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Tamika loves everything about her grandpa, especially his expressive face. But one day, when Tamika watches Grandpa rehearsing for a play, she sees a different face, one she has never seen before.

Two friends are very different. Evelyn is adventurous and has an eye for fashion but is also the worst at cookie making and spelling. “I’m not!” replies the narrator after each observation providing reassurance that everyone has different talents and skills but still share friendship.

“I never thought one small lady from Japan could make such a big difference in my life, but she did.” So begins Rinko’s story about the time that Aunt Waka came to visit. From Mama’s new business to Papa’s new courage in standing up to Depression-era discrimination against the Japanese, Rinko can barely keep up with the way that everyone in the house (herself included) is changing. Rinko and her relatives are unforgettable characters whose stories are told with an easy familiarity, warmth, and gentle humor.

All the more moving in its restraint, this picture-book account of a fictional family reveals, with gentle dignity, a sad chapter in American history. Laura Iwasaki and her Japanese-American family will soon move from California to Boston, so they are making one last visit to Laura’s grandfather’s grave, which lies near the Sierra Nevada Mountains, so far from the sea he loved. Before World War II, he was a fisherman. Then, along with Laura’s father, her grandmother, and 10,000 other Japanese Americans, he was sent to the Manzanar War Relocation Center. There he died, and his grave is marked with only a ring of stones. The family leaves silk flowers, but Laura leaves her own special memento. — School Library Journal

Children will recognize themselves and everyday problems in these two modern classics.

One never knows until they try something — much like a small yellow fledgling that is afraid to leave the nest. Lyrical language and textured, stylized collage illustrations combine for a surprisingly sophisticated push toward flying independently.

At the start, the square was perfect and red but things change and so does the square. In a series of images accompanied by playful language, the red square changes into different forms and colors, challenging the reader to think literally outside of the box — that perhaps change isn’t such a bad thing after all.

The narrator (always within her mother’s sight) independently picks berries for jam. When she encounters a bee she remembers to stand still until it leaves. The same encounter is told again from the bee’s perspective for a satisfying story told in rhyme with expressive illustrations.

Cloudette, a small cumulus, has a crisis of confidence when she compares herself to the more dramatic clouds. One day, however, Cloudette finds herself far from the others and learns that even the smallest can make a big difference. Cartoon illustrations effectively convey emotions.

Clink is a robot that used to be state of the art; now he’s outdated and missing parts. Nobody wants Clink until he meets Milton, a boy who brings out the best in Clink and gives him a new home. The satisfying story is illustrated with full color illustrations.

Norris was a wise bear who appreciated that “plorringes were the best fruit of all.” A mouse and raccoon also admired, and wanted the tasty treat — and so wise Norris shared it with them. Relaxed watercolors and simple language effectively convey the pain of waiting and the joy of friendship.

The boy and his stuffed toy duck are the best of friends; they do everything together. Soft line and wash illustrations show their joyful play and the boy’s sadness when Duck goes missing. The satisfying resolution is plausible and pleasurable.

Textured, colorful quilts illuminate a collection of poems all focused on the notion of peace. Some speak to children’s experiences, while others are more sophisticated and abstract. World peacemakers are briefly introduced in illustration for one poem and in back-matter.

Though one is very tall and the other quite short, Jake and Jacomo find they have much in common and find friendship in spite of classmates’ teasing. Though no longer in print, this recognizable, realistic story may be available used or at libraries.

Shy Lili is so soft spoken she has been marked absent and has a tough time standing up for herself — especially when partnered with bold Cassidy. Lili finds her voice, however, when just in time to help the class pet from disaster. Well told and gently illustrated, all readers are likely to empathize with the well-drawn characters.

For Antonia MacPherson, lying is a way of life. If it weren’t for her best friend, Harrison, and a tiny ball of fluff named Pistachio, she would be miserable. Her older sister, Your Highness Elizabeth, says Ant is in training to be a juvenile delinquent, Harrison smells like a salami sandwich, and Pistachio should be put out of his misery. When a teacher takes Ant under her wing, Ant’s way of life may have to change.

Kirsten’s parents are fighting and her best friend has suddenly joined the popular crowd. Walker is the only black student at his new private school and his single mom watches over him like a hawk. What happens when Kirsten’s and Walker’s worlds collide?

Nothing is the way it’s supposed to be when you live on an island with a billion birds, a ton of bird crap, a few dozen rifles, machine guns and automatics and 278 of America’s worst criminals. And then there’s Moose Flanagan. Moose’s father works as a prison guard and his family lives on the east side of Alcatraz — not far from the mobster Al Capone.

When Moose’s family moves to Alcatraz so his father can work as a guard and his sister Natalie (who has autism) can attend a special school in San Francisco, Moose has to leave his friends and his winning baseball team behind. Moose just wants to protect Natalie, live up to his parent’s expectations, and stay out of trouble, but on Alcatraz, trouble is never very far away.

The little owl searches for his mother when separated from her, but his descriptions aren’t very clear. At last, a concerned squirrel helps reunite baby and mother. Muted colors and broad shapes are used in this appealing story.

The animals in his care overhear what zookeeper Mr. Peek mutters to himself, setting off a series of misunderstandings. Expressive illustrations and lively language add to the humor of this satisfying saga — just right for a laugh and to generate discussion.

Short and round, Gunner Smith didn’t look like a football player but he practiced hard enough to make third-string quarterback on his town’s Pee Wee team. Gunner gets his chance to use his arm in the championship game in this bright tale with a surprise ending.

When his mother gives away his too-small shoes, Alfie decides to runs away from home. His mother helps Alfie pack for a sojourn to his own back yard, and welcomes him home with open arms. Gentle illustrations convey Alfie’s recognizable range of emotions.

One Thursday morning, Imogene wakes up with a large pair of antlers atop her head. Her mother faints but others in her privileged household find many uses for them. This funny fantasy is as fresh as when first published 25 years ago and is sure to delight a new generation of readers.