ERIC ED363546: Biography Today: Profiles of People of Interest to Young Readers, 1992-1993.

961 Pages·1992·14.9 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 363 546
SO 023 401
AUTHOR
Harris, Laurie Lanzen, Ed.
TITLE
Biography Today: Profiles of People of Interest to
Young Readers, 1992-1993.
REPORT NO
ISSN-1058-2347
PUB DATE
92
NOTE
961p.; Volume 1, Number 1, previously entered as ED
351 257.
AVAILABLE FROM
Omnigraphics, Inc., Penobscot Building, Detroit, MI
48226 ($42 per year, 3-4 issues).
PUB TYPE
Collected Works
Reference
Serials (022)
Materials
General (130)
JOURNAL CIT
Biography Today; v1-2 1992-1993
EDRS PRICE
MF07/PC39 Plus Postage.
DESCRIPTORS
Biographies; *Childrens Literature; *Current Events;
Elementary Secondary Education; *Popular Culture;
Reading Materials; *Social Studies; *Youth
IDENTIFIERS
*Celebrities
ABSTRACT
This publication presents biographical profiles of
people of interest to young readers. The concept is unique in that
the subjects profiled are not necessarily people of great or lasting
stature. Many are noted writers or public figures who have made
important contributions to the current world, but a goodly number of
entries are biographies of modern sports heroes and entertainment
personalities. These have been included in direct response to the
interests of the young. Each biography has a light and very personal
touch. Terms and concepts that might have no meaning to young people
are explained, often in detail so as not to assume a great deal of
background knowledge. Each issue contains 15-20 sketches arranged
alphabetically. Each entry contains at least one picture of the
individual profiled and includes information on birth, youth, early
memories, education, first jobs, marriage and family, career
highlights, memorable experiences, hobbies, and honors and awards.
Obituary entries also are included, written to provide a perspective
on the individual's entire career. Obituaries are clearly marked in
both the table of contents and at the beginning of the entry. To
provide easy access to entries, each issue contains a name index,
a
general index covering occupations, organizations, and ethnic and
minority origins, a places of birth index, and a birthday index.
Persons included in the seven issues making up volumes one and two
include entertainers such as Paula Abdul, Kirstie Alley, Gloria
Estefan, and Roseann Arnold; ballerina Darci Kistler; singers ranging
from opera singer Kathleen Battle to k. d. lang; cartoonist Cathy
Guisewite; actors Jasmine Guy, Denzel Washington, Sara Gilbert,
Winona Ryder, and Candice Bergen; sports figures such as Larry Bird,
Wayne Gretzky, Magic Johnson, Kristi Yamaguchi, Andre Agassi; Arthur
Ashe, Dan Marino, Shaquille O'Neal, and Martina Navratilova; world
leaders, including Mikhail Gozbachev, George Bush, Boris Yeltsin,
Bill Clinton, Albert Gore, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and Cesar Chavez;
and other public figures such as Janet Reno, Hilary Rodham Clinton,
Princess Diana, H. Ross Perot, Clarence Thomas, Gloria Steinem, Sally
Ride, and Mae Jemison. (DK)
Biography Today
1992-1993
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Letter from the publisher
The concept of Biography Today is unique in that the subjects profiled here
Many are, of course,
are not necessarily people of great or lasting stature.
noted writers or public figures who have made important contributions
biographies
to the world we live in, but a goodly number of entries are
of modem sports heroes and entertainment personalities. These we have
included in direct response to the interests of the young. They want to
read about the athletes and actors and musicians whose names are familiar
to them, and whose fame and talents are the current rage.
The one element we have kept in mind in launching this publication is
that youthful readers have youthful interests. We have tried to give each
biography a light and very personal touch without sacrificing the content.
Certain terms and concepts that might have no meaning to this new
generation are explained, often in detail, since we cannot assume that
readers so young have the background knowledge that we take for granted.
Even the page size and the typeface were evaluated for their appeal to
young readers.
Biographical dictionaries and encyclopedias aboundgood reference
works that our children will turn to and depend upon throughout their
adult years. But we feel that Biography Today answers their existing needs
with an appealing, story-telling approach. If a clas1; assignment can also
be a "good reacr then we have met that challenge.
Frederick G. Ruffner, Jr.
4!.
Biography
Today
Profiles
of People
of Interest
to Young
Readers
Volume 1
Issue 1
January 1992
Laurie Lanzen Harris
Editor
Omnvray
(Av.
Penobscot Building
Detroit, Michigan 48226
5
4
Laurie Lanzen Harris, Editor
Cherie D. Abbey and Margaret W. Young, Contributing Editors
Barry Puckett, Research Associate
Omnigraphics, Inc.
* * *
Frank R. Abate, Vice President, Dictionaries
Laurie Lanzen Harris, Vice President, Editorial Director
Peter E. Ruffner, Vice President, Administration
James A. Sellgren, Vice President, Operations and Finance
Eric F. Berger, Production Manager
* * *
Frederick G. Ruffner, Jr., Publisher
1992 Omnigraphics, Inc.
Copyright
ISBN 1-55888-761-X
ISSN 1058-2347
The information in this publication was compiled from the sources cited
and from other sources considered reliable. While every possible effort
has been made to ensure reliability, the publisher will not assume liability
for damages caused by inaccuracies in the data, and makes no warranty,
express or implied, on the accuracy of the information contained herein.
This book is printed on acid-free paper meeting the ANSI Z39.48 Standard.
The infinity, symbol that appears above indicates that the paper in this
book meets that standard.
Printed in the United States of America
Contents
Preface
Paula Abdul 1962-
1
American Singer, Dancer, and Choreographer
6
Larry Bird
1956-
American Professional Basketball Player with the Boston Celtics
Judy Blume 1938-
12
American Writer and Author of Deenie and Forever
Berke Breathed
1957-
18
American Cartoonist and Creator of "Bloom County" and
"Outland"
Barbara Bush 1925-
22
American First.Lady
George Bush 1924-
27
American President
Bill Cosby
33
1937-
American Comedian and Television Star
Mikhail Gorbachev
39
1931-
Russian Former President of the Soviet Union
Steffi Graf
45
1969-
German Professional Tennis Player
Wayne Gretzky
50
1961-
Canadian Professional Hockey Player with the Los Angeles
Kings
Matt &oening 1954-
56
American Cartoonist and Creator of "The Simpsons"
Hammer 1963-
61
American Rap Singer
Martin Handford (Autobiography)
66
1956-
English Writer and Illustrator of the Where's Waldo? Series
Lee A. Iacocca (Autobiography)
69
1924-
American Business Leader and Chairman of Chrysler
Corporation
ill
7
Bo Jackson
1962-
73
American Professional Baseball Player with the
Chicago White Sox
Steven Jobs
1955-
79
American Business Leader and Co-Founder of Apple Computer
Michael Jordan
1963-
84
American Professional Basketball Player with the Chicago Bulls
Madeleine L'Engle (Autobiography)
1918-
89
American Writer and Author of A Wrinkle in Time
Nelson Mandela 1918-
93
South African Political Leader
Thurgood Marshall
1908-
99
American Former Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court
Ann M. Martin
1955-
105
American Writer and Author of the "Baby-sitters Club" Series
Luke Perry
1964?-
110
American Actor and Star of "Beverly Hills, 90210"
Colin Powell
1937-
115
American Army General and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff
Sally Ride 1951-
120
American Astronaut and First American Woman in Space
Pete Rose
1941-
125
American Athlete
H. Norman Schwarzkopf
1934-
131
American Army General and Commander of Armed Forces
during the Persian Gulf War
Dr Seuss (Obituary)
1904-1991
137
American Writer and Illustrator
Clarence Thomas 1948-
143
American Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court
Bill Watterson
1958-
148
American Cartoonist and Creator of "Calvin and Hobbes"
Appendix
153
Photo and Illustration Credits
157
Name Indcx
159
Subject Index
161
Places of Birth Index
165
iv
Preface
Biography Today is a new quarterly magazine designed and written for the
young readeraged 9 and aboveand covers individuals that librarians
tell us that young people want to know about most: entertainers, athletes,
writers, illustrators, cartoonists, and political leaders.
The Plan of the Work
The publication was especially created to appeal to young readers in a
format they can enjoy reading and readily understand. Each issue con-
tains between twenty-five and thirty sketches arranged alphabetically. The
list of individuals to be profiled in each issue is carefully balanced to
provide both well-known and lesser-known figures, to cover individuals
from a variety of occupations, and to reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity
of the modern world. Each entry features at least one picture of the
individual profiled, and bold-faced rubrics lead the reader to information
on birth, youth, early memories, education, first jobs, major influences,
marriage and family, career highlights, memorable experiences, hobbies,
and honors and awards. This format has been designed so that each pro-
file contains information relevant to that individual, and thus rubrics have
1kcp,
been arranged or omitted to best fit his or her life. Each entry ends with
a list of easily accessible sources designed to lead the student to further
reading and concludes with a current address for the individual profiled.
Obituary entries are also included, written to provide a perspective on
the individual's entire career.
The famous people profiled have been offered the option of writing an
autobiography for first publication in Biography Today, or having a
biographical sketch prepared by Omni staff. This first issue presents an
autobiography prepared by world-renowned children's author Madeleine
L',Engle, one by English writer and illustrator Martin Handford (creator
of Where's Waldo?), and one by Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca. An obituary
of Dr. Seuss is also included in this issue. All autobiographies and
obituaries are clearly marked, both in the table of contents and at the begin-
ning of the entries themselves.
Biographies are prepared by Omni editors after extensive research, utiliz-
ing the most current materials available. Those sources that are generally
available to students appear in the list of further reading at the end of
the sketch, while additional sources used to compile the sketch are
included in the Appendix at the end of each issue.
Indexes
To provide easy access to entries, each issue of Biography Today will contain
a Name Index, Places of Birth Index, as well as a Subject Index covering
occupations, organizations, and ethnic and minority origins. These indexes
will cumulate with each succeeding issue. The four yearly issues will be
cumulated annually and will be available in a hardbound volume, with
cumulative indexes.
Our Advisors
This new magazine was reviewed by an Advisory Board comprised of
librarians, children's literature specialists, and a reading instructor to ensure
that the concept of this publicationto provide a readable and accessible
biographical magazine for young readers to use for class assignments or
for casual readingwas on target. They evaluated the title as it developed,
and their suggestions have proved invaluable. Any errors, however, are
ours alone. We'd like to list the Advisory Board members, and to thank
them for their efforts.
Troy Public Library
Sandra Arden
Troy, MI
Ann Arbor Huron High School Library and the
Gail Beaver
University of Michigan School of Information
and Library Studies
Ann Arbor, MI
Pompano Beach Branch Library
Marilyn Bethel
Pompano Beach, FL
Waterford Public Library
Eileen Butterfield
Waterford, CT
Detroit Public Library
Linda Carpino
Detroit, MI
Grosse Pointe Public Library
Helen Gregory
Grosse Pointe, MI
Broward County Public Library System
Marlene Lee
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Waterford Public Library
Judy Liskov
Waterford, CT
Miami-Dade Public Library System
Sylvia Mavrogenes
Miami, FL
Wayne State University School of Library Science
Carole McCollough
Detroit, MI
Russell Library
Deborah Rutter
Middletown, CT
vi
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