# data[].attributes.headline
Laughing Out Loud, I Fly : A Carcajadas Yo Vuelo by Juan Felipe Herrera

Juan Felipe Herrera

# data[].attributes.subject
Laughing Out Loud, I Fly : A Carcajadas Yo Vuelo by Juan Felipe Herrera

Juan Felipe Herrera

# data[].attributes.body
Title: Laughing Out Loud, I Fly by Juan Felipe Herrera

Languages: Spanish and English

Reading age: 10 -15

Review:  The vivid poetry of Juan Felipe Herrera dances across these pages in a stunning display of Spanish and English. The poems are beautifully composed, lively, and enjoyable, and they are accompanied by amusing black-and-white pictures created by Karen Barbour. The final collage is a celebration of living a life between two cultures and nourishes the soul.

Published: September 19, 2023, HarperTeen

Awards: Pura Belpré Honor for this book 2022

Author’s page: http://www.twitter.com/cilantroman

Bookstore- Find it

(https://www.nogaleshs.org/apps/video/watch.jsp?v=315115 )

( https://a.co/d/fMQzCxz )

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Laughing Out Loud, I Fly : A Carcajadas Yo Vuelo

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Read 19 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. From one of the most prominent Chicano poets writing today, here are poems like sweet music...

# data[].attributes.headline
How to Write a Poem

by Kwame Alexander, Melissa Sweet (Illustrator)

# data[].attributes.subject
How to Write a Poem

by Kwame Alexander, Melissa Sweet (Illustrator)

# data[].attributes.body
Title: How to Write a Poem

by Kwame Alexander, Melissa Sweet (Illustrator), Deanna Nikaido

Languages: English

Reading age: 5 -8

Review:  Essential lines put pen to paper and share the outcome as rich descriptions express creation. Children "pay attention to the grass, the flowers, the trees—anything that's friends with the sun," as natural themes are interwoven throughout. The illustrations' use of wheels, circles, and spheres in her dramatic mixed-media collages, brings art to the lyric. She also incorporates handmade and old paper, watercolor and gouache techniques and even pebbles. The variety of methods employed helps to establish a connection between the concepts of remixing and creativity. As a result, everyone is invited to write poetry:  poetry is for everyone.

Published: April 4, 2023, by Quill Tree Books

Awards: 2024 Notable Books in Poetry byNCTE Children’s Poetry Award Committee

Author’s page: http://www.kwamealexander.com

Bookstore- Find it

(  https://a.co/d/dNWK02S ) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6Q2777Qceo )

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Read 117 reviews from the world’s largest community for readers. In this companion to the picture book How to Read a BookKwame Alexander teams up with poet…

# data[].attributes.headline
Afterward, Everything was Different: A Tale From the Pleistocene by Jairo Buitrago (Author), Rafael Yockteng (Illustrator)

# data[].attributes.subject
Afterward, Everything was Different: A Tale From the Pleistocene by Jairo Buitrago (Author), Rafael Yockteng (Illustrator)

# data[].attributes.body
Title: Afterward, Everything was Different: A Tale From the Pleistocene by Jairo Buitrago (Author), Rafael Yockteng (Illustrator)

Languages: wordless

Reading age: 4 -8

Review:  This short picture book portrays a young girl who notices everything around her while her folks look for a cave to spend the winter in. We see how she feels compelled to tell stories and illustrate what she has witnessed. This book tells the origins of storytelling.

Published: May 9, 2023, by Greystone Kids

Awards: Shelf AwarenessA Best Book of the Year

Author’s page: https://twitter.com/jjairobuitrago?lang=en

Bookstore- Find it

(  https://a.co/d/6CfJvYH )

(  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMLldQ1y6LA&t=135s )

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Afterward, Everything was Different: A Tale From the Pl...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Read 26 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. STARRED Reviews in Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Shelf AwarenessA Best Book of the Y...

# data[].attributes.headline
 Papel de Liha by Ompong Remigio, Beth Parrocha (Illustrator)

# data[].attributes.subject
 Papel de Liha by Ompong Remigio, Beth Parrocha (Illustrator)

# data[].attributes.body
Title: Papel de Liha by Ompong Remigio, Beth Parrocha (Illustrator)

Languages: English and Tagalog

Reading age: 5 - 9

Review: The original language of this critically acclaimed book was Filipino. This book emphasises how crucial a mother's role is in our lives. Mothers are frequently undervalued in society. Every day, mothers clean, cook, and work. A mother and her child's love is depicted in this book. The child hears her mother and aunt talking about how her mother's palms are like sandpaper and observes how her mother does things. The child finds it stressful to decipher that because she feels protected and comforted by her mother's kind touch.

Published: January 1, 2005 by Adarna House Inc.

Awards: Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Maikling Kuwentong Pambata (1995)

Author’s page: N/A

Bookstore- Find it

( In English https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTdfKZtW2Uo )

( In Tagalog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftLx2zODBSw )

( In English https://a.co/d/3kjEXny )

(In Tangalo https://a.co/d/jag7hDY )

# data[].attributes.custom_properties.wUSsRnF0
International literature, Realistic fiction, picture book

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Read 7 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. This award-winning story honors the untiring love a mother has for her family. She works all...

# data[].attributes.headline
Halal Hot Dogs by Susannah Aziz (Goodreads Author), Parwinder Singh (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator)

# data[].attributes.subject
Halal Hot Dogs by Susannah Aziz (Goodreads Author), Parwinder Singh (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator)

# data[].attributes.body
Title: Halal Hot Dogs by Susannah Aziz (Goodreads Author), Parwinder Singh (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator)

Languages: English and words in Arabic

Reading age: 5 - 9

Review:  Musa's family enjoys a special Jummah dessert every Friday following Jummah prayer at the masjid. They take turns selecting the treat, but lately, there have been some... unusual options. Mama made molokhia the first week. It provides us molokhia teeth for days and is ideal for sharing! Baba burned the kufte kebabs on the grill on the second week. In the third week, Seedi prepared his favorite rice pudding, riz b'haleeb, which is creamy and has pistachios sprinkled on top along with an unexpected ingredient. Maryam brought jellybeans last week. When Musa finally gets to choose, he goes with his favorite—halal hot dogs! However, obtaining this yummy food becomes a difficult trip full of challenges.

Published: January 1, 2021, by Little Bee Books

Awards: Included in USA Today's 12 books for kids to read during Ramadan!

Author’s page: http://www.twitter.com/susannah29

Bookstore- Find it

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mMb8_QTc_A  )

( https://a.co/d/7y2uI1x )

# data[].attributes.custom_properties.wUSsRnF0
International literature, realistic fiction, multicultural literature, picture book

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Amazon.com: Halal Hot Dogs: 9781499811575: Aziz, Susannah, Singh, Parwinder: Books

# data[].attributes.body
Title: Sulwe Lupita Nyong'o, Vashti Harrison (Illustrator)

Languages: English (words in Luo), available in other languages

Reading age: 6 - 10

Review:  Sulwe's skin is as dark as midnight. She has a darker complexion than her family members. Compared to others in her school, she is the darkest. Sulwe only wants to be as intelligent and attractive as her mother and sister. Subsequently, she embarks on a mystical nocturnal voyage that transforms her entire perspective.

Published:

Awards: Coretta Scott King Book Award Nominee for Illustrator (2020), California Young Readers Medal Nominee for Primary (2022), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Picture Books (2019), NAACP Image Award for Children (2020), Children’s Africana Book Award Nominee for Young Children (2020)

Author’s page: http://www.twitter.com/Lupita_Nyongo

Bookstore- Find it

( https://a.co/d/i6SHnAI )

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vujbTOuzg2Q )

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Lupita Nyong'o Reads "Sulwe" | Bookmarks | Netflix Jr

# data[].attributes.headline
The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field by Scott Riley, (Illustrators) Nguyen Quang, Phùng Nguyên Quang, Huỳnh Kim Liên, Kim Lien

# data[].attributes.subject
The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field by Scott Riley, (Illustrators) Nguyen Quang, Phùng Nguyên Quang, Huỳnh Kim Liên, Kim Lien

# data[].attributes.body
Title: The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field by Scott Riley, Nguyen Quang (Illustrations), Phùng Nguyên Quang (Illustrator), Huỳnh Kim Liên (Illustrator), Kim Lien (Illustrations)

Languages: English and Thai

Reading age: 5 - 10

Review:  A bunch of young boys play football in the afternoon, just like most people around the world do. But for these friends on Koh Panyee, the tide determined when they could play. Following the FIFA World Cup on TV, these children and their neighborhood achieved the seemingly unachievable. It's their own football field.

Published: March 2, 2021 by Millbrook Press ™

Awards: N/A

Author’s page: https://www.scottrileyauthor.com/

Bookstore- Find it

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqeCFboVioQ  )

( https://a.co/d/9Otwq2I )

# data[].attributes.custom_properties.wUSsRnF0
Historical Fiction, Multicultural literature  

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
After watching the World Cup on television, a group of Thai boys is inspired to form their own team. But on the island of Koh Panyee, in ...

# data[].attributes.body
Title: Sulwe Lupita Nyong'o, Vashti Harrison (Illustrator)

Languages: English (words in Luo), available in other languages

Reading age: 6 - 10

Review:  Sulwe's skin is as dark as midnight. She has a darker complexion than her family members. Compared to others in her school, she is the darkest. Sulwe only wants to be as intelligent and attractive as her mother and sister. Subsequently, she embarks on a mystical nocturnal voyage that transforms her entire perspective.

Published:

Awards: Coretta Scott King Book Award Nominee for Illustrator (2020), California Young Readers Medal Nominee for Primary (2022), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Picture Books (2019), NAACP Image Award for Children (2020), Children’s Africana Book Award Nominee for Young Children (2020)

Author’s page: http://www.twitter.com/Lupita_Nyongo

Bookstore- Find it

( https://a.co/d/i6SHnAI )

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vujbTOuzg2Q )

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Lupita Nyong'o Reads "Sulwe" | Bookmarks | Netflix Jr

# data[].attributes.headline
Shanyaak'utlaax: Salmon Boy By Michaela Goade (Illustrator)...

# data[].attributes.subject
Shanyaak'utlaax: Salmon Boy By Michaela Goade (Illustrator)...

# data[].attributes.body
Shanyaak'utlaax: Salmon Boy

By Michaela Goade (Illustrator), Johny Marks (Editor), Hans Chester (Editor), David Katzeek (Editor), Nora Dauenhauer (Editor), Richard Dauenhauer (Editor)

Languages: English and Tlinget

Reading age: 4 - 9

Review:  Aak’wtaatseen did not appreciate the blessings of nature. He flung a piece of salmon with which his mother was feeding him. The salmon people punished him, he was turned into a salmon. His father and mother nearly ate him. The end is full of lessons about respect for nature and how to care for it

Awards: American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Picture Book (2018)

Published: January 1, 2017 by Sealaska Heritage Institute

Author’s page: N/A

Bookstore- Find it

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/194601902X/ref=x_gr_bb_amazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_bb_amazon-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=194601902X&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Shanyaak’utlaax̱: Salmon Boy Told in Tlingit (with English Subtitles)

# data[].attributes.headline
A Whale of a Time: Funny Poems for Each Day of the Year by Lou Peacock, Matt Hunt (Illustrator)

# data[].attributes.subject
A Whale of a Time: Funny Poems for Each Day of the Year by Lou Peacock, Matt Hunt (Illustrator)

# data[].attributes.body
Title: A Whale of a Time: Funny Poems for Each Day of the Year by Lou Peacock, Matt Hunt (Illustrations)

Languages: English

Reading age: 7 - 11

Review: This vibrant and inventive book will make you smile and laugh every day, whether the poems are about the most childlike and unexpected topics. An amusing compilation of 366 poems with stunning illustrations to make you chuckle all year long! With at least one favorite poem in it, this book is a great gift for readers of all ages.

Published: September 19, 2023, by Nosy Crow

Awards: N/A

Author’s page: No official https://nosycrow.us/contributor/lou-peacock/

Bookstore- Find it

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1Xj3SfMcl8 )

( https://a.co/d/6uJanxH )

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Whale of a Time: Funny Poems for Each Day of the Year|Hardcover

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A collection of 366 hilarious poems about animals, families, school, food, holidays, and much more!   From the creators behind the award-winning anthologies Sing a Song of Seasons and Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright, this rib-tickling illustrated anthology…

# data[].attributes.headline
Berry Song
Written and Illustrated by Michaela Goade

# data[].attributes.subject
Berry Song
Written and Illustrated by Michaela Goade

# data[].attributes.body
Title: Berry Song by Michaela Goade

Languages: English

Reading age: 4 - 9

Review: On a beautiful island, a little girl starts singing a song to honor the earth. Her community lives in harmony with nature and respects its blessings. Read the story to see how families on the island pass their teaching to young children.

Awards: Caldecott Medal Nominee (2023), American Indian Youth Literature Award Nominee for Picture Book (2024)

Published: July 19, 2022 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Author’s page: ww w.michaelagoade.com

Bookstore- Find it

https://a.co/d/dedhkpN

# data[].attributes.headline
Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh

By Uma Krishnaswami

# data[].attributes.subject
Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh

By Uma Krishnaswami

# data[].attributes.body
Title: Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh by Uma Krishnaswami, Nidhi Chanani (Artist)

Languages: English and Spanish

Reading age: 7 - 13

Review:  Maria Singh, nine, is eager to join the first-ever girls' softball team in Yuba City, California, and play the game. The Second World War is still raging in the spring of 1945. Maria's teacher, Miss Newman, is motivated to form a girls' softball team at their school by Babe Ruth and the All-American Girls' League. Maria's parents, Papi, who is from India, and Mamá, who is from Mexico, are unable to shield their kids from discriminatory legislation and prejudice in the meantime. Maria needs to decide to stand up and find her voice in an unjust world as her family is about to lose their land.

Published: Lee & Low Books, 05/15/2017

Awards:

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Children's Literature (2018)

Author’s page: http://www.umakrishnaswami.com/

Bookstore- Find it

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8WdzCQc-6s )

( https://a.co/d/dMraDVY )

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature - Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA)
Nine-year-old Maria Singh learns to play softball just like her heroes in the All-American Girls' League, while her parents and neighbors are struggling through World War II, working for India's independence, and trying to stay on their farmland.
Nine-year-old Maria Singh longs to play softball in the first-ever girls' team forming in Yuba City, California. It's the spring of 1945, and World War II is dragging on. Miss Newman, Maria's teacher, is inspired by Babe Ruth and the All-American Girls' League to start a girls' softball team at their school.

Meanwhile, Maria's parents-Papi from India and Mamá from Mexico-can no longer protect their children from prejudice and from the discriminatory laws of the land. When the family is on the brink of losing their farm, Maria must decide if she has what it takes to step up and find her voice in an unfair world.

In this fascinating middle grade novel, award-winning author Uma Krishnaswami sheds light on a little-known chapter of American history set in a community whose families made multicultural choices before the word had been invented.

Product Details

ISBN-13:

9781600602610

Publisher:

Lee & Low Books

Publication date:

05/15/2017

Pages:

288

Sales rank:

364,850

Product dimensions:

5.20(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.70(d)

Lexile:

680L ( what's this?)

Age Range:

9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

"Filled with heart, this tale brings to life outspoken and determined Maria, her love for baseball, and her multicultural community and their challenges and triumphs. A loving look at a slice of American life new to children's books." — Kirkus Reviews

"This historical sports story will appeal to many elementary-aged students and provides a rich basis for a discussion of prejudice and the importance of standing up for one's beliefs." — School Library Journal

"A testament to the power of family, identity, faith and one girl's strong drive for fairness. At the same time, it also shows us how difficult it is to evoke change, especially in the face of the twin forces of racism and sexism. . . . Readers will see in Maria a hero, not only for her own time, but for all time." — Newbery Honor Winner Kathi Appelt, author of The Underneath

"This timely, important, superb novel made me cry, laugh out loud, and burn with anger at injustice. . . . A must-read for youngsters and adults alike." — Anjali Banerjee, author of Maya Running, Looking for Bapu and Seaglass Summer

"A refreshingly different WWII story for middle-grade readers, with a empowering protagonist at its heart." — Booklist

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature - Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA)

Amelia Bloomer Book List - American Library Association (ALA) CCBC Choices - Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) Freeman Book Award for East and Southeast Asian Children's Literature - National Consortium for Teaching About Asia United Women in Faith Reading Program - United Methodist Women

From the Publisher

06/01/2017
Gr 3-5-All fifth grader Maria Singh can think about is playing baseball. She confronts many challenges in pursuit of this dream, from convincing her father to let her wear shorts to getting the city council to approve a baseball field for her neighborhood. Maria is part of a community of families in World War II-era California. Many of the fathers in this community emigrated from India and married Mexican American women. Maria begins to see how much the institutionalized racism and individual prejudice they face weigh on her parents. Characters are well developed, and relationships are richly complex. Even the local mean girl becomes sympathetic as Maria learns that she and her family are being discriminated against because of their German ancestry. Krishnaswami skillfully handles issues of racism and sexism in a realistic and age-appropriate way. Although the cultural setting is very well defined, sometimes the historical background information can feel wedged into the story. However, this is a minor flaw, and Maria's realistic challenges and passion to play ball will keep young readers engaged. VERDICT This historical sports story will appeal to many elementary-aged students and provides a rich basis for a discussion of prejudice and the importance of standing up for one's beliefs. Recommended.-Gesse Stark-Smith, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

School Library Journal

2017-03-29
Krishnaswami offers a peek into the life of Maria Singh and her loving family in Yuba City, California, in 1945. Maria, her younger brother, Emilio, and the rest of her close-knit brown-skinned community are adha-adha ("half and half"), with fathers from India (mostly Sikh or Muslim) and mothers from Mexico. The book details a realistic merger of the two cultures, with church and gurdwara (Sikh temple), curry and tortillas, as they confront prejudice and discrimination. With baseball plays running in her head like a baseball announcer's, the fifth-grade protagonist longs to play softball on the first-ever girls team in Yuba City, and, encouraged by her white teacher/baseball coach, she speaks out at the county board meeting to save their sole baseball field. Maria's struggles at home and at school are contextualized with period details, as this community lives with the many restrictions placed upon them by World War II and with the laws that discriminate against them. Fighting unfair American laws that bar her immigrant father from citizenship and owning property, Maria is spurred to find a solution that allows them to buy the land her father has been managing for years. Occasional words in Punjabi and Spanish are easy to decipher in context. Filled with heart, this tale brings to life outspoken and determined Maria, her love for baseball, and her multicultural community and their challenges and triumphs. A loving look at a slice of American life new to children's books. (Historical fiction. 9-13)

Kirkus Reviews

Read More

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh|Hardcover

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature - Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA)Nine-year-old Maria Singh learns to play softball just like her heroes in the All-American Girls' League, while her parents and neighbors are struggling through World War II, working for...

# data[].attributes.headline
Little Melba and Her Big Trombone

By Katheryn Russell-Brown

# data[].attributes.subject
Little Melba and Her Big Trombone

By Katheryn Russell-Brown

# data[].attributes.body
Title: Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown, Frank Morrison (Illustrator)

Languages: English, available in Spanish

Reading age: 6 - 11

Review:  From her earliest memories, Melba Doretta Liston, the subject of this biography, has been passionate about music. When she was younger, she used to hum along to the music on her family's Majestic radio and think about beats and lyrics. Melba was seven years old when she fell in love with a large, sparkly trombone and quickly learned how to play it on her own. Melba's remarkable musical talent brought her into contact with the jazz world by the time she was a teenager. Gerald Wilson, a trumpet player, had her join his band, and they went on a national tour.

Published: July 30, 2014 by Lee & Low Books

Awards: Coretta Scott King Book Award for Illustrator Honor (2015), NCTE Orbis Pictus Award Nominee (2015), NAACP Image Award Nominee for Children (2015)

Author’s page: https://krbrown.net/about/

Bookstore- Find it

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ0nWZgLoLY )

( In English https://a.co/d/66tvmde )

( In Spanish https://a.co/d/eVSXYGp )

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Read 307 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Melba Doretta Liston loved the sounds of music from as far back as she could remember. As ...

# data[].attributes.headline
Juna's Jar By Jane Park
Illustrated by Felicia Hoshino

# data[].attributes.subject
Juna's Jar By Jane Park
Illustrated by Felicia Hoshino

# data[].attributes.body
Title: Juna's Jar By Jane Park, Illustrated by Felicia Hoshino

Languages: English (words in Spanish, and Korean) Available in Spanish

Reading age: 5 -10

Review:  Along with their many excursions, Juna and her closest friend Hector enjoy filling empty kimchi jars with treasures. Hector then leaves one day before he gets a chance to say goodbye. Heartbroken, Juna wonders who will continue to accompany her on her trips. Every night, Juna looks to her special kimchi jar for assistance in her mission to locate Hector. In pursuit of her friend, she dives into the ocean's depths, swings through the jungle on vines, and soars into the night sky. Juna discovers that the most unlikely areas can offer adventure, as well as new friends.

Published: November 13, 2022, by Lee & Low Books

Awards: Winner of Lee & Low’s New Voices Award, New Voices Award Winner, Lee and Low Books, Best Books of the Year, Honorable Mention, The Huffington Post, Notable Books for a Global Society, International Reading Association (IRA), Best Multicultural Books, Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Books, Top 2015 Mighty Girl Books for Young Children, A Mighty Girl, Grand Canyon Readers Award Arizona Library Association

Author’s page: https://janeparkbooks.com/books-3/

Bookstore- Find it

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtzj7tkHMzo )

( In English https://a.co/d/dtWuA4L )

( In English https://a.co/d/3TQNLT3 )

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Editorial Reviews

Charming soft watercolor illustrations and a sweet story that tugs at the imagination provide a flight of fancy that youngsters will enjoy hearing again and again. . . Hoshino's delightful detail-filled paintings of Juna's nighttime adventures show smiling sea creatures, sloths, monkeys and crocodiles, and a city alive with activity, illuminated by vehicle headlights "that lit up the hill like a string of holiday lights." Use this title in preschool storytimes or in the classroom to stimulate leaps of imagination. — School Library Journal

"Bahk's comforting picture-book debut, effortlessly multicultural, sparkles with the promise of imagination and friendship." — Booklist

"[P]ensive, curious, and openhearted heroine." — Publishers Weekly

New Voices Award Winner, Lee & Low Books Notable Books for a Global Society, International Literacy Association (ILA) Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature, Asian/Pacific American Library Association Best Books of the Year, Honorable Mention, The Huffington Post Best Multicultural Books, Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Books Top 2015 Mighty Girl Books for Young Children, A Mighty Girl Top 25 APA Book Picks for 2015, BookDragon

Grand Canyon Readers Award, Arizona Library Association

From the Publisher

In Hoshino's lyrical and delicately detailed watercolor illustrations, Juna is adorable, her facial expressions matching the honest emotion of the text. The role played by the book's title object is compelling as well, and you might want to prepare for a first reading to a child by having a jar of similar size and shape on hand.

The New York Times Book Review - Linda Sue Park

10/20/2014
A girl named Juna gets significant mileage-in more ways than one-out of an empty jar of kimchi in Bahk's debut, which won the publisher's New Voices Award. Juna is distraught after her friend Hector moves away suddenly; to cheer her up, her brother gets her a small fish, which she keeps in her jar. At night, "when everyone else was asleep," Juna joins the fish on an imaginary underwater journey, and in the morning, "Juna's fish had grown so big its mouth nearly touched its tail." This surprising development sets the state for subsequent "was it really just a dream?" adventures, which eventually let Juna make peace with Hector's absence. Hoshino (Sora and the Cloud) contributes warm watercolors, dominated by pale yellows and greens, that bring Juna's nighttime sojourns to full life-in the final one, she dons aviator goggles and flies over a bustling city on the back of a cricket. Despite the elements of magical realism interwoven with the plot, Bahk never loses sight of the very real emotions that drive her pensive, curious, and openhearted heroine. Ages 5-9. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

A beautifully illustrated children's picture book, Juna's Jar tells the story of Juna and her best friend, Hector, who love to go on adventures in the park, collecting things to put in Juna's empty kimchi jars. One day, Hector unexpectedly moves away, and with the help of her special kimchi jar, Juna searches for her friend all over the world, and finds new adventure and new friends in the most unexpected places. This debut picture book is a winner of publisher Lee & Low Books New Voices Award.

NBC Asian America

"Juna's Jar," written by Jane Bahk and illustrated by Felicia Hoshino, depicts a single disappointment big enough to be heartbreaking: Little Juna's friend Hector moves away suddenly, and she is denied even a chance to say goodbye. And while the ending, with its suggestion of a new friend for Juna, may be predictable for adult readers, young children will probably find it pleasing. In Hoshino's lyrical and delicately detailed watercolor illustrations, Juna is adorable, her facial expressions matching the honest emotion of the text. The role played by the book's title object is compelling as well, and you might want to prepare for a first reading to a child by having a jar of similar size and shape on hand.

The New York Times - Linda Sue Park

Debut author Jane Bahk introduces a charming young heroine with an imagination that helps her deal with her best friend leaving the neighborhood. Felicia Hoshino's ( A Place Where Sunflowers Grow) soft watercolor illustrations depict a diverse, thriving city neighborhood with small vibrant shops, people and pets. Hoshino's playful approach makes clear what's real and what's in Juna's imagination. Discover: A charming young heroine's imagination helps her deal with her best friend leaving the neighborhood.

Shelf Awareness for Readers - Jennifer Brown

12/01/2014
PreS-Gr 2-Charming soft watercolor illustrations and a sweet story that tugs at the imagination provide a flight of fancy that youngsters will enjoy hearing again and again. Little Juna and her friend Hector share adventures in the park across the street from their apartment building in Koreatown. Interesting critters and other items go into Juna's empty kimchi jar to be studied, then released. When Hector moves away, Juna's older brother, Minho, observing her sadness, buys her a small fish, gives her a small bean plant grown at school, then helps her find twigs and leaves in the park to provide a habitat for a cricket. Each night, the kimchi jar takes Juna on a fabulous journey. The goldfish takes her on an undersea adventure, growing so large that it must be transferred to the family aquarium. The bean plant transports her to a tropical rainforest, then is moved to a large pot on the balcony; the cricket carries Juna over city buildings to the window of Hector's bedroom, where his stone-filled kimchi jar sits on a windowsill near his bed. Seeing Hector safe and happy allows Juna to move on and make a new friend at the park. Hoshino's delightful detail-filled paintings of Juna's nighttime adventures show smiling sea creatures, sloths, monkeys and crocodiles, and a city alive with activity, illuminated by vehicle headlights "that lit up the hill like a string of holiday lights." Use this title inpreschool storytimes or in the classroom to stimulate leaps of imagination.-Susan Scheps, formerly at Shaker Public Library, OH

School Library Journal

2014-10-22
A seemingly ordinary kimchi jar is anything but in this gentle tale of old friends and new. Best friends Juna and Hector collect rocks and bugs in her family's empty kimchi jars. One day, Juna goes to Hector's apartment only to learn from his abuela that his parents came and took him to live with them far away. To cheer her up, Juna's brother buys her a fish to place in the empty kimchi jar. That night, she dreams of questing underwater for Hector, only to awaken to find her pet has, remarkably, grown too big for its home. She turns the now-empty jar into a terrarium with a small bean plant, and that night she imagines she is looking for Hector through a rain forest. This pattern is repeated again with a cricket, and then finally Juna is able to come to terms with Hector's absence and is emotionally ready to make another friend. The steady narrative repetition as Juna sleeps and seeks offers a reassuring pattern for children who might be missing their own Hectors. The logic (or magic) behind the jar's occupants' phenomenal growth is unclear, and Juna's brother never remarks on its impossibility; less-credulous readers will wonder about this. Meanwhile, the muted tones of Hoshino's watercolors soothe and, on occasion, amuse, as when readers witness the slightly smooshed lips of Juna enduring a hug she did not seek. While a little logically shaky, this fills a need for those children who find themselves adrift when their closest friends seemingly disappear. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews

Read More

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Charming soft watercolor illustrations and a sweet story that tugs at the imagination provide a flight of fancy that youngsters will enjoy hearing again and again. . . Hoshino's delightful detail-filled paintings of Juna's nighttime adventures show smiling sea creatures, sloths, monkeys and crocodiles, and a city alive with activity, illuminated by vehicle headlights "that lit up the hill like a string of holiday lights."

# data[].attributes.headline
Contenders Written by Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation)

# data[].attributes.subject
Contenders Written by Traci Sorell (Cherokee Nation)

# data[].attributes.body
Title: Contenders: Two Native Baseball Players, One World Series by Traci Sorell (Author), Arigon Starr (Illustrator)

Languages: English and Cahuilla (mentioned)

Reading age: 4 - 12

Review: The authentic narrative of John Meyers and Charles Bender, who in 1911 emerged as the inaugural Native American professional baseball players to compete in a World Series. Important lessons about resiliency, following your passion in the face of adversity, and the struggle for Native American representation in sports are imparted by this picture book.

Published: April 11, 2023 by Kokila

Awards: American Indian Youth Literature Award Nominee for Picture Book (2024)

Author’s page: ( https://www.tracisorell.com/ )

Bookstore- Find it ( https://a.co/d/0pvJpuo )

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Contenders by Traci Sorell: 9780593406472 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The true story of John Meyers and Charles Bender, who in 1911 became the first two Native pro baseball players to face off in a World Series. This picture book teaches important lessons about resilience,...

# data[].attributes.headline
Remember Written by Joy Harjo (Mvskoke Nation) 

# data[].attributes.subject
Remember Written by Joy Harjo (Mvskoke Nation) 

# data[].attributes.body
Title: Remember by Joy Harjo, Michaela Goade, (Illustrator)

Languages: English

Reading age: 4- 8

Review:  Harjo, a member of the Mvskoke Nation, asks readers to consider who they are, the world they were born into, and how all people on earth are connected in plain and straightforward language. Drawing on her Tlingit heritage, Michaela Goade has produced vibrant images that engross the viewer and bring the text to life.

Published: Random House Studio, March 21, 2023

Awards: American Indian Youth Literature Award Nominee for Picture Book (2024)

Author’s page: http://www.joyharjo.com/

Bookstore- Find it ( https://a.co/d/5luBQxD )

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
🦅🪐 REMEMBER | Read Aloud with Joy Harjo | Brightly Storytime

# data[].attributes.body
Title: Dreamers by Yuyi Morales

Languages: English and Spanish

Reading age: 6 - 10

Review:  Witness the struggles and setbacks a mother and her little boy encounter as they go to a new country. Enter the vibrant and engrossing world of Yuyi Morales' "Dreamers," a touching ode to the strength of the human spirit and the capacity for imagination. Through striking visuals and lyrical words, Morales delves into themes of bravery, optimism, and the universal language of narrative. "Dreamers" is an ode to the immigrant experience and a reminder that everyone can dream big and build a brighter future, no matter where they are from.

Published: September 4, 2018 by Neal Porter Books

Awards: Charlotte Zolotow Award Nominee for Highly Commended (2019), Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Nominee for Picture Book (2019), California Young Readers Medal Nominee for Primary (2022), Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award for Works for Younger Readers (2019), Pura Belpré Award for Illustrator (2019), Monarch Award Nominee (2021), Kirkus Prize Nominee for Young Readers' Literature (2018), CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards Nominee for Read (2019)

Author’s page: http://www.yuyimorales.com/

Bookstore- Find it

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DItC93iIVHs )

( In English https://a.co/d/4JI8Sng )

( In Spanish https://a.co/d/40909v5 )

# data[].attributes.headline
 FOREVER COUSINS By Laurel Goodluck (Mandan & Hidatsa and Tsimshian)Illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Navajo/Diné)Publisher Charlesbridge 2022

# data[].attributes.subject
 FOREVER COUSINS By Laurel Goodluck (Mandan & Hidatsa and Tsimshian)Illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Navajo/Diné)Publisher Charlesbridge 2022

# data[].attributes.body
Title: FOREVER COUSINS By Laurel Goodluck (Mandan & Hidatsa and Tsimshian) Illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Navajo/Diné)

Languages: English

Reading age: 4 - 8

Review: One of the two very close cousins has to move out. Amanda and Kara hate being apart. After being apart for a while, it's time for the Rez family get-together. Fearing that the other hasn't missed her, each girl worries. However, they discover that they will always be related when they get back in touch. This narrative demonstrates how the Indian Relocation Act of the 1950s continues to affect Native American families to this day.

Published: Publisher Charlesbridge, October 4, 2022

Awards: American Indian Youth Literature Award Nominee for Picture Book (2024)

Author’s page: https://www.threads.net/@lauriegoodluck

Bookstore- Find it

( https://a.co/d/etm3Qr1 )

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykdz8FUO9BE ) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TXPRfzHCn0 )

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Skip to Main Content (Press Enter)

Two Native American cousins find their friendship tested when one moves from the city to the Rez.

Amanda loves purple, while Kara's favorite is pink, but "they agree that sunflowers are beautiful, powwow dancing is fun, and chokecherry jam on toast is the best." When the time comes for Kara's family to leave, both girls' parents assure them that the family will be together again next summer at the reunion. A year passes, and the cousins miss each other very much but keep in touch by phone and through letters. When it's time for the reunion on the reservation, the families make preparations: Amanda's family packs and gets the GPS set for the two-day drive; Kara's family makes welcoming signs, and her dad hangs a picture of the family tree. But the girls are nervous: Will they still be friends? In an author's note, Goodluck explains that in the past, many Native families have faced separations; she cites the Indian Relocation Act of 1956 as one cause. Nevertheless, she emphasizes that they still maintain close relationships due to shared family and tribal values. This matter-of-fact yet poignant story brings that bond to vivid life as the girls realize that no matter what, they are "forever cousins." The illustrations rely on a muted palette, featuring appealing characters with large heads. Cultural references are scattered throughout, like the dolls made by the girls' magúu (grandmother), powwow dancing, and a Hidatsa naming ceremony. Children facing separations of their own will find this reassuring.

A sweet story of friendship, family, and community.

- Kirkus Reviews

Charlotte Huck Book Award HONOR 2023

AILA - American Indian Youth Literature Award AWARD 2024

American Indians in Children's Literature Year in Review AWARD 2022

Junior Library Guild Selection AWARD 2022

Just for joining you'll get personalized recommendations on your dashboard daily and features only for members.

Success!

Your account has been created. Upload book purchases, access your personalized book recommendations, and more from here. GOT IT

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Forever Cousins by Laurel Goodluck: 9781623542924 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In this Native American story, Kara and Amanda are best-friend cousins. Then Kara leaves the city to move back to the Rez. Will their friendship stay the same? Kara and Amanda hate not being together....

# data[].attributes.body
Title: A Letter for Bob, Written by Kim Rogers (Wichita & Affiliated Tribes) Illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (Navajo/Diné)

Languages: English

Reading age: 4- 8

Review:  Bob has been a part of Katie's family since the day Mom and Dad brought him home from the car showroom. From powwows to vacations to time spent with distant family, Bob has experienced it all. Bob has shared in some of the family's most cherished memories as well as happy and frightening moments. But now Bob has too many miles away, its family needs to say goodbye.

Published: September 19, 2023 by Heartdrum

Awards: American Indian Youth Literature Award for Picture Book (2024)

Author’s page: https://www.kimrogerswriter.com/

Bookstore- Find it

( https://a.co/d/06zsN52 ) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-4S8ZAE7nw )

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A Letter for Bob [Rogers, Kim, Nelson, Jonathan] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. A Letter for Bob

# data[].attributes.headline
Bowwow Powwow: Bagosenjige-niimi’idim by Brenda J. Child

# data[].attributes.subject
Bowwow Powwow: Bagosenjige-niimi’idim by Brenda J. Child

# data[].attributes.body
Title: Bowwow Powwow: Bagosenjige-niimi’idim Written by Brenda J. Child (Red Lake Ojibwe), Translated into Ojibwe by Gordon Jourdain (Lac La Croix First Nation) Illustrated by Jonathan Thunder (Red Lake Ojibwe)

Languages:  Ojibwe and English

Reading age: 3 - 7

Review:  A little girl from the Red Lake Ojibwe people let her imagination create dreams of family. Windy Girl learns tales about ancient customs, dancing, giving, and thankfulness from her uncle. She also has many stories to share like the one about her dog Itchy Boy, who dances to get a reward and wriggles with happiness at pretty about anything. Windy observes the dancers in their jingle gowns and listens to the singers during the powwow that Uncle, Windy Girl, and Itchy Boy attend. She now has further images of a bowwow powwow where all the dancers are dogs. Windy sees veterans participating in a Grand Entry. Everyone dances and sings in celebration, all vouching for the powwow's wonder.

Published: the Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2018

Awards: American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Picture Book (2020)

Author’s page: https://cla.umn.edu/about/directory/profile/child011

Bookstore- Find it

( https://a.co/d/2yFrX6f )

(https://www.google.com/search?q=Bowwow+Powwow+%3A+Bagosenjige-niimi%27idim+native&rlz=1C1GCEB_enUS1018US1018&oq=Bowwow+Powwow+%3A+Bagosenjige-niimi%27idim+native&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCDM3ODZqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on#fpstate=ive&ip=1&vld=cid:08bbc396,vid:lpBfWk46JA4,st:0  )

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Read 198 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Windy Girl is blessed with a vivid imagination. From Uncle she gathers stories of long-ago...

# data[].attributes.body
Title: Herizon written by Daniel W. Vandever (Diné) illustrated by Corey Begay (Diné) Languages: wordless

Reading age: 4 - 8

Review:  The narrative follows the adventure of a little Diné girl who, with the aid of a mystical scarf, assists her grandmother in retrieving a flock of sheep. The girl and the world she knows are altered by the scarf's capacity to morph. Herizon emphasizes the power of the present rather than a far-off ideal of what might be in an era that has seen the appointment of Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Interior and the election of the first female vice president in American history. This is a narrative that celebrates advancement and perseverance, appealing to readers of all backgrounds.

Published: South of Sunrise Creative2021

Awards: American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Picture Book (2022)

Author’s page: https://twitter.com/DanielVandever?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Note: Herizon is a wordless book as an ode to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) and in honor of all those without a voice.

Bookstore- Find it

( https://birchbarkbooks.com/products/herizon )

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRgTVGUtJOQ )

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Read 25 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Herizon follows the journey of a Diné girl as she helps her grandmother retrieve a flock of...