Family

Grandfather’s Story Cloth

Chersheng’s grandfather is beginning to forget things: little things like turning off the water faucet and big things like Chersheng’s name. Sometimes he even forgets that he is in America now. Chersheng feels sad and helpless when he learns that Grandfather has Alzheimer’s Disease, but then Chersheng’s mother presents him with a story cloth stitched by Grandfather himself, embroidered in the Hmong tradition. Through the story cloth, Grandfather’s memories of his life in Laos come alive. And inspired by Grandfather’s tales about his life before the war forced him to immigrate to America, Chersheng comes up with a plan to capture his family’s new life with his own art project. This way, they can all remember that their love is stronger than Alzheimer’s Disease, no matter in which country they live. This volume is an English-Hmong edition.

A Gift

Amy receives a gift just in time for Chinese New Year, the most important holiday in the Chinese culture. At this time of year, it’s tradition to spend time with friends and family. Since Amy’s aunt and uncles live in China and are unable to make a New Year visit, they have sent their niece a special gift.

Angel (Exceptional Reading & Language Arts Titles For Upper Grades)

Freya’s intense passion for angels led her into years of mental illness. Now, just when she’s starting to believe she’s normal again, a dark angel starts to follow her. Soon she learns a stunning truth: She is an angel herself. And an angel’s job is nothing like she imagined it would be…

Monsoon Afternoon

It is monsoon season in India. Outside, dark clouds roll in and the rain starts to fall. As animals scatter to find cover, a young boy and his dadaji (grandfather) head out into the rainy weather. The two sail paper boats. They watch the peacocks dance in the rain, just as the colorful birds did when Dadaji was a boy. They pick mangoes and Dadaji lifts up his grandson so he can swing on the roots of the banyan tree, just as Dadaji did when he was young. Finally, when the two return home, hot tea and a loving family are waiting.

See the review at WOW Review, Volume 3, Issue 1

As Luck would Have It

Based on the Brothers Grimm’s Clever Elsie. When Mother and Father Bear go off to look after Grandmother Bear, they leave twins Jonas and Juniper to take care of the house and field chores, warning them to beware of thieves. In this retelling of a classic story Jonas and Juniper go through many misadventures at home before having an encounter with thieves who are no match for the simple, but good-hearted twins.

Berkeley’s Barn Owl Dance

This is a lyrical and reassuring story about growing up and leaving the barn to dance on one’s own. At the biggest barn owl dance of the year, the Leave the Nest Fall Fest, keen dancer Berkeley shines as usual. Next moonrise, however, she and her fellow fledglings Bo and Bree must leave home. Though Berkeley is frightened, the winking, smiling, laughing moon lights her way. After thousands of silent wingbeats, she finds a new audience, and Flippity, Tappity, Clap Clap Clap, Berkeley’s new barn dance begins. Berkeley’s Barn Owl Dance ushers children into an unseen animal world, while the young owl’s journey will help them prepare to spread their wings and fly on their own.

Dancing to Freedom: The True Story of Mao’s Last Dancer

In a poor village in northern China, a small boy named Li Cunxin was given the chance of a lifetime. Selected by Chairman Mao’s officials from among millions of children to become a dancer, Li’s new life began as he left his family behind.

At the Beijing Dance Academy, days were long and difficult. Li’s hard work was rewarded when he was chosen yet again, this time to travel to America.

From there his career took flight, and he danced in cities around the world—never forgetting his family, who urged him to follow his dreams.

Marwe: Into the Land of the Dead

Marwe lives in a village where food is scarce. She tries to be obedient, but it’s hard to spend every day working in the field. When her carelessness ruins the village’s crops, she’s too scared to face her angry family and runs away to the strange Land of the Dead. Marawe knows she doesn’t belong there. But can she find the right sort of courage to return to the land of the living.

I Lost My Kisses

“Where do you find kisses?” “What do kisses look like?” Matilda Rose loves to kiss. But one day, something goes terribly, horribly wrong. She loses her kisses, just before her daddy is going to come home. Matilda goes on the hysterical and thoughtful search to find her kisses. Matilda Rose learns that you can never really lose your kisses — they will always be there when you need them.