Piano Piano

Marcolino hates practicing his scales on the piano, but feels he must because he is the reason his mother never became a grand pianist–until his grandfather lets them both in on a little secret.

Mira in the Present Tense

Twelve-year-old Mira comes from a chaotic, artistic, and outspoken family in which it’s not always easy to be heard. As her beloved Nana Josie’s health declines, Mira begins to discover the secrets of those around her and also starts to keep some of her own. She is drawn to mysterious Jide, a boy who is clearly hiding a troubled past. As Mira is experiencing grief for the first time, she is also discovering the wondrous and often mystical world around her.

This book is originally published in the UK as Artichoke Hearts.

Roimata and the Forest of Tane

In this story a little girl, Roimata comes and stays with her grandmother. The grandmother tells her the story of a old tawa tree which was in front of their house. And how a storm comes and blows the tree down.

The Frank Show

What do you do if it’s show-and-tell day at school and you’re supposed to bring someone from your family, but the only someone avaliable is your grandpa, who complains… a lot, prefers things the way they used to be, thinks his arm can predict the rain, is guaranteed to embarrass you.  And to make matters worse, what if Khristian brings his stand-up comedian dad and Paolo brings his mom, who’s Italian and speaks Italian?  You are going to wish your grandpa had some tricks up his sleeve…but what if he does?

This hilarious offbeat story from the creator of Marshall Armstrong Is New to Our School reveals that there is more to the older generation than meets the eye.  After all, the longer you’ve been around, the more time you’ve had for wild adventures!

Here Comes Hortense!

What could be more fun for a six-year-old than having your nana and her new husband take you to a theme park? But the fun is spoiled when Nana and Bob announce that they’ve planned a surprise: they are going to be joined by Bob’s granddaughter, Hortense. It turns out to be the worst surprise ever. Nana shares her room with Hortense instead of her disgruntled little grandson. She sings her special good-night song to Hortense. She goes on all the scary rides with Hortense. And, worst of all, Hortense has a special name for Nana.

A perceptive and hilarious exploration of rivalry, there’s a gentle lesson for readers, young and old.