"Race you to the pool!" an excited little boy sporting bright red trunks shouts on his way out to his backyard. But he's forced to come full stop because of ...
Sometime in the winter, Mia's "far-away grandmother" arrives to live with her family. "'Abuela belongs with us now,’" her mother explains. On the first evening together, Mia realizes Abuela "can't unlock the English words," but at least they can communicate over two treasures Abuela pulls out...
For two years, young Leo has worked hard to pay for his bicycle, which he affectionately names Big Red. As rewarding as the boy-and-his-bike relationship has been, Leo is still growing ...
Four centuries ago, in a forest on the Japanese island of Miyajima, a tree "pushed up through the dirt." Still a small sapling, the tree was "carefully dug" by a visitor named Itaro who wanted to take home a "'souvenir of this island, of the trees that...
"Spencer loved books." And because he loves them so much, he makes sure to always put his books where they belong so he knows exactly where to find them next time. But one morning, he looks on his shelf and shouts in horror, "WHERE IS...
"On Sunday night, after we put on our nightgowns, Grandma and I go shopping." Armed with scissors and tape, and a black purse filled with "shopping dollars [that] are easy to tell apart because they're all different colors," Evie and her grandmother open the newspaper and...
Full disclosure: I'm an utter Mies van Hout groupie! When I see her name on a cover, I barely need to open the book to know that I'll be getting some giddy glee. Uh-Oh Octopus! authors Elle van Lieshout & Erik van Os provide van Hout just...
If you look up Gary Clement’s Twitter, you'll see just two labels he reveals about himself: "Cartoonist, swimmer." His talent and passion for both are clearly evident here. Artist that he is, Clements' illustrations, of course, speak volumes – the endpapers back and front even include a 'how-to'...
In spite of the thunderous rainy hail that greeted me upon arrival at the Salt Lake City airport on Thursday night, I've convinced myself that summer really is on the way in these here mountainous parts! And mark my words: I'm looking forward to the star-gazing...
"This is the first time I'm taking the bus by myself," Clara announces. With basket in hand – which holds her snack and a red sweater at the insistence of her mother in case she gets cold – Clara is off to visit her grandmother. The number 18...
Meet Abukacha, who lives "in a village far, far away" with his family. "Everyone knew Abukacha because he had the biggest shoes in the whole wide world." After so many years of working and traveling, they're no longer made for walking, so Abukacha visits his...
Naysayers: picture book this is, yes, but I guarantee that unless you happen to be a post-Civil War scholar, you'll have something to learn inside these informative pages. Here are four reasons why most of us need to read this book: First reason: history. We all should know more about Reconstruction – a "cultural blind spot," as Chris...
Xiao Le – whose name means "little joy" –hasn't seen his grandmother in "a long time." When his mother announces an impending visit, Xiao Le is happy at the thought of riding a train, and the chance to share his toy truck with his grandmother. When mother...
CJ feels the rain, and plaintively asks his nana, "'How come we gotta wait for the bus in all this wet?’" Doesn't help that CJ's friend happens to drive right by with his dad in their own car. But never, ever underestimate Nana's wisdom because she knows exactly...
