As a school librarian, I listened to my students several years ago when they continuously requested a book about the Orioles' superstar Cal Ripkin, Jr. Their requests led to my writing Cal Ripken, Jr.: Quiet Hero and, since its publication in 1993, I've written ten other juvenile biographies. I am extremely interested in children's reading interests and take great pleasure in writing books whose subjects kids want to read about such as baseball heroes.

My interest in baseball is not only an outgrowth of students' reading habits; it started at my birth in the tiny rural village of Sudlersville on Maryland's Eastern Shore, the hometown of the Baseball Hall-of-Famer Jimmie Foxx. Nicknamed "Double X," the farmboy from Sudlersville became one of baseball's greatest sluggers. The stories I heard about him nurtured my love for the game. I now live in Baltimore where I can frequently be found at Camden Yards during the baseball season.

For more information see:
Something about the Author. Volume 88, Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research, 1996.

Lacrosse, the oldest known athletic game in North America, enjoys a rich and complex history. Native Americans played it long before explorers discovered the land they called the New World. Combining speed, endurance, skill, agility, and unique historical origins, lacrosse is played by adults and children throughout the world. This new work provides an overview from the game's history to its evolution to today's popular sport.

Baseball has long been a popular sport in Maryland, but few people realize that seven Maryland natives hold baseball's highest honor: all have earned a place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. This collective biography chronicles the lives and careers of the state's baseball elite: Babe Ruth, the greatest player in baseball history, Vic Willis, who pitched the dreaded "grapevine sinker," "Home Run" Baker, famed hitter whose nickname tells his story, "Judy" Johnson, star third baseman from the Negro Leagues, Lefty Grove, the southpaw who could "throw a lamp chop past a wolf," Jimmie Foxx, power slugger and three-time MVP, and Al Kaline, outstanding outfielder and batting champion.

"In an era of one-shot wonders and prima donnas, Cal Ripken, Jr. is an athlete of stamina, humility, and uncommon talent. Lois Nicholson's biography of the Orioles iron man is more than simply the story of a great ballplayer; it is a testimonial to the most appealing virtues of baseball itself."
-David Plaut, USA Today Baseball Weekly

This Junior World Biography chronicles the life of this great American Scientist whose contributions to African Americans and agricultural science will enthrall young readers.

Oprah Winfrey
1994, Chelsea House, Ages 10 and up. 112pp. $18.95 and $7.95, ISBN 0-7910-1886-5

"The life and career of this prominent African American is presented to young readers in a clearly written and well-researched text."
The Horn Book Guide

Babe Ruth: Sultan of Swat
1995, Goodwood, Ages 8 and up. 118pp. $17.95, ISBN 0-9625427-1-7

"This well written book takes an intimate look at the immortal slugger. Nicholson deftly describes how the Babe's prodigious power changed the way baseball was played. She also shows the child inside the man who was, and is, so endearing to the American public. While there are a number of Ruth biographies, this one will take its place toward the top of the pile."
~School Library Journal

Casey Stengel
1995, Chelsea House, Ages 8 and up, 64pp. (Baseball Legends Series) $14.95, ISBN 0-7910-2172-6

Stengel, the New York Yankees skipper during their 1950s championship years, managed such players as Mantle, Maris, and DiMaggio. Young readers will delight in learning more about the "Ol' Professor" who was "crazy like a fox."

Helen Keller: Humanitarian
1995, Chelsea House, (Great Achievers: lives of the Physically Handicapped Series) Ages 10 and up. 112pp. $19.95, ISBN 0-7910-2086-X

"The book emphasizes Keller's strong personality traits that allowed her to achieve great success in spite of her difficulties... with an easily read yet properly pedagogical style. The author uses many quotes and examples to illustrate the hardships and problems Keller encountered because of her physical challenges."
~School Library Journal

Georgia O'Keeffe
1995, Lucent, Grades 5-8. 112pp. (The Importance of Series) $16.95, ISBN 1-56006-055-7

"This biography provides well-documented, well-organized, and age-appropriate information... Frequent quotations from a variety of sources are included; some are within the text, while others are full page. chapter footnotes are a further sign of scholarly intent, and it is written in a kind of serious, carefully structured style marked by a rich vocabulary and a wealth of factual material."
~School Library Journal

Nolan Ryan
1996, Chelsea House. Ages 8 and up. 64pp. (Baseball Legends Series) $14.95, ISBN 0-7910-2174-2

No pitcher has awed and terrified batters more than baseball's all-time strikeout king. Rookie readers will delight in stories about the hurler known as "The Ryan Express."

Ken Griffey, Jr.
1997, Chelsea House. Ages 8 and up. 64pp. (Baseball Legends Series) $14.95, ISBN 0-7910-4377-0

Young baseball fans love Ken Griffey Jr., whose fun-loving manner and smoking bat represent the best of baseball. A major leaguer at 19, Griffey had to overcome his immature ways before hitting his stride. Students will learn about his early life as the son of a major leaguer and his own quick ascent in the big leagues.

Booker T. Washington
1997, Chelsea House. Ages 8 to 11. 80pp. (Junior Black Americans of Achievement Series), $14.95 and $4.95, ISBN 0-7910-2388-5

The son of slaves, Washington overcame countless obstacles to become America's leading black educational pioneer. His dedication and achievements opened doors formerly closed to all African Americans. The story of Booker T. Washington is an example of the difference one life can make in a nation's history.

Oprah Winfrey: Talking With America
1997, Chelsea House, Ages 8-11. 80pp. (Junior Black Americans of Achievement Series), $14.95 and $4.95, ISBN 0-7910-2390-7

From humble beginnings in the rural south, Oprah Winfrey has risen to become one of the most popular and inspiring personalities in America. Students will be captivated by learning about the adversities she has overcome and her continuing quest to "be the best that I can be."