Explains the origins of Valentine's Day and describes the traditions with which this special day is celebrated.

Presents a brief account of the life of the Roman aristocrat who became Ireland's patron saint and discusses the annual holiday that honors him.

Describes the new musical instrument invented by Ben Franklin for which Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven composed music.

Huge footprints in the snow cause Brimhall the bear to try to identify and trap the "monster."

Describes how the Indian Squanto, an English-speaking Christian and former slave, whose village had been wiped out by smallpox, taught the Pilgrims the skills they needed to survive the harsh Massachusetts winter.

A biography of the woman who served in the army during the Revolutionary War under the name Robert Shurtleff and who later lectured about her experiences.

Describes the way in which the new year is celebrated throughout the world, often on days other than January 1.

Brimhall receives a bicycle for his birthday but is ashamed to admit that he doesn't know how to ride it.

Fourteen-year-old John Darragh was a spy. But British-occupied Philadelphia in 1777 was not a safe place for an American spy. If he were captured, John knew he would be hanged. In this suspenseful story based on accounts of the Darragh family's spying activities for General Washington, young John undertakes a dangerous mission to deliver a message to the American army.

Briefly recounts the life of the black minister who devoted his life to civil rights and discusses the national holiday in his name: Martin Luther King Day celebrated on the third Monday of every January.