Juana Martinez-Neal

“Once, each speck was something else: dirt, pollen, or a bit of a living thing traveling someplace new.” Dust plumes are fascinatingly presented through lyrical language and textured illustrations. Dust plumes feed sea creatures, can weigh as much as billions of basketballs, and can be seen from space. Additional resources are included in this gorgeous book sure to engage and inspire readers.

Potatoes have the power to feed the world according to Peruvian agronomist Alberto Salas.  Portrayed as a chubby cheeked, balding man in warm-toned illustrations, Alberto Salas travels the Andes to play paka paka (hide and seek) with wild potatoes, working with indigenous people, and trying to get ahead of climate change. Informal text is often humorous but always informative. Also available in Spanish: Alberto Salas juega a la paka paka con la papa.

What is fry bread? It’s food, shape, sound, art, history, and more — so much more. It is an American Indian tradition shared by a member of the Mekusukey Seminoles. A varied group of children and elders are depicted contributing to the recipe as the text describes its complex role in American history. Additional information is appended to create a book that can be used in both simple and complex ways.

El príncipe knows this girl is the one for him, but, as usual, his mother doesn’t agree. The queen has a secret test in mind to see if this girl is really a princesa, but the prince might just have a sneaky plan, too. Readers will be enchanted by this Latino twist on the classic story, with bilingual text and vibrant art inspired by the culture of Peru.