In four short stories, The Invisible Elephant tells the story of a young blind heroine who gleefully explores her environment through her senses and imagination. Although she cannot see the world with her eyes, this doesn’t stop her from interacting with her surroundings joyfully. Young readers watch as she learns Braille, with her family and friends cheering her on at every step of the way as she learns to navigate the world in her own unique way. In addition to gorgeous illustrations by Yulia Sidneva and an artful translation by Ruth Ahmedzai, the book includes an illustrated guide that shows readers how to respectfully interact with the visually impaired.
Fiction
Fiction genre
The Amazing And True Story Of Tooth Mouse Pérez
Did you know? In Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, instead of a Tooth Fairy, they have a Tooth Mouse! This is his story. Though the world is very different from when his Tooth Mouse descendants worked, a Tooth Mouse named Pérez continues his ancestors’ tradition and brings children their permanent teeth. Thought-provoking and playful The Amazing and True Story of Tooth Mouth Perez illuminates how, just as Tooth Mice must adapt their customs in the face of culture-shifting forces, so too must the child as they grow up and gain their independence.
The Young Teacher And The Great Serpent (Stories From Latin America)
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.
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.
Later, When I’m Big
A child and mother approach the diving board at the swimming pool, the child dreams about all of the things she will do when she is older. Maybe she will learn to fly in space or even play with the monster who is hiding under her bed! But right now, she will have to face the very tall and terrifying diving board.
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.
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.
Pardalita
Sixteen-year-old Raquel is living in a small town in Portugal, where she must learn to navigate the angst that often comes with being a teenager: her parent’s are divorced, her mother is always working and she doesn’t like her father’s new wife. After being suspended for cursing at a school aide, Raquel meets Pardalita, a gifted artist and senior at her school. As the two girls get to know each other Raquel soon falls in love.
Saints Of The Household
Bribri American brothers, Max and Jay, have always depended on each other for their survival. Growing up with a physically abusive father, they have learned that the only way to protect themselves, as well as their mother, is to keep their heads down and adhere to a strict schedule. But after intervening when a classmate gets into a fist fight, resulting in the school’s star soccer player being beat to a pulp by both brothers’ hands, they must grapple with the realization that they may be more like their father than they thought. In order to move forward, they will have to reach back to their Bribri roots.
Rez Ball
Debut novelist, Byron Gtaves, tells the story of Tre Brun who finds solace and purpose on the basketball court of the Red Lake Reservation high school team, despite grappling with the persistent ache of losing his older brother, Jaxon, to tragedy. When Jaxon’s former teammates extend a hand of camaraderie, Tre views this opportunity as a chance to honor his Ojibwe heritage and pursue his ambition of leading his team to their inaugural state championship.
Winner of the American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Award and the William C. Morris Debut Award from the American Library Association.