We Are the Builders!

Posted on by

In We Are the Builders!, Ramla, a young woman wearing a hijab, walks through a diverse neighborhood identifying ways people young and old can make a difference in their communities. Each of ten identified community roles is described in poetic verse and includes an invitation to join in helping through that role. The book recognizes that improving a community requires the engagement of multiple roles.

The endpapers explain that We Are the Builders! is a picture book version of the authors social change ecosystem map. Through identifying the role that best fits our interests and strengths, we can change the world for the better.

Tricky Chopsticks

Posted on by

Jenny Chow just can’t get the hang of chopsticks and everyone in her family knows it. Her struggle has her feeling like an outsider in her extended family. Jenny’s cousin is having a party featuring the family’s annual chopstick challenge. Some onomatopoeia and Chinese characters accompany her unsuccessful practice attempts. Jenny realized that trying the same thing again and again will not help her improve.

Jenny gains inspiration from a set of tongs and fashions her chopsticks with a rubber band and folded star; acting like a training wheels. Through persistence and practice Jenny successfully participates in the chopstick challenge, an important family tradition. Her family is there to cheer on her success.

Tricky Chopsticks is a story highlighting family traditions and ingenuity when faced with a challenge.

Version 1.0.0

Sourgrass

Posted on by

Neighbors Sophia and May are best of friends who know they can always rely on each other to be there. One day their adventures together take them beyond their yards to a nearby field. There they find a wild blooming field of sourgrass. May shares, “My mom says it show up every spring, keeping a promise.” Sharing sourgrass becomes a sweet representation of their deep bond.

May moves away, straining their bonds of friendship, withering their joyful connection, and leaving Sophia with only their imaginary friends. Frequent letters soon dwindled to nothing. Sofia begins to wonder if she has been forgotten. Spring brings the promised return of the sourgrass and with it all of her wonderful memories. Inspired by the sourgrass’s promised return, Sophia reaches out again to May by letter hoping that the promise of their friendship will also be kept. The story ends with a return letter from May and a glimpse of a little redheaded girl who could fill the void of May’s absence.

Sophie is a dark skinned girl with cornrows and May, a light skinned girl with brown hair. Pastel illustrations convey the connection and the feelings of the two friends.

Bold words from Black men: Insights and reflections from 50 notable trailblazers who influenced the world

Posted on by

curated by Dr. Tamara Pizzoli & illustrated by Desire Cesar “El’Cesart” Ngabo

Each beautiful, bold set of pages in this book share an inspirational quote and a brief explanation of the quote in context for these 50 trailblazers. Highlighted men in the book come from many fields: politics, music industry, film, sports, the arts, and civil rights activists. I am not a black man (or woman), but most of the quotes spoke to me as a human and I could relate to most of the inspirational thoughts. They address resiliency, self-awareness, inspiration, and many more very human needs. I found the artwork throughout gorgeous, bright swashes of color emphasizing a portrait of each man. Illustrations by Desire Cesar “El’Cesart” Ngabo make this book a treat to read cover to cover or just browse a few page. This book begs to be on display, perhaps opening to a different set of pages each day, until some intrigued patron scoops it up to read cover to cover! While it does not give much biographical information on each person, I think it will motivate readers to investigate more and exposes them to a nice breadth of modern & historic personalities.

Are We There Yet?: The First Road Trip Across the USA

Posted on by

This book tells the true story of the very first car trip across the United States. In 1903, Dr. Horatio Nelson Jackson made a bet that he could drive a car from California to New York in less than three months.

Dr. Jackson did not know how to drive, and there were no highways back then. He hired a bike racer to help fix the car, and they took their dog Bud along for the trip.

The trip was hard! They had to cross streams, drive through mud, and wait for car parts. Their car had no doors or roof, so everything bounced around on the bumpy roads.

This story is great for kids to learn about early cars, trying hard, and fixing problems. The pictures are bright and fun, making the trip easy to imagine.

The Cranky-Verse: A Cranky Chicken Book 4

Posted on by

Cranky Chicken and Speedy the worm are back with more fun and silly adventures! This book has three stories about friendship, caring, and going on a camping trip.

In the first story, a new little turtle joins their family, but Cranky Chicken isn’t sure how to be her friend. Then Speedy gets hurt and becomes cranky, so Cranky has to cheer him up. Finally, they all go camping and face funny challenges like bugs and strange night sounds.

With lots of jokes and cute pictures, this book is great for kids who love stories about friends helping each other. It’s perfect for young readers who enjoy funny graphic novels.

Hope in a Jar

Posted on by

Hope in a Jar is another picture book that follows Llewellyn the bunny and his friends as they collect their hopes and dreams—big and small—in jars. Their dreams range from learning new skills to imagining faraway adventures, showing children the importance of aspiration.

When a storm destroys their jars, the bunnies face loss and wonder if dreaming is worth it at all. This story explores themes of setback, grief, and resilience, emphasizing the power of friendship and support to help us start again.

This book is an excellent tool for teaching social-emotional skills such as coping with loss, perseverance, and hope. It offers educators a sensitive way to discuss challenges and encourage students to keep believing in their dreams.

Papilio

Posted on by

Papilio is a fun and easy-to-understand picture book about a caterpillar named Papilio who wants to become a butterfly. The story is told in three parts by three different authors and has bright, colorful pictures.

Papilio learns how to fly, find food, and make friends. She also faces problems but keeps trying and learns to believe in herself.

The book also has facts about butterflies in the backmatter, which could be helpful for lessons about life cycles and growing up. This book may helps kids learn about change and being brave. Papilio is written in a fun way for readers, but may not be a first choice for learning about butterflies.

Echo

Posted on by

Echo by Adam Rex is a funny and smart book about friendship and learning to accept disagreement. Junior loves hearing how great he is, especially from his echo. But when a new neighbor disagrees with him, Junior learns that friends don’t always have to agree—and that’s okay.

With humor and bright illustrations, this book is great for teaching kids about respect, listening, and admitting mistakes. It’s perfect for classroom discussions about social skills and friendship.

Home

Posted on by

Home is a touching and beautiful picture book by Newbery Medal winner Matt de la Peña and bestselling illustrator Loren Long. This book explores the many ways we can think about “home”—not just as a place, but as a feeling.

The text is poetic, helping readers see that home can be a sound, a smell, or a moment with someone you love. It can be a family sharing a meal, a grandparent fishing, or even nature itself. The pictures are full of emotion, showing many different types of homes and families.

This book is a great way to start classroom discussions about what home means to each student. It encourages empathy, reflection, and appreciation for both differences and shared experiences. The rich language also makes it useful for lessons on poetry and descriptive writing.

Home is a warm and thoughtful addition to any classroom library, perfect for building community and making students feel seen and valued.