Pen pals Elliott and Kailash discover that even though they live in different countries–America and India–they both love to climb trees, own pets, and ride school buses.
Same, Same but Different
Picture Book
A Stork in a Baobab Tree: An African Twelve Days of Christmas
Set in Africa during the Christmas season, this is the story of a village preparing for a celebration – the birth of a child. The story is told in verse inspired by the traditional carol The Twelve Days of Christmas, but in this version by the author Catherine House the gifts are: 1 stork in a baobab tree, 2 thatched huts, 3 woven baskets, 4 market traders, 5 bright khangas, 6 women pounding, 7 children playing, 8 wooden carvings, 9 grazing goats, 10 drummers drumming, 11 dancers dancing and 12 storytellers. This is a Christmas steeped in the atmosphere of African village life, including descriptions of the objects and activities mentioned in the text.
How the Leopard Got His Claws
In the beginning, all the animals lived as friends. The leopard, their king was strong but gentle and wise. Only the dog had sharp teeth, and only the dog scoffed at the animals plan to build a common shelter for gathering out of the rain. but when the dog was flooded out of his own cave, he attacked the leopard and took over as king. It was only then that the leopard returned with a new roar, sharp claws, and shining teeth, life for the animals would never be the same.
In this riveting fable for young readers, Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe, author of Things Fall Apart, evokes themes of liberation and justice that echo his novels about post-colonial Africa. Glowing with vibrant color, Mary GrandPre’s expressive and action-filled paintings bring this unforgettable tale dramatically to life.
King Jack and the Dragon
Jack, Zack, and Caspar build a castle fort, then spend a day fighting dragons and beasts, but at day’s end giants carry away first Sir Zack, then Caspar, and King Jack is left to face night creatures alone.
Paul Thurlby’s Alphabet
In this picture book, graphic artist Paul Thurlby presents a stunning alphabet that helps to make the shape of each letter memorable. From an awesome A to a zippy Z, this is the perfect ABC book for the young and hip.
Peter Rabbit: The Tale of a Naughty Little Rabbit
This is the story of Peter Rabbit, a naughty rabbit who doesn’t listen to his mother and sneaks into a nearby garden. In the garden, Peter stumbles across a grumpy farmer and loses his shiny shoes and his new blue coat. He escapes – but not without a few hair-raising moments of danger. This picture book retelling retains all the excitement of Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit, but with more accessible language.
The General
After falling off his horse, General Jodpur discovers the beauty of flowers and nature and vows to change the world around him by bringing peace.
¡a Bailar!
A young girl and her mother put on their red dresses and dance their way through the barrio, collecting friends and neighbors along the way as they go to the park to hear her father’s salsa band play. Let’s Dance!
Adelita and the Veggie Cousins
On her first day at a new school, Adelita makes new friends through a lesson on vegetables, including how some vegetables are “cousins” because they share certain characteristics.
Clara and the Curandera
Clara’s grumpiness leads her mother to take her to a neighbor who is a curandera, or healer, and although she is puzzled by her “treatment,” Clara dutifully helps her neighbors, is kind to her siblings, and reads more books for a week.