As a little girl and her father work together to make her birthday cake, he tells the story of her Grandpa Cacao, a farmer from the Ivory Coast. Includes author’s note and a cake recipe.
Grandpa Cacao
Family life
The Lotterys More Or Less
Nine-year-old Sumac Lottery considers it her job to make sure none of the Lottery celebrations are forgotten, especially now at Christmas time, and in her large, gay, and multiethnic family there are a lot of occasions for celebration in the house they all call Camelottery–but when a terrible ice storm hits Toronto, one of her dads, and her favorite brother cannot make it home from India, and it becomes increasingly difficult to hang on to the holiday spirit.
The Neighbors
As she climbs the seven stories to her own apartment, a little girl imagines what happens behind every door she passes.
Polonius the Pit Pony
When Polonius the pit pony escapes from the coal mine he’s worked in all his life, he joins a family of Travelers. Although he enjoys the freedom and the fresh air that their lifestyle offers, he wishes he could give something back to the family in return. When the chance arrives for him to do something to help, he rises to the challenge and uses his intelligence and skills to save the day. Based on true events and retold by a master of the oral tradition, this story bears witness to the Traveler values of independence, initiative, courage and hard work.
My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonder
Four short stories set in a hutong, or residential alleyway, of Beijing, China. Yu’er, her grandfather, and their eccentric neighbors experience the magic of everyday life.
My Beijing is featured in WOW Review Volume XIV, Issue 1.
No Fixed Address
Twelve-year-old Felix’s appearance on a television game show reveals that he and his mother have been homeless for a while, but also restores some of his faith in other people.
Islandborn
Lola was just a baby when her family left the Island, so when she has to draw it for a school assignment, she asks her family, friends, and neighbors about their memories of her homeland…and in the process, comes up with a new way of understanding her own heritage.
Featured in WOW Review Volume XI, Issue 1.
Islandborn was featured in WOW Currents Rompiendo nuestra burbuja: An International Perspective on Culturally Specific Literature from the United States.
Little Bear’s Big House
Tired of living in the forest, Little Bear sets out to have an adventure but when he finds a big house inhabited by a “monster” he is very happy to flee to the safety of his bear family.
Ocean Meets Sky
From the creators of the gorgeous bestseller The Night Gardener, comes a stunning new picture book about a young boy who sets sail to find a place his grandfather told him about…the spot where the ocean meets the sky.It’s a good day for sailing. Finn lives by the sea and the sea lives by him. Every time he looks out his window it’s a constant reminder of the stories his grandfather told him about the place where the ocean meets the sky. Where whales and jellyfish soar and birds and castles float. Finn’s grandfather is gone now but Finn knows the perfect way to honor him. He’ll build his own ship and sail out to find this magical place himself! And when he arrives, maybe, just maybe, he’ll find something he didn’t know he was looking for.
Sleep Well Siba & Saba
Forgetful sisters Siba and Saba are always losing something. Sandals, slippers, sweaters, you name it, they lose it. When the two sisters fall asleep each night, they dream about the things they have lost that day. Until, one night, their dreams begin to reveal something entirely unexpected. With playful illustrations and a lullaby-like rhythm, this heart-warming story set in Uganda is truly one to be treasured.