15-Minute Books

Niagara Falls is one of the most recognized landmarks in the U.S. and Canada. Millions of people visit every year. While you may recognize this landmark, how much do you really know about it? Do you know: How many waterfalls make up Niagara Falls? How much water goes over Niagara Falls every second? How much of the water in the Niagara River goes over the falls? Find out this and more in this book

You've seen them in museums. Large cats with giant teeth sticking out of their mouth! They are often called saber-toothed cats. Scientists often give them the name smilodon. They are fantastic to look at, but how much do you know about these amazing prehistoric creatures? Here are some fun facts that scientists have discovered about the saber-toothed cats.

Pirates are thieves who roam the seas. They prey on ships to steal their cargoes and valuables. Pirates have been around ever since the invention of boats! There is even an old tale that Caesar Augustus was caught by pirates and held for ransom. However, when we think of pirates, we often think of those dashing adventurers that roamed the seas. Read some fun facts about pirates in this fun book.

Frogs seem like cute little creatures. But did you know they can also be downright strange? Not everything about these creatures is what it seems. Here are some interesting and strange things you may not know about our amphibious friends. Do you know? How do frogs drink? How big is the smallest frog? How big is the largest frog? Find out in this fun 15-Minute book.

In the days not long after the pharaohs in Egypt, there lived a woman in China. Leizu (say lee - zhoo) was an empress. She lived in a beautiful palace in China. The palace had a huge garden filled with many trees and flowers. Leizu and her husband, Hoangti loved to walk through their gardens. Read of how she discovered the secret of turning the cocoon of the silkworm into into silk cloth.

The name Geronimo brings fear to the hearts of many people, especially when they hear an enemy yell his name. Many people think of Geronimo as a fighting man; a great warrior. He was. He was also a very gentle man. He was a kind and loving husband who played with his children. What made Geronimo become a fighting man? Find out more about this great warrior and his life.

Matthew Henson was born in Maryland in 1866. As a boy he worked as a sharecropper. A sharecropper is a farmer, but they don't own the land they farm. They grow the food, then they share their crop with the landowner. Matthew's parents died when he when he was young. Matthew didn’t want to be a farmer, so he ran away to sail the seas. Find out how this choice led him to discover the North Pole.

What was King Tut’s like as a boy? Did he go to school? Did he have royal duties? If so, what were they? This book tells of the young life of the boy King Tutankhamen. It tells the stories that have been found on the walls of the temples and shows what his life would have been like growing up. Find out more about this young king of Egypt and his life in this 15-minute biography.

On the first day of 1752, a new baby was born. Her parents were Samuel and Rebecca Griscom. They named their baby Elizabeth, but soon everyone called her Betsy. Betsy grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father worked as a carpenter. He helped to build many buildings. He even built the house that Betsy and her family lived in. Learn about Betsy Ross and her life in this fun, fact-filled book

Many people have heard of Sacajawea and how she helped to lead the Lewis and Clark Expedition. But many people have not heard of her life before or after this time. Sacajawea had a very hard life, and she died young. Find out about the life of the 17-year-old girl who helped to lead Lewis and Clark to the Pacific in this 15-minute biography.

Simon-Rene and Monique Braille lived in a small town in France. The town of Coupvray was 25 miles (40 km) outside Paris. Life was good for the family. Simon worked as a harness maker and leatherer. Simon was well known in the town, and his work supported his wife and three children, two girls and a boy. On January 4, 1809, the new year brought the family a new baby boy. They named him Louis.

One of the most famous pirates to sail the seas, was Mary Reed, a female pirate! Some people spell her last name Read, but since Mary couldn't read or write, it made no difference to her. Mary was born into a sailing family. Find out about the life of this girl who was raised as a boy, and who grew up to become one of only two women convicted of piracy! A 15-minute biography.

My white name is Kathy, but my Indian name is Cornflower. I was born in the time when the flowers blossom in the stalks of corn around our village. The cornflower blossom was the first thing my father saw after I had been brought into the world of men. That is why I have the name Cornflower. Read the story of this White Mountain Apache Girl and what her life is like on the reservation.

Why do we celebrate Columbus Day? Christopher Columbus wasn't the first man to discover America. He wasn't even the first European to set up a town in America. In fact, there were lots of people here before him. Many people think that the first man to explore North America was Leif Erikson. Leif's father was Erik Thorvaldson. He was also known as Erik the Red. Read about Leif's life in this book.

You’ve probably heard of Saint Valentine’s Day. You may have given someone a card or a present. You may even have done it in secret, and watched the look of happiness on their face. But what do you really know about the person who inspired one of the most popular days of the year? Read this 15-minute biography to find out about the three men who may have become Saint Valentine.

St George, defender of the helpless and slayer of dragons is a saint honored by many countries and many religions. He is as popular with Muslims and Jews as he is with Christians. How could this happen? We know dragons never existed. How could someone be so well known and honored worldwide for something that could never have happened? Find out about the life of this man who slew a dragon.

Joan of Arc was a young farm girl who heard the voices of saints. She led an army in battles to drive the English out of France and put the rightful King on the throne. After she was captured, the King and the armies did nothing to help her. She was sold to the English and put on trial for crimes against the Church. Joan was convicted and burned at the stake. Find out more in this 15-Minute bio.

Mary Tudor was a princess who should have been a queen. But her father shunned and disowned her because she was not a boy. After the deaths of her father and half brother, she had to fight those in power who sought to keep her off the throne. Eventually crowned Queen of England, her battles to abolish her father’s new church and return England to Roman Catholicism eaarned her the name Bloody Mary.

“I wonder if something is wrong,” Mr. Broderick asked as he headed across the room. He swung open the window and called. “Chris?” Officer Hall’s head appeared at the window. “Kendall thinks you’re watching us.” “Actually he’s right,” Officer Hall said. “I need to talk to the kids for a few minutes.” Why did Officer Hall want to talk with Kendall and Jamie? See if you can solve this mystery!

Kendall and Jamie were sitting on the front porch looking bored. Just then a police car drove up and stopped in front of the house. An officer got out and opened the back door. Peter Markham stepped out. “I see Peter’s in trouble again,” Jamie said, loud enough for Peter to hear. “More like you are,” Peter sneered. He headed toward them. What have Kendall and Jamie been accused of?

“Today I need everyone to stay in the west play yard during recess. Which way is west?” Everyone looked at their compass. “That way!” several of the students yelled. “Good,” the teacher answered. “After lunch we’re going to go geocaching.” Who finds the geocache first? And are they cheating? See if you can solve this 15-minute mystery before the Brodericks do.

A valuable waistcoat is up for auction. The seller says that it used to belong to George Washington. If so, it could be worth a lot of money. How could they tell if the man was telling the truth? After all, the man selling it was Peter Markham’s uncle. And everyone knew that Peter Markham was one of the most dishonest kids in the whole school. See if you can solve this 15-Minute mystery.

“Ten thousand dollars,” Carl said. “I could get a lot more for it where I’m going in Europe. They remember the war over there. My grandfather was considered a hero by the people of France and England too. I’m only willing to sell it for this low of an amount because this was his hometown.” Is that a good price for an early pistol? And did it really belong to the first mayor?

Officer Hall climbed out of the police car and walked toward the man. She spotted Kendall and Jamie and nodded, but did not come over. She was busy watching the man on the ground. “What happened?” Jamie asked her. “It looks like a robbery,” Officer Hall called out. What is missing, and can Kendall and Jamie help find it? See if you can solve this 15-minute mystery before the Brodericks do.