Malaika learns about her father, who came to Canada as a migrant farm worker when she was just a baby and who shared her love of carnival. Malaika dreams about a man with a basket of fruit and guesses that the dream is about her father. Mummy explains that her daddy passed away long ago, and Grandma decides it’s time Malaika knew more about her father’s life. The family drives to a far off farm where they receive a warm welcome and visit the orchard where Malaika’s father picked fruit. The farm workers tell Malaika that her daddy had always dreamed of celebrating carnival there, just like back home. Will Malaika agree to be their Carnival Queen for the harvest festival?
Picture Book
My Brother Is An Avocado
A big sister anticipates the birth of a new sibling in this warm and funny stage by stage picture book tour of all the sizes of a growing baby, from teeny tiny poppy seed to giant watermelon.It’s hard to wait for an exciting new baby to join the family, especially when it’s still growing inside Mom’s tummy. But when her dad tells her the size of the baby at each stage, one little girl imagines all the fun she can have with her baby brother as a teeny tiny poppy seed, then a grape, then a lemon.But she’s not quite sure how she feels about having an avocado for a brother. Or an onion. Or a watermelon!
Pepita Meets Bebita
Family pup Pepita must learn how to welcome a fussy new baby into the home.
The Ogre In The Hall
It’s late at night, and Jojo knows two things: First, he has to pee, urgently. Second, an ogre lives in the hallway, and he’ll have to see him on the way to pee. Not an easy situation to solve. Sword in hand, Jojo creeps along the walls of the dark hallway. Finally he reaches the door, where he discovers that the ogre is inside and on the potty! Jojo tells the ogre to scram, but the sad and sweet faced ogre is too upset! He has a stomach ache and yes, he’s also afraid of the dark! The mayhem escalates from there as more creatures appear, piling into the bathroom to hide from their many nighttime fears. Clever and funny with stellar art by Pascal Lemaître, this is a story that will delight children who love monsters and spooky stories as it defangs their fears of the dark.
Grandpa And The Kingfisher
Life affirming and lyrical, this beautiful picture book celebrates the awesome power of nature and the circle of life. Over the course of a year, a young child and their dog watch kingfishers by the river with Grandpa. As spring turns to summer and autumn to winter, the kingfishers raise a family, while Grandpa teaches his grandchild about the power of nature and the circle of life.
Esperanza Caramelo, The Star Of Nochebuena
In a bakery on the eve of Nochebuena, sugar figurines come to life and a cake catastrophe is averted.
Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior
Indigenous women have long cared for the land and water, which in turn sustains all life on Earth, honoring their ancestors and providing for generations to come. Yet there was a time when their voices and teachings were nearly drowned out, leaving entire communities and environments in danger and without clean water. But then came Grandma Josephine and her great-niece, Autumn Peltier.
Waaa Waaa Goes Táwà
A fresh and funny look at a universal childhood problem by an emerging Nigerian talent.What parent or caregiver hasn’t wished to disappear when their usually delightful charge erupts with a volcanic tantrum? Somehow small kids manage to make their wishes known in the loudest way possible before they are able to talk. Tantrums are always unpredictable, happen at the worst time, and are often in public. On a walk, at the market, or getting new braids, Tawá is quick to cry “Waa Waa”for no apparent reason. The day becomes more and more exasperating for anyone near her. It’s not until bedtime when the exhausted grown ups treat Tawá to their own cries, that the surprised little noise maker is finally subdued.
Cantora
The folk rhythm of the bombo drum beats like a heart, with a resonant voice singing the truth of her people. Mercedes Sosa sang about what it means to be human, and her songs of struggle always spoke the truth of the injustice that so many workers and families in Latin America faced. As a teen, she won a local radio contest, and as her confidence grew, so did her fame. From a folk festival to Carnegie Hall and the Sistine Chapel, Mercedes performed the world over, sharing stories through song. But not everyone loved her singing: a military dictatorship ruled over Argentina, and they saw the power of her voice. Even from exile, Mercedes Sosa was a beacon of freedom for her people, and when she returned to her homeland, she persisted in her work: to be the voice of the voiceless.
The Little Green Envelope
Olive’s friend has moved away, and Olive wishes she could visit her. A little green envelope, lost in the bottom of the desk drawer, knows how Olive feels. It, too, wants so much to travel, and imagines zipping up and down conveyer belts and bouncing along in a mail bag, on its way to deliver an important letter. An old postcard reassures that for every occasion, there is an envelope but it seems like it will never be the little green envelope’s turn. When Olive’s grandpa suggests writing her friend a letter, the little green envelope hopes and hopes that it will be chosen to carry the letter to its destination but will it be a perfect fit?