Aniana del Mar belongs in the water like a dolphin belongs to the sea. But she and Papi keep her swim practices and meets hidden from Mami, who has never recovered from losing someone she loves to the water years ago. That is, until the day Ani’s stiffness and swollen joints mean she can no longer get out of bed, and Ani is forced to reveal just how important swimming is to her. Mami forbids her from returning to the water but Ani and her doctor believe that swimming along with medication will help Ani manage her disease. What follows is the journey of a girl who must grieve who she once was in order to rise like the tide and become the young woman she is meant to be. Aniana Del Mar Jumps In is a poignant story about chronic illness and disability, the secrets between mothers and daughters, the harm we do to the ones we love the most—and all the triumphs, big and small, that keep us afloat.
Americas
Materials from the Americas
B My Name Is Boy: A Song Of Celebration From Australia To Zimbabwe
An alphabetical celebration of boys around the world, with countries, names, and character traits from A to Z.
9 Kilometers (Stories From Latin America)
As a young boy walks nine kilometers to school, he travels through the mountain and rain forest landscapes of southern Chile.
A Big Bed For Little Snow
When winter comes, Mommy makes a soft bed for Little Snow to sleep on, but each night he cannot resist jumping on the bed, causing tiny feathers to fly down.
Pilar Ramirez And The Curse Of San Zenon (Pilar Ramirez Duology, 2)
In the Dominican Republic, twelve-year-old Pilar helps Ciguapa and Carmen hunt for the escaped demon El Baca and his mysterious new ally, and now, facing the threat of an ancient enemy, Pilar must harness her bruja powers in order to save Zafa and her family.
The Book Of Stolen Dreams
Siblings Rachel, twelve, and Robert, fourteen, are passed a stolen book by their librarian father and must track down the missing final page while protecting the book from falling into the hands of the cruel ruler of Krasnia, President Charles Malstain.
The Penguin Of Ilha Grande : From Animal Rescue To Extraordinary Friendship
When an oil covered penguin washes up in Brazil, Seu Joao saves its life. The man and penguin become friends, and the penguin won’t return to the wild.
Turtles Of the Midnight Moon
Twelve-year-olds Barana and Abby come together to solve a sea turtle egg poaching mystery plaguing Barana’s Honduran coastal village, and learn the true meaning of friendship, courage and community along the way.
This book is part of the Worlds of Words Global Reading List for 2023/24.
Destiny Finds Her Way: How A Rescued Baby Sloth Learned To Be Wild (Baby Animal Tales)
“When Destiny was found by the Sloth Institute in Costa Rica, she was sick, thin, and one of her eyes was closed and not working. The Sloth Institute took her in and introduced her to other sloths as she started to recover. She never regained the use of her one eye, but that didn’t stop Destiny from hanging out with her new buddies, or getting healthier and stronger. Last August, Destiny was fitted for her tracking collar and released back into the wild. This inspiring story not only encourages kids to be determined like Destiny, but it also shows them the importance of being kind to those who may look different than us”–
If I Go Missing
If I Go Missing is a graphic novel based on a letter written by 14 year old Brianna Jonnie to the Winnipeg Police Service. This graphic novel begins with a quote from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the right of Indigenous women and children to be free from all forms of violence and discrimination. Citing statistics and information on murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls, this is an open letter to understand how missing people are treated differently especially Indigenous women and girls by society and men and boys in particular. It is also a call on police services, media and communities to exhaust all efforts to find Indigenous girls and to do this as soon as possible because it is not about the colour of one’s skin, socio-economic status, or legal guardianship but details that humanize those who go missing that matters.