Book Finder

Did you know that as a boy, Pelé played soccer in bare feet with a grapefruit instead of a soccer ball? Monica Brown shares the inspirational story of the beloved soccer star’s rise from humble beginnings to becoming El rey del fútbol. Rudy Gutiérrez’s brilliant and fluid illustrations of Pelé and “the beautiful game” of soccer leap off the page. Bilingual text. Curriculum guide (opens in a new window) available.

In his foreword to this rich compilation, Nelson Mandela writes, “This collection offers a handful of beloved stories, morsels rich with the gritty essence of Africa, but in many instances universal in their portrayal of humanity, beasts, and the mystical.” Colorful vignettes add an extra dimension to the creation myths, trickster tales, and magical stories that Mandela has chosen.

A sister and brother travel to Johannesburg in search of their mother as their baby sister becomes ill. On the way, they become aware of what apartheid means for the people in their country.

Meet young Rolihlahla, the boy who will grow up to become Nelson Mandela. From his childhood in the South African countryside, to his election as the first black president in South Africa’s history, Mandela’s extra-ordinary life is a story of courage, persistence, hope, and belief.

This heart-tugging picture book from a debut author tells a lyrical soccer story in the voice of a young boy in a South African shantytown. In full-page oil paintings, unusual angles intensify the sense of the scuffling, exciting action, the tense confrontation, and the reality of shantytown life.

Ethan Zohn is a professional soccer player, philanthropist, and lecturer. Through his series of international Soccer World books, Zohn shares ways that soccer can be used as a “common language” across cultures. In this edition, Zohn makes his way through South Africa, and takes readers from wildlife preserves to giant soccer stadiums.

When the people of Johannesburg go to bed, the animals of Kruger National Park begin to stir. Simple text and evocative watercolors bring the city and the national reserve to life and will inspire young children to think about what is happening in the natural world while they are sleeping.

Thulani enjoys sitting in the sun, and he is tired of milking his cow. When he sells his cow to buy a goat, however, his problems are just beginning. What will it take for his luck change? Illustrations are done in a folkart style and filled with little details of South African rural life.

All scientific inquiry begins with a question, something at which Jack is quite adept. He wonders why crackers have holes, why feet stink, why hair doesn’t hurt when cut — and more. Child-like simplicity and expressive illustrations create a satisfying story that can be read on many levels — sure to generate even more inquisitiveness about children’s everyday experiences.

A child and her grandfather place a wooden box high in a tree near where they have seen owl pellets. As they watch from below, child and adult observe a white barn owl fly into the nest box, call for its mate, and ultimately raise its young. The engaging story is richly illustrated, enhanced by additional information provided in a different typeface.

The author has long observed birds and recorded her findings in journals. This handsome book provides a glimpse into those observations combined with a variety of poems about her feathered subjects. Notes about her writing and additional resources are sure to inspire similar activities by young scientists.

Bright, angular illustrations almost frantically zoom across pages and combine with the cumulative rhyme (think of “This is the House That Jack Built”) to explain how the earth was formed. It concludes that”…You are as old as the universe itself.” Additional information appears on each horizontal spread. A timeline of the universe and a glossary concludes this effective presentation of a complicated theory.

Planning a visit to the mountains of the American West this summer? If you’re sharp-eyed, you may see a well-camouflaged pika. These 6-8 inch animals are related to hares and rabbits (although in the crisp, expressive pictures they resemble large hamsters!). Color photographs and snappy text provide a fascinating look into pikas’ habitat, behaviors, and predators. Additional information is included at the end of the book.

Meet a family of howler monkeys (who get their name from the loud calls they make “Woo-hoo-hoo! AH-UH-OH!”). An engaging, rhyming text that introduces their habits and where they live combines with soft-lined, richly colored illustrations. Additional factual material is presented on each double-page in a different typeface. A map and greater detail conclude this informative, appealing book.

Bees have been around for over 65 million years but have been in decline since early in the 21st century. This scientific mystery is better appreciated with a clearer understanding of the importance of these flying insects to humans. Mystery and background information are presented in handsome photographs and lucid text. Suggested activities are doable as is finding out more from recommended resources.

A Code Blue alarm sounds as a young (monkey) astronaut snoozes in the Astroblast Snack Shack. Other crew members — Apollo, Halley, Sputnik, and Jet — return to address the issue: welcome snacks must be made for their visitors! Readers will enjoy finding things hidden in the colorful illustrations (noted at the bottom of each spread) and just may be inspired to learn more about the origins of the animal crew members’ names.

In the Spring, apple blossoms draw buzzing bees. The blossoms slowly grow into apples that are ready to pick in the fall. Younger children can explore apples from seed to table in brief text and stunning photographs. Similarly, children can thank bees in the Spring for their fall jack-o-lanterns, shown from start to finish in Seed, Spout, Pumpkin Pie (opens in a new window).

The four seasons come full circle beginning with melting snow and Spring planting, and concluding with cozy, indoor evenings on a snowy Winter night in these rhyming snapshots. Young children will appreciate the recognizable activities and may begin to more closely notice the changes in the weather and activities.