Daring men and women aren't just found in the pages of fictional stories. In fact, history offers us a number of examples of people who stood up for what was right in the face of significant opposition. Their stories can inspire us to also be courageous when the situation calls for it. Whether the problem is a large one, like a dictatorial state or a cultural prejudice, or a small one, such as standing up to a bully, we can resolve to be a hero and fight for what is right. That's why the stories in this book are so impactful--they offer us an opportunity to learn lessons from the lives of a wide variety of people and ponder how we might have acted in a similar situation. These heroes often stand out because so many of their peers failed to act likewise. Sadly, too few seem to have the courage to oppose something that is wrong. But these stories can help us prepare to be counted as someone who will choose the right!

In graphic novel format, retells the Mayan myth of the twin brothers, Hunahpu and Xbalanque, who are challenged to play a game of pok-ta-pok after they anger the Lords of Xibalba, rulers of the land of the dead.

The Navajo people often told stories that taught the listener the tribe's customs and history. In this hero myth, the story of the twins who saved Earth from the monsters leading to the creation of the Navajo clans is shared. The Navajo hero myth is retold in this brilliantly illustrated Native American Myth. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Short Tales is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO.

An unforgettable story of insight, inspiration, and faith Growing up in a small town in the Panama Canal Zone, Rod Carew and his friends spent the long, temperate days hitting bottle caps with broomsticks, outfitted with mitts molded from paper bags, cardboard, and string. Each broomstick bat was customized by its owner; Carew's, slathered in black paint with yellow trim, bore in orange the number 42—that of his idol, Jackie Robinson. It was in this fashion, years before he would move to New York City in search of a better life, Carew honed the skills that would one day turn him into a perennial All-Star. For 19 seasons, Carew was a maestro in the batter's box. Uncoiling from his crouched stance, he seemed to guide the ball wherever he wanted on the way to a whopping seven batting titles and a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame. If only everything in life had been as easy as he made hitting look. In One Tough Out: Fighting Off Life's Curveballs, Carew reflects on the highlights, anecdotes, and friendships from his outstanding career, describing the abuse, poverty, and racism he overcame to even reach the majors. In conversational, confessional prose, he takes readers through the challenges he's conquered in the second half of his life, from burying his youngest daughter to surviving several near-fatal bouts with heart disease. He also details the remarkable reason he's alive today: the heart transplant he received from Konrad Reuland, a 29-year-old NFL player he'd met years before. Carew explains how that astonishing connection was revealed and the unique bond he and his wife, Rhonda, have since forged with his donor's family. As Robinson once said, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." As Carew recounts his story, Robinson's words take on an even greater resonance.

A treasury of Twin Cities baseball history packed with photos from the archives. Major League Baseball came to the Minnesota prairie in the spring of 1961, and ever since, the Minnesota Twins have held a cherished place in the hearts of sports fans throughout the region. With Hall of Famers like Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, and Kirby Puckett and beloved characters from Billy Martin to Kent Hrbek to Joe Mauer, the history of the Twins encompasses highs and lows, heroes and goats, but always nonstop excitement. Minnesota Twins: The Complete Illustrated History provides an in-depth and entertaining look at the team, its players, its stadiums, and the memorable moments through the years. Illustrated with photos from the Star Tribune’s archives, it is the ultimate celebration of a beloved franchise.

A unique retelling of a classic Mayan legend, the adventures of the Hero Twins, is rescued from a tattered 150-year-old expedition journal and translated into English. In October of 1864, one Armando Hernán de Antigua, a Veracruz writer and adventurer, traveled to the ruins of Yaxchilan to meet a Quiché shaman, don Hun Batz, to hear from him the story of Hunahpu and Xbalanque, the famous Hero Twins of Popol Vuh. At Yaxchilan, don Armando captured the entire oral interpretation of this classic Maya legend in his expedition journal. More than 150 years later, the present writer was fortunate to discover this precious diary at a small Veracruz flea market. Eventually, he was able to translate the journal and to prepare it for publication. Hunahpu and Xbalanque is a fascinating, gripping saga of the adventurous Hero Twins, as they battle for their lives in the depths of the Mayan Xibalba. It is retold in an intimate, personal manner, the way an ancient Mayan grandfather would have told it to his eagerly listening grandchildren--somewhere in the pristine jungles of Guatemala. --The Publisher

In graphic novel format, retells the Mayan myth of the twin brothers, Hunahpu and Xbalanque, who are challenged to play a game of pok-ta-pok after they anger the Lords of Xibalba, rulers of the land of the dead.