Primary (ages 6-9)

Material appropriate for primary age groups

Sopa De Frijoles/Bean Soup (Spanish Edition)

For people who have left their homeland for a new country, comfort foods from home take on a huge emotional importance. This delightful poem teaches readers young and old how to make a heartwarming, tummy-filling black bean soup, from gathering the beans, onions, and garlic to taking little pebbles out of the beans to letting them simmer till the luscious smell indicates it’s time for supper. Jorge Argueta’s vivid poetic voice and Rafael Yockteng’s vibrant illustrations make preparing this healthy and delicious Latino favorite an exciting, almost magical experience.

Thumb and the Bad Guys

Inspired by a movie shown at the local gym (with the whole town in attendance), 11-year-old Leon (aka Thumb) wants to track down a bad guy. After all, he thinks, without bad guys, the “Harry Potter” books would just be stories about school. And he wouldn’t mind being known as the Jake Danger of New Auckland. But with only 143 people in his remote British Columbia fishing village, surrounded by mountains and ocean, how could there even be any bad guys around? And where would they hide? But Thumb is determined, so he and his pal Susan conduct a stakeout. Their suspicions soon focus on bald, toothless old Kirk McKenna, who has the revolting habit of spitting on the sidewalk. Meanwhile, a new teacher, the odd Ms. Weatherby, has arrived in town wearing heavy makeup and a terrible wig. Maybe “she’s” the “bad guy” they’re seeking. Will the determined duo find their villain? Ken Roberts brings his trademark quirky characters, tight plotting, detailed portrait of small-town life, and lively humor to this fascinating story that also contains underlying messages about tolerance and the value of community.

El Hombre Que Lo Tenía Todo, Todo, Todo

Dejar volar la imaginación, eso es lo que hizo Miguel Ángel Asturias cuando escribió El Hombre que lo Tenía Todo Todo Todo, novela corta en la que se condensan el estilo elegante, las influencias del surrealismo y de la literatura oral, y el gusto por la fantasía que caracterizaban la obra de su autor

Millie Waits for the Mail

Millie the cow loves to scare the mailman and chase him off the farm, until the mailman comes up with a plan that ends up pleasing everyone.

Piano Piano

Marcolino hates practicing his scales on the piano, but feels he must because he is the reason his mother never became a grand pianist–until his grandfather lets them both in on a little secret.

Mee-An and the Magic Serpent

When Assa finds her beautiful sister Mee-An the perfect mate, the two sisters go off to live with him, only to discover that he is not at all what he seems to be.

Cherry and Olive

Cherry Sullivan prefers reading books to playing with the other children in her class. They make fun of her for being plump, and they are not nearly as entertaining as the adventures she reads about. Though she’s shy and keeps to herself, Cherry secretly longs for a friend. When she discovers a stray dog at her father’s animal shelter that is also plump and shy (and a bit wrinkly), she names her Olive and they become fast friends. Cherry finds the courage within herself to stand up for the dog and protect her—something she has not been able to do for herself. nbsp;nbsp; Beautifully illustrated, this touching story is sure to strike a chord with all who have ever felt a little lonely and yearned for a friend.