Ocean State Libraries

On the morning of December 1, 1955, hardly anyone in Rosa Parks' home town of Montgomery, Alabama had heard of her. By the time that night fell, she was on her way to becoming a household name all over the United States. That morning, she had refused to give up her bus seat to a white person. Rosa, who was African American, was tired of being pushed around because of the color of her skin. The news of her arrest spread like wildfire. African American...

An easy look at the life of this American original.

In this colorful biography, find out how Michelle Robinson's family always encouraged her to reach for the stars. From her early days as a schoolgirl to her college years in Chicago and later at Princeton University, Michelle was always determined to do her best. After meeting and marrying Barack Obama, Michelle became part of a powerful team that changed history when Barack was elected the nation's first African-American president. Despite her fame,...

Read about the life of Christopher Columbus, from his birth in Genoa, Italy, to the voyages that changed both the Old and New Worlds forever.