story perfectly captures the soaring energy of a basketball team that showed the world what true teamwork looks like.

Discover the inspiring true story of an artist who proved it is never too late to share your unique vision with the world. Bill Traylor spent his youth as an enslaved boy on a hot Alabama farm, and later worked the same land as a sharecropper. By the time he was eighty five years old, he was living alone in the busy capital city of Montgomery. Though he was poor and lonely, his mind was filled with vibrant memories of rural farm life and the bustling city streets. Using whatever materials he could find, Bill began to draw. Soon, those memories poured onto the paper in energetic, warm, and often funny pictures. You will be captivated by this lively tribute to a self taught folk artist who found his creative voice late in life and left behind a beautiful legacy.

When a powerful flood sweeps through the town, danger is everywhere! Vehicles are washed away, people are stranded, and homes are threatened by the rising waters. But do not worry, because Helicopter Roto and her brave pilot Roy are racing to the rescue! High above the stormy weather, this heroic team scans the ground, looking for anyone who needs their help. They must use all their skills, courage, and teamwork to navigate the dangerous winds and pull off daring rescues. Will they be able to save the day before the floodwaters rise too high? Strap in and take flight with Roto and Roy in this thrilling, action-packed adventure. You will discover just how much bravery it takes to be a first responder and help those in need when a real emergency strikes!

Step up to the plate and meet one of the greatest baseball players in history. Long before hitting home runs in packed stadiums, Willie Mays was just a young boy growing up in Alabama with a big dream and incredible athletic talent. He learned the game from his father, practicing his throwing and catching until his skills were absolutely perfect. With his trademark basket catch and his blazing speed around the bases, Willie soon made his way to the major leagues, where he dazzled fans across the country. Everyone knew him by his famous nickname, the Say Hey Kid. Written in a fun, bouncy rhythm, this lively story follows Willie's journey from playing in his neighborhood to becoming a true sports legend. The colorful pages will make you feel like you are right there in the stands, cheering for every amazing play.

The rooster is crowing, the sun is just peeking over the horizon, and it is time to start the day. On a bustling Texas farm in the 1950s, a young African American boy leaps out of bed, ready to help his family with their daily chores. First, there are cows to milk and hungry farm animals to feed. Then, it is time to head out into the fields to mow the tall hay and carefully pick fresh vegetables from the garden. But farm life is not just about hard work. There is plenty of time for fun, too, like casting a line into the pond to catch fish for dinner. Told in a beautiful, catchy rhythm, this warm story takes you through every hour of a busy, joyful summer day. It is a wonderful celebration of family love, working together, and the magic of living close to nature.

Carter G. Woodson did not just read about history; he dedicated his entire life to changing how the world remembered it. Born to formerly enslaved parents shortly after the Civil War, Carter understood the immense power of knowledge. Since his father could not read, young Carter proudly read the newspaper to him every single day. When he started working in the harsh coal mines as a teenager, he met a man who challenged him to do more than just read the news. He asked Carter to research and uncover the hidden stories that truly mattered to their community. This simple request sparked a lifelong passion. Carter embarked on an incredible journey around the globe, seeking out the untold stories of his ancestors. This powerful biography introduces the remarkable man who founded Black History Month and proved that exploring our past is the first step to building a brighter future.

Junius G. Groves was born into slavery in Kentucky, but from a very young age, he had massive dreams. Once he was a free man, he joined thousands of other African Americans traveling out West to find a better life. When he arrived in Kansas, he started working on a tiny potato farm for very little money. He did not let the hard work get him down. Instead, he learned everything he could about farming and eventually rented his own plot of land. By working tirelessly from dawn until dusk, Junius grew a massive empire. Soon, he was harvesting literally millions of potatoes, buying hundreds of acres of land, and even building a beautiful mansion for his growing family. This fantastic true story shows you what incredible things can happen when you mix big dreams with hard work. You will see how Junius proved his doubters wrong and grew a mighty kingdom straight from the dirt.

Effa Manley loved the crack of a baseball bat. Even as a young girl, she headed straight to Yankee Stadium just to watch the players step up to the plate. She never expected that one day, she would own a professional baseball team herself, or become the very first and only woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Growing up in Philadelphia, Effa learned early on to fight for what was right. When she became the business manager and owner of the Newark Eagles, she used her platform to bring communities together and support civil rights. Her players became some of the best in the league, proving that a woman could lead a championship sports organization. This incredible true story takes you back to the thrilling days of the Negro Leagues, showing how one person's immense passion for a sport changed the game forever. You will learn how Effa broke rules, smashed expectations, and led her team all the way to a spectacular World Series victory.

In the bustling streets of New Orleans in 1895, ten-year-old Stalebread Charlie and his best friend, Warm Gravy, are hungry and homeless. They spend their days wandering the city, searching for a way to buy their next meal. Stalebread has always heard that music can feed the soul, and he hopes it might just be able to feed his rumbling stomach, too. Using sheer creativity, the boys begin building their very own instruments out of discarded items they find in the trash. An empty cigar box becomes a fiddle, and a simple comb transforms into a kazoo. When they start to play their joyful, clattering tunes, the city stops to listen. Before long, their hats are overflowing with tossed coins and their bellies are full of delicious warm beignets. Based on an incredible true story, this energetic tale will show you how a group of clever kids turned hard times into a musical triumph.

Lonnie Johnson always had a brilliant mind for rockets, robots, and big ideas. Growing up in a busy house full of brothers and sisters, he learned early on how to persist through challenges and solve tricky problems. This passion for figuring out how things work led him to a successful career as an engineer, eventually designing important systems for NASA. But his most famous creation happened completely by mistake. While trying to invent a new cooling system for spacecraft, Lonnie accidentally designed the mechanics for the Super Soaker water gun. This fun, fascinating true story shows how a love for science and a creative spirit led to one of the most popular toys of all time. You will discover how asking questions, testing ideas, and never giving up can lead to the biggest splashes of success.

Long before you could just download a game or switch a cartridge, playing video games was incredibly difficult and expensive. If you wanted a new game, you had to buy a completely new machine. Enter Jerry Lawson, an engineer who loved tinkering with springs, sprockets, and gadgets. Growing up, Jerry was always taking things apart to see how they worked. As an adult in the 1970s, he turned his brilliant mind to the world of video gaming. He saw a major problem and refused to give up until he solved it. Facing tough roadblocks and failed levels along his path, Jerry eventually leveled up to create the very first video game console that let players swap out game cartridges. He even started his own company, making him a true pioneer in the tech world. In this fascinating true story, you will discover how one man's curiosity and determination completely changed how we play today. Grab your controller and get ready to learn about the genius who made modern gaming possible.

John Roy Lynch spent his early childhood working as a slave in Mississippi, facing hardships most kids could never imagine. But his entire world transformed when the Emancipation Proclamation finally brought freedom to the South. Suddenly, doors that had been locked forever swung open. John Roy could finally go to school, earn money from a paying job, and build his own future. While many people fiercely fought against these social changes, John Roy embraced the new era with incredible determination. His brilliant mind and hard work eventually led him to become a justice of the peace and, incredibly, one of the first African American men elected to the United States Congress. Step back in time to explore the challenging and hopeful days of the Reconstruction period. Follow the inspiring true journey of a boy who rose from slavery to become a powerful voice for justice and equality in America.