"Bruce Wayne, a wealthy American philanthropist and business owner, and Batman, his crime-fighting alter ego, have been entertaining audiences since 1939. The character was so popular after appearing in Detective Comics that DC Comics decided to give Batman a comic book of his own. In doing so, they created one of the company's most successful franchises. Author Michael Burgan details the history of Batman--from his tragic origin story and his infamous...

"Since the 1980s, the Transformers toy line has been defining the lives of children with its mighty heroes. But the Robots in Disguise have morphed into much more than just a toy line! This biography for young readers tells the incredible story of the tiny toys that became blockbuster movie stars, comic book heroes, and more. Ride along with Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Megatron as you learn the history of the Autobots, the Decepticons, and their...

Uncover the mystery of Nancy Drew and how the beloved teenage detective came to be in this new addition to the What Is the Story Of? series which follows the same format as the #1 New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series.
When the very modern character of Nancy Drew first appeared in 1930, no one had a clue that she would remain a star for the next century! To this day, Nancy is still the main character in new TV shows,...

"Washington Irving published The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in 1820, introducing the eerie Headless Horseman character to readers worldwide. Readers were both scared and intrigued by the horrific character, who is the ghost of a soldier who had been decapitated during the American Revolution. Now, the character is an American classic, featured in movies, television shows, cartoons, comic books, and even video games, thanks to Irving's chilling story...

Who HQ brings you the stories behind the most well-known characters of our time.
In this addition to the What Is the Story Of? series, young readers will discover the exciting story of the beloved ponies, unicorns, and other fanciful characters of the My Little Pony universe!
When Hasbro's pony toys first hit shelves in 1981, they were originally called My Pretty Pony. By 1982, the toys were renamed My Little Pony...

"Created by the U.S. Forest Service in 1944 in reaction to forest fires being used as attacks during World War II, Smokey Bear has been guiding Americans through fire safety and preparedness for nearly eighty years. This American black bear known for wearing a pair of blue jeans and a forest ranger hat has found himself in classrooms, on stamps, in cartoons, on lunchboxes, in comic strips, and even as a giant balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day...