Book Finder

In a story of the Ila people of Zambia, the colorful birds of Africa ask Blackbird, whom they think is the most beautiful of birds, to decorate them with some of his “blackening brew.” The story line is simple and the rhythmic chants of the flock frequently interspersed throughout the text add drama and a rapper’s cadence to this award-winning book that is ready-made for participative storytelling.

Are dragons real? When — and where — did stories about dragons start? Why did they begin? Find the answers to these and other fascinating questions about dragons in literature and history, presented here in clear text and crisp illustration, ideal for young readers.

Unicorns appear in history and folklore from China to England. What could explain the popularity of these creatures? When and why did people begin to believe they were magical? Medieval tapestries are used with Gibbons’ signature illustration and straightforward text to explore the history of these mythical creatures.

Readers will delight in the playfulness of this word romp as they venture beyond the letter Z. Inventive letters and creatures are introduced in this funny, rhyming, alphabetic adventure in typical Seussian style.

After a busy day at his family’s Chinese take-out restaurant in Brooklyn, the young narrator enjoys his favorite dinner: pizza! Lewin’s highly realistic watercolor illustrations show the bustle, the food, and the way the boy works with his family.

Cecilia and her cat, Chica, create a special birthday present for her great-aunt’s 90th birthday — a basket filled with things Cecilia and her tía have shared. This affectionate autobiographical story is illustrated with warm colors, suggestive of Mexican American traditions.

Rhythmic language and luminous paintings show the joy of this warm and loving family as they rejoice in their differences.

Bunny siblings, Max and Ruby, want to get their grandmother the perfect present. Ruby’s full wallet slowly empties as their shopping expeditions require a trip to the Laundromat, a snack and more! Young readers can copy endpapers with funny bunny money to “spend” and count along with the indomitable Max and Ruby.

Tongues will twist and tumble and mouths will turn to smiles as this collection of silly sayings and sentences is read aloud. Full color illustrations further open up an inviting format, ideal for newly independent readers.

The title song “Camp Granada” (also known as “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah”) is just one of the melodies in this songbook, which includes old favorites as well as lesser known sing-along camp songs. The book is filled with colorful, childlike illustrations that chronicle a group of kids getting on a yellow bus to go from the city to a camp in the country. Small illustrations that look like photographs assure young readers that the memories made at camp are happy ones.

With simplified vocabularies, large print, and plenty of illustrations, this book describes the life and accomplishments of Carter G. Woodson, the man who pioneered the study of African American history. This is one of five biographies in the Great African Americans Series.

Chato and Novio Boy are the coolest cats in their East Los Angeles barrio. When a family of mice moves next door to Chato, he invites them to dinner. He’s going to eat them for dinner, but the mice bring a friend along to surprise Chato and foil his plans. The text and pictures show the funny situation and the satisfying solution. In English sprinkled with Spanish.

Love and caring extend across generations and cultures as a young Jewish girl from a Russian background and two African-American boys work creatively to get their gramma, Miss Eula, an Easter hat. Illustrations detail the warmth of the relationships as well as the subtleties of their different backgrounds.

Residents of Chewandswallow were accustomed to their predictable weather which kept them in juice and mashed potatoes (and more) three times a day. That is, until the weather took a strange turn; foods falling not only got larger, but so did the portions! This outrageous tale was released as a film in September 2009.

This colorful cut-out book, winner of a Caldecott Honor, is a magical manipulation of shapes that turns a lion into a goat, an ox into a monkey, and a tiger into a mouse. These are just a few of the transformations that are made using only nine shapes and 16 shades of color.

Bursting with color and spirit, this collection of Latin-American songs is a tribute to Latino culture. From traditional tunes to rhymes and hand games, De Colores has songs for all occasions and moods. Each song is accompanied by simple musical arrangements, with lyrics in both English and Spanish.

Spanish words are incorporated naturally into this bright collection of poems that depict a day’s activities in the Southwest. Vivid illustrations complement the verse to evoke the author’s Mexican American background.

Did you know that corn is a grass? Early American Indian farmers figured out how to cultivate corn and shared their knowledge with the European settlers. Easy to read language and crisp illustrations provide a glimpse into the importance of corn throughout history.