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Before the sun sets Daisy Ramona rides joyously through her neighborhood with Papi on his motorcycle, whizzing past places she has always known, like Joy’s Market where Mami buys her gummy bears, Abuelita’s church, the tortillería, and her grandparents' yellow house. This latest collaboration by award winners Quintero and Peña is a vivid celebration of a changing immigrant community and the love between a young girl and her father. Available also in Spanish as Mi papi tiene una moto. Recommended for preschool to grade 3. Seung-Lakewood |
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Levi is scared for his first day of school. His Dad, not sure what to do, tells him, “Big boys don’t cry." Yet on his way to school Levi sees a variety of men and women crying. When Levi returns home he sees tears in his Dad’s eyes and tells him, “Papa. . . big boys do cry." Beautiful color illustrations show Levi’s walk to school and how his view of crying changes as he witnesses other people doing so for different of reasons. Recommend for kindergarten to grade 3. Tamara-Gig Harbor
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Charming English/Spanish story in the spirit of Richard Scarry’s Busy Town books.
Recommended for kindergarten to grade 3.
Michelle-Lakewood |
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A Friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey Henry, a boy on the autism spectrum, discovers that it isn’t easy to make a friend. Until he meets Katie, Henry begins to realize that a good friend doesn’t have to be perfect. Katie and Henry build towers without triangles (Henry doesn’t like triangles) and eat broccoli (Katie doesn’t like broccoli). They swing together at recess but when Katie wants to go down the Big Slide Henry waits at the bottom. And that’s okay with Henry because after all a good friend is worth waiting for. Recommended for kindergarten to grade 2. Carol-Key Center
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Nothing’s right for Natalie. Her Mom doesn’t get out of bed and her Dad is trying but he slips too much into Therapist Dad to be useful. Her teacher, Mr. Neely, wants them to ask and answer a scientific question, but all the ones Natalie can think of don’t have to do with eggs or plants. But if Natalie can get enough together to get a rare Cobalt Blue Orchid for her mother she thinks everything will go back to what it was. Which means pinning all her hopes on S’Meggs. And her friends. Recommended for grades 3 to 6. Alex-University Place |
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As recent immigrants from China, Mia Tang and her parents are barely scraping by as they manage a motel for a cruel owner. They face their hardships, however, with determination and compassion, making loyal friends among the longtime motel guests and secretly sheltering desperate immigrants at great risk to themselves. Based on the author’s own childhood, this award-winning novel addresses poverty, racism, and the plight of immigrants, but remains remarkably hopeful to the end, thanks to the tenacity and gumption of 10-year-old Mia, who stands up against injustices and strives to improve life for her family and friends.
Recommended for grades 3 to 6.
Seung-Lakewood |
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Eleven year old Isabella’s black father and white mother are divorced and her parents constantly argue over custody. Being split between mom and dad is more than switching homes and families, it’s also switching identities. As Isabella struggles to feel whole, a hate crime occurs at her school. The story ultimately climaxes when Isabella and her stepbrother are victims of a wrongful police shooting. Blended is an important exploration of real-world racism and identity for middle grade readers.
Recommended for grades 4 to 6.
Michelle-Lakewood |
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Cousins Otto and Sheed use their sleuthing skills to keep their quirky hometown from being frozen in time on the last day of summer before school starts. From strange creatures to time machines, they race to solve the mystery and save the day and their town.
Recommended for grades 4 to 6.
Tamara-Gig Harbor
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