At this very moment, “a small mouse wakes up in the early morning sun”, a ripe plum that a worm will eat for tea, and more in this soothing look at one moment in time. Gentle text is complemented by evocative illustrations from various perspectives for a memorable, calming book.
At This Very Moment
Although he loves stories, Aaron has trouble reading but has been an artist his whole life. With the help of Miss Greer, his astute 2nd grade teacher, Aaron’s gifts are realized and he gets help with reading. The rhyming text and illustrations call to mind the creators’ other collaborations and are equally captivating.
Aaron Slater, Illustrator
The child narrator asks practical questions about what kind of pet would be just right. Comfortable with a very quiet pet, the child chooses a turtle. Though not for the very youngest, childlike illustrations and gentle queries are sure to engage and start discussion.
The Perfect Pet for You!
A house has windows, doors, etc. through day and night and seasons. However, it only becomes a home when a family arrives. A series of simple, straightforward questions combine with sunny, simple, elegant illustrations sure to engage even the youngest.
A House
Baby Izzie’s middle-of-the-night awakening starts a chain reaction that wakes up everyone in the red brick apartment building. This cozy cumulative tale is filled with alliteration and onomatopoeia and illustrated in richly hued, textured collage illustrations.
Everybody in the Red Brick Building
It’s almost time for Christmas, and Maria is traveling with her mother and younger brother, Juan, to visit their grandmother on the border of California and Mexico. For the few minutes they can share together along the fence, Maria and her brother plan to exchange stories and Christmas gifts with the grandmother they haven’t seen in years.
Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border
One fine day, two friends — a rabbit and a frog — set out to explore their small town, interacting with a host of animal companions along the way. Each step of their journey gives them something more to be thankful for, including their mittens and scarves, the rain and snow, their family members, and the food on their table. A Thanksgiving story that encourages acts of kindness all year round.
We Give Thanks
It’s the fourth Thursday of November, and the members of Fright Club are cooking up something spooky … a Thanksgiving feast! But when Vlad’s family arrives unexpectedly, they put their own spin on each of the dishes. Can this monster-filled family come together to save their feast and celebrate what the holiday is truly about?
Fangsgiving
On a glorious fall day, three woodland friends enjoy a bike ride followed by a trip to a bountiful farmer’s market. Described in gently rhyming prose, the friends indulge in more traditional activities including picking apples and making pie, playing in leaf piles, and harvesting the garden. The bountiful harvest inspires them to plan a meal together.
Friendsgiving
In this uplifting, contemporary Native American story, River is recovering from illness and can’t dance at the powwow this year. Will she ever dance again? Follow River’s journey from feeling isolated after an illness to learning the healing power of community. Additional information explains the history and functions of powwows, which are commonplace across the United States and Canada and are open to both Native Americans and non-Native visitors.
Powwow Day
Holler Loudly has a voice as big as the southwestern sky, and everywhere he goes, people tell him to “Hush!” From math class to the movies and even the state fair, Holler’s LOUD voice just keeps getting him into trouble. But when a huge tornado comes twisting into town, Holler (with that voice of his!) saves the day.
Holler Loudly
What do Indian shoes look like, anyway? Like beautiful beaded moccasins… or hightops with bright orange shoelaces? Ray Halfmoon, a young Cherokee-Seminole boy living in Chicago with his grandpa, prefers hightops, but he gladly trades them for a nice pair of moccasins for his grandpa. After all, it’s Grampa Halfmoon who’s always there to help Ray get in and out of scrapes and share a laugh.
Indian Shoes
Short stories by well and lesser-known Indigenous writers present a range of tales about contemporary young people from different tribes and regions at a Michigan powwow. They range from humorous to serious, but each provides a glimpse at the power of community support. Created in partnership with We Need Diverse Books (opens in a new window).
Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids
Lily and Wendy have been best friends since they became stepsisters. But with their feuding parents planning to spend the summer apart, what will become of their family — and their friendship? Little do they know that a mysterious boy has been watching them from the oak tree outside their window. A boy who intends to take them away from home for good, to an island of wild animals, Merfolk, Fairies, and kidnapped children, to a sea of merfolk, pirates, and a giant crocodile. A boy who calls himself Peter Pan.
Sisters of the Neversea
When Louise Wolfe’s first real boyfriend mocks and disrespects Native people in front of her, she breaks things off and dumps him over e-mail. It’s her senior year, anyway, and she’d rather spend her time with her family and friends and working on the school newspaper. The editors pair her up with Joey Kairouz, the ambitious new photojournalist, and in no time the paper’s staff find themselves with a major story to cover: the school musical director’s inclusive approach to casting The Wizard of Oz has been provoking backlash in their mostly white, middle-class Kansas town.
Hearts Unbroken
In this chapter book for beginning readers, Lily and her parents move from their suburban neighborhood to New York City. Lily is used to living in a house on a quiet street; she feels like a small ant on such a busy block and worries that she’ll never feel at home. As she and her parents explore their new, multicultural neighborhood, Lily discovers that sometimes change can be a good thing. Featuring a diverse cast of characters, this is the first in the Confetti Kids series (see also The Perfect Gift (opens in a new window) and Want to Play? (opens in a new window))
Lily’s New Home
Sunrise Elementary School’s new librarian is Miss Lotta Scales, a fire-breathing dragon who fiercely guards her new books. When a nearsighted child enters the unused facility and begins reading aloud, other children wander in, and Miss Scales realizes that kids don’t necessarily damage books. The text is filled with dragon-related puns.
The Library Dragon
A sweet and witty retelling of the Cuban folktale. Martina the beautiful cockroach doesn’t know coffee beans about love and marriage. That’s where her Cuban family comes in. While some of the Cucarachas offer her gifts to make her more attractive, only Abuela, her grandmother, gives her something really useful: un consejo increíble, some shocking advice.
Martina the Beautiful Cockroach
A recreation of the legend of King Christian X of Denmark, inspired by the bravery of the Danes and their king during World War II. An author’s note shares more information on King Christian X, the efforts of Danes to help Jews throughout the country, and discussion questions about the origins of legends.
The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark
La Paz is a happy, but noisy village. A little peace and quiet would make it just right. So the villagers elect the bossy Don Pepe as their mayor. Before long, singing of any kind is outlawed. But there is one noisy rooster who doesn’t give two mangos about this mayor’s silly rules. Instead, he does what roosters were born to do. This allegory celebrates the spirit of freedom, and the courage of those who are born to sing at any cost.
The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet!
Fifth grader, Wes, is the son of activist parents who is content to defend his “best dressed” reputation — that is until he sees how his own gentrifying neighborhood is changing. And not for the better. He decides he must stand out and stand up for what he believes in. Wes is not only plausible but likeable as are other characters who are placed in an increasingly familiar situation.
Take Back the Block
When 12-year-old Aidan returns home after missing for 6 days, how will he explain that he’s been in a Narnia-like place called Avenieu? Confronted with relief followed by anger, Aidan’s journey is told by Lucas, Aidan’s 11-year-old brother. This fascinating exploration of what happens when one person’s reality conflicts with another is taut and convincingly told.
The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. (as told to his brother)
Can winning a cooking contest allow 12-year-old Cici to bring her Taiwanese grandmother to the U.S. for her 70th birthday? Will it interfere with her parents’ inviolable motto of “good grades, good college, good job”? Readers are sure to see themselves and their families in this engaging graphic portrait of an immigrant family and an aspiring chef who is bridging two cultures.
Measuring Up
Katie longs to go to summer camp with her friend and takes odd jobs to earn the money. When she starts catsitting for a neighbor, she doesn’t realize that she’ll be taking care of 217 felines, each exceptional. Katie wonders if the cats’ owner is really a supervillain who goes out each night to do dastardly deeds. Fun and fantasy abound in the first of a new graphic series with a likeable heroine.