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Perla’s Magical Goodbye

2021

by Yenner Rengifo Chaverra, Deyssy Mosso and Fatima Seck

"In Perla's Magical Goodbye, Deyssy and Yenner wanted to write a book that reflects the experience of leaving home to move to another country. Perla has been friends with Pablo and Genesis for as long as they can remember. But now that Perla is moving away from her hometown of San Unicornio to the US, she is sad about leaving them. After making a wish at the town's unicorn fountain, Perla and her friends are visited by a magical creature who helps them spend one last beautiful day together. How can Perla and her friends learn to hold onto these magical memories and say goodbye?" -- publisher

Any Child Folklore

Looking for a Jumbie

2021

by Tracey Baptiste and Amber Ren

"I’m looking for a jumbie. I’m going to find a scary one. But Mama says jumbies exist only in stories. So Naya sets out on a nighttime adventure to find out for herself. No such thing, say the friends she makes along the way. But Naya is sure that jumbies are real. Some have big mouths. Or thick fur. Or glowing skin. Or sharp teeth. Kind of like her new friends . . . New York Times bestselling author Tracey Baptiste’s picture book debut is a storytime-ready tale full of friendly monsters from Caribbean folklore." -- publisher

Any Child Folklore

With Grace

2016

by Joanne Hillhouse and Cherise Harris

"Grace, of Grace's Peak, loves her home above the village, above the whole island. All her trees are lush and full of ripe fruits, except for the one at the far end of her land. She hates that tree. So when the smiling, barefoot girl from the village asks Grace if she can pick fruits to sell at the market, it is from that sad, bare tree that Grace generously allows her to pick. Little does Grace know that the young girl's kind, loving heart and her sweet special song will make the impossible happen, and change life at Grace's Peak forever." -- publisher

Folklore

We Are Better Together

by Elizabeth Spor Taylor

"Some friends can walk, some friends cannot. Some friends can hear, some friends can sign. Some friends can see, some friends can sing. Whatever our abilities or differences, we can share the beauty that surrounds us, together. Friendship is not limited by what our bodies can or cannot do; it is only limited by the size of our hearts. When we expand our hearts to include others regardless of their differences, we help make our communities more inclusive. The more inclusive the community, the more opportunities for every member of the community to thrive and grow to meet their potential. We truly are better together, no matter how different we may seem at first glance. This sweet tale of inclusiveness and acceptance is full of bright illustrations by Ethiopian artist Daniel Aklilu." -- publisher

Beautiful Life Folklore

Market Day

2020

by Caroline Kurtz and Clark College Economic and Community Development

"The vibrant beauty and exotic flavors of Ethiopia are on full display in its markets, which include the largest market in Africa. Like the sprawling Mercato in Addis Ababa, Ethiopian markets are more than just places to shop: these thriving hubs of commerce are also where Ethiopians go to visit with old friends, to play, to eat and to sell products from their gardens, orchards and farms. Children love the sights and sounds of the busy caravans piled high with fruits, vegetables, textiles and grains. Markets in Ethiopia are important cultural events and vital to the thriving trade routes that bring everything from coffee to camels to families in Africa and beyond. Colorful watercolor illustrations bring the market to life in rich detail and dual language text in English and Afaan Oromo supports emerging readers and students of indigenous Ethiopian languages. Ready Set Go Books, an Open Hearts Big Dreams Project, is focused on increasing the literacy rate in Ethiopia through giving readers books with stories in their heart languages, full of colorful illustrations with Ethiopian settings and details. Profits from books sales will be used to create, print, and distribute more Ready Set Go Books to kids in Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous country. Ethiopia’s population is 44% children, ages 0-14 (43 million out of 97 million total). Only 5.5% of children attend pre-school or kindergarten, and the adult literacy rate is 49%. Our books are based on wise Ethiopian sayings that often rhyme in Amharic. If an adult says the first half, many children can chant the second half. Sometimes the meaning of these sayings is clear. Sometimes it has to be puzzled out and argued over. But sayings and idioms and proverbs help people express truths and beliefs in unusual ways. Open Hearts Big Dreams Fund (OHBD) is a 501(3)(c) not for profit organization that believes the chance to dream big dreams should not depend on where in the world you are born. Our focus is to support nonprofit organizations and their programs that provide literacy, K-12 education, and leadership as well as that support the parents and communities where the kids live, in Ethiopia." -- publisher

Beautiful Life Folklore

Together

2020

by Jane. Kurtz and Clark College Economic and Community Development

"Together or alone, the beautiful and diverse peoples of Ethiopia play and pray, walk and work, dance and smile in their own ways. Inspired by a popular Ethiopian teret and filled with vibrant watercolor portraits that detail the many gorgeous styles within Ethiopian culture, there are many reasons why people say that if you need to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together. Side by side text in Ethiopian languages like Amharic, Tigrinya and Afaan Oromo (with English) helps emerging bilingual readers develop vocabulary and build fluency. Part of our Ready, Set, Go! series of early readers in indigenous Ethiopian languages. Ready Set Go Books, an Open Hearts Big Dreams Project, is focused on increasing the literacy rate in Ethiopia through giving readers books with stories in their heart languages, full of colorful illustrations with Ethiopian settings and details. Profits from book sales are used to create, print, and distribute more Ready Set Go Books to kids in Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous country. Ethiopia’s population is 44% children, ages 0-14 (43 million out of 97 million total). Only 5.5% of children attend pre-school or kindergarten, and the adult literacy rate is 49%. Our books are based on wise Ethiopian sayings that often rhyme in Amharic. If an adult says the first half, many children can chant the second half. Sometimes the meaning of these sayings is clear. Sometimes it has to be puzzled out and argued over. But sayings and idioms and proverbs help people express truths and beliefs in unusual ways. Since late 2017, OHBD has published over 100 unique #ReadySetGo dual language titles in three Ethiopian languages plus English and has plans to publish another 100 titles and add more languages in the coming years. New titles and/or languages are added monthly; follow our author page to get new release announcements. Open Hearts Big Dreams Fund (OHBD) is a 501(3)(c) not for profit organization that believes the chance to dream big dreams should not depend on where in the world you are born. Our mission is to inspire and enable youth in Ethiopia through READY SET GO books, STEM and Innovation Projects in collaboration with individuals and organizations providing literacy, education, and leadership opportunities." -- publisher

Beautiful Life Folklore

How Tiger Got His Stripes

2006

by Rob Cleveland and Baird Hoffmire

"Many years ago, the proudest animal in the jungle was not the peacock but the tiger. In this timeless folktale from Vietnam, we see how Tiger's pride leads him to covet wisdom and how, with the help of a wise farmer, he earns his stripes. Winner of the Storytelling World Honor Award This humorous folktale from Vietnam, retold by Rob Cleveland, tells the story of Tiger, who was once the proudest animal of the jungle. He was even prouder than the peacock. Of course what Tiger was most proud of was his beautiful golden coat. But unfortunately for Tiger, he did not have wisdom and was jealous that only Man seemed to possess it. So Tiger approached Man and demanded that he give Tiger his wisdom. Man then uses his wisdom to outsmart Tiger when he finds himself tied to a tree with a rope. While trying to escape, Tiger burns his coat on the rope, leaving permanent stripes on his beautiful golden coat. This wisdom story will teach readers the importance of courage, caring and resourcefulness. This award-winning story is a "pourquoi" tale from Vietnam. Pourquoi tales are origin stories that explain why an animal or plant looks or acts the way it does. This is one of many stories told across Asia that deal with the origin of the tiger's stripes. Rob Cleveland is storyteller-in-residence at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta, Georgia and is the author of several Story Cove books." -- publisher

Folklore

Batman and Batgirl Unite!

2021

by Michael Dahl and Omar Lozano

"Batman and Batgirl are two of the world’s greatest super heroes. They have the brains, tools, and talent to take down Gotham City’s most dangerous bad guys. But what’s their most powerful skill of all? Teamwork! In this addition to the best-selling DC Super Heroes picture book series, join Batman and Batgirl as they demonstrate the importance of working together." -- publisher

Folklore

Grandma Lena’s Big Ol’ Turnip

2005

by Denia Lewis Hester and Jackie Urbanovic

"Grandma Lena takes good care of the turnips she plants in her garden. One turnip grows so big that Grandma can't pull it out of the ground! Even when Grandpa, Uncle Izzy, and the dog help Grandma yank and tug, the big ol' turnip doesn't budge. 2007-2008 Show Me Readers Award preliminary list (Missouri) 2005 Aesop Accolade, American Folklore Society Grandma Lena believes that something worth doing is worth doing right. So she takes good care of the turnips she plants in her garden. One turnip grows to an enormous size—Baby Pearl thinks it's a big potato! It is big enough to feed half the town. And it's so big that Grandma can’t pull it out of the ground! Even when Grandpa, Uncle Izzy, Aunt Netty, and the dog help Grandma yank and tug, the big ol’ turnip doesn’t budge. Still, this African-American family, including Baby Pearl, knows how to pull together." -- publisher

Folklore

Kallaloo! A Caribbean Tale

2015

by David Gershator, Phillis Gershator and Diane Greenseid

"Can a shell really make soup? It might, if it's a brown-and-white West Indian shell, fresh from the sea. All it needs is a master soup-maker, like Granny, to stir the pot - and a little help from the folks in Market Square. Who wouldn't be willing to lend a hand to cook up some kallaloo, a soup famous from Jamaica to Trinidad? But there's one final ingredient missing and even the magic shell forgot to mention it!" -- publisher

Beautiful Life Folklore