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A story that helps kids navigate grief and understand how loved ones live on in our memories. Inspired by the 9 levels of Mictlān and the role Xolo dogs play by guiding those who have passed on in Indigenous cultural understandings of present-day Mexico. Nana is surrounded by family and takes joy in her many grandchildren. She’s also tired and feels pain. Soon she begins her transition from life into death, accompanied by her beloved Xolo dog, Popo. Together they go on Nana’s journey, and by the end of the story, Nana’s family celebrates the many years of love they shared with her. And a grandchild will now care for Popo. Available in English and Spanish language editions.

A chilling middle grade novel about a girl haunted by a hungry ghost. Molly Teng sees things no one else can. By touching the belongings of people who have died, she gets brief glimpses into the lives they lived. Sometimes the “zaps” are funny or random, but often they leave her feeling sad, drained, and lonely. The last thing Jade remembers from life is dying. That was over one hundred years ago. Ever since then she’s been trapped in the same house watching people move in and out. She’s a ‘hungry ghost’ reliant on the livings’ food scraps to survive. To most people she is only a shadow, a ghost story, a superstition. Molly is not most people. When she moves into Jade’s house, nothing will ever be the same ― for either of them. After over a century alone, Jade might finally have someone who can help her uncover the secrets of her past, and maybe even find a way out of the house.

Based on the author’s own family history, this is a story about family and belonging, the child of a Jewish mother and a South Asian father hears stories about her family history. Sometimes she doesn’t feel Jewish enough or South Asian enough, but comes to realize you can feel — and be — many things at once. The girl’s mother tells her stories about her mother, a Jewish seamstress in Brooklyn, New York. She lived in a tiny two-bedroom apartment and sewed wedding dresses shimmering in satin and lace. Her father tells stories of his mother, the girl’s other grandmother, who liked to cook bubbling dal on a coal stove in Pakistan. They tell stories about how both sides came to America, and how, eventually, her parents met on a warm summer evening in Poughkeepsie. The girl sometimes feels as if she’s the “only one like me.” One day, when she spots a butterfly in her yard, she realizes it’s okay to be different — no two butterflies are alike, after all. 

Experience the simple delights of a steamy July day in the city as two siblings eagerly anticipate a spectacular fireworks display. POP! As a hot day sizzles into evening, everyone on stoops and sidewalks looks skyward on this special summer night — the Fourth of July! Words and art blossom into flowers of fire across the sky, making this a perfect read for young children in cities and suburbs everywhere.

Sage’s thirteenth birthday was supposed to be about movies and treats, staying up late with her best friend and watching the sunrise together. Instead, it was the day her best friend died. Without the person she had to hold her secrets and dream with, Sage is lost. In a counseling group with other girls who have lost someone close to them, she learns that not all losses are the same, and healing isn’t predictable. There is sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, pain, love. And even as Sage grieves, new, good things enter her life ― and she just may find a way to know that she can feel it all. In accessible, engaging verse and prose, this is a story of a girl’s journey to heal, grow, and forgive herself. To read it is to see how many shades there are in grief, and to know that someone understands.

Poppy is a waddling, toddling pig with big dreams. She wants to be a star! But she soon discovers that’s not as easy as it sounds. It’s only when Poppy feels the magic of gliding and sliding, swirling and twirling on ice that our most persistent pig truly believes in herself: Poppy, star of the rink! Written by Olympic gold medalist in figure skating, Kristi Yamaguchi.

Taking place over the course of a summer day, we follow a young girl as she and her family gather at her nana’s house for a get-together where lessons are shared, food is prepared, and lifelong memories are created. Told in African proverbs, this book explores the importance of familial bonds and their lasting impact while presenting proverbs to inspire readers long after the story ends. Throughout the book, Nana’s house provides a safe space for our protagonist to make mistakes, learn lessons, and most importantly, find and feel love. 

Everyone needs hugs and love in this offbeat, upbeat ode to the not-so-cuddly — and yet still sweet and beloved! Fun-to-read-aloud, rhyming text describes prickly porcupines, roaring tigers, and slithery snakes — not the most cuddly creatures, but still worthy of hugs and snuggles from their mamas! With a luscious and colorful palette, Crocodiles Need Kisses Too shows that animals (and children) don’t have to be warm and fuzzy to be totally lovable.

Watch out world, here he comes! The Hug Machine. Whether you are big, or small, or square, or long, or spikey, or soft, no one can resist his unbelievable hugs. HUG ACCOMPLISHED. This endearing story encourages a warm, caring, and buoyantly affectionate approach to life. Everyone deserves a hug !

How do you give your granny a hug when she lives far away? Send it through the mail, of course! This sweet story makes a perfect gift for Mother’s Day for the granny in your life, whether she lives close or far! Owen’s hug travels across the country in a series of hilarious, sometimes awkward, always heartfelt embraces between animals of different shapes and sizes. An unexpected twist at the end will delight young readers.

How do you say “I love you” without saying “I love you”? For one big family, it’s woven into the fabric of every day in this tender, resonant picture book. My sister Nalu braids my hair every week. It’s how she says “I love you.” Tendo always races his sister to the finish line as they leave the house. Kira the dog greets her at the door with a wagging tail and a spin. Sometimes it’s Auntie Linda pulling her into her wheelchair for a hug, or Uncle Alex bringing his funny parrot for a visit. One jajja teaches her granddaughter how to make the chicken dish she learned as a child; another tells stories from far away, before she was born. Whether it’s Mom asking if she’s hungry a hundred times a day, or older siblings scaring away the monster that keeps her awake, the refrain “I love you” comes through loud and clear — and reminds us that there are countless ways to express affection to those that we hold dear.

A poignant story about a boy’s emerging confidence in facing his blindness. By the warmth of a campfire beneath a starry night sky, a Navajo youth named Boy-Strength-of-Blue-Horses listens to the tale of his birth from his grandfather. Although blind, the boy learns that he has the strength to cope with his condition and meet any challenge that comes his way.
 

Structured like a graphic novel, sequential panels of painterly illustrations portray a family living in a home by the sea. Ultimately, the sea rises and so the family must move the house. [An author’s note in Pencil by Hye-eun Kim — an evocative tale of a pencil’s journey from tree to tool — describes how to successfully share a “silent book.”]

A child accompanies her grandmother — her nohhum — from the city to Nohhum’s reservation. Nohhum tells the child about the moon calendar, how to listen to the moon with her heart, and the interconnectedness of all things in this moving story from the Indigenous people of Turtle Island. Backmatter includes an author’s note and more, to learn about the different names of the full moons throughout the lunar year.

Bear likes his bench, book, cookies, and balloon and is soon asked by friends to share. Bear thinks one way but responds in the name of being polite — until he just can’t anymore! Humor in deadpan expression and the text size of the limited narration together create a witty look at social convention.

Patterns are all around! Patterns can be discovered in sounds, objects, and words that repeat and repeat. To find them, you must look carefully. Boldly colored illustrations outlined in strong black line help readers notice what is sure to become obvious. A thought-provoking and visually rich exploration of the math, art, and emotion of patterns.

A classic picture book about a chimpanzee in a very bad mood — perfect for young children learning how to deal with confusing feelings. Jim the chimpanzee is in a terrible mood for no good reason. His friends can’t understand it — how can he be in a bad mood when it’s SUCH a beautiful day? They have lots of suggestions for how to make him feel better. But Jim can’t take all the advice…and has a BIT of a meltdown. Could it be that he just needs a day to feel grumpy? The story brings hilarity and levity to this very important lesson on emotional literacy, demonstrating to kids that they are allowed to feel their feelings.

A sweet lesson as one little boy learns an effective recipe for turning a best enemy into a best friend. It was the perfect summer. That is, until Jeremy Ross moved into the house down the street and became neighborhood enemy number one. Luckily, Dad had a surefire way to get rid of enemies: Enemy Pie. But part of the secret recipe is spending an entire day playing with the enemy! In this funny and endearing children’s book, filled with charming illustrations, kids learn about dealing with conflict as well as the difficulties, and ultimate rewards, of making new friends.

This is the story of a persistent problem and the child who isn’t so sure what to make of it. The longer the problem is avoided, the bigger it seems to get. But when the child finally musters up the courage to face it, the problem turns out to be something quite different than it appeared. This relatable story will resonate with children who become frustrated or daunted when facing a problem, encouraging them to step back and view it with a new perspective. It’s a story to inspire you to look closely at that problem and to find out why it’s here. Because you might discover something amazing about your problem… and yourself.

All Jeremy wants is a pair of those shoes, the ones everyone at school seems to be wearing. Though Jeremy’s grandma says they don’t have room for “want,” just “need,” when his old shoes fall apart at school, he is more determined than ever to have those shoes, even a thrift-shop pair that are much too small. But sore feet aren’t much fun, and Jeremy soon sees that the things he has — warm boots, a loving grandma, and the chance to help a friend — are worth more than the things he wants.

When something sad happens, Taylor doesn’t know where to turn. All the animals are sure they have the answer. The chicken wants to talk it out, but Taylor doesn’t feel like chatting. The bear thinks Taylor should get angry, but that’s not quite right either. One by one, the animals try to tell Taylor how to act, and one by one they fail to offer comfort. Then the rabbit arrives. All the rabbit does is listen … which is just what Taylor needs. With its spare, poignant text and sweet illustration, The Rabbit Listened is about how to comfort and heal the people in your life, by taking the time to carefully, lovingly, gently listen.

A playful, rhyming book on how to send loving, kind thoughts to yourself and others to make the world a better place. Worried or sad, grateful or glad, you can send good wishes to yourself, others, and the whole world with your thoughts! Just repeat these simple phrases: “May you be protected and safe. May you feel happy and pleased. May your body be healthy, and may you live with ease.” Starting with the individual child and extending outward to the whole universe, the rhyming couplets and beautiful art carry the reader through the thoughtful process of extending love and kindness to yourself and all those around you. 

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a collection of funny and festive poems from the author of the hugely popular Kindergarten, Here I Come! From making Valentine’s Day cards for everyone to eating oodles of heart-shaped candy, these sweet poems — plus a page of stickers — are the perfect way to spread the love!

My heart is a window. My heart is a slide. My heart can be closed…or opened up wide. Some days your heart is a puddle or a fence to keep the world out. But some days it is wide open to the love that surrounds you. With lyrical text and art, this picture book encourages young readers to care for their own heart and live with kindness and empathy.