To prepare for his school’s Spanish spelling bee, a young boy asks his grandmother for help. There are words he still does not know how to spell. With this simple request, a door is opened for him to learn more about his grandmother’s story as she reveals how she was only allowed to speak English at school when she was a young girl. This story inspires him to study hard for the spelling bee so he can make his family proud. Inspired by the author’s memories of his grandmother’s stories told to him when he was a boy.
Culture
Mnoomin Maan’gowing / The Gift Of Mnoomin
A child marvels at the intricate web of life surrounding a single mnoomin seed. Through imaginative exploration, the child envisions the interconnected roles played by various creatures, from the fleeting mayfly to the majestic eagle and sturdy moose. Each creature contributes to the seed’s journey, culminating in the possibility of its sprouting.
Written in Anishinaabemowin and English, this beautifully illustrated picture book showcases the cultural and ecological importance of the mnoomin seed.
It’s Holi!
Join Sameer and his family as they prepare to celebrate Holi and the beginning of spring! Platters are filled with scrumptious sweets and a rainbow of powdered colors are set out for the messy festivities that are about to commence. But after seeing his sisters throw colors and water balloons at each other, young Sameer begins to get nervous. His family notices this and come up with a fun solution for Sameer to overcome his fear so that he may enjoy celebrating in the bright and messy colors of spring. Complete with a glossary of Hindu words and recipes, It’s Holi! celebrates history, family, traditions, and all the excitement that comes with it.
I Sang You Down From The Stars
A beautifully illustrated and unique baby book illuminates Native cultural details as a mother-to-be gathers gifts to create a sacred bundle to welcome her new baby. With each new thing she adds, the bundle offers the new baby great strength and strong connection to family, community and its traditions. Indigenous creators, author Tasha Spillett-Sumner and bestselling illustrator and Caldecott Medalist Michaela Goade, combine beautiful words and luminous that illuminates the blossoming love that comes with expecting and welcoming a new baby.
Soldiers Unknown
Beginning at Klamath River in 1918, Soldiers Unknown tells the story of three cousins who are called to serve a nation that has given little to their people. Up until now, the native Yurok people of Northern California have remained untouched by the world war raging in Europe, but that soon changes as the cousins are thrust into battle on the Western Front of the Great War.
A Garden In My Hands
A mother shares family memories and stories with her daughter as she applies henna to the young girl’s hands.
Finding My Dance
“In her debut picture book, professional Indigenous dancer Ria Thundercloud tells the true story of her path to dance and how it helped her take pride in her Native American heritage”–
My Town / Mi Pueblo
“In this bilingual picture book, cousins from opposite sides of the border visit each other’s towns and delight in their similarities and differences”–
Ramen For Everyone
Hiro loves ramen. Every Sunday, Hiro’s dad makes delicious, perfect ramen for dinner, using a recipe passed down from his dad. There’s nori seaweed, briny like the ocean; nitamago egg, the yolk golden like the sun; and chashu pork so tender, it melts in your mouth. Hiro’s dream is to make his own perfect bowl, and he’s sure he can do it after watching his dad and taking notes. But when he gets started, things don’t go according to plan. The seaweed crumbles! The eggs slip through his fingers! The pork falls apart! Hiro is worried he’ll never be a real ramen chef but thanks to his father’s wise advice and his own creativity, Hiro discovers that every person’s perfect bowl of ramen is unique.
Plátanos Are Love
A delicious picture book about the ways plantains shape Latinx culture, community, and family, told through a young girl’s experiences in the kitchen with her abuela.