Ernest Morlaisse leads an unadventurous life. He comes home every day and eats the same snack and sits down to his homework. Enter Victoria de Montardent, the new girl in class. When Victoria sees Ernest it’s love at first sight. And she makes her declaration to everyone: ” I love Ernest. . . . We’re getting married in 13 years, eight months, and three days. This is an invitation to our wedding”. And believe it or not, Victoria’s bulldozer approach works! Quickly Ernest begins to discover that beating inside his chest is his heart. And he begins finding ways to use it.
Realistic Fiction
Realistic Fiction genre
Jasmine’s Parlour Day
Jasmine helps her mother prepare to sell fish and sugar cakes at their parlour, or market stand, on market day on the island of Trinidad.
Snipp, Snapp, Snurr and the Big Surprise
Snipp, Snapp, and Snurr were three little boys who lived in Sweden.They had blue eyes and yellow hair, and they looked very much alike. One time, while their mother was visiting a friend, Snipp, Snapp, and Snurr had a wonderful idea. They would buy a new chair for Mother! They found a man who would make a frame for the chair, and someone who would upholster it. And Nanny said if they bought the fabric, she would sew a cover. There was only one problem. How could they pay for all this? With a lot of hard work, the three little boys came up with the perfect solution.
What’s Going on?
A young boy details everything that has been happening in his world, and it’s all very strange! A mom who sprays bug spray in her hair? A dad who wears two different shoes? Just what is going on? Could it have something to do with a recent arrival?
Pascual’s Magic Pictures
Having saved enough money to buy a disposable camera, Pascual goes into the Guatemalan jungle to take pictures of monkeys, but the results are not what he expected.
Beto and the Bone Dance
A fantastic encounter on the Day of the Dead. Today is Beto’s favorite holiday — the Day of the Dead. First, he and his father craft an altar at home in honor of Beto’s recently departed grandmother, filled with the things she loved in life. Later, it’s off to the cemetery, where at midnight all the dead souls will come to visit the living. It’s a celebratory occasion, but Beto is distraught because he isn’t able to find a perfect gift for Abuela’s altar. The answer to his dilemma is found in a wild dream, in which Beto joins a conga line of dance-mad skeletons. Through her effulgent paintings and rhythmic text, the author conveys all the excitement of this unique Mexican fiesta, as well as a comforting message for children who have lost a loved one.
Where Jamaica Go?
Jamaica has fun and sees many colorful sights as she goes downtown, goes to the beach, and rides home with Daddy.
The Tulip Touch
Natalie, who lives in the large hotel managed by her father, has a dangerous friendship with Tulip, the wildly uncontrollable girl on a neighboring farm.
My Dadima Wears a Sari
This warm, multigenerational story offers a glimpse into the distinctive culture and customs of India, while reinforcing universal themes of love and the importance of family. Every day, Rupa’s grandmother wears a beautiful sari. She shares with her young granddaughter all the wonderful things that saris can do-from becoming an umbrella in a rainstorm to providing a deep pouch to carry seashells collected from the beach. Soon Rupa’s own imagination is sparked with new uses for the saris. A note from the author and instructions for wrapping a sari are included.
Monsoon
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.