Book picks similar to
Bluebird Summer by Deborah Hopkinson
picture-books
picture-book
realistic-fiction
birds
The Sour Cherry Tree
Naseem Hrab - 2021
As she tours each room, the objects she discovers stir memories of her grandfather--her baba bozorg. His closet full of clothes reminds her of the mints he kept in his pockets. His favorite teacup conjures thoughts of the fig cookies he would offer her. The curtains in the living room bring up memories of hide-and-seek games and the special relationship that she and her baba bozorg shared, even though they spoke different languages.The Sour Cherry Tree is an authentic look at death and loss centred on the experiences of a child, both strikingly whimsical and matter-of-fact. Drawing on the Iranian-Canadian author's childhood memories, this tender meditation on grief, love, and memory is at once culturally specific and universally relatable.
My Journey to the Stars
Scott Kelly - 2017
He struggled in school and often got in trouble with his twin brother, Mark.Then one day Scott discovered a book about test pilots and astronauts that set him on a new path.His new focus led him to fly higher and higher, becoming first a pilot and then an astronaut, along with his brother--the first twin astronauts in history. But his greatest accomplishment of all was commanding the International Space Station and spending nearly a year in space, which set the record for the longest spaceflight by an American.This story of an ordinary boy who grew up to do extraordinary things is perfect for children, fans of Scott's adult book Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery, aspiring astronauts, and anyone who has ever tried to defy the odds. It will amaze and inspire you.
Holes in the Sky
Patricia Polacco - 2018
But when she and her family move to California--in the middle of a drought--she meets a new friend, the irrepressible Stewart, and his amazing grandmother, Miss Eula, who not only takes Trisha under her wing, but, with Trisha and Stewart, steps up to lead their entire extraordinarily diverse neighborhood to help a hurting neighbor--and her once lush garden--survive the drought. Trisha's grandmother's old saying about the stars being Holes in the Sky turns out to be Miss Eula's, too, convincing Trisha that she has miraculously discovered another unforgettable grandmother.
A Mango in the Hand: A Story Told Through Proverbs
Antonio Sacre - 2011
But bees swarm the fruit, and Francisco has trouble picking them from the tree. He returns to his father several times, and each time his father shares a different proverb to inspire Francisco to continue trying. "Querer es poder. Where there's a will, there's a way!" Finally, Francisco is able to gather some mangoes, and on his way home he stops to visit his uncle, grandmother, and aunt. Francisco shares his mangoes with them, and by the time he gets home he no longer has any! "Es mejor dar que recibir. Sometimes it's better to give than to receive." Luckily for Francisco, his generosity does not go unnoticed. "Amor con amor se paga. Love is repaid with love."Readers are sure to be charmed by this humorous story about problem solving and sharing. The book includes a glossary of Spanish words.Praise for A Mango in the Hand“A "story told through proverbs" could easily go terribly wrong, but this sweet tale succeeds beautifully. This smoothly written family story is filled with warmth and humor and incorporates a blending of well-placed proverbs in both Spanish and English to drive the story’s themes. Digitally colored pencil-and-ink cartoon drawings reflect the lush greens of summertime and outdoor living in this intergenerational barrio.” –Kirkus Reviews
We'll Paint the Octopus Red
Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen - 1998
They'll go to Grandpa's farm to feed the calves, ride in the back of the mini-van making faces at the cars that go by, fly on airplanes, and someday, they'll even go to Africa on a safari.
How to Catch an Elf
Adam Wallace - 2016
You've been waiting all year long, and now it's finally Christmas Eve! Is this the year you'll finally catch an elf? Start a new Christmas tradition with this hilarious children's book from the creators of the New York Times best-seller How to Catch a Leprechaun!"It's Christmas Eve! Hip hip, hooray!Yes, Santa's coming 'round.He's bringing toys to girls and boysin every house in town.""Some kids have tried to catch him, but Santa's fast, you see!So they've set their eyes on a smaller prize, and now they're after me!"
The Perfect Nest
Catherine Friend - 2007
Jack the cat is building the perfect nest. It' s bound to attract the perfect chicken, who will lay the perfect egg, which will make the perfect omelet. And sure enough, a chicken shows up ( Caramba ), but so do a duck ( Sacre bleu ) and a goose ( Great balls of fire ). Feathers get ruffled -- and Jack gets much more than breakfast -- in a funny tale rich in detail with a sweet final twist.
Spider-Man: Far From Home: Spider-Man Swings Through Europe!
Calliope Glass - 2019
You never know what-or who-you might find!
The House on Dirty-Third Street
Jo S. Kittinger - 2012
Longing for their former neighborhood and friends, and overwhelmed by the repairs their new house needs, they finally realize they can't do everything alone - the only way to make things better is to ask for help. They both learn that when you reach out to the community, people answer with kindness. As the house gets rebuilt, so does their sense of belonging.Stunning illustrations from Thomas Gonzalez, New York Times best-selling illustrator of 14 Cows for America, give the backdrop to Jo Kittinger's inspiring story that reveals how communities are created--or recreated--when people work together. The House On Dirty-Third Street will touch the heart of anyone who has faced starting over in difficult circumstances.
Grandpa's Tractor
Michael Garland - 2011
Back then, the pastures were filled with cows, and the fields were full of corn. Today, the cows are gone and the rows of corn have been replaced with row after row of identical houses. Grandpa Joe brings his grandson Timmy back to the site of the family farm, where the old house and a ramshackle barn still stand. The visit evokes many memories for Grandpa Joe, which he shares with Timmy—in particular, the majesty of his own father's shiny red tractor, now rusting in the forgotten fields.
Just Say Boo!
Susan Hood - 2012
From rattling bones to ghostly footsteps, Susan captures all the best scares of the season—and teaches just the right way to dispel fears in favor of fun. Jed Henry's lustrous watercolors add the perfect crisp chill to this fall-weather story.For if a skeleton groans as she rattles her bones, what do you say?
Sunrise Summer
Matthew Swanson - 2021
Everything is different on the Alaskan tundra--where the grizzly bears roam and the sockeye salmon swim--including the rules. A girl can do things she wouldn't, and couldn't, do at home.She can wake up at midnight to work with her mom on a fishing crew. She can learn what it means to be an essential part of a team. She can become a braver, stronger, and ever-more capable version of herself. She can take her next big step.She's ready for her first real sunrise.
Birdsong
Julie Flett - 2019
But when she meets an elderly woman artist who lives next door, named Agnes––her world starts to change.Katherena and Agnes share the same passions for arts and crafts, birds, and nature. But as the seasons change, can Katherna navigate the failing health of her new friend?Award-winning author and artist Julie Flett’s textured images of birds, flowers, art, and landscapes bring vibrancy and warmth to this powerful story, which highlights the fulfillment of intergenerational relationships, shared passions, and spending time outdoors with the ones we love.Includes a glossary and pronunciation guide to Cree words that appear in the text.
Somewhere in the World Right Now
Stacey Schuett - 1995
School Library Journal called Stacey Schuett's stunning authorial debut "a book that is perfect for sparking an interest in geography, emphasizing the amazing concept that at the same moment we are getting ready to sleep, other people are starting a new day." And in a starred review, Publishers Weekly added, "Schuett proves as nimble with words as with a paintbrush." It's a good-night wish that circles the globe.
Watch the Stars Come Out
Riki Levinson - 1980
In this warm, poignant and highly praised story, a little girl hears how, long ago, another little red-haired girl--her great-grandmother--sailed across the sea with her older brother to join their immigrant parents in a strange new land called America."Goode's evocative illustrations effectively capture the immigration scene of the late 1800s with appropriate costumes and background details."--Booklist (starred review)"Levinson's first book is a literary event, written with a quiet understatement that magnifies its emotional effects. So do Goode's superb paintings . . ."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)"Young readers can return to the book many times with satisfaction. . . . An excellent introduction to the passage through Ellis Island."--School Library Journal"The theme of immigration, long popular in children's literature, is captured here for young readers in one of the year's finest books."--The Boston GuideALA Notable Children's Book Booklist Children's Editors' Choice Reading Rainbow Feature Selection Redbook's Top Ten Children's Books of the Year American Bookseller Pick of the Lists Parents' Choice Award for Literature NCSS-CBC Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies Society of Illustrators Citation of Merit NCTE Teachers' Choice