Immigrant kids

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Don’t Cause Trouble by Arree Chung (Henry Holt and Co., 256 pages, grades 4-7). Things don’t look good for Ming on his first day of middle school: his mom has given him his usual bowl haircut, and he’s dressed in the thrift store clothes she insists on buying. Ming’s accidentally placed in an ESL class, even though he only speaks English, but with his parents’ injunction, “Don’t make trouble” ringing in his ears, he goes along with it. Eventually, the teacher figures things out, and he’s moved to honors English, where he finds a couple of new friends,. When Ming’s desire to fit in lands the three of them in some serious trouble, he’s forced to reconsider what’s really important to him and try to make amends with his parents and his friends. Sixth grade ends on a high note, with the possibility of summer basketball, a new family business making egg rolls, and a new girl in the picture who may or may not a crush on him. Includes an author’s note and family photo telling how his own childhood inspired this story and several pages of instructions on making a graphic novel.

The story and art in this graphic novel are fairly simple and straightforward but really capture the feeling of being torn between two worlds: the Chinese one at home and the American one at school, as well as the pressure Ming feels as his parents, whose own dreams have been deferred, pin all their hopes on his success.

Outsider Kids by Betty C. Tang (Graphix, 288 pages, grades 5-8). In this sequel to Parachute Kids, the three Li kids are still living on their own in California while their parents try to supervise them from Taiwan. The burden falls on oldest daughter Jessie, who is trying to get into Harvard while working at a job where her boss knows he can cheat her because she’s in the country illegally. Meanwhile, middle brother Jason falls in love and must deal with his sisters finding out that he is gay. When cousin Josephine comes to stay, 10-year-old Ann’s excitement turns to dismay as Josephine is constantly mean to Ann and tries to steal her new friends at school. When Ann’s attempt at revenge on her cousin results in Josephine calling the police on them, the three siblings have a panicky scramble trying to figure out what to do next. They wind up at a new home in San Francisco, which I hope sets things up for a possible third installment. Includes an author’s note about her own life as a Parachute Kid from Taiwan.

I was excited to discover a sequel to Parachute Kids, and it didn’t disappoint. The Li kids are incredibly resourceful and supportive of each other despite their constant squabbling. The tension of their undocumented status is particularly relatable today. The book tackles subjects like Jason’s coming out and Josephine’s father’s adultery that made this feel like it was geared for a slightly older audience than the first one.

Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and the United States by Rajani LaRocca, illustrated byHuy Voun Lee (Christy Ottaviano Books, 32 pages, grades K-4). “Some of us are born American. Some choose.” With just a sentence or two of text to accompany the vibrant illustrations on each page, the book shows people from all over the world, of all ages, in all sorts of circumstances, who choose to leave their homes, families, and native countries to come to America. They may come seeking jobs or education, or to escape poverty, war, or oppression, and they bring music, languages, food, and stories that enrich their new country. There’s a description of the process involved in becoming a naturalized citizen, including the rights and responsibilities that come with citizenship. An author’s note traces the history of US immigration and citizenship and tells her own story of becoming a naturalized citizen at age 15. Includes the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a bibliography.

This book celebrating immigration and U.S. citizenship could hardly be more timely and important to share with kids right now. LaRocca does a masterful job of conveying lots of information and emotion in spare, simple language that’s easy to understand. Her text is illuminated by the beautiful illustrations that celebrate the many different cultures of people immigrating to the U.S. and that capture the pride of becoming a citizen.

It’s on!

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J vs. K by Kwame Alexander & Jerry Craft (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 240 pages, grades 3-6). K is new at the Dean Ashley Public School (DAPS), but he’s already making a name for himself with his writing. J is the best artist at DAPS, hoping to win the school’s annual story contest with one of his wordless comics, but worried that K will be stiff competition. Before long, K and J are out to sabotage each other, with K giving J bogus writing tips, and J purposely leaving a notebook full of bad drawing advice for K to find. When they team up on the basketball court, though, they turn out to be unstoppable, leading them to a decision to put their differences aside and work together on creating a graphic story. Although a dark horse wins it all, the two still place in the contest, and it looks like it will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

This is a cute illustrated chapter book which will undoubtedly appeal to Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans, but somehow I expected more from the Newbery Award winning team of Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft. The plot was predictable from the beginning, and the authors seemed more concerned with inserting jokes and jabs at each other and making references to their other books than developing interesting characters. I’m sure the names on the cover will sell lots of copies, though, and I would not be surprised to see a sequel.

The Lemonade War: the graphic novel by Jacqueline Davies, illustrated by Karen De la Vega (Clarion Books, 207 pages, grades 3-7). Evan is feeling angry that his younger sister Jessie is skipping a grade and will be in his class at school. He lashes out at her, hurting her feelings. So when he and Scott (who turns out to be the neighborhood bully) team up to sell lemonade, Jessie asks another girl to partner with her for a rival stand. The siblings end up making a winner-take-all bet about which enterprise will make more money. Jessie has business and math smarts, while Evan is more gregarious and makes friends easily. The rivalry grows until things get completely out of hand and the two wind up sabotaging each other…and themselves. Admitting how things went wrong leads them to realize all the business lessons they learned, and they’re able to create a prize-winning project at the Rotary Club’s Labor Day contest.

It’s been years since I read the original version of this book, and it was fun to revisit it, with its innocent introduction to the world of capitalism. Each chapter begins with a definition of a business term that is relevant to the story, and all of that new vocabulary is incorporated into their final project. Many readers will relate to both siblings: Jessie shows signs of neurodivergence with her struggles to read people’s expressions and make friends, and Evan’s academic issues make him worry about getting upstaged by his younger sister. The ending is somewhat lame, and the bully appears to get away with stealing most of their money, but don’t worry, The Lemonade Crime gives him his comeuppance. Thanks to Clarion Books for providing me with a review copy.

Mapping the world…and saving it from destruction

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A Book of Maps for You by Lourdes Heuer, illustrated by Maxwell Eaton III (Neal Porter Books, 40 pages, grades K-3). “I made a book of maps,” the narrator explains, showing the cover which shares the title of this book. Inside there are maps of many places in the community: the narrator’s town, house, school, the library, the park behind the library, Main Street, a favorite art store. Helpful facts are included on each page, like the cafeteria lunch menu on Fridays and the best swing at the park. The purpose of this book of maps is made clear on the last two spreads, when the narrator leaves it on the front porch before climbing into a car behind a moving van, then a new kid sits on the porch, surrounded by boxes, and picks up the book.

This charming book will have readers thinking about what maps they could draw of different places in their communities and what facts to include about each. The ending is kind of poignant, although it could provide a helpful project for kids who are facing a move. My favorite book for teaching about maps remains What a Map Can Do, but this one is a close second and may have the edge for thinking about community and inspiring creative projects.

Cranky, Crabby Crow (Saves the World) by Corey R. Tabor (Greenwillow Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Crow greets each animal’s friendly overtures with a loud “Kaw!” which sends each one away, miffed at the bird’s rudeness. Finally alone, Crow gets a phone call from a red phone attached to a telephone pole. “Have you cleared the area?” asks a voice. “It’s time.” A door in the pole leads to an elevator, which Crow rides down to an underground bunker, where a bird-sized spacesuit and rocket are waiting. Crow flies into space to launch missiles and lasers that successfully destroy an asteroid threatening the Earth. Back home, Crow once again perches on the wire, where one by one the animals reappear, each clutching an invitation from Crow. Night falls, and there’s a spectacular display of shooting stars–or rather fragments of the asteroid traveling through space. Is Crow smiling?

I’m always delighted to learn that Corey Tabor has a new book out, and this one is sure to be a favorite. I found more details as I reread it, particularly in the clever illustrations that include visual humor like the buttons for cupcakes and bubbles alongside the missile and laser ones. The text is simple enough to make this a good choice for early readers, and also perhaps for a Geisel award, if not a Caldecott.

Celebrating books with Caldecott artists

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Here Is a Book by Elisha Cooper (Henry N. Abrams, 40 pages, ages 4-8). An artist is inspired by the nature around her and creates a book. She pedals her bicycle into town to deliver her work to her publisher. From there it goes to a printer, where it is turned into books. The books travel to the city, where one of them ends up in a school library. A child borrows the book and brings it home, where she is inspired by the illustrations to make a book of her own.

I was expecting this to be more of a “how a book is made” story, but I really loved the exploration of how one artist inspires another. Each step of the way includes a list of what is in that location: the artist’s garden has sun, rain, dirt, shovels, seeds, and love; the printer makes the book using paper, ink, printing presses, binding machines, glue, thread, and time; and the child’s room has paper, pencils, a desk,, a chair, stuffed bears, hot chocolate, days, nights, art, and wonder. The watercolor illustrations beautifully capture all of these things on each two page spread.

Let’s Be Bees by Shawn Harris (Neal Porter Books, 40 pages, ages 3-7). A man and a child are sharing a book; when the man says “Let’s be bees. Let’s buzz,” the two of them turn into bees, buzzing and popping right out of their human clothing. Similarly, they turn into birds, trees, a storm, and more, making the appropriate sounds and shape shifting into all sorts of things. Their final transformation is into the Earth, where they make every sound. The reader says, “Now let’s be me and say,” and the cartoon bubbles show both of them saying “The End,” each one sporting long hair and a beard like the reader. On the last page, they both turn into the child and say, “Again!!”

This simple but clever book celebrates the power of reading together and letting books unlock the imagination. The illustrations look like they were drawn by a child, and kids could use this book as a starting place for creating their own pictures based on its theme. Either one of these books could be considered for another Caldecott for their artists.

Women environmentalists

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The Black Mambas: The World’s First All-Women Anti-Poaching Unit by Kelly Crull (Millbrook Press, 40 pages, grades 2-5). The Black Mambas are the first women park rangers in South Africa and the first women-led anti poaching unit in the world. They tell their story, explaining how they first got interested in protecting animals and describing some of the resistance they experienced from friends and family members who weren’t sure women could do this job traditionally held by men. They named themselves after the most feared snake in South Africa. Now they work out, train to survive in the wilderness, and patrol the reserve day and night, looking for signs of poachers and making arrests if they catch them. Their reserve, the Olifants West Nature Reserve, has become one of the most difficult reserves to poach animals, and the Black Mambas’ work has been recognized around the world. Includes more information about some of the animals on the reserve, the NATO Phonetic Alphabet that the rangers use, an author’s note, and a list of additional resources.

I loved this book, and I think a lot of kids will, too. Not only does it feature a lot of animals, but the Black Mambas are inspiring in their dedication, hard work, and success. The photos really capture the reserve the the women at work. I enjoyed the activities in a couple sidebars, like matching animal tracks and reading a map, which will keep kids engaged.

Marjory’s River of Grass: Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Fierce Protector of the Everglades by Josie James (Christy Ottaviano Books, 40 pages, grades 2-5). Marjory Stoneman Douglas moved to Florida soon after her graduation from Wellesley College, moving in with her journalist father whom she hadn’t seen since she was six. She joined him on the Miami Herald, starting as a society editor, but soon writing pieces about the Florida Everglades, a mysterious but beautiful ecosystem that her father had introduced her to. As real estate developers rushed to drain and reclaim the land, Marjory and other activists lobbied to make the Everglades a national park, protecting this wild area that provides the majority of southern Florida’s water. The publication of her book The Everglades: A River of Grass helped spread the word about this cause, and in 1947, Everglades National Park was officially dedicated. Despite this conservation effort, developers still sought to build in the Everglades, and Marjory was involved in a successful campaign to stop airport construction there in the 1970’s. Her activism and love for the Everglades continued until her death in 1998 at the age of 108. Includes an author’s note and photo of Marjory, additional information about the importance of clean water, a bibliography, and source notes.

This inspiring biography is an excellent starting point for learning about the life of this dedicated journalist and environmental activist. I appreciate the limitations of a picture book in telling the story of a woman who lived for more than a century, but I was sorry there wasn’t any information about Marjory’s childhood or marriage (both of which sounded pretty traumatic when I looked her up on Wikipedia). The bibliography will help those who want to more about Marjory’s life.

Lady of the Lines: How Maria Reiche Saved the Nazca Lines by Sweeping the Desert by Michaela MacColl, illustrated by Elisa Chavarri (Astra Young Readers, 48 pages, grades 2-5). Born in 1903 in Germany, Maria Reiche moved to Peru to be a nanny, but quickly became fascinated by the ancient Incan culture. When American anthropologist Paul Kosok showed her aerial photos of mysterious lines in the Nazca Desert, Maria was hired to investigate them. The Lines became her obsession, and Maria spent the rest of her life exploring and preserving them. She began by buying as many brooms as she could find to sweep away the dust that obscured them. Eventually, she realized that the Lines made shapes of enormous animals: a spider, a monkey, birds, and more. As she learned more about these ancient designs, Maria became an activist for their preservation, fighting off attempts to irrigate the the desert, then dealing with the tourists who came as a result of her publicity campaign. One thing Maria did not succeed at was figuring out the meaning of the designs in the desert, but she claimed to enjoy the mystery. “If everything were clear,” she said, “I would lose interest.” Includes additional information about the Nazca people, the Lines, and Maria, as well as a timeline and lists of additional resources.

Kids are sure to be fascinated by the Nazca Lines, which are now visible to everyone through Google Earth. Maria Reiche is almost as much of a mystery as the Lines are, completely dedicating her life to their study and preservation, to the exclusion, it would seem, of pretty much all else. She definitely is someone who lived life on her own terms and clearly did exactly what she wanted to do.

Graphic novels for budding scientists

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Barnacle Bay by Jana Curll (Greystone Kids, 76 pages, grades 1-4). When a slightly crabby crab meets a slightly lost larva, Crab reluctantly becomes Larva’s tour guide around the bay. As they travel and meet all kinds of different sea creatures, readers will effortlessly learn plenty of interesting facts about marine life. Packed with both information and clever marine-related wordplay that was appreciated and enjoyed by this reviewer, the story winds up with Larva transforming overnight. I won’t spoil the surprise, but the two creatures decide that life in the bay is a good fit for both of them, and it appears to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Although I would love to see another adventure with these two, I’m equally delighted that the next book in this series is about a fern forest. Like Remy Lai’s Surviving the Wild series, this graphic novel seamlessly weaves together a story of cute animals and a lot of factual information.

Diary of a Nature Nerd by Tiffany Everett (Graphix, release date August 19, 128 pages, grades 2-5). Brooke and her scientist mother live in an RV, traveling for her mom’s research. Brooke loves nature and keeps a detailed notebook with all of her observations. She’s seen many, many animals, but she’s still missing one: a moose. Her mom recently remarried; Brooke loves her new stepsister Jayla and shows her how to safely explore the woods. The two of them enjoy many adventures until one day when Jayla and her dad head off to explore a river. Brooke opts to stay home and update her notebook, and wouldn’t you know it, Jayla sees a moose. Brooke is jealous and becomes obsessed with finding a moose herself, leaving Jayla behind and forgetting many safety rules as she explores every inch of the woods. When her negligence puts both girls in danger, Brooke realizes that her relationship with Jayla is more important than any moose. The two talk things out, and just as Brooke has accepted that Jayla was fortunate enough to have an experience she hasn’t had, she turns around and sees…a moose!

This cute graphic novel about two animal-loving girls will appeal to fans of the PAWS and Animal Rescue Friends series. Brooke occasionally comes off as an annoying know-it-all, but her enthusiasm is contagious, and Jayla seems like a good friend for her. I hope this will be book one of a new series. Thanks to Scholastic for providing me with a free advance copy.

I’m a Dumbo Octopus! A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods by Anne Lambelet (Graphic Universe, 72 pages, grades 2-5). Grimpy–short for Grimpoteuthis–is a dumbo octopus who lives deep in the ocean. He gives readers an introduction to other cephalopods, a class of animals that includes octopuses, nautiluses, squids, and cuttlefish. Although they look quite different, they share common traits like blue blood, no backbone, and tentacles or arms. Many species have unique abilities, such as squirting ink amazing hiding skills, which make Grimpy a bit envious. Just as he’s starting to feel bad about himself, some of the others come along to tell him what his talents are, many of which are related to living in the deepest water of any octopus (over four miles deep). Feeling better, Grimpy says goodbye to his new friends and heads for his home in the depths. Includes an illustrated glossary, a photo and facts about the real-life Grimpy, a bibliography, and a list of books for further reading.

Grimpy is an endearing narrator in a relatively short graphic nonfiction book that’s packed with information about cephalopods. There are all kinds of the sorts of fun facts that kids love learning and sharing, and the illustrations really bring those facts to life. This is Anne Lambelet’s first books, but I hope it won’t be her last…readers will definitely be looking for more after meeting Grimpy.

Horse Power

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The Trouble With Sunshine by Yamile Saied Méndez (Scholastic Press, 272 pages, grades 4-7). Dorani has gotten in trouble (again), this time for reading a banned book at school. But when her mother suffers a fatal heart attack on the way to pick her up, Dori is wracked by guilt and grief. Forced to leave her beloved Miami friends and family to go live with her seemingly cold and uncaring aunt on a Montana ranch, Dori finds an unexpected bond with a traumatized horse named Sunshine. The two begin healing together, and in the process, Dori finds new friends, a new family, and new causes to fight for. When Dori and Sunshine have to deal with an unexpected crisis at the ranch, they are able to rise to the occasion together, cementing their bond, as well as Dori’s new connection with her aunt. Thanks to Scholastic for providing me with a free review copy.

This heartfelt story will appeal to animal lovers. Dori’s journey through her grief will resonate with many readers, who will cheer her on as she discovers family secrets that lead her to a better understanding of both her mother and her aunt. The epilogue, told in three sets of texts to Dori’s best friend in Miami, felt a little rushed, although it was nice to see most of the loose ends tied up happily.

Please Pay Attention by Jamie Sumner (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 240 pages, grades 5-8). Although Beatrix uses a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy, she’s a confident and happy sixth-grader. But that sense of security is shattered when a school shooter invades her small Christian school, killing five people including Bea’s teacher. Afterwards, Bea is supported by her adoptive mother Max and the kind couple who share their duplex, but she still is traumatized by nightmares and a fear of indoor spaces. When Max discovers a therapeutic horseback riding program that specializes in working with kids with disabilities, Bea is surprised to find herself bonding with a horse there whose connection starts a healing process. By the end of the book, she’s able to attend the reopening of the school and begin to find a new normal for herself. Includes an author’s note in which she writes about the school shooting at Covenant School near her home in Nashville in which a close friend was killed, and how this event influenced the creation of the book.

This novel in verse explores how trauma suddenly disrupts the fabric of everyday life, leaving a world in which nothing can ever be the same again. Bea is a funny and compassionate narrator, often a bit too hard on herself, who finds healing through riding and by advocating for better gun control laws. As I often find in novels in verse, her emotional journey felt a little hurried and not as deeply explored as other formats allow, but it also felt raw, realistic, and ultimately hopeful.

Bridging the language barrier

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Tíos and Primos by Jacqueline Alcántara (Nancy Paulsen Books, 32 pages, ages 4-8). A girl is nervous about visiting her father’s relatives in Honduras, especially since she doesn’t speak much Spanish. As they go from one tío’s house to the next, she feels more and more shy as she sees things she wants to ask about but doesn’t know how. Finally, they get to the home of her abuela, who has invited all the relatives over for a party. Before long the girl is playing soccer with her primos, and they’re teaching each other words in English and Spanish. By the end of the trip, she is ready to say “Nos vemos, familia!” (“See you soon!”) to all of her family.

This warm family story shows the ways people can communicate that don’t necessarily involve language. Kids who sometimes feel torn between two cultures or countries will find a lot to connect with. Older readers can move from this book to the two graphic novels I reviewed just a few weeks ago.

Little Bird Laila by Kelly Yang, illustrated by Xindi Yan (Dial Books, 40 pages, ages 4-9). Laila’s mom calls her her little bird, because Laila is always whispering in her ear, telling her (and her dad) what people are saying in English. Laila enjoys having such an important job, but sometimes it’s exhausting, and she doesn’t like it when other kids make fun of her parents. Her parents want to take English classes, but they can’t afford them (“People say America is free, but it’s actually really expensive,” Laila explains). Finally, Laila comes up with a solution: she’ll teach them herself. Even though she is still learning English, she does the best she can, making flashcards and surprising them with pop quizzes. It’s an uphill battle, but in a few months, her parents are starting to learn. At a parent-teacher conference, when her teacher says that Laila is becoming a better speller and teaching other kids Chinese, she starts to translate, but her mom replies in English, “Laila is a wonderful teacher.”

This cheery picture book with its themes of perseverance and hard work makes an excellent complement to Kelly Yang’s chapter books about the immigrant experience. The story and illustrations incorporate both Chinese and English, showing examples of what a difficult language English can be to learn. Pair it with Olivia Abtahi’s The Interpreter, which covers similar themes. I was disappointed that there wasn’t an author’s note at the end tying this story to Kelly Yang’s own experiences of being an immigrant from China.

Disabilities

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Whale Eyes: A Memoir About Seeing and Being Seen by James Robinson, illustrated by Brian Rea (Penguin Workshop, 304 pages, grades 6 and up). James Robinson was born with strabismus, or misaligned eyes. He shares with readers how this affected him in school, both his struggles with reading and the reactions of others, whom he addresses as “Starers.” He grew up to be a documentary filmmaker, and the book is based on a short film he created for the New York Times to help people understand how he perceives the world. The book has some visuals and activities from the film, giving kids an opportunity to get some idea of how James sees things. The last part is more of a memoir, telling how his mom creatively homeschooled him and his older brother who had dyslexia, helping them to pursue their passions and succeed. Includes a list of citations.

Readers will learn a lot about what it takes to succeed when you have a disability, and James (and his mom, who sounds amazing) offer inspiring lessons about persevering when it feels like there is little or no progress. The illustrations are very cool and an excellent aid in understanding James’s condition. The book felt a little disjointed, with the last part feeling quite different than the rest of the story.

We Are the Scrappy Ones by Rebekah Taussing, illustrated by Kirbi Fagan (Carolrhoda Books, 32 pages, ages 4-8). This celebration of people with disabilities portrays a diverse group of kids and adults with all kinds of disabilities. Whether they’re in a wheelchair, walking with a white cane or a guide dog, or getting some sort of medical treatment, they are shown dancing, playing, making art and music, and always surrounded by others, sharing a sense of belonging. They are celebrated for adapting and overcoming difficulties and accepting help without thinking of themselves as a burden. All of this can be exhausting, and resting and taking care of yourself are also encouraged. A two-page spread near the end portrays several inspiring disability activists, with information about each in the back matter. There are also notes from the author and illustrator, who both drew on their experiences growing up with disabilities to create this book.

I was glad to find this book just as I was finishing up Whale Eyes, and it seemed like it would have been super helpful to James Robinson after hearing of his struggles with the label “disability” to describe his vision. This beautiful poem will inspire and reassure kids with disabilities, as well as their peers, but I think they will be especially drawn to the illustrations that portray so many different types of people living life joyfully and in community. The notes at the end about the author’s and illustrator’s experiences add an extra dimension.

Catty Corner Lands on Her Feet (Catty Corner, book 1) by Julie Murphy (Union Square Kids, 128 pages, grades 1-4). Like her mother, Catty is half-cat, half-human (Dad’s just a regular person), and she’s been homeschooled all her life, never having to worry about containing her feline instincts. But when her mom gets a job, it’s time for Catty to try school. She’s nervous, but also excited about the possibility of making new friends. Her first day is something of a disaster, in which she shreds a map when her teacher uses a laser pointer and bites a potential new friend when someone steps on her tail. Back home, Mom shares her mother’s and her own childhood diaries, which show some of the cat-astrophes they experienced. Catty’s able to return to school the next day with new confidence and learns that she can fix her mistakes and contribute with her own unique talents. Book 2 was published simultaneously.

This may seem like a strange choice for this post–and honestly, it’s one of the more bizarre premises for a book series that I’ve come across–but I was struck when reading it how Catty is different from her classmates in ways that are similar to kids with disabilities. She faces stares and mean teasing and has to work extra hard to fit in with a body that’s different from her classmates’. It could make an excellent starting point for some interesting discussions with primary elementary kids.

Inspiring stories for tough times

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The Littlest Drop by Sascha Alper, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney (Anne Schwartz Books, 40 pages, ages 4-9). Based on a story told by environmental activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai, this folktale features a hummingbird whose new nest is threatened by a wildfire. The other animals run to the river, too terrified to move, but the hummingbird takes action to put out the fire, even though she can only carry a single drop of water in her beak. As the others watch her tirelessly carrying drop after drop to the fire, they ask her what she’s doing. “I am doing what I can.” Inspired, the animals start to think of what they can do, and before long, elephants, monkeys, leopards, giraffes, and even tiny ants are working to fight the fire. When the sun rises, they are all exhausted, but the hummingbird lets one more drop of water fall…and the fire is gone. Includes an author’s note tracing the origins of this folktale, and an illustrator’s note in which Brian Pinkney describes how he used sketches left by his late father Jerry to create the finished illustrations.

The Peddler of Puddles by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld (Clarion Books, 48 pages, ages 4-8). The peddler is a turtle whose puddle-making machine (complete with a cloud on a string like a balloon) allows him to make custom puddles for his customers, from a tiny one for a hummingbird to ones large enough for hundreds of frogs or for a child to sail a boat across. Everyone loves the peddler, but he’s constantly on the move, never staying in one place for long. One day, he goes to the seashore where he sees the biggest puddle ever and befriends a girl who shows him how to play in the ocean. When she tells him she has to go home, the peddler feels sad because he realizes he doesn’t have a home. Over the horizon appear his friends, looking for him. They help him dig his cart out of the sand and lead him back to their forest. There, they’ve dug a huge hole, which the peddler fills with water, and they all work together to turn his cart into a new house. His house and the pond become a home for the turtle and all of his friends.

Both books will appeal to kids with their lively and colorful (although very different) illustrations of animal communities, and each one carries a simple but effective message for our time: friendship, community, and how even small actions can make a big difference to people and issues that you care about.