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American born Ami Chi is traveling to Vietnam, where the streets are crowded with scooters and the fruit are shaped like dragons and stars. Her parents still consider Vietnam home. But how can home be a place you’ve never been? She finds her answer in the green rice paddies that blanket the countryside, in the bustling Cho Lon market, and in the quiet rooms of her grandmother’s house. Vietnam may be nothing like America, but it feels strangely familiar. Before long, Ami Chi finds that you can travel very far and still find yourself at home.

During World War II, Japanese Americans were placed in internment camps. Isolated and bored, baseball became a life and soul-saving pastime which successfully brought very different people together. Darkly hued illustrations evoke the difficulty of the time, based on the author’s family story. Spanish version available.

Various birds appear with riddles asking readers to use addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to find the solutions. Rhymes engage readers while introducing word problems and are extended by the colorful illustrations.

Baseball great Satchel Paige was a successful pitcher in the Negro Leagues and went on to play in the Major Leagues for several teams. Stylized illustrations increase the Paige legend using exaggerated poses and unique perspective.

The life of the first President of the United States, George Washington, is presented in uncomplicated language and meticulous illustrations.

This introduction to the life and work of inventor, statesman and printer Benjamin Franklin is presented in straightforward text and detailed illustrations

While her father is away, Amy’s mother must get a job. But it’s not the usual kind of employment; Amy’s mom becomes a professional baseball player! Told from Amy’s perspective, historical detail of the World War II period is conveyed through an engaging narrative and stylized paintings.

Lighthearted illustrations help the straightforward text clarify a tough concept: fractions. Using things familiar to children, the hands-on activities illuminate the ideas while kids are having fun doing “pizza math” and weighing tissues and coins.

Life in a large family sometimes presents special challenges, such as preparing for a day at the beach. Everyone forgets something, so after many trips to retrieve everything — from Fido (the dog) to a favorite beach pail — a sudden storm prevents the trip — but not the fun!

When Emily’s mom is called to the office, their trip to the beach is canceled. But happily, Emily has a very special grandma who brings the beach to her. Delightfully frumpy characters are as engaging and recognizable as the situation.

A loving father takes his children, Alice and Baxter, to take a look at the ocean. But they soon realize their visit to the beach would be so much better with stuff they didn’t bring; and after all, and a trip back home will take only half an hour! After lots of back and forth travel, the panda family figures out how to have all the fun possible.

Ever noticed sea birds at the beach? There’s a quiet place on a Maine beach especially for least terns, an endangered bird whose survival is preserved by this retreat. Eye-catching, full-color photographs and informative text juxtapose children and tern beach behavior.

Humans like the beach in the sunlight but bats prefer it in when it’s “moony.” Children will enjoy the wordplay and the bat activities in this rollicking, rhyming romp as they recognize familiar beach goings-on, reflected in the appealing illustrations.

Bright illustrations and simple words depict what young children are likely to encounter on a trip to the beach. From playthings to sea creatures, this sturdy book is ideal to share with the very young with or without a trip to the sea.

As the sun rose, an egg was ready to hatch but whose chick was it? “Whose egg is this?” quacks, chirps and honks each different bird. But the swan knows who the little gray cygnet belongs to; it’s her much loved hatchling! Children will empathize with the simply told, realistically illustrated tale.

While a family with a baby enjoys a picnic, forest animal babies and their families engage in comparable activities. Lighthearted illustrations show parallel human and animal family scenes with a rhythmic text for added fun.

This reworked version of the traditional tale of the hardworking, unaided Little Red Hen continues until her own baby chick befriends the offspring of the lazy cat, rat, and pig and together they play. By the end of the day each baby learns a new lesson in forgiveness and sharing. Dramatic black/white woodcuts with splashes of red and green enhance this meaningful saga, giving it a contemporary feel.

A baby jay, a small striped kitten, and a little girl with a bike come together in an unexpected way with wonderful results, as each grows and gains confidence. Dialogue in conversation balloons creates a comically paced series of events that reach a satisfying conclusion.

Kittens prance, leap, and spill over and through the pages of this rhyming celebration of baby cats: “Here and there and everywhere, Kittens! Kittens! Kittens!” The lively rhyming look at feline activity makes a fine companion to Puppies! Puppies! Puppies!

A little boy prepares his puppy for bed in his basket, recalling the everyday adventures they shared. Of course, the sleepy puppy winds up cuddled in bed with the boy. Rhyming text follow the familiar lullaby, “Hush Little Baby.”

A fox is born on a spring day, and the passing days turn to passive seasons until the young fox becomes confident and independent. Evocative language and textured, richly colored illustrations are used in this triumphant story.

Baby animals are shown here in transport! Rich language and expressive illustrations give an engaging and informative look at how animals move. Some animals stand up right away while others need time to grow — just like young humans.

Close-up photographs introduce animal babies who live in rain forests, from a jaguar cub to a young sloth, with lots in between. With a turn of the sturdy page, baby and mama appear together.