Ocean State Libraries

Originally written in 1921 for the author's grandchildren, Hendrik Willem van Loon's The Story of Mankind has charmed generations with its warmth, simplicity, and wisdom. Rather than the dry recitation of events so common in school textbooks, van Loon's witty, amiable tone animates the story of human history as a grand and perpetually unfolding adventure. Beginning with the origins of human life and sweeping forward to illuminate all of history, van...

A young man dares not return to England after his ship is taken over by pirates and he becomes a member of their crew.

How can an old man and his wife select one cat from a choice of millions and trillions?

In the 1920's, a Chinese youth from the country comes to Chungking with his mother where the bustling city offers adventure and his apprenticeship to a coppersmith brings good fortune.

A Bulgarian peasant boy who is to inherit his mother's land and take his grandfather's place as a farmer has other plans. He wanted to be a sculptor. His grandfather an artist himself sympathizes with him and gradually wins his mother's consent in letting Dobry go to art school in Sofia.

Tells the story of the life of the rugged frontiersman and pioneer leader who helped settle Kentucky.

In 1756, during the French and Indian War in upper New York state, ten-year-old Edward is determined to protect his home and family with the ancient, and much too heavy, Spanish gun that his father had given him before leaving home to fight the enemy.

After injuring his hand, a silversmith's apprentice in Boston becomes a messenger for the Sons of Liberty in the days before the American Revolution.

In ancient Japan a struggling artist is angered when his housekeeper brings home a tiny white cat he can barely afford to feed.