When a young teacher sets out to the remote community of Las Delicias in the Amazon rain forest, she is eager to share her knowledge of science, math and geography. While the town’s children love the books she brings, they still keep repeating the legend about a great and dangerous serpent. While in disbelief that her young students could still care about the nonsense of folk tales, the river begins to rise, and suddenly the stories don’t seem to be nonsense after all. Perhaps there are other ways to learn wisdom of past generations besides in books.
Primary (ages 6-9)
Material appropriate for primary age groups
On The Edge Of The World (Stories From Latin America)
Veera and her family live in Russia on what feels like the edge of the world on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Veera spends her time devouring fantasy books, playing fetch with her dog, and longing for a friend she can share her treasures with that she keeps hidden underneath the alder bush. Lucas and his family live on the coast of Chile, which also feels like the edge of the world. Lucas spends his days looking for fossils, playing solo games of soccer, and wishing for a friend to read with him on his favorite tree branch. Written and illustrated by acclaimed author-illustrator Anna Desnitskaya, On the Edge of the World is a playful and perceptive book that illuminates the mirroring lives of two separate children in two separate places, yet share strikingly similar settings and interests.
Memory Garden
Nana and granddaughter enjoy an afternoon together in the garden, laughing, discovering and connecting. Written and illustrated by a mother daughter duo, Memory Garden invites readers to enjoy the beauty of Iranian gardens and cultures, while reminding us to cherish the moments we must leave behind, but that we will always remember.
My Grandfather’s Song
Long ago, Grandfather came to a new land. Fish swam in the water, birds chirped in the sky, monkeys played in the trees. And in this wilderness, with his own two hands, Grandfather built a house. It wasn’t easy. But the land gave him what he needed. And it became his home. Decades later, his grandson will have all he needs: a head full of memories, two capable hands, and the heart to appreciate family, nature and home. This picturebook creates a warm symphony of conservation and the sacred bond between grandparent and child, perfect for baby showers, birthdays and family celebrations.
This book is part of the Worlds of Words Global Reading List for 2023/24.
Love, Lah Lah
On the vibrant morning of Carnival, Lah Lah eagerly embraces the excitement of the day, bursting with energy as she prepares to immerse herself in the colorful festivities through the streets of Trinidad and Tobago. Accompanied by her beloved papa, they revel in the spectacle of the Carnival parade, cheering enthusiastically as they witness the majestic procession of the King and Queen, adorned in resplendent costumes that dazzle the eye. Join Lah Lah and her papa as they conclude the celebration with a grand performance on stage!
Empanadas For Everyone
A young girl’s weekend visit to her tía’s neighborhood teaches her the importance of community and of empanadas.
These Olive Trees
The story of a Palestinian family’s ties to the land, and how one young girl finds a way to care for her home, even as she says goodbye.
Becoming Miss Navajo
Jolyana Begay-Kroupa dreamed of becoming Miss Navajo as a little girl. Her chance finally comes after years of learning the language, culture, and traditions. Discover the inspiring true story of Jolyana who shows us what it takes to become Miss Navajo and how the competition is just the beginning. Becoming Miss Navajo includes pictures taken during the 2001-2002 competition.
100 Chapatis
A boy makes one hundred chapatis with his grandfather while they wait for news of his new baby sibling’s arrival.
Veo, Veo, I See You
While out running errands with their mami during the Covid-19 pandemic, Marisol and Pepito play a game of Veo, Veo (I Spy) that helps them see how the workers in their neighborhood are, and will always be, essential.