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The summer Elisa finished first grade, not only did her 11-year old brother Russell go to a sleepaway camp but the entire family went on a vacation to the country. Sibling rivalry results in a competition with humorous results and a bit of insight.

As a child gets ready for bed, she implores, “Tell me a story, Mama,” then proceeds to tell it herself. Mama adds only to punctuate the girl’s story with maternal wisdom. This warm story, told in two voices, reflects how children make family stories their own.

Set in the 1950s, this book by Mildred Taylor is frank in its portrayal of racism. Lois and Wilma are proud when their father buys a brand new gold Cadillac. Only their mother won’t ride in it. On a trip from their home in Ohio to Mississippi, there are no admiring glances only suspicion directed toward the black man driving such a fancy car. For the first time, Lois knows what it’s like to feel scared because of her skin color.

Eleven-year-old Angel and her seven-year-old brother are taken to live with their great-grandmother on her dilapidated Vermont farm. While the old woman is ill equipped to handle children, she’s better prepared to commit to them than either of their parents. A “star man” and the town librarian end up helping the children in this poignant exploration of family.

The family in this story meets and plays with a stray dog while at the park. After they leave, they think about him all week long and decide to look for him the next Saturday — as does the dogcatcher. As the dogcatcher closes in, the children cleverly handle the situation for a happy resolution. Gentle watercolor illustrations add to the well-paced text to create a very satisfying story.

One warm Wednesday morning, the sun winked through Wombat’s window and woke her up. “What a wonderful day to wander the world,” she thought. What if Wombat woke one Wednesday with wanderlust? What if she wrangled her wander-worthy companions – Weasel and Woodchuck – to wend their way through the world with her? What if the world, the woods, and its wicked things wrestled with their wishes for wild adventure? But what if these wily wanderers used their wits to ward off worries and all the world’s wild creatures? Why, then it would be a most wonderful day to wander the world.

For their family’s Christmas celebration, María’s mother makes lots of tamales. But while María is helping out, she tries on her mother’s ring and loses it in the dough. Without telling the adults, María and her young relatives try to find it — by eating all the tamales!

Uncle Elephant takes care of his nephew until his parents who were lost at sea are found again. The elderly uncle and young boy share laughter and concern in this easy chapter book that leads to a satisfying conclusion in a perfect combination of pictures and story.

A girl and her grandmother prepare to visit the girl’s father by packing a big lunch then boarding a bus. The joyful reunion takes place in a prison, emphasizing the love between a father and his daughter. Notes from both the author and illustrator complete this book.

Nocturnal animals wake up as everyone else goes to sleep. Illustrations show their nighttime activities illuminated by moonlight while the gently rhyming text creates a soothing rhythm. Filled with movement, all of which starts with wake-up kisses, this is a comfortable and comforting story to be shared at bedtime.

Rosalba imagines flying over New York City with her much loved abuela. The young girl uses a lovely mix of English and Spanish to describe their journey, moving from the busy streets of Manhattan to the Statue of Liberty. Brightly colored illustrations detail what Rosalba and her grandmother glimpse as they fly, and the rich tales of Abuela’s memories.

Life isn’t easy for sisters Amber and Essie. Their mother works long hours; their father’s in prison; there’s generally little to eat. But there is joy in their creative play, neighbor friendships, and mutual love and support, which shines through difficulties. In poems and pictures that are never overtly sentimental, Williams eloquently and intimately reveals the sisters’ distinct personalities and their story.

Alfie, a preschooler, understands his baby sister, Annie Rose. Like most siblings, Annie Rose is both a delight and a trial. In this book, realistic illustrations depict real children in sometimes untidy but always recognizable settings.

Cecilia and her cat, Chica, create a special birthday present for her great-aunt’s 90th birthday — a basket filled with things Cecilia and her tía have shared. This affectionate autobiographical story is illustrated with warm colors, suggestive of Mexican American traditions.

Rhythmic language and luminous paintings show the joy of this warm and loving family as they rejoice in their differences.

Love and caring extend across generations and cultures as a young Jewish girl from a Russian background and two African-American boys work creatively to get their gramma, Miss Eula, an Easter hat. Illustrations detail the warmth of the relationships as well as the subtleties of their different backgrounds.

Though he’s pretty ordinary looking (and wears a truly ugly bathrobe), the narrator’s dad can get rid of the Big Bad Wolf and sing like a professional. Most important though, the narrator knows that his dad loves him and he loves his dad! The illustrations are filled with the child’s hyperbole, making the metaphors jump off the page. Also available in Spanish.

A boy and his father, shown as African Americans in warmly hued illustrations, enjoy doing everyday activities together, from laundry to sharing a book and more. The simple pleasures of family life are conveyed affectionately through easy but flowing language and realistic paintings in a sturdy format.

A young pup expresses the joy he and his dad share when his dad comes home from work. The energetic duo do lots of things together, from cooking to fixing things. Young readers will empathize with the boy and his dad who are shown as charming floppy-eared dogs in the animated illustrations.

Daisy, a winsome young duck, never looses faith that her new sibling will emerge from the egg, despite her mother’s warning that some eggs just don’t hatch. Daisy’s perseverance pays off when her new brother Pip finally pokes his way out of the shell. Cozy illustrations capture Daisy’s child-like confidence in an appealing story of determination and loyalty.

Emma is thrilled that her family is adopting a 4-year old boy. She soon learns, though, that being an older sister isn’t what she thought it would be at all. Gradually, Emma and Max start to feel like siblings as each child begins to adapt to their family’s new configuration. Expressive, simply drawn illustrations extend the smooth text.

Kingsville, on the border of Mexico and Texas, comes to life in words and pictures in this book. Readers will share the simple joys of eating, dancing, and celebrating as the artist remembers her own childhood. Her stories, presented in both English and Spanish, are accompanied by her bright paintings.

The poet remembers summers growing up in Mexico in poems presented in both English and Spanish. Readers meet his family and join them in the everyday joys of the sunny season. Illustrations are as colorful and evocative as the words.

This is a great bedtime story for reading with your children or, in my case, my grandchildren. This lovely book has become a reference point for expressing our love for one another. Sometimes, Alexis says “I love you all the way up to my toes.” And, sometimes, Kasie says “I love you right up to the moon.” And sometimes I say “I love you right up to the moon… and back.”