When Siobhan was just three years old, her mother died, leaving Siobhan and her father alone in their house in Dublin. They never talk about her, and now, at ten years old, Siobhan no longer remembers her mother’s face. One day, Siobhan meets a mysterious woman in the park who tells her that to remember her mother, she just needs to look in a mirror. As Siobhan grows older, she sees more and more of her mother’s face in her own reflection. With time, she and her father and her own daughter are able to remember Siobhan’s mother with joy and laughter instead of tears.
Europe
Materials from Europe
Who’s Scaring Alfie Atkins?
Alfie is not afraid of ghosts, but when it’s getting late, he is worried that ghosts would come. When he is alone or it is dark, he is scared of ghosts.
365 Penguins
On the first day of the new year, the mailman brings a surprise—a penguin! One by one, day by day, penguins fill the house. At first they are cute, but with every passing day, the penguins pile up—along with the family’s problems. Feeding, cleaning, and housing the penguins becomes a monumental task.
The Secret Of Priest’s Grotto: A Holocaust Survival Story (Holocaust)
According to legend, a group of Jewish families survived the Holocaust by hiding out for months in the 77 miles of caves in Ukraine known as Priest’s Grotto. Cavers Taylor and Nicola chronicle their trip to explore the caves and uncover the story of the survivors.
Linnea’s Windowsill Garden (Linnea Books)
In this book, she takes you on a tour of her indoor garden. She tells you about her orange tree (and plantable pits and seeds, including melons, tomatoes, and grapes); she shows you how to take a cutting from a Busy Lizzie and how to trim an avocado plant.
And she teaches you what keeps plants satisfied: the art of watering properly (plants don’t like standing with their feet in water) and fertilizing. And what to do when plants are attacked by whiteflies or other nasty bugs.
Linnea also makes garden-cress cheese (from homegrown cress, of course); discusses the pleasures and possible pitfalls of growing an amaryllis; and writes a plant newspaper, The Green Gazette.
Linnea’s Windowsill Garden will informs and inspire anyone who wants to grow an indoor garden of their own.
Dino-Dinners
Dinosaurs had huge appetites. But what did they eat? Some grated plants into mush with their powerful jaws. Others swallowed fish whole. And some prowled the land, hunting other dinosaurs for dinner-including their own kind! Young dinosaur fans will find out exactly what-or who-was on the prehistoric menu, as well as interesting facts about each dino’s life, size and shape, and eating habits. This book was created in association with the Natural History Museum in London, England.
The Incredible Book Eating Boy
Like many children, Henry loves books. But Henry doesn’t like to read books, he likes to eat them. Big books, picture books, reference books . . . if it has pages, Henry chews them up and swallows (but red ones are his favorite). And the more he eats, the smarter he gets—he’s on his way to being the smartest boy in the world! But one day he feels sick to his stomach. And the information is so jumbled up inside, he can’t digest it!
Bear’s Day Out
Bear usually spends his days singing to himself and wading playfully through the water in his cave by the sea. But then, one day, he hears the noises of the city traveling on the wind, and he decides to give city life a try. At first, the sights and smells are new and exciting. But when the hustle and bustle of the people, the markets, and the traffic all become too much for Bear, it will take a little bit of kindness from some helpful young strangers to get him back home again. Bestselling author Michael Rosen’s rhythmic text and Adrian Reynolds’ adorable, lively illustrations make this a perfect read-aloud for story time.
Max’s Dragon
Max is looking for words that rhyme. His dragon is in his wagon – or was, for now its tail has left a trail, which Max follows. He finds an umbrella on the ground— “Found, ground,” he says, while his older brothers mock him for believing in dragons and sitting under an umbrella when it isn’t even raining. But Max believes in possibilities—and when he can show his brothers not only a dragon in the stormy clouds but also a dinosaur, they begin to come round. When Max demonstrates the power of his rhyming words to tame the dinosaur and the dragon and make the rain come, he wins them over completely.
That Rabbit Belongs To Emily Brown
Emily Brown’s rabbit, Stanley, is NOT FOR SALE.Not even to her Most Royal Highness Queen Gloriana the Third.Not even for all the toys Emily Brown could ever desire.So when naughty Queen Gloriana steals “Bunnywunny” away, Emily Brown sets out to get him back. Along the way, she shows the queen how to love a special toy of her very own. The popular author of How to Train Your Dragon teams up with the author/illustrator of Oscar and Arabella in this irresistible picture book.