Michael Burgan

What would you do with a billion dollars? This question gets a definitive answer from billionaire Richard Branson: do everything! Born into a wealthy family in London, Branson suffered from dyslexia and was a poor student. Still, his knack for business started early with a successful parakeet-breeding enterprise at age 11. The charismatic entrepreneur launched his first major business, Virgin Records, at age 22 and spent the next few decades building...

"Born in 551 BC, Confucius was a young man when he set his heart and mind on learning as much as he could. By his thirties, he'd become a brilliant teacher who shared his knowledge of several subjects, including arithmetic, history, and poetry, with his students. Confucius wanted to make sure that everyone in China had access to an education and devoted his whole life to learning and teaching so he could transform and improve society. His lessons--now...

Explores the land, people, history, economy, and travel opportunities of the state of New Mexico.

You are a Patriot in the American Revolution, ready to fight for independence and the right to prosper in this new land, OR ... You are a British soldier, sent to fight for England against the American rebels, OR ... You are a Boston civilian trying to make sense of the chaos overtaking your city.

"The Middle Ages come to life in this latest installment in the hit Weird But True Know-It-All series, featuring stories of legendary rulers, epic castles, menacing weaponry, and more!Vikings are known for being fierce warriors. But did you know that they used tug-of-war to train for battle-and that the losing team got pulled into a pit of fire? Europe was ravaged by the plague during the Middle Ages. But did you know that one proposed cure from Medieval...

"The coronavirus disease COVID-19 emerged in November 2019. By March 2020, cities all around the world closed schools, offices, restaurants, and other public spaces deemed "non-essential" in an attempt to contain the fast-spreading virus. People struggled to follow government orders, stay indoors, and limit contact with others. But the virus that caused one of the world's deadliest pandemics eventually killed over two million people worldwide. This...

"Describes the role spies played during World War II. Readers' choices reveal various historical details"--

Little boys, some as young as 6, spent their long days, not playing or studying, but sorting coal in dusty, loud, and dangerous conditions. Many of these breaker boys worked 10 hours a day, six days a week all for as little as 45 cents a day. Child labor was common in the United States in the 19th century. It took the compelling, heart breaking photographs of Lewis Hine and others to bring the harsh working conditions to light. Hine and his fellow...

You're one of millions of immigrants leaving your home in the early 1900s to move to the United States. You're searching for a better life. Ellis Island, near New York City, is your first stop in your search for opportunity and freedom. Officials on the island have been processing immigrants there for decades, but not everyone gets through. If you pass the tests, you're on your way to a new life in the United States. If you don't, you may find yourself...

Provides information on the world of medicine and health care, including bacteria that saves lives, the use of virtual reality by doctors, cameras used in brain surgery, breakthroughs in Alzheimer's, and more.