"Who can Merci trust when all the relationships wobble? Succeeding as a sixth-grader is challenging for any preteen but especially hard for Merci Suarez. Her tight-knit Hispanic family is being torn by a secret no one will share. Her upscale, private school is rife with adolescent angst, flimsy friendships and “girl drama”. How can she excel in school when she does not fill academic expectatio ...

"The family drama captures that universal immigrant experience in which the child must help the adult interpret the new world, while the wise adult still has much to teach the child about enduring values".--"ALA Booklist". An "American Bookseller" "Pick of the Lists". Illustrations.

SEWING! NO ONE could hate it more than Dina Kirk. Endless tiny stitches, button holes, darts. Since she was tiny, she's worked in her family's dressmaking business, where the sewing machine is a cranky member of the family. When 13-year-old Dina leaves her small town in Germany to join her uncle's family in Brooklyn, she turns her back on sewing. Never again! But looking for a job leads her right ...

Tony thinks it's dumb to go all the way to Liberty Island for a birthday picnic. But that's before he understands what the Statue of Liberty means to Grandma.

A beautiful reminder that we are all composites of the people who love us and the places they have known as home. Lyrical text and richly layered illustrations provide a moving reading experience. Great for bed times!

From the author of the Newbery Honor Book "Lily's Crossing" comes this story of a city girl and a country boy, brought together in 1941 through their love of the Brooklyn Dodgers in a winning novel about the transforming power of friendship. Now available in paperback.

What goes into a really good story? Only the best ingredients--a heroine, a hero, excitement, a little romance, and even a villain or two. They are all here, as Aunt Isabel and her niece concoct a delightful story within a story. Fun to read aloud, this book is a lively yarn, a visual treat, and a charming introduction--all in one.

When Mary Ellen gets bored with her reading, Grandpa knows a hunt for a bee tree is just what she needs. Half the town joins the exciting chase, but it's not until everyone returns home that Mary Ellen makes a discovery of her own: sometimes even the sweetest of things must be worked for. "Another charming piece of Americana from an artist of rare warmth and originality".-- "Kirkus Reviews", point ...

This is a definite curl-up-in-your lap read aloud. The puppy’s playful shenanigans captured by the illustrations tell the whole story, while sparse text provides a repetitive, rhythmic backdrop. Playful and fun.

The Gamages and the Martinkas have been feuding for generations. When Bo Gamage is orphaned, he finds himself in a nest of Martinkas out on the California desert. Peppered with witty dialogue that bites faster than a Mojave green rattlesnake, this humorous tale shows that even Gamages and Martinkas may be able to help each other chase after their dreams.

A new neighborhood. A new school. An unhappy birthday. Things aren't looking great for Gregory. But when he discovers an abandoned chalk factory behind his house, something magical happens: a beautiful garden and a quiet friendship spring up within its walls.

Illustrated in rich pastels, this child's-eye view of an important milestone in South African history allows young readers to experience every detail of this eventful day.

Juno's grandmother writes in Korean, and Juno writes in drawings, but that doesn't mean they can't exchange letters. As they each share words and pictures with the other, Juno's grandmother can tell Juno wants her to come for a visit, so she sends Juno a miniature plane to let him know she's on her way. Full-color illustrations.

Dexter hates his new school. He hates that his family moved across the country so his dad can get treatment for his cancer. To make matters worse, Dexter gets into a fight the first day of school. This touching book explores issues of bullying, family, and friendship. Illustrations.

RThe author of "Escape from Memory" and the Shadow Children series has penned another suspenseful novel guaranteed to keep readers riveted.S--"Booklist."

After experiencing racist bullying on her school bus and racist vandalism in her middle school, Junie and her friends of color create a club and plan a school-wide assembly to address the racist issue. Junie’s part is creating a video for the program. She also decides to record her Korean grandparents about their experiences with oppression at the same age. Amid the beginnings of the Korean War ...

In this Caldecott Honor Book, it's 1935, and when her family can't make ends meet, young Lydia Grace is sent to live with her Uncle Jim, a baker in the city. However, Lydia takes her love for gardening with her and sets out to make grumpy Uncle Jim smile. Full color.

Eleven-year-old Walter is best friends with the Spitzers--the three surviving members of a crack WWII rescue team. When the Spitzers saved General Britt's life, he left them his home. Now the General's nasty nephew is trying to evict them. It's up to Walter to come up with a battle plan. Illustrations.

Grandpa's fine handmade teeth are gone from his bedside table. Grandpa suspects everyone who doesn't smile widely enough to prove their teeth are their own. Full color.

From the author of Baseball Saved Us comes an intergenerational story that describes how a Japanese-American family deals with the painful legacy of war. Set against the backdrop of the 1960s and talk of Vietnam, it offers a universal message of dignity and courage to anyone who feels they are different. Full-color illustrations.