When Carmela wakes up on her birthday, her wish has already come true–she’s finally old enough to join her big brother as he does the family errands. Together, they travel through their neighborhood, past the crowded bus stop, the fenced-off repair shop, and the panadería, until they arrive at the Laundromat, where Carmela finds a lone dandelion growing in the pavement. But before she can blow its white fluff away, her brother tells her she has to make a wish. If only she can think of just the right wish to make . . .
With lyrical, stirring text and stunning, evocative artwork, Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson have crafted a moving ode to family, to dreamers, and to finding hope in the most unexpected places.
Primary (ages 6-9)
Material appropriate for primary age groups
The Elevator
A girl and her dog begin their afternoon walk. But before they can get outside to the street, they must take the elevator in their apartment building. She presses the button to go down, but the elevator goes up. Who called it? Is it broken? As the reader turns the page, the girl arrives at different floors, where new friendships are made, old stories are told, and a surprise is revealed. Beautiful human connections filled with kindness and empathy happen in this elevator in what would usually be a routine encounter.
Sleeping With The Light On
Davico lives with his family above La Casita – the Little House – in Guatemala City in the early 1950s. But it’s not just a little house. It’s also the family restaurant!
The restaurant provides plenty of distraction and adventure for Davico and his older brother, Felipe. The mean cook, Augusto, and the always-late waiter, Otto, love to play tricks on Davico. There’s a huge oven in the gas cookstove, which Felipe knows how to light ― if he can only reach the box of matches above the stove. And there’s the endless fascination of the glass tank of live lobsters ― including the king of them all, Genghis Khan, who stares at Davico with round unblinking black eyes, waving his antennas like submarine periscopes. Could Genghis Khan climb on the back of the other lobsters and get out of the tank, Davico wonders. Could he move faster on land than in the water?
The Stray And The Strangers
The fishermen on Lesvos call her Kanella because of her cinnamon color. She’s a scrawny, nervous stray ― easily intimidated by the harbor cats and the other dogs that compete for handouts on the pier
Old Enough To Save The Planet
The world is facing a climate crisis like we’ve never seen before. And kids around the world are stepping up to raise awareness and try to save the planet. As people saw in the youth climate strike in September 2019, kids will not stay silent about this subject—they’re going to make a change. Meet 12 young activists from around the world who are speaking out and taking action against climate change. Learn about the work they do and the challenges they face, and discover how the future of our planet starts with each and every one of us.
Sound: Shhh . . . Bang . . . Pop . . . Boom!- silence … to hullabaloo … and beyond!
Award-winning authors and artists Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv achieve a remarkable fusion of the scientific exploration of the phenomenon of sound with a philosophic reflection on its nature that will appeal to inquisitive children looking to learn more about science and nature. A stunning sequence of rich infographics provoke the reader to listen . . . learn . . . and think. Whether it’s hearing noise, music, speech . . . or silence, no one will come away from these pages without experiencing sound with new ears and a fresh understanding.
The Magic Doll: A Children’s Book Inspired By African Art
Families Of All Kinds Will Appreciate This Simple Tale Of Love And Longing, Motherhood And Magic. In A Small Village In West Africa, A Young Girl Explains The Special Way She Was Born. Her Mother Had Difficulty Getting Pregnant, So She Seeks Help In The Form Of A Doll Which She Treats Like A Human Baby, Carrying It On Her Back And Covering It With Kisses. Months Go By And Finally The Woman’s Belly Begins To Grow! This Beautiful Story Explores The Akua-ba Fertility Figures Of The Akan People Of Ghana, While Also Depicting The Deep Love A Mother Has For Her Children. Élodie Nouhen’s Subtle, Gorgeous Illustrations Combine Collage And Prints That Are Reminiscent Of Traditional African Art, While Remaining Uniquely Contemporary. Each Spread Communicates The Look And Feel Of West Africa–the Blazing Yellow Of The Sun, The Deep Blue Of The Sky, The Richly Patterned Textiles, And Vibrant Flora And Fauna. Adrienne Yabouza’s Text Echoes The Rhythms Of Life In Her Homeland–the Central African Republic. The Book Closes With A Short Introduction To African Art And The Importance Of Fertility Statues In African Cultures.
Cannonball
Determined to execute the perfect cannonball dive, a boy tries to follow everyone’s advice but finally hears Nan, an expert and former champion, who advises doing it his own way.
The Lady With The Books: A Story Inspired By The Remarkable Work Of Jella Lepman
A Fictionalized Retelling Of How Books From Around The World Helped Children In Germany Recuperate After WWII. Anneliese And Peter Will Never Be The Same After The War That Took Their Father’s Life. One Day, While Wandering The Ruined Streets Of Munich, The Children Follow A Line Of People Entering A Building, Thinking There May Be Free Food Inside. Instead, They Are Delighted To Discover A Great Hall Filled With Children’s Books — More Books Than Anneliese Can Count. Here, They Meet The Lady With The Books, Who Will Have A Larger Impact On The Children’s Lives Than They Could Have Ever Imagined. The Place Between Despair And Hope Can Often Be Found Between The Covers Of A Book.
Little Fox
Little Fox frolics with butterflies, scavenges for food, and searches for new friends—despite his father’s warning that danger lurks all around. Then one day he takes a tumble, bumps his head, and starts dreaming of things that reflect both the beauty he’s seen and the scary things he’s heard.