Title:

The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris Paperback

Author:

David McCullough

About

In The Greater Journey, David McCullough chronicles the untold stories of ambitious Americans who journeyed to Paris between 1830 and 1900 to study, create, and grow. From Elizabeth Blackwell, the first female doctor in the U.S., to artist Mary Cassatt and inventor Samuel Morse, these pioneers found inspiration in the City of Light that reshaped American art, science, politics, and culture. McCullough’s vivid narrative reveals how their time abroad fueled abolitionist movements, artistic breakthroughs, and innovations like the telegraph. Richly detailed and deeply human, this sweeping history captures the spirit of those who dared to dream beyond America’s shores.

Title:

Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West

Author:

Dorothy Wickenden

About

Nothing Daunted tells the true story of two adventurous Smith College graduates, Dorothy Woodruff and Rosamond Underwood, who left behind comfortable lives in 1916 to teach in a remote schoolhouse in Elkhead, Colorado. Trading society teas for horseback rides through blizzards, they found themselves at the heart of a rugged pioneer community—and an unexpected matchmaking scheme. With warmth and wit, their letters home captured the hardships and humor of frontier life. A century later, Dorothy Wickenden, Dorothy’s granddaughter, brings their story vividly to life through rich historical detail and personal insight into a transformative year in the American West.

Title:

For the Birds: The Life of Tory Peterson

Author:

Peggy Thomas

Illustrator

Laura Jacques

About

For the Birds tells the inspiring story of Roger Tory Peterson, the passionate naturalist who transformed how we observe the natural world. Once nicknamed “Professor Nuts Peterson” for his bird obsession, he grew up to create the beloved Peterson Field Guides—selling over seven million copies and becoming essential tools for birdwatchers. This first children’s biography, written by Peggy Thomas and illustrated by Laura Jacques, draws on insights from the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. With vivid art and engaging storytelling, it celebrates Peterson’s legacy as a pioneer in conservation and education, earning the John Burroughs Nature Books for Young Readers Award.