The Curve Ball ($8.00 each)

Have you ever wanted to find out just how baseball in the United States was moved along with African American participation, or how it happened that baseball might help overcome prejudical law? Learn the history of the Negro League baseball teams from the formation of the first team during the Civil War through the stock market crash, and the historic 1945 Ives-Quinn law banning employment discrimination. Children dream of one day achieving success, often through our great American sport of baseball. The Curve Ball will draw them into a world of historic bravery, teamwork, and geography as well as introduce them to the visionaries and adventurers who took forging ahead through racism to new levels. Certain parts of this newly published book for youth are specifically intended for teachers and their students, and are adaptable for younger or older students.

This carefully researched book, sanctioned and licensed by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, introduces readers to baseball historic greats including "Cap" Anderson, Moses Walker, Sol White, Homer Plessy (who in 1892 challenged segregation by sitting in a "whites only" train car), Rube Foster, Satchel Paige & Josh Gibson Oscar Charleston, Smokey Joe Williams, Willie Foster, Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby, to name just some of the incredible players featured through original sketches in this book.

Learn also about the development of the Negro Leagues from one geographic area to another, the annual Negro Leagues World Series, and what ultimately happened.

You don't need to be a "kid" in age-- just in heart-- to enjoy this book.

The Amazing Arts of Dayton ($4.95 each)

The book is about two siblings, Halie and Shawm, who move to Dayton with their mother. Their neighbors, the Tolsons, take the kids on an art tour of Dayton, where they learn about the different art venues in the city and art programs available to kids. Their tour starts with the Victoria Theatre and ends with the Schuster Performing Arts Center.

In “The Amazing Arts of Dayton,” Halie wants to be a dancer and Shawm wants to be a director. They learn about the opportunities available to help them develop their talents, and many Dayton locals probably don’t know about these opportunities themselves.

Is your young child a budding singer, dancer, artist or poet? There’s a new book that can give him or her a little nudge with this learning activity book.

It’s one of a series of books designed for classroom use to help young students develop their reading ability while learning a variety of topics.

“For decades, Dayton has raised some of the brightest stars in every field of the arts, from jazz great Billy Strayhorn to world-renowned author Paul Laurence Dunbar to legendary actor Martin Sheen, the city has cultivated a community that values art and the artist.”

One such Dayton-born artist wrote the introduction for “The Amazing Arts of Dayton.” Bruce Anthony Davis, now a Broadway performer, praises Dayton’s support of the arts and encourages local children to follow their dreams in his introduction. “Just remember how I started with little more than a dream and achieved everything I wanted by working hard and believing in myself,” he says.

Preview Sample Page

ADVENTURES IN FLIGHT ($3.99 each)

Have you ever wanted to fly? Children also dream of soaring through the skies. Adventures In Flight will draw them into a world of aviation, and introduce them to the visionaries and adventurers who took aviation to new levels. Children can take off with this learning activity book that will teach them about the many innovations of flight from the hot air balloon to the space shuttle. This book is dedicated to those flying machines of all periods of aviation history from the unconventional to the sophisticated. Learn about the Wright Glider, the Spirit of St. Louis, why airplanes fly, and the parts to the space shuttle.

Certain parts of Adventures In Flight are specifically intended for science teachers and their students, and are adaptable for younger or older students.

Awesome Americans, Charles F. Kettering ($4.99)

Charles F. Kettering held over 140 invention patents and now he is the subject of the Awesome Americans series by Children’s Historical Publishing (CHP). “Boss Kett,” as he was known in his day, helped found Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute and the DELCO division of GM. He also made some of the most significant advancements to the automobile, from the self-starter and quick drying paint to the automatic transmission. Other inventions include the electric cash register, portable electric generator, and many more featured in this Learning Activity Book. Mr. Kettering left a remarkable footprint. He was one of the greatest inventors in U.S history. With illustrations by artist Leonard Williams and teacher’s guide, children will enjoy a rich history of Mr. Kettering with matching games, word searches, fill in the blanks and an essay prize contest. The book is written for children to showcase some of Mr. Kettering’s amazing inventions, humanitarian pursuits and phenomenal life story in a way that reaches the kids of today.

Sample Printable Page

DAYTON INVENTORS AND INVENTIONS VOL. 1 ($3.99 each)

Imagine what life would be like without a cone to hold your ice cream, without yellow pages in the telephone book, the self-starter for your car, cellophane wrap, the pull tab on cans, or even the airplane. Many of these world changing, not to mention life changing inventions were created by Dayton, Ohio inventors. Learn about these inventions and inventors in Dayton Inventors and Inventions as Johnny Dayton and Jenny Gem explore this world of creativity and imagination.

Teachers, Home-schoolers, parents, and children alike will get an “I didn’t know that” kick out of this learning activity book. Remember you are never too young or too old to invent something.

DAYTON INVENTORS AND INVENTIONS VOL. 2 ($3.99)

You’ve already Imagined what life would be like without a cone to hold your ice cream, without yellow pages in the telephone book, the self-starter for your car, cellophane wrap, the pull tab on cans, or even the airplane. You’ve discovered that many of these inventions were created by Daytonian inventors.

Read and learn about even more inventions and inventors in Dayton Inventors and Inventions 2nd edition as Johnny Dayton and Jenny Gem explore this world of creativity and imagination again!

DAYTON PEOPLE PLACES & THINGS LEARNING ACTIVITY BOOK (4.99)

Never underestimate the importance local history. The New Dayton, People Places & Things is the 2nd edition to our first book on a series focusing on hometown history. The hometown of the Wright Brothers (inventors), Paul Laurence Dunbar (poet), Frank M. Tait (formed the Dayton power and Light electrical company), James Ritty (inventor of the cash register), and The Wright Cycle Shop is an example that some of the best history of America is in your own backyard.

Start your children’s collection of local history with this book. The creation of this series of learning activity books is intended to step beyond the Success of the classroom to Significance in your community.

THE HISTORY OF HOT AIR BALLOONS ($3.99)

The History of Hot Air Balloons will take you on a journey through time in the creation and development of the Hot Air Balloon. Join the “History Kids” as they examine the science and technology of how hot air balloons work. Math, science, technology, time and distance, physics, weather, teamwork, safety, and mapping skills are just some of the educational enrichment and enhancement skills that form the foundation of this learning activity book.

Just think of the fun you can have as you float along with the wind.

MAGIC OF THE UAW ($4.99)

How well do you know the history of the UAW? Did you know:
• From 1937-1941 the UAW worked to bring the union into Ford, accepting the help of one creative Ford worker who installed an extra radio button in all new cards tuned to the Union’s station.
• UAW President Walter Reuther was good friends with Martin Luther King Jr. The UAW and Mr. Reuther contributed greatly to the civil rights movement and participated in marches with Dr. King.
• The longest UAW strike of nine years took place at the Ohio Crankshaft factory in Cuyahoga Heights. The workers stood united and earned fully paid health insurance, wage increases and pension credit, plus all strikers got their jobs back.
• Ivy League universities including Cornell and Columbia, plus fine schools such as New York University and Boston University, have employees that belong to the UAW.

The first learning-activity book about the UAW has just been released by Children’s Historical Publishing (CHP), a division of Home Based Arts USA. “Magic of the UAW” illustrates the historical people, places and events of the UAW. From the union’s early days working with President Roosevelt in the 1930s to the major accomplishments of today, this fun and educational book shows how the UAW has been a pioneer for the rights of American workers.

PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR LEARNING ACTIVITY BOOK ($4.99)

Why is Paul Laurence Dunbar relevant to children today? It’s because he was the first African-American in history to be highly regarded by all Americans as an intelligent, profoundly gifted writer who celebrated his cultural background as he examined it. It will always be important for children of this country from all cultural backgrounds to learn about who came before them to pave the way to their dream-pursuits, so that they too can excel at being a writer, a scientist, a businessman, whichever interest sparks their imagination. Paul was the first African-American to gain national popularity and critical acclaim as a poet in a profession dominated by whites. His success gave young African-Americans hope to pursue the arts as a profession when blacks were only encouraged to get industrial jobs.

Paul’s poetry addressed the challenges and joys of being an African-American and many of those challenges and joys are still relevant today.

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD LEARNING ACTIVITY BOOK ($4.99)

The Underground Railroad is a special moment in the history of the United States. The story of the people involved in the Underground Railroad is important to know. They offer us examples of individuals whose actions made a difference for themselves and for others. The routes people followed, the places where they were hidden, the cooperation between the people involved are all important lessons. They illustrate for us the power of the human spirit and the strength that comes from strong beliefs. In this book you will learn about the Underground Railroad Movement and the people who made it work are well worth remembering.

They remind us that perseverance along with the right support can change the lives of people and the world in which they live.

Sample Printable Page

THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN LEARNING ACTIVITY BOOK ($3.99 each)

This is based on the true historical story about the first African American fighter pilots in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and their ground crews. See how together as a team they created the dramatic story of the 332nd Fighter Group, and the 99th Fighter Squadrons. Follow these brave and daring men as they become heroes and then legends in their own time carving for themselves a place in American history forever. A great book for Black History Month. “These airmen were dedicated to freedom and opportunity for all. Americans everywhere still benefit from their heroic actions because of barriers they broke.

Join us on this tour of duty with a very special group known as the Tuskegee Airmen.”- Quote from General Lester L. Lyles, General USAF (retired).

WOMEN IN AVIATION LEARNING ACTIVITY BOOK ($3.99)

Did you know the first American to earn a pilot license was a woman? Did you know there were more than 1,000 women who flew in defense of our country during WWII? Did you know that in the 1970's when women were first hired as airline pilots, many were asked not to wear makeup and to keep their hair cut short?"

These and many other fun facts can be discovered in this Activity Book about aviation in general and with special notes about women who have played a part throughout aviation history.

TO ORVILLE AND WILBUR CD - ($9.99)

In celebration of the Wright Brothers and their accomplishments in Dayton, Ohio and Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, we know that you will enjoy “To Orville and Wilbur” a captivating and inspiring CD that features Andre’ Peterson, a 12-year old young man gifted with some killer pipes, and enough pure and natural singing talent to blow you away. Andre’s rendition of “America” is sobering and sweet with a touch of genuine soulfulness far beyond his years.

Robert Peterson, an Aviation Heritage Trails Park Ranger adds the right touch with his narration on the Wright Brothers. This is a CD that everyone will enjoy for years to come.