Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez


Kathleen Krull - 2003
    When he led a 340-mile peaceful protest march through California, he ignited a cause and improved the lives of thousands of migrant farmworkers. But Cesar wasn't always a leader. As a boy, he was shy and teased at school. His family slaved in the fields for barely enough money to survive. Cesar knew things had to change, and he thought that--maybe--he could help change them. So he took charge. He spoke up. And an entire country listened.An author's note provides historical context for the story of Cesar Chavez's life.

Circle Unbroken


Margot Theis Raven - 2004
    There, as a boy, he learned to make baskets so tightly woven they could hold the rain. Even after being stolen away to a slave ship bound for America, he remembers what he learned and passes these memories on to his children - as they do theirs, so that. . . when your fingers talk just right that circle will go out and out again -past slavery and freedom, old ways and new,and your basket will hold the past . . .This powerful picture book, with its rhythmic text and evocative paintings, spirals through time, becoming a triumphant song - a rich story of a craft, a culture, and a people.

This Is the Dream


Diane Z. Shore - 2005
    Nearly two hundred years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, slavery had been abolished but America was still segregated.Then: Enter the students who marched into the first desegregated school, the passengers who boycotted the buses, and the leaders who stood up and spoke out. When they started, it was all just a dream. . . .Through striking, powerful verse and gorgeous, detailed illustrations, this is the dream catalogs the American experience before, during, and after the civil rights movement. Come along on this incredible journey, and see how far we've come in attaining freedom and justice for all.

black is brown is tan


Arnold Adoff - 1973
    White-skinned daddy, not white like milk or snow, lighter than brown, With pinks and tiny tans, whose face gets tomato red when he puffs and yells their children into bed. Children who are all the colors of the race, growing up happy in a house full of love. This is the way it is for them; this is the way they are, but the joy they feel extends to every reader of this book.Black is brown is tan is a story poem about being, a beautiful true song about a family delighting in each other and in the good things of the earth.

Jimmy the Greatest!


Jairo Buitrago - 2010
    The owner of the gym suggests that Jimmy start training, and to inspire him, he gives Jimmy a box full of books, as well as newspaper clippings about Muhammad Ali - "The Greatest." Jimmy is swept with admiration for Ali. He begins to read and run and box like crazy, even though someone at the gym has taken his shoes. And as he does so, he makes a great discovery: you don't have to leave home to be "the greatest."Unlike many stories about emigration, Jairo Buitrago's simple, profound text is about someone who decides to stay in his small remote town in Latin America. Combined with Rafael Yockteng's humorous illustrations, this book will be especially appealing to boys and boxing aficionados.The Spanish edition, ¡Jimmy, el más grande!, was recently nominated for one of "Los mejores libros del año" (Best Books of the Year) by Venezuela's Banco del Libro.

LeBron James: The Boy Who Became King


Anthony Curcio - 2016
    This Fully illustrated picture book biography tells the story of a young boy and his loving, single mother and their struggle to make it on their own. With the help of a coach and his family, LeBron is introduced to the game of basketball. Against all odds, “the kid from Akron” not only makes it to the NBA but becomes a basketball legend who now helps others who are struggling like he and his mother once were. Children's/Kids Picture Book Biography K-6

Counting Ovejas


Sarah Weeks - 2006
    / One white sheep. ¡Adiós, oveja blanca! / Good-bye, white sheep! What do you do when you can't sleep? Count sheep in Spanish and English, of course! But what happens when those rascally sheep get a little too close for comfort? Well, if you're anything like the sleepy little hero in this clever tale, you might just tire yourself out trying to get rid of them! From the talented duo of Sarah Weeks and Caldecott Medalist David Diaz, Counting Ovejas is the perfect way to say good night (and learn colors and numbers) in English and in Spanish.

Be Good to Eddie Lee


Virginia Fleming - 1993
    But Christy wants to run and play -- and not worry about Eddie Lee tagging along. One hot summer day, though, Eddie Lee takes Christy to a secret place in the woods and teaches her that beautiful things can be found in unexpected places.

What Can You Do with a Rebozo?


Carmen Tafolla - 2008
    Lively prose and rich illustrations honor a warm and colorful cultural icon. You can do almost anything with a rebozo--and a little imagination!

I Am Not Afraid To Fail (Persistence Project Book 1)


Daniel Kenney - 2019
    Failure doesn't have to be scary for kids. And parents, guardians, and mentors play a crucial role in teaching kids that failure is just one step towards success. Thankfully, simple books with powerful language can help! With the help of "I Am Not Afraid To Fail", you and your child can work together to learn that failure is a normal and natural part of life. Help the child in your life build the confidence to take chances and go for it without fear of failure. Read the book and start this important conversation today!"I Am Not Afraid To Fail" is the third book in the Persistence Project Series. GET IT NOW The Persistence Project Series -Book One: I Am Not Afraid To Fail -Book Two: I Won't Give Up -Book Three: You Can Face Your Fears-Book Four: You Can Always Improve - Coming Fall 2020!

The Dreamer


Pam Muñoz Ryan - 2010
    He loves to collect treasures, daydream, and write--pastimes his authoritarian father thinks are for fools. Against all odds, Neftali prevails against his father's cruelty and his own crippling shyness to become one of the most widely read poets in the world, Pablo Neruda. This moving story about the birth of an artist is also a celebration of childhood, imagination, & the strength of the creative spirit. Sure to inspire young writers & artists.

If You Lived With The Sioux Indians


Ann McGovern - 1972
    What if you lived with the Sioux Indians?If you lived with the Sioux Indians--Would you hunt for food?--What kind of home would you live in?--What would be the bravest thing you could do?This book tells you what it was like to live as a Sioux Indian in North and South Dakota during the years 1800 to 1850.

The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano


Sonia Manzano - 2012
    Then, like an urgent ticking clock, events erupt that change everything. The Young Lords, a Puerto Rican activist group, dump garbage in the street and set it on fire, igniting a powerful protest. When Abuela steps in to take charge, Evelyn is thrust into the action. Tempers flare, loyalties are tested. Through it all, Evelyn learns important truths about her Latino heritage and the history makers who shaped a nation. Infused with actual news accounts from the time period, Sonia Manzano has crafted a gripping work of fiction based on her own life growing up during a fiery, unforgettable time in America, when young Latinos took control of their destinies.

¡Pio Peep!: Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes


Alma Flor Ada - 2003
    It’s a fun way to keep your child engaged and as a supplement for activity books for children.Passed down from generation to generation, the twenty-nine rhymes included have been lovingly selected by distinguished authors Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy. English adaptations by Alice Schertle capture the spirit of each rhyme and have a charm all their own.Accompanied by beautiful illustrations by Spanish artist Viví Escrivá, this collection is destined to become a beloved classic for children already familiar with the rhymes as well as those encountering them for the first time.From playing dress up to making tortillas, and from rising at daybreak to falling asleep, these joyful rhymes are sure to delight young readers.

Muhammad Ali: A Champion Is Born


Gene Barretta - 2017
    The Greatest. The People’s Champion. Muhammad Ali had many nicknames. But before he became one of the most recognizable faces in the world, before the nicknames and the championships, before he converted to Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali, he was twelve-year-old Cassius Clay riding a brand-new red-and-white bicycle through the streets of Louisville, Kentucky. One fateful day, this proud and bold young boy had that bike stolen, his prized possession, and he wouldn’t let it go. Not without a fight.This would be the day he discovered boxing. And a champion was born.Back matter includes biographical overview, photos, bibliography, and more resources.