Chattana is a fantasy city entirely sustained by the Governor who brought peace long ago. But the price was crippling loss of personal freedoms. Three unlikely preteens begin to question his “law and order” message. Pong is an observant boy who escapes from Namwon prison where he was born and hides in a Buddhist monastery where he learns patience and compassion. Perfectionist Nok is the warden ...

Chattana is a fantasy city entirely sustained by the Governor who brought peace long ago. But the price was crippling loss of personal freedoms. Three unlikely preteens begin to question his “law and order” message. Pong is an observant boy who escapes from Namwon prison where he was born and hides in a Buddhist monastery where he learns patience and compassion. Perfectionist Nok is the warden ...

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.

Sparse text and contained drawings visually represent how truth, unadorned, lacks pretense but is firmly held by integrity. Ping's confusion while experiencing failure at something at which he normally excelled is an important part of this tale's lesson; he chose persistence over deception which proved the noblest decision.

This National Book Award-winning novel chronicles the story of a young Indian woman who dares to defy fate when she is forced into an arranged marriage.

A tender rendering of how a grandchild learns to value the life and experiences her grandmothers share with her, though they differ widely. Cross-cultural expectations may vary in practice, but so many aspects of life they share in common and young Nina adapts quickly. A strong comparison book with a similarly strong theme of love woven throughout.

The true story of Chiune Sugihara, the Japanese Schindler, who, with his family's encouragement, saved thousands of Jews in Lithuania during World War II. As a Japanese diplomat in Lithuania in the 1940s, Chiune Sugihara had a chance to help thousands of Jews escape the Holocaust through Japan, but it was against his government's orders. When his five-year-old son Hiroki asked, If we don't help th ...

Naomi's love for her parents drives her to action, and in so doing, damages the one thing that provides for their living. However, this accident proves to be a door of opportunity. A beautiful story.

Though she is Japanese, 11-year-old Yoko has lived with her family in Korea all her life. When World War II comes to an end, Koreans rise up to take control of their homeland. Yoko and her family are forced to flee their home, and their harrowing journey to safety is the backbone of this remarkable survival story.

On August 6 each year the people of Hiroshima, Japan, set paper lanterns afloat in the river as a remembrance to those killed by the bomb dropped there in 1945. Three school children, Kozo, Shun, and Nozomi are budding artists challenged by their teachers to create a display the children choose to call Hiroshima: Then and Now for their families and classmates. Over the summer they ask friends and ...

Based on the Sparrow War of China in 1958, this tale contrasts a girl's gentle, compassionate spirit with frustrated, shortsighted action instigated by China's leadership. The consequence of each path is shown beautifully, highlighting the wisdom of measured forethought and wise thinking.

Sijo, a traditional Korean verse form, has a fixed number of stressed syllables and a humorous or ironic twist at the end. Like haiku, sijo are brief and accessible. The verses in this book illuminate funny, unexpected aspects of the everyday--of breakfast, houseplants, tennis, freshly washed socks. Carefully crafted and deceptively simple, Linda Sue Park's sijo are a pleasure to read and an invit ...

Set in the lush Thai countryside, this is the story of Noot, a little girl who longs to be named Umbrella Queen. This picture book about following one's dreams, no matter what the cost, is ideal for reading aloud. Full color.

The power and destruction of the atomic bomb is revealed through the experiences of those involved in and impacted by the decision to drop the first one on Hiroshima. Includes the amazing story of one man who survived the bombings at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.