Education Resource Area: ESL/ELL Children's Books

The dolls sat in the toy shop window, waiting hopefully for somebody to love them. 'I want a little girl somebody', said one. 'I want a baby somebody', said another. 'I want a grandmother somebody', said a third. 'I just want the somebody for me', said Sumiko. This tender story will warm the hearts of young and old alike.

Using simple words and bright illustrations, author-illustrator Taro Gomi takes children on a playful tour of the four seasons.

Take one older, not-so-wicked-anymore witch ¿ add a slightly grumpy cat, and one large bucket of singing shijimi clams, and what you do NOT end up with, (no matter how hungry you are) is miso soup with clams. What you end up with is plain miso soup. What you end up with is a quiet, delicately illustrated tale of another country. What you end up with is a friendship that needs determination, ingenuity, and kindness ¿ but no translation.

When he hears a little girls cry of despair, he jumps to the rescue . . . with an OPEN-HAND PUSH, an INSIDE-LEG TRIP, and an OVER-ARM THROW!Sprinkled with the true Japanese customs of sumo wrestling, this incredibly appealing and bold picture book will win the hearts of boys everywhere.

This irresistibly cute book introduces girls to the Kokeshis fabulous world of pretty kimonos, unique hairdos, cheerful friends, and more Gorgeously produced with sneak-peek flaps, fun die-cuts, and lavish gatefolds, this interactive exploration will delight girls of all ages.

Little Bunny is REALLY MAD at his mommy. She sleeps too late. She talks too much. She watches her silly grown-up shows instead of cartoons. And she gets mad for no reason--like just a few little soap bubbles on the floor. It's time for Little Bunny to SPEAK OUT. And time for a hug later on. With the charming illustrations and spot-on understanding of young children's thinking that distinguished The Snow Day, Komako Sakai brings us a REALLY ANGRY--and ultimately sweet--new story.

The Kamishibai man used to ride his bicycle into town where he would tell stories to the children and sell them candy, but gradually, fewer and fewer children came running at the sound of his clappers. They were all watching their new televisions instead. Finally, only one boy remained, and he had no money for candy. Years later, the Kamishibai man and his wife made another batch of candy, and he pedaled into town to tell one more story--his own. When he comes out of the reverie of his memories, he looks around to see he is surrounded by familiar faces--the children he used to entertain have returned, all grown up and more eager than ever to listen to his delightful tales. Using two very different yet remarkable styles of art, Allen Say tells a tale within a tale, transporting readers seamlessly to the Japan of his memories.

Have you ever been to Tokyo, Japan? Far away, in the Pacific Ocean, Tokyo is a busy city of color, activity, celebrations, super gigantic buildings, and much, much more. In this city lives a seven-year-old girl named Mimiko. Here you can follow a year's worth of fun, food, and festivities in Mimiko's life, month by month. You'll learn about the Doll's Festival, riding the bullet train, the right way to put on a kimono, and Mimiko's top ten favorite meals--just try not to eat the pages displaying the delicious wagashi! Mari Takabayashi evokes the flurry and enchantment of daily life in Tokyo with exquisitely detailed illustrations and descriptions. Her love for the city of her birth blooms in every last glowing vignette.

Five nice mice are sitting in the garden one night when Baba hears faint music in the distance. What can this wonderful sound be? They decide to go and find out, and they discover a fabulous frog concert. But mice aren't allowed in. So they return home and decide to form an orchestra of their own - no frogs allowed. They practice and practice, and finally put on a great show. When all the cheers die down, the mice are shocked to see an audience full of frogs! It turns out that you can't keep good music to yourself after all. Here is a funny and imaginative story, illustrated by remarkably cute art.

The story of the civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner. K-4

K-4

During the last week of December, Kwanzaa is a time of celebration in the African-American community, and families across the nation gather for this colorful holiday highlighting their heritage. Color illustrations throughout. k-4

Taking its name from the West African proverb, "it takes a village to raise a child," this warmly illustrated story transports the reader to a small village in Benin on market day. Pre K-3

Pre K-3

Sales Points - A great educational tool for teaching young children all about the Kwanzaa holiday. -K-4

Pre K-3

Another stunning picture book biography of a prominent twentieth-century African-American in the arts, from the creative team behind Alvin Ailey. K-4

K-4

Benedict, also known as Benny, is tired of living in such a hot place. And so he cleverly springs on his coiled tail from one habitat to another. He visits the North Pole, the desert, the jungle and finally the ocean in search of perfection. With wonderfully funny illustrations that portray Benny's predicament in each new environment, this is a witty, very droll book about trying to find that elusive place where everything is just right. But is anywhere ever really perfect?

One night, all of a sudden, the world split in two. Faced with this unexpected event - and with half of his considerable body missing - an elephant begins a journey to find his missing half. Along the way, he discovers the many different ways there are of rebuilding and reinventing oneself.At once quietly poetic and (not-so-quietly) humorous, Half of an Elephant is an adventure of a lifetime, not just for our hero, but for every reader who has ever struggled to find himself.

Mickey's birthday is coming and his parents cannot figure out what to do when he tells them that he wants something big, strong, smooth, sweet, warm, funny, and long-lasting.

In a small village in Spain lives a boy named Antoni Gaudí. His home is in Catalonia, a place of jagged mountain peaks and silvery olive trees, splashed by the sparkling sea. The wild beauty of this landscape makes a deep impression. He thinks of it as the Great Book of Nature, and he will read from it all of his life. Gaudí becomes an architect, learning the rules of form and structure that buildings are supposed to follow. But the shapes and colors of the natural world still inspire him, and he works them into his buildings. Leaves climb up walls. Pillars are giant animal feet. A long bench snakes around a playground. Antoni Gaudí turned nature into art, and in the process he revolutionized the world of architecture.

This is Gennady Spirin's own dear story about the day his son Ilya found a crow with a broken wing, and brought it home. The veterinarian told the boy that it would never fly again. 'Put it to sleep!' he urged the parents. But the wild crow-Martha, they called her-was full of surprises. She most certainly made their home, her home, and one day she did fly! Would there be one more surprise? When she flew away that fall, would she return again? With Gennady Spirin's beautiful and delicate watercolour illustrations and the sweet memory of Martha's year as his guide, Martha takes flight once again.

In all the world there is said to be nothing more beautiful than the Firebird. When Ivan-Tsarevitch, youngest son of the Tsar, goes on a quest for the amazing bird, he finds himself flying over mountains and woods on a talking wolf, confronting a wicked Baba Yaga, and rescuing an enchanted princess from Koshchei the Immortal. But when he returns from his magical journey, he brings home the most precious treasure of all. Gennady Spirin brings this original version of the Firebird tale from his native Russia and has illustrated it in his trademark rich, luminous style. This retelling of a classic is sure to become the new standard.

All Philipok wants is to go to school--like his big brother, Peter! No, his mother says, he must stay home with Grandma. But little Philipok is determined. He slips out of the house, braving wintry winds and a fierce dog to surprise Peter, the other children, and the teacher as well.In this retelling of Tolstoy's charming children's tale, Ann Beneduce's simple, lyrical prose and Gennady Spirin's finely-detailed illustrations bring to light a classic that will be loved by a whole new generation of children.

Children often ask big questions: How high is the sky? How deep is the ocean? Here is a small ant who asks a big question too: Where does the ocean end? For philosophers of all ages, here is a classic story about thinking big thoughts, searching for answers, and learning that answers often depend on how you look at things.

Pre K-3

K-3

K-3

3-7

From the Mayan people of Central America to the Xhosa people of Southern Africa, from the ancient mythology of China to the legendary Arabian Nights, every culture across the globe has its princesses. The princesses themselves may be as diverse as the lands they represent, but rich or poor, vain or wise, brave or spoiled, they have one thing in common: they all live happily ever after. Selected from world folklore and presented in a richly designed, elegantly illustrated volume, this lavish gift book is the definitive gathering of princess lore. 1-5

An Iraqi version of the Cinderella story. K-4

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Pre k-3

A ten-year-old Lebanese boy balances his life in a war-torn city. 2-6

Botswana:
Ostrich and Lark spend their days on the grasslands of southern Africa surrounded by a chorus of birdsong. From his perch in a tree Lark joins the chorus, while below Ostrich is silent. Then comes the joyful day when Ostrich finds his voice. This picture book about an unlikely friendship is the result of collaboration between the award-winning poet Marilyn Nelson and the San artists of Botswana. The story, which captures the feel of a traditional African folktale, is brought to life with vibrant illustrations inspired by the ancient rock paintings of the San people's ancestors. The author's proceeds from this book will be used to support the San artists of the Kuru Art Project in Botswana.

Cameroon:
Boyds Mills Press publishes a wide range of high-quality fiction and nonfiction picture books, chapter books, novels, and nonfiction

Chad:
It is the first day of school in Chad, Africa. Children are filling the road. "Will they give us a notebook?" Thomas asks. "Will they give us a pencil?" "Will I learn to read?" But when he and the other children arrive at the schoolyard, they find no classroom, no desks. Just a teacher. "We will build our school," she says. "This is our first lesson." James Rumford, who lived in Chad as a Peace Corps volunteer, fills these pages with vibrant ink-and-pastel colors of Africa and the spare words of a poet to show how important learning is in a country where only a few children are able to go to school.

Democratic Republic of Congo:
It's market day in a Congolese village It's market day in Luzolo's village, and she has a five-franc coin to spend. Her parents tell her on market day, No one gets something for nothing. She must choose wisely, they say, and bargain for a fair price. Then she and her friend Kiese discover that Mama Lusufu has a wild monkey for sale. They offer to trade their new purchases for the monkey, but Mama Lusufu has her eye on a new water jug made by Kiese's mother, who in turn wants a piece of embroidery made by Luzolo's mother. Luzolo's mother wants four tin cups, and the tin cup salesman wants a basket for his wife . . . With etchings combined with vibrant collage, Sanna Stanley tells a lively story about two friends who embark on an elaborate chain of barter and bargaining to rescue a monkey.

Egypt:
Through simple words and gorgeous images, Mohieddin Ellabbad reflects on his childhood and on the cultural influences that led him to become one of Egypt’s finest illustrators. Using his own creative awakening as an example, he encourages young artists to find inspiration in the world around them, through the most ordinary sources: everyday objects, favorite books and magazines, even through explorations of their own feelings. Pages from Ellabbad’s exquisitely illustrated notebooks are reproduced in their entirety, offering readers of all ages rare insight into the history and traditions of Arabic literature.

Malawi:
Kondi is determined to make a galimoto -- a toy vehicle made of wires. His brother laughs at the idea, but all day Kondi goes about gathering up the wire he needs. By nightfall, his wonderful galimoto is ready for the village children to play with in the light of the moon.

Mali:Little Jamari loves the sound of the great village drum and often sits at drummer Baba's feet. "Why do you play every day?" he asks. "The drum is the keeper of peace in the village," Baba replies. Time passes and many of the village elders pass on. One day Jamari agrees to take over the beating of the drum, to keep the peace. But little by little, he forgets his promise until disaster looms. What will Jamari do to bring back peace? Featuring acclaimed artist Baba Diakité's gorgeous illustrations, Jamari's Drum offers a simple, compelling lesson about duty and the greater good.

Mali:
Penda Diakité joins forces with her award-winning author/artist father to give a charming peek at everyday life in Africa. "This fact-based story of losing a tooth while visiting family in Mali rings with authenticity and good humour...[T]he illustrations exude happiness and togetherness." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Mali:
Ten year-old Sidikiba is about to be initiated into the world of the kora, a twenty-one stringed West African harp performed by his family for seventy generations. To become a kora player, like his father and grandfather before him, Sidikiba must honor and respect the wisdom of his elders, trust in the mystical secrets of his community, and, above all else, be patient and practice hard. Sidikiba's Kora Lesson is the story of a child's encounter with a rich cultural heritage set in a modern African city, where learning to balance the new and the old is part of growing up. Through sound, pictures, and text, Sidikiba's Kora Lesson comes alive for readers and music lovers of all ages "

Morocco:
There is a rug in his fathers shop that Mustafa loves. (It has a hole in it, so you can put it over your head and still see out.) No one else wants the rug, though lots of tourists visit the shop. His father always welcomes them"Bienvenue"and offers them tea"O cha wa ikaga desu ka?" Mustafas father would like him to know some words in other languages too, and he tells Mustafa that he may have the rug if he agrees to learn. But after the first lesson, Mustafa is so bored he runs out of the shop (with the carpet on his head). Ending up at the market, he finds a very different way of learning foreign languages....and of getting tourists to visit his fathers shop.

Nigeria:
Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa. Amazing Africa. She lives with her whole family in a wonderful house. There is always somebody to laugh and play with.Anna Hibiscus loves to splash in the sea with her cousins and have parties with her aunties. But more than anything else in the world, Anna Hibiscus would love to see snow.Featuring warm, loving multi-generational family relationships, this Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor winner showcases daily life in modern, urban Africa. Great as a classroom or family read-aloud, it illustrates the commonality of cultures and experiences and inspires discussion.

Nigeria:
Oluwalase Babatunde Benson is Number 1. He's the Number 1 car spotter in his village.The Number 1 car spotter in the world! The start of an exciting new series about the irresistible Number 1, whose hobby is car spotting, but who is good at solving all sorts of problems for his village.

Nigeria:
In stunning photographs and bright, informative prose, award-winning author Ifeoma Onyefulu recounts an unusual and rewarding journey. Young Ikenna lives in rainy London. He takes a trip far away to his ancestral home in sunny Nigeria. In Lagos he plays with his cousins. Then the rain starts! But there's still lots to do. Ikenna meets great-uncle Hillary, who drove the royal train across Nigeria in 1956. After that he and his Mum attend the Oshun Festival, and Ikenna sees age-old ceremonies and colorful traditions. Told in the first-person, this charming photographic book shows young readers the pleasures that await in other countries and cultures.

Nigeria:
Why does Amadi's mother insist he learn to read words when he is going to be a great businessman? Why should an Igbo man of Nigeria waste precious time on books, anyway? When Amadi disobeys his mother and runs off to the market instead of sticking around for a reading lesson, he encounters a much-admired older boy secretly reading at a book stall. Crowding himself in among the stacks of books, Amadi becomes intrigued by a storybook with pictures of a strange white creature with a carrot for a nose. Over the course of a typical mischievous day, unable to shake his questions about the snowman, Amadi discovers the vast world reading could open up especially for an Igbo man of Nigeria.

Tanzania:
Sokwe the Chimp has been fishing since early morning and has come home with a load of fish. He can already imagine the price his catch will fetch at the market the next day. As he pulls up to the riverbank, he sees that his friends - the other animals - are having a party. He can’t resist joining in. But as he carries the fish up to stow them away, Dog catches sight of the mouth-watering catch. The next day Sokwe loads his truck with his catch along with his other friends who are bringing produce or goods to market. Dog joins them. Sure enough he is soon sniffing at the baskets of fish. And he comes up with a devilish scheme to steal them. Despite many twists and turns in the plot (including Lion breaking his leg as he tries to pursue Dog, visits to the hospital and a very exciting soccer match) justice finally catches up with Dog and he is put on trial. His punishment--to plant a field full of trees on Tree Planting Day -- is quickly carried out, and finally Dog and Chimp are reconciled. Even Lion is forgiving.

Turkey:
As Nasreddine and his father take dates, wool, chickens, or watermelon to market, people tease them no matter who is riding their donkey, and this causes Nasreddine embarrassment until his father helps him to understand.

Uganda:
More than anything, Beatrice longs to be a schoolgirl. But in her small African village, only children who can afford uniforms and books can go to school. Beatrice knows that with six children to care for, her family is much too poor. But then Beatrice receives a wonderful gift from some people far away -- a goat! Fat and sleek as a ripe mango, Mugisa (which means "luck") gives milk that Beatrice can sell. With Mugisa's help, it looks as if Beatrice's dream may come true after all. Page McBrier and Lori Lohstoeter beautifully recount this true story about how one child, given the right tools, is able to lift her family out of poverty. Thanks to Heifer Project International -- a charitable organization that donates livestock to poor communities around the world -- other families like Beatrice's will also have a chance to change their lives.

The Zipitio is older than the rocks, even older than the river, but he doesn't seem old. He is only as tall as a child. He wears a tall black hat and has a shiny round stomach. His feet point backward and his toes sport long pointy nails, and when you look at him you don't know if he is coming or going. But there is no real need to be afraid of him. He hides down by the river. The only time you will see him is when he falls in love. Sure enough, the next time Ru'na Perez goes down to the river, there he is. Ru'na runs away and leaves the Zipitio crying of a broken heart. But Ru'na's mother is wise. She knows that the Zipitio has fallen in love with every young woman in the village. She knows that there is nothing to fear. Best of all, she knows how to help Ru'na deal with the Zipitio's love.

Listed as one of the Best Children's Books of 2012 by Kirkus, honored with the Horn Book Fanfare, and selected for the School Library Journal's 100 Magnificent Children's Books of 2012 Jimmy lives in a small town by the sea where there is just one tiny gym. The owner of the gym suggests that Jimmy start training, and to inspire him, he gives Jimmy a box full of books, as well as newspaper clippings about Muhammad Ali - "The Greatest." Jimmy is swept with admiration for Ali. He begins to read and run and box like crazy, even though someone at the gym has taken his shoes. And as he does so, he makes a great discovery: you don't have to leave home to be "the greatest." Unlike many stories about emigration, Jairo Buitrago's simple, profound text is about someone who decides to stay in his small remote town in Latin America. Combined with Rafael Yockteng's humorous illustrations, this book will be especially appealing to boys and boxing aficionados. The Spanish edition, ¡Jimmy, el más grande!, was recently nominated for one of "Los mejores libros del año" (Best Books of the Year) by Venezuela's Banco del Libro.

From the clip, clop of the milkman?s mule in early morning to the clic, clac of her father?s abacus at night, a young girl tells about a day in her family?s store and home in Guatemala City. Every day customers of many heritages?speaking Spanish, Chinese, and Mayan?come to buy cloth, buttons, and thread in colors like ?parrot green? and ?mango yellow,? and dozens of other items. While the girl?s parents and their friends talk about their hometown in China from where they emigrated many years ago, she and her siblings play games on the rooftop terrace, float paper boats, and make shadow puppets under the glow of flashlights. When the store closes, the girl dances to celebrate her day.Amelia Lau Carling?s thoroughly American children loved her childhood stories about Guatemala so much that she wrote them down for others.

If it is just a few days until your birthday, and your mother says you can invite anyone you like to come over to play, be careful! If you don't watch out, you might soon be having the craziest party ever, with people and food from around the world. Before you know it, night could come and go and a new day could begin, and the dancing might still be going strong. At least, that is what happens in this humorous and irresistibly joyful cautionary tale! In a celebration of neighbors and diversity, an open-ended party invitation results in a raucous gathering of children, pets and parents (plus salsa dancers and a reggae band!), all feasting on food from all over the world. Couscous, crepes, salad, ackee--there isn't enough room on the table for all the food. And it's noisy too, because people don't stop talking while they eat and dance. The party might have gotten out of hand a bit, but nobody minds--after all, it is the craziest, wildest, funnest party ever! Everyone loves a party, and with its vivid illustrations and irresistibly playful text, this picture book delivers the rowdiest, happiest birthday party ever.

Children whose daily lives are afflicted by violence dream of a different world in this powerful book created by Mexican artists as a fundraiser for the IBBY Fund for Children in Crisis. In many parts of the world, including North America, children are living with violence. Wars, gangs, guns, crime, bullying, harassment and fear keep many kids from living the full, free lives that every child should enjoy. This book was created in Mexico, where for the past six years a vicious war against drugs has brought fear and insecurity into every child’s life. Many children’s dreams have become nightmares. Some of Mexico’s best illustrators have donated their art to create this book, which gives children a way to talk about their fears, a reason to hope and the inspiration to resist falling into grief and depression. Like some city trees they have the possibility to grow strong and, despite everything, to try and make the world a better place. I dreamt... is being published in North America for the same reasons. Royalties from sales will be donated to IBBY’s Fund for Children in Crisis, which supports bibliotherapy projects that use books and reading to help children who have lived through wars, civil conflicts and natural disasters to think and talk about their experiences.

Winner of the UNESCO Tolerance Awarda and the Jane Addams Children's Book Award, and an Americas Award Commended Title Life is simple for Pedro -- he goes to school, does his homework and, most importantly, plays soccer. But when the soldiers come and take his friend Daniel's father away, things suddenly become much more complicated. Why, for instance, do Pedro's parents secretly listen to the radio every evening after dinner? And why does the government want Pedro and his classmates to write compositions about what their parents do in the evening? Humorous, serious and intensely human, this powerful picture book by Chilean writer Antonio Skarmeta presents a situation all too familiar to children around the world. And for children it provides food for thought about freedom, moral choices and personal responsibility.

In simple words and sun-drenched paintings, Alma Flor Ada and Simón Silva take us into the fields and orchards, and into the lives of the people who work them. Simple poems in Spanish and English, one for each letter of the Spanish alphabet, describe the wonder of the vegetable and fruit farms. K-5

K-4

K-4

Sister Angie organizes a celebration of Las Posadas to reenact the night Jesus was born. But this year a snowstorm hits, and only a miracle can save the show. K-4

2-4

Family Picturesis the story of Carmen Lomas Garza's girlhood: celebrating birthdays, making tamales, finding a hammerhead shark on the beach, picking cactus, going to a fair in Mexico, and confiding to her sister her dreams of becoming an artist.K-4

Deciding what to play against the Spanish Game (classically known as the Ruy Lopez) is a perennial problem for those who play 'open games' as Black. 1-4

Set in northern New Mexico, young Carlos refuses to take a bath after his farm work each day, until a plant sprouts in his ear. K-4

A very simple explanation of the major Jewish holydays. Pre K-3

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6-12

Pre K-3

K-3

This collection of stories takes the spiritual elements of talmudic and midrashic folklore and weaves them together to create a special version of the tales that have captivated readers for centuries. K-4

5-8

On Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, it is traditional to dip apples and honey in hopes of a sweet New Year. Jews around the world share other foods as well 3-8

Rachel, a young Jewish girl living in Nazi-occupied Warsaw, struggles to survive with her family and maintains hope by painting colorful flowers on her dingy apartment walls. K-4

"We will make a quilt to help us always remember home," Anna's mother said. "It will be like heaving the family in backhome Russia dance around us at night. K-4

Love Bird takes Lonnie to Paris to explore his family tree. 3-7

K-4

A magnificant, spiritual Kung Fu picture book.

A serendipitous breeze starts off this playful journey which begs the seemingly simple question, "When is a hat, not a hat?" Along the way, Rabbit manages to learn a little bit about friendship, fashion, and the importance of believing in himself.

A beautiful and extraordinary account of international concert pianist Zhu Xiao-Mei’s hardships and triumphs while growing up during China’s Cultural Revolution   Stirring and inspiring, this picture book relates the story of a gifted young girl's passion for the piano in a time of historic turmoil. During China's Cultural Revolution a young girl is taken from her family and sent to a far-off labor camp. Forbidden to play the piano, she nevertheless finds a way of smuggling handwritten music into the camp and sneaking away at night to practice a piano in a secret location--until, one night, she is caught. Inspired by the amazing true story of international concert pianist Zhu Xiao-Mei, this acclaimed picture book poetically relates an astonishing story of perseverance set against a cataclysmic period of history.

Gem-like linocuts combined with graceful calligraphy provide a fascinating introduction to Chinese writing. Children wil pour over the Chinese characters, each one accompanied by a pronunciation guide to the Chinese, its English translation, and an illustration.

I knew nothing could happen to us within those walls, in the house Baba built. In Ed Young's childhood home in Shanghai, all was not as it seemed: a rocking chair became a horse; a roof became a roller rink; an empty swimming pool became a place for riding scooters and bikes. The house his father built transformed as needed into a place to play hide-and-seek, to eat bamboo shoots, and to be safe. For outside the home's walls, China was at war. Soon the house held not only Ed and his four siblings but also friends, relatives, and even strangers who became family. The war grew closer, and Ed watched as planes flew overhead and frends joined the Chinese air force. But through it all, Ed's childhood remained full of joy and imagination. This powerful, poignant, and exquisitely illustrated memoir is the story of one of our most beloved children's illustrators and the house his baba built.

A New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2011! Maomao's dad works many miles away, but he is coming home for New Year! Little Maomao's father works in faraway places and comes home just once a year, for Chinese New Year. At first Maomao barely recognizes him, but before long the family is happily making sticky rice balls, listening to firecrackers, and watching the dragon dance in the streets below. Papa gets a haircut, makes repairs to the house, and hides a lucky coin for Maomao to find. Which she does! But all too soon it is time for Papa to go away again. This poignant, vibrantly illustrated tale, which won the prestigious Feng Zikai Chinese Children's Picture Book Award in 2009, is sure to resonate with every child who misses relatives when they are away--and shows how a family's love is strong enough to endure over time and distance.

Four-year-old Alfie Atkins doesn't want to go to bed. Lucky for him, Daddy is taking care of all of Alfie's bedtime needs. But Alfie won't sleep, and it isn't long before he succeeds in tiring poor Daddy. Full color.

Molly gets a crash course--literally--in riding her bike because she can't seem to stop running into things, but luckily for Molly, she bumps into a driving instructor who gives her some useful advice.

Four hens live on a chicken farm. A little rooster lives there, too. "What a nice little rooster you have here," everyone says when they come to visit. Indeed, it seems so for a while. But then the rooster begins to take more food for himself, and the hens get less. When the hens try talking to him about fairness, they're not prepared for his reaction. The rooster turns into an egotistical barnyard bully, and the hens are worse off than before. Finally, the oldest hen puts her foot down: "We can't go on like this. We must do something." Expressive and witty illustrations give lots of pluck to this hilarious barnyard tale from Sweden's most beloved husband-and-wife duo.

Feeling sorry for their old grandfather, Jacob and Linnea search for the perfect grandma for him, going to the supermarket and the beach to find his match.