Amazing Histories

The past, present, and future of how we listen to tunes.

This bite-sized nonfiction text explores the history of sneakers and how one of Nike’s first sneakers was inspired by a waffle.

The surprising story behind America’s favorite snack

How a fancy dish from Europe became an all-American classic.

A look at the past, present, and future of one of America’s favorite pastimes

The totally gruesome, totally fascinating history of dentistry.

Life wasn’t always as clean as it is today.

Two nonfiction texts explore how TV has changed over time and the role TV has played in our culture.

Two nonfiction texts explore where dogs came from and how the relationship between dogs and humans has changed over time.

Superheroes are everywhere. This is the story of how they got their start—and why they still matter.

This fascinating paired texts package explores how two very different dishes—pizza and sushi—became popular in America.

It all began with a whimsical idea: Bouncing could be a lot of fun.

With a bit of rope and a lot of creativity, kids created a street game that spread across the world.

How billions of tiny animated images took over our screens—and changed the way we communicate

The surprising origins of everyday things

How a once-hated contraption won over the world

The tale of a Mexican street food that became an American hit

You’ll never look at an ice cube the same way again!

How a style of dance created on the streets of New York City took over the world