Greg Ruth

An imaginative boy goes to the first day of school with his “salty crew of swabbies” by his side “sailing for adventure…” The make-believe pirates are with him throughout the day. The entire tale told in pirate lingo is ideal for reading aloud. The pirates are always with the boy but depicted in monochromatic sketches on each full-color page.

Tai Shan and his father fly kites from “the tippy-top of our triangle roof” where they are free like the kites. Tai Shan’s is small, nimble, and red while Baba’s is a strong, large blue kite. The widow and his son are separated during China’s Cultural Revolution though are ultimately reunited. A difficult period is touchingly presented while remaining child-friendly.

Lines of bikes are miles long, shining, half a million strong. Rumbling, grumbling, engines roar. Peace signs. High fives. Spirits soar. Every Memorial Day in Washington, DC, more than a million veterans and their supporters gather for the Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom, a demonstration that pays tribute to the men and women of the US armed forces.