Jack and Annie travel to a monastery in the Swiss Alps where, with the help of St. Bernard dogs and magic, they seek the second of four special objects necessary to break the spell on the wizard Merlin's beloved penguin, Penny.

Jack and Annie travel 500 years back in time to Florence, Italy, and spend a day helping Leonardo da Vinci in the hope of learning another secret of happiness.

Describes the preparation and celebration of a medieval feast held at an English manor house entertaining royal guests.

A brief look at the life of United States president Abraham Lincoln.

When Merlin is weighed down by sorrows, Jack and Annie travel back to feudal Japan to learn one of the four secrets of happiness.

"Jack and Annie search for the fourth secret of greatness for Merlin the Magician in Mexico City at the 1970 World Cup Games. They hope to learn something new from soccer player great, Pele"--

"Ever since Williamina Fleming was little she was curious, and her childhood fascination with light inspired her life's work. Mina became an astronomer in a time when women were discouraged from even looking through telescopes. Yet Mina believed that the universe, with its billions of stars, was a riddle--and she wanted to help solve it. Mina ultimately helped to create a map of the universe that paved the way for astronomers. Newbery Honor-winning...

"The first Thanksgiving was a celebration. The pilgrims were thankful for the harvest they planted. Find out what the pilgrims ate for the first Thanksgiving."--Publisher's description.

Follows a young Cuban girl in the 1930s as she strives to become a drummer, despite being continually reminded that only boys play the drums, and that there's never been a female drummer in Cuba. Includes note about Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, who inspired the story, and Anacaona, the all-girl dance band she formed with her sisters.