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When 8-year old Emily is orphaned she heads west to find her kindly Aunt Hilda. Emily’s rip-roaring adventure involves a dastardly uncle, a huge fortune, and a good friend. Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger sure to keep even the most reluctant reader reading!

When rebel soldiers attack his village in Sudan, 11-year-old Salva flees the violence, beginning a dangerous walk toward a crowded refugee camp in Ethiopia, then on to new life in Rochester, New York. Meanwhile, 12-year-old Nya spends her days in Sudan looking for scarce supplies of fresh water for her family. Based on the true story of Sudanese “Lost Boys” who came to the U.S. in the mid-1990s.

“Wangari lives under an umbrella of green trees in the shadow of Mount Kenya in Africa.” So begins this tribute to Wangari Maathai, a young woman who saw deforestation turn the lush lands of Kenya into a barren desert. Wangari began to plant seedlings and encouraged the women around her to do the same. By 2004, 30 million trees had been planted and Wangari won the Nobel Peace Prize.

“Between 1915 and 1930, more than a million African Americans…moved to the North” including the poet’s family. Join the travelers as they seek a better life in a different part of the United States. Rhythmic but not rhyming verse is complemented by evocative illustrations.

“The selfless struggles of labor leader Chavez are given a tempered and lucid treatment in this educational overview… The characters are drawn in an intentionally stiff style that fits with the depth-challenged folk art backgrounds, most of which are dominated by the color of sand. The text, meanwhile, is peppered with quotes from Chavez, all of which are backed up with source notes. An elegant introduction to a man who inspired thousands.”
— Daniel Kraus, Booklist

Many years ago in California, an energetic young Girl Scout named Dolores worked to raise money for soldiers fighting in World War II. A thoughtful young boy named Cesar worked in the fields to help his family put food on the table. As young adults, these two extraordinary individuals would meet and spend the rest of their lives working tirelessly on behalf of migrant workers and children through nonviolent struggle — side by side. Monica Brown and Joe Cepeda bring the story of Dolores and Cesar to life through this vibrant bilingual book, which will make an excellent addition to units on migrant farmworkers, civil rights, or women’s history.

Tillie Anderson emigrated to the U.S. from Sweden with a sewing needle and a strong sense of what might be. During the 1890s, Tillie trained and became a winning bicycle racer — using her tailoring skills to make more suitable racing outfits! Lighthearted illustrations and informal text tell Tillie’s memorable tale.

Butterflies were once thought to be “beasts of the devil.” Maria Merian, a perceptive young German naturalist, knew better. She recorded her notes and drawings on the butterflies’ transformation in secret so that she would not be accused of witchcraft and later became a famous scientist and artist who helped the rest of the world understand natural life cycles. Margarita Engle brings her extraordinary story to life, accompanied by Julie Paschkis’ gorgeous illustrations.

As she continued to grow (and grow), Ella Kate’s parents told her to stand straight. This gave Ella Kate the confidence to do and see things that other 19th century women could only dream of, including owning a special house to accommodate her gigantic size. Ella Kate narrates this fictionalized look at her life and travels, and her parents’ unfailing loyalty.

From a poor girl who had “a dancing beat in her feet ever since she was a bitty girl” to when she finally got a chance to perform with a professional band, Ella Fitzgerald set the world of music on its ear. Her early life is presented in energetic, downright jazzy text and richly hued illustrations.

Effa Manley, born when jazz was new and sports were segregated, was passionate about fairness and baseball. She was to become the first woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame along with players from the Negro Baseball League. Her life is presented in stylized illustration and clear text, for an intriguing portrait of a person and a time.

No one knew that when “Bus #2857 rolled off the assembly line in 1948…[that it] would be famous…” but it did when a woman refused to give up her seat on that bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa Parks’ story of bravery is effectively told in simple text and illustration. That bus is now in Michigan’s Henry Ford Museum.

The life and music of Odetta who became an influential folksinger and civil rights activist is revealed in lyrical, rhythmic language and evocative, swirling illustration. An affectionate afterword by the author provides factual information about the person and her influence.

The story of a Polish woman who helped over 400 Jewish children escape Nazi-occupied Warsaw is presented in a sophisticated, evocative, realistically illustrated picture book format. Source notes and additional resources conclude this riveting account.

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.

Look at how everything from baseballs to ice cream to peanut better are made and manufactured — perfect for sharing between an adult and a curious, sophisticated child. A bit of history (and a touch of gross) is included in this fascinating look at everyday items.

Ever wonder who invented the first dishwasher? How about Ben Franklin’s inventions? Need and inspiration seem to be the basis of all inventions, a principle used to organize this fascinating glimpse of myriad inventions and the people who invented them.

Three books, each a sophisticated examination at how structures were built — a cathedral, castle, and mosque — have been revised, refreshed with current information, and put in one volume. The author/illustrator’s work is complex but will intrigue young readers especially if shared with an adult.

This is the true story of a brave six-year-old child who found the strength to walk through protesters and enter a whites-only school in New Orleans in 1960. The sepia watercolors capture the warmth of Ruby’s family and community.

The train’s illustrious past combines with realistic illustrations to successfully present a reverent homage and history. The rhyming text is from an original song. Additional resources to learn more about trains and their history concludes this handsome book.

The life of early voting rights advocate, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, is presented in a compelling text and engaging watercolor illustrations.

Bill Key, born a slave, overcame many obstacles to become a veterinarian and a businessman. Key’s horse, Jim, was eventually recognized as the world’s smartest horse and accompanied Key in his work with the Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This fascinating story is based in truth.

The bald eagle that came to be known as Old Abe, a heroic Civil War mascot, began as a small eaglet found by Chief Sky. Old Abe’s remarkable tale is based on a true story presented in uncomplicated text and evocative watercolor and line illustration.

Elsie and her father leave Boston to begin afresh after Elsie’s mother dies. Elsie takes with her a pet canary. It is Timmy Tune and a host of other animals that help Elsie turn “her house into a true prairie home.” Lyrical language and evocative watercolors tell a touching story.