Sungura and Leopard: A Swahili Trickster Tale

A small but clever hare and a fierce leopard agree to share a house, but as the hare’s family grows, he realizes that he must find a way to get rid of his bad-tempered neighbor.

Chato Y Su Cena

cenaTo get the “ratoncitos,” little mice who have moved into the barrio, to come to come to his house, Chato the cat prepares all kinds of good food: fajitas, frijoles, salsa, enchiladas, and more. Wisely, the mice bring along a canine friend who ensures that Chato eats tortillas and not them for dinner.

Noche de Humo

Eve Bunting’s heartfelt story and David Diaz’s dramatic illustrations create a compelling child’s-eye view of urban violence. A young boy and his mother are forced to flee their apartment during a night of rioting in Los Angeles. Fires and looting force neighbors–who have always avoided one another–to come together in the face of danger and concern for their missing pets. David Diaz was awarded the Caldecott Medal for his bold acrylic paint and photo-collage illustrations.

Swing

A lantern, a mixing bowl, everything they ever borrowed from the neighbors, even their dog Leopoldo — Josey’s absentminded parents lose EVERYTHING. Sometimes they even lose track of time when they promise to do something fun with Josey. But then, with a big, rusty CLANK, a missing lantern falls out of the backyard tree, and suddenly Josey sees a way to solve her family’s problems. It’s going to take a lot of help, a little magic and a turbo-powered swing, but Josey might just have a shot at bringing the neighborhood — and her family — back together again.

Ruiz Street Kids / Los Muchachos De La Calle Ruiz

On a hot summer day, a new kid named David rides into the neighborhood. Gossip about the mysterious boy stretches longer than a wad of gum. The kids wonder why he rides a different bike everyday. Is he stealing them? He gets rough at the swimming pool, he scares the younger kids, and he spies over the fence. Why is he always so mean? Is it true that he eats a bee’s nest for breakfast and sleeps on a bed of nails? What does he want from the kids who live on Ruiz Street and why in the world would they ever want to be friends with somebody like David? The young narrator, Joe Silva, introduces intermediate readers to both his friends and their common enemy on Ruiz Street. David doesn’t have good people skills and doesn’t know quite how to improve them.

Dear Vampa

The Pires are cursed with new neighbors. Things were just fine on Nostfer Avenue until the Wolfsons arrived. There seems to be no end to the new family’s strange rituals. They stay up all day long, lock their windows at night, and bathe—in sunshine. What’s a nice vampire family to do? Ross Collins has created an ironic, laugh-out-loud story that invites you to think about accepting others—perhaps your neighbors are less different than you think.

A Wizard In Love

A retired wizard and his cat discover love in a most unexpected way!Hector, a retired wizard, lives happily with his cat, Poison, in a dilapidated house at the edge of the forest. Hector and Poison are content to pass the time in front of the TV, munching cookies. Their days are peaceful and quiet. That is until a dreadful noise begins to pour out of the old abandoned house across the road. It seems Hector and Poison have a new neighbor, and things will never be the same again.

Cal And The Amazing Anti-Gravity Machine

In this wacky, adventurous chapter book, Cal and his grouchy talking dog, Frankie, discover the joys (and pitfalls) of anti-gravity when they join forces with Cal’s inventive neighbor, Mr. Frout. This hair-raising adventure is a laugh-out-loud romp that lifts one boy’s curiosity about science to a new level!