Lola's grandmother is coming to visit, and Lola can't wait for all the family fun. Nana-Bibi will stay in Lola's room, so Lola gets to sleep on a special blow-up bed. The family spends the week doing different activities, like shopping for presents for family back in Tanzania, having dance parties, and making special mandazi doughnuts. Nana-Bibi and Lola share a special time together as Nana-Bibi remembers all the things she used to do with her nana.
Just like human families, animal families come in all shapes and sizes. Some wild animal fathers have diverse and surprising wildlife parenting roles in the rearing of their offspring. Told through captivating illustrations and lyrical text, young readers learn how animal dads, from wolves to seahorses, protect, nurture, and teach their young.
On the eastern plains of Taiwan, a young girl and her mother pick wild greens before a rainstorm drenches them and their garden. When she goes to pull at the roots of a spiky, stalky weed, she learns that the plant is not what it seems. A lyrical story that shows young readers how to appreciate the bounty of nature and the beauty of identity. Chinese and Pinyin translations are included in pages and backmatter features additional information on the indigenous Amis people of Taiwan. An Own Voices, Own Stories award winner and Junior Library Guild Selection.
One little bunny spends a merry day with a special loved one, baking, wrapping, playing, and preparing for Christmas. When family and friends arrive it's time for carols and hot cocoa around the fire. This sweet, cozy story reminds readers that the joy in the holiday season is being with the ones we love.
The morning before Diez y Seis de Septiembre, Gloria's Papa wakes up with laryngitis. A disaster! The festivities cannot start without a loud grito to kick the party off--and a Hernandez has always yelled the grito for as long as anyone can remember. When Gloria offers her own grito--and Papa backs her up--the mayor has to agree. But what has she done?! How will she find the courage to yell the grito with the heart it needs? Gloria needs some help from her community and her Papa to find her voice.
There once was a little red chair. Languishing in an antique shop window, the little chair longed to be part of a family. One day a little girl named Mia knew it was just the right chair for her. So Mia and her mother take the little chair home. With new red upholstery and its brightly polished wheels, the little red chair becomes the perfect companion for Mia. She snuggles in it on cold winter nights. She daydreams in it on bright sunny days. And it's the perfect throne for Mia on her birthday. But as Mia gets older, she spends less and less time with the little red chair. She's busy with school and friends and other things. One day, it's time for Mia to leave for a new life. Eventually, the little red chair is packed up and moved to a corner in the attic. Please don't leave me, the little chair says. But no one comes. Seasons come and go; years and years pass by. Will anyone rescue the little red chair?
Lola's family has an apple orchard and every year they sell hundreds of apple pies for customers' Thanksgiving tables. It's always a big job; so this year Lola is going to cook Thanksgiving dinner on her own to help out. She has a plan and a list. But Mom and Dad need her help making all the pies too. Lola's list keeps getting left behind and Thanksgiving arrives without crossing off a single thing. Luckily, aunts and uncles and cousins arrive ready to help the family prepare a Thanksgiving feast! Just…no apple pie, please! Includes an apple pie recipe.
When a flood strikes Pakistan, Nadia and Nadir decide to organize a charity run to help the flood victims. They learn about fitness training and that some races aren't meant to be won. Sometimes there's a bigger goal to achieve.
Nadia and Nadir can't wait to have a sleepover in their backyard. But missing treats and critter footprints have them thinking of monsters. Eventually, they set up a plan to track down the creature and figure out what nightly visitor is in their backyard.
Siblings explains to emergent readers who siblings are and introduces different sibling relationships and interactions. Accessible, carefully crafted text uses high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references and labels to support readers and provide them with a supportive first nonfiction reading experience. Siblings includes Tools for Teachers and Caregivers and a Let's Review! question and image, as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, and an index.
Cousins explains to emergent readers who cousins are and introduces different cousin relationships and interactions. Accessible, carefully crafted text uses high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references and labels to support readers and provide them with a supportive first nonfiction reading experience. Cousins includes Tools for Teachers and Caregivers and a Let's Review! question and image, as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, and an index.
Grandparents explains to emergent readers who grandparents are and introduces different grandparent relationships and interactions. Accessible, carefully crafted text uses high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references and labels to support readers and provide them with a supportive first nonfiction reading experience. Grandparents includes Tools for Teachers and Caregivers and a Let's Review! question and image, as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, and an index.
Parents care for us. They can be different genders and ages. In this book, emergent readers are introduced to different parent/child relationships and interactions. Accessible, carefully crafted text uses high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references and labels to support readers and provide them with a supportive first nonfiction reading experience. Parents includes Tools for Teachers and Caregivers and a Let's Review! question and image, as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, and an index.
Ally isn't able to live with her mother. Instead she lives far, far away, on the other side of the country, with her gram and great-aunt. But one summer Ally goes to stay with her aunt and uncle in the "big city by the ocean" and gets to spend time with her mom. While exploring the shore, watching whales from the boat dipping into the salty water, Ally finds out something important: her mother loves to swim as much as she does.
Families around the world may look different, have different members, eat different foods, and wear different clothes, but all families are a group of people who love each other.
I WANT TO BE THE BOSS! For once in their life, this small beast wants to get everything it wants, right here, RIGHT NOW! While the grown-up monster can’t give them a plane they can fly or a cake with lots of candy on top, they can give them a really big hug when they feel upset.
The drum represents the heartbeat of Mother Earth. We all belong to the earth and we all belong to the drum. Nikosis grew up going to powwows with his family, happily immersed in music, dance and the sounds of the drum. But when he starts going to daycare, he doesn’t feel like he belongs. Nikosis cries every time his mother leaves him in the unfamiliar environment until, one day, she and the teachers use drums to help Nikosis find connection and comfort.
The drum represents the heartbeat of Mother Earth. We all belong to the earth and we all belong to the drum. Nikosis grew up going to powwows with his family, happily immersed in music, dance and the sounds of the drum. But when he starts going to daycare, he doesn’t feel like he belongs. Nikosis cries every time his mother leaves him in the unfamiliar environment until, one day, she and the teachers use drums to help Nikosis find connection and comfort.
When Peter was little, he asked his grandmother to knit him a VERY big sweater. So, she made him a sweater with love knit into every stitch. Young Peter wore the sweater, with its drooping sleeves and oversized body, everywhere he went. Eventually, Peter outgrew his small seaside village and decided to see the world with his sweater providing comfort and a reminder of home on every adventure. After traveling for many years, he returns home to find a new family next door. They too have traveled from far away, and Peter finds a connection with the young son, who also needs a comforting reminder of home.
Tiny fingers, teeny toes—but baby won't stay little for long! Children grow from newborns bundled tight to toddlers taking their first steps in no time. Parents and caregivers know the heart tug of wishing they could hold their babies close forever while also feeling the joy and pride of each new milestone that accompanies children's growing independence. In sweet, rhyming verse, Stay My Baby expresses the feelings of wonder and love for a new baby, with a promise that, no matter how big they get, they will always have a special place in their family's hearts.
Mama Lou is pregnant and everyone’s guessing what’s in her belly. Who is hiding in there? The bird thinks it’s a cat because everyone keeps petting it. The cat thinks it’s a mouse because Mama Lou is craving cheese. The brother thinks it’s a boy, and a good soccer player too. And the sister thinks it’s a doll she can dress up. Everyone has their own idea. “But I’m not any of those things!” the baby says from inside Mama’s belly. “I’m me! Don’t you understand?” No one can hear it. Until…WHAAA! The baby is tired of being ignored. It’s time their voice was heard. Finally the guessing is over and the baby can show their family who they really are!
Bruno's home is a bit different, but he wouldn't trade it for the world. Bruno's friend Sanjay is lucky: he doesn’t have to share his room (well, except with a pet iguana), and he can leave his toy soldiers all over the house. And Bruno’s brother, Mateo, who is visually impaired, is pretty lucky too: He has a dog named Rocco who helps him get around. Plus, Mateo can keep reading after dark by using just his fingers (while Bruno has to use a flashlight). Still, Bruno has it pretty good. He can leave his bed a total mess. He can play dinosaurs with Sanjay and his iguana. And he can listen to Mateo’s made-up adventure stories (Mateo is a great storyteller). If he had to compare, he’d say he was the luckiest of all to have such a great friend and great brother.
This heartfelt imagining of what happens when a beloved pet dies offers children a caring introduction to the emotions of grief and loss, from a perspective of love and healing. Shay and their dog Fluffy are best friends. Through the years they are each other’s source of comfort and companionship in times of both sadness and joy. When Shay learns that Fluffy is sick and they must say goodbye, they feel angry and scared. But Fluffy offers a gentle reassurance—as she always has—and Shay reflects on the meaningful bond they have shared with their friend and the love for her that they will hold in their heart forever.
Lou spends every Saturday with Grandad and Pops. They walk to the library hand in hand, like a chain of paper dolls. Grandad reads books about science and design, Pops listens to rock and roll, and Lou bounces from lap to lap. But everything changes one Saturday. Pops has a fall. That night there is terrible news: Pops will need to use a wheelchair, not just for now, but for always. Unable to cope with his new circumstances, he becomes withdrawn and shuts himself in his room. Hearing Grandad trying to cheer up Pops inspires Lou to make a plan. Using skills learned from Grandad, and with a little help from their neighbors, Lou comes up with a plan for Pops.
Tomorrow is moving day and one little girl worries about moving so far, far away from her Aaji and Ajoba. But Aaji gifts her with a handmade kurta. A kurta with two big pockets for holding all the small things that will remind the girl of her grandparents--from the mogra flowers in Aaji's hair to Ajoba's diya. Then the girl has an even better idea and helps Aaji make two more kurtas with pockets she can fill to remind her grandparents of her too. When finally they are on other sides of a big ocean, they put on their kurtas--and do not feel so far, far away from one another. This touching story about worry and loving reassurance is part of our Own Voices, Own Stories collection.
