United States

Materials from United States of America

Mi Papá Es Un Agrícola / My Father, The Farm Worker

Set against the backdrop of endless fields stretching to the horizon, the story follows a day in the life of a farm worker through the eyes of his proud son. From sunrise to sunset, the father toils tirelessly, gathering the crops that sustain their community and fill their bellies.

Through lyrical prose and stunning illustrations, the book illuminates the sacrifice and hardship endured by farm workers as they labor to provide for their families. It celebrates their unwavering dedication and the deep love that drives them to work from dawn till dusk, shaping the natural world with their hands.

Presented in both English and Spanish, “Harvesting Love / Cosechando Amor” is a bilingual treasure that honors the contributions of farm workers while offering young readers a window into their world. Parents and children alike will be captivated by the rich tapestry of colors and the poignant message of resilience, perseverance, and the enduring bond between parent and child.

Tales From Gold Mountain: Stories Of The Chinese In The New World (A Groundwood Book) (A Groundwood Book)

Through eight original tales, readers gain insight into the hardships faced by the first Chinese immigrants in America. In “Spirits of the Railway,” a young man endeavors to appease the restless ghosts of railroad workers who were never properly laid to rest, shedding light on the sacrifices made by laborers in building the nation’s infrastructure. In “Forbidden Fruit,” a father’s bias threatens to tear apart his daughter’s chance at love and happiness, highlighting the impact of cultural traditions and familial expectations on individual lives.

Ellen Takes Flight: The Life of Astronaut Ellen Ochoa

A biography celebrating the life of astronaut, and former director of the Johnson Space Center, Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina in Space. Graduating at the top of her high school and college classes, thanks to encouragement from her mother, Ellen went on to study electrical engineering in graduate school. By age 30 she was an accomplished engineer and when NASA started to accept women and people of color into the astronaut program, Ellen soon embarked on a new career. Her first mission was on board the Discovery, the only woman aboard the space shuttle, making Ellen the first Latina to reach outer space.

Queen Of Leaves: The Story Of Botanist Ynes Mexia

The true story of Ynes Mexia, a Mexican-American botanist whose passion for plants led her on great expeditions, despite being in her early 50s, to gather flowers and plant samples for museums and universities around the world. Ynes went on to collect more than 100,000 specimens, including the elusive wax palm tree, which forever changed the world of botany, thus solidifying her place as the Queen of Leaves.

 

The Astronaut With A Song For The Stars: The Story Of Dr. Ellen Ochoa (Amazing Scientists)

The incredible true story of Dr. Ellen Ochoa, American space pioneer and former director of the Johnson Space Center. The daughter of immigrants, Ellen always wanted to become a professional flutist while growing up. However, those dreams changed when she got to college and discovered engineering. While she was told that engineering was not a field of study for women, she did not let that deter her from her new dreams, which ultimately led to her becoming a NASA astronaut, and the first Hispanic woman to reach outer space.

El Español Es La Lengua De Mi Familia (Spanish Edition)

To prepare for his school’s Spanish spelling bee, a young boy asks his grandmother for help. There are words he still does not know how to spell. With this simple request, a door is opened for him to learn more about his grandmother’s story as she reveals how she was only allowed to speak English at school when she was a young girl. This story inspires him to study hard for the spelling bee so he can make his family proud. Inspired by the author’s memories of his grandmother’s stories told to him when he was a boy.

The Moon Tonight: Our Moon’s Journey Around Earth

Follow the moon through the eyes of a father and daughter in this informative and visually stunning nonfiction picture book. Written by astronomer Jun Chang-hoon, and illustrated by award-winning Jang Ho, the book provides easy-to-follow scientific explanations for young readers alongside lavish acrylic drawings of the moon in the night sky.

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.

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.