"The Story of California" is a history and geography of the state of California, intended for classroom use by limited-English-proficient, native Spanish-speaking students in California's urban middle schools. The book is designed with the left page in English and the right page in Spanish to facilitate student transition into comfortable use of English but without sacrifice of Spanish language skills. Chapters address these topics: California's location on the earth and the characteristics of its people; the state's geography; the first people in California; the advent of the European explorers and settlers; Spanish movement from Mexico into California, and colonization; the end of Spanish government in California and the beginning of Mexican government of the area, including the history of the missions and the Indians; statehood; the California Gold Rush; the impact of the industrial revolution; and use of the land from the 1850s to the present. Many maps and illustrations are included. (MSE)