In the bustle of street and marketplace, everyone is watching, waiting for those magical clouds to bring their gift of rain to the land. A child describes waiting for the monsoon rains to arrive and the worry that they will not come.
Monsoon
Primary (ages 6-9)
Material appropriate for primary age groups
Kamishibai Man
The Kamishibai man used to ride his bicycle into town where he would tell stories to the children and sell them candy, but gradually, fewer and fewer children came running at the sound of his clappers. They were all watching their new televisions instead. Finally, only one boy remained, and he had no money for candy. Years later, the Kamishibai man and his wife made another batch of candy, and he pedaled into town to tell one more story—his own. When he comes out of the reverie of his memories, he looks around to see he is surrounded by familiar faces—the children he used to entertain have returned, all grown up and more eager than ever to listen to his delightful tales.
The Song of El Coqui and Other Tales of Puerto Rico
A collection of three folktales which reflect the diverse heritage within Puerto Rican culture.
Barn Dance!
Who can sleep on such a beautiful night? Mama Horse, Mama Pig, Mama Sheep want to dance while the little ones are asleep. They put straw on the floor to muffle the sound. While Mama Horse, Mama Pig, and Mama Sheep have a rest, the little ones dance.
Thumbelina Of Toulaba
This retelling of the H. C. Andersen fairy tale is set on an imaginary island in the Carribean. A tiny girl is stolen from her loving mother and many siblings, has adventures with a wise caiman, an injured bird of paradise, and other exotic creatures, and learns how to say no while fending off suitors. Includes a glossary of plants and animals.
I Very Really Miss You
Sam’s big brother Ben is going away on a school trip for an entire week and Sam is thrilled: for one whole week he can play with all the toys and have the whole bedroom to himself. What’s more, he certainly won’t be getting squirted by Ben’s water pistol. But it’s too quiet without Ben, so Sam writes his brother to say he “very really” misses him.
Time to Say I Love You
In this sweet, touching story, a mother tries to choose a time to tell her little girl how much she loves her. Over the course of a beautiful day at the seaside, the two roam over sandy beaches and grassy hills as the mother searches for just the right time and spot.
Let’s Play!
It gets toddlers excited while, at the same time, shows them how three friends can play nicely together.
Max & Maddy and the Bursting Balloons Mystery
Max and Maddy Twist have a flair for solving crimes.Their parents once ran a thriving detective agency—until the notorious Professor Claude Sardine shut them down. But now Max and Maddy are ready to pick up where their parents left off. When an eccentric balloonist enlists their help in finding out who is sabotaging a hot air balloon race, Max and Maddy not only take the case—they take to the air! But will they be able to find the culprit before their balloon becomes the next target?
A Song for Ba
In the Chinese opera, men traditionally sing both male and female parts. Wei Lim’s father, Ba, however, usually plays masculine characters and sings in a deep bass voice. But Wei’s grandfather played female roles, and has secretly taught Wei to sing these difficult parts. When the New World’s entertainments begin to cause a shrinking audience for the opera company, Ba is forced to play female characters.