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When an American sailor meets a Japanese woman, they both try in secret to learn the other’s way of eating. Their courtship and growing love culminates in marriage. This realistic family story explores cultural similarities and differences and is told with humor and honesty by the couple’s daughter.

Celebrate America’s birthday with a family in a small town. Animated and often funny illustrations and verse present this special day’s activities starting with a read, white, and blue breakfast and culminating with fireworks.

In this cumulative tale, Jack plants, tends and harvests his garden. Not only will readers follow Jack’s activities, they’ll learn about gardens and gardening in this informative and animated book through text and highly detailed and well-labeled illustrations. (The author’s background as a science teacher is pleasantly evident.)

“This old man / He played one”: Applying paper-engineering wizardry to the traditional counting rhyme, the Caldecott Medal winner creates a ravishing variation on the pull-the-tab title.

Her parents are receptive to Kate’s suggestion, “Let’s get a pup!” and head to the shelter. They bring home a puppy, but ultimately return to add Rosey, an older dog, to their family. Line and wash illustrations depict a very contemporary and loving family with wit and compassion.

Peter finds a special way to invite Amy, the only girl and a singular friend, to his birthday party. But the wind catches his letter just as he puts it in the mailbox. Keats’ well-liked character (first introduced in A Snowy Day) is back for another everyday drama.

It was cold and snowy when Grandma and Grandpa left their home in Maine to live in California. Lily, the young narrator, fills each month with activities that range from collecting sap to planting a garden. After a whole year has passed, Grandma and Grandpa return in December to share Christmas with Lily and her family in New England. Illustrated sidebars extend the text and provide additional information about Lily’s garden over the months.

In simple text and crisp, clear color photographs, grandparents of all sizes, shapes, ages, and abilities are shown. This attractive book introduces the idea that each of us is different but still have much in common.

A girl visits both sets of grandparents on weekends. On Saturdays, she speaks English with Grandpa and Grandma, while on Sundays, los domingos, she speaks Spanish with Abeulito and Abeulita. The format provides a glimpse at the subtle differences between cultures and highlights their similarities, one of which is each set of grandparents’ love for their granddaughter. Spanish words are interspersed in the fluid text.

When Martha, a slightly frumpy white and brown mutt, eats alphabet soup, the letters go to her head not to her stomach. The result is the first in a series of very funny adventures with a talking dog and her sometimes flummoxed human family.

Martin Luther King Jr. grew up fascinated by big words. He would later go on to use these words to inspire a nation and call people to action. In this award-winning book, powerful portraits of King show how he used words, not weapons, to fight injustice.