Children's Books
A wonderful story about a kid T-Rex who wants to give his friend a hug, only he can't because his arms are too short. Sweetness and silliness ensues as he tries to find another way to make his friend feel better. This book made me smile and I guarantee it will make you smile too.
A tale of two boys with much in common who awaken to world conflict after accidentally swapping a tallit shawl for a keffiyeh scarf at the park. Written in English, Arabic, and Hebrew, a friendship is forged through soccer play in spite of religious differences. The pages turn from right to left in the style of Hebrew and Arabic texts.
A multilingual story (Arabic, English, Hebrew) of hope, soccer and friendship between a boy in Israel and a boy in Palestine. A timely and delightful book - perfect for helping children understand larger conflicts. The bright illustrations and artful layout of the text bring an upbeat mood to the pages.
Children will delight in this funny tale of a girl's trip to the animal shelter gone awry. Keep them chuckling as more and more absurd animals are trotted out. What perfect pet will she take home?
Two sisters journey from their basement into a tender underground world. Kids will love to discover the gifts Chirri and Chirra receive along their way. Translated from the Japanese and illustrated with bright, soft color pencil, this book is a pure delight!
This book is a beautiful celebration of different wedding customs around the world. Yes, it's about two women getting married, and addresses some of the challenges of finding a place to legally wed, but the vast majority of the book focuses on their travels and the unique wedding ceremonies they experience. It celebrates Julian and Rose's lifestyle without that overshadowing the plot of the rest of the book. Fatinha's artwork is, bold, vibrant, and enchanting. A perfect introduction to marriage customs in different parts of the world, and a wonderful way to normalize the LGBT experience of those customs.
Little Snow’s mother fills his big, sky-blue bed with feathers and reminds him that it is for “sleeping, not jumping.” Grace Lin’s companion myth to A Big Mooncake for Little Star is as irristable as jumping on a feathery bed.
In this gripping must-read fantasy, a young girl must go on an epic journey across the sea to save her home. This is a gorgeous literary adventure about bravery, friendship, self-reliance and the choice between accepting fate of forging your own path. Inspired by Filipino folklore.
Readers who haven't yet read Little Women will still love this modern story of four sisters in a Pakistani American family. While the plot line and the characters follow Louisa May Alcott's classic, there are also many modern issues. Spunky Jamela longs to be an award winning journalist and learns about fake news and other responsibilities a reporter has to take on. Her father has to go off to Abu Dhabi for a job. Her sister battles with leukemia and the boy next door is from England. Hahn does a fabulous job of depicting Jamela's close knit family as they follow traditions while tackling modern problems head on. What a wonderful way to pass on a classic story!
This novel is a poigngant tearjerker for any reader who has loved someone with mental illness: Fig prides herself on taking care of her dad, however the responsibility is a lot for 6th grader. In an attempt to understand her dad, a former concert pianist, she develops an obsession for Van Gogh's paintings and the letters he wrote to his brother Theo. As her own anxiety grows with each approaching storm, she learns to open up through the help of a friend from art class, a high school girl at the library, and a new neighbor.
It's the future and the world is supposed to be monster free. When a creature comes out of a painting, Jam is forced to hunt for someone evil close to her heart. A chilling, relevant look at facing the unspeakable horrors that are sometimes right in front of us. Hauntingly beautiful
I have not stopped thinking about Marisol since I turned the last page of her story. Her strength shines through as she's willing to take on pain for her sister and for the promise of their new life together. The reasons she has to leave El Salvador are revealed bit by bit, which add a level of tension and intrigue. As the plot unfolds we learn the many threats Marisol faces as an immigrant, a sister, a daughter and a lesbian. This incredibly well-crafted book carries important messages about the complexities of love.
