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Mario and the Hole in the Sky

2019

by Elizabeth Rusch and Teresa Martinez

"The true story of how a scientist saved the planet from environmental disaster. Mexican American Mario Molina is a modern-day hero who helped solve the ozone crisis of the 1980s. Growing up in Mexico City, Mario was a curious boy who studied hidden worlds through a microscope. As a young man in California, he discovered that CFCs, used in millions of refrigerators and spray cans, were tearing a hole in the earth’s protective ozone layer. Mario knew the world had to be warned—and quickly. Today Mario is a Nobel laureate and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His inspiring story gives hope in the fight against global warming." -- publisher

Biography Cross Group Informational

It’s Just a Plant

2020

by Ricardo Cortés

"It's Just a Plant is a children's book that follows the journey of a young girl as she learns about the marijuana plant from a cast of characters including her parents, a local farmer, a doctor, and a police officer. Marijuana can be hard to talk about. Many parents have tried it, millions use it, and most feel awkward about disclosing such histories (often ducking the question), for fear that telling kids the truth might encourage them to experiment too. Meanwhile, the "drug facts" children learn in school can be more frightening than educational, blaming pot for everything from teenage pregnancy to terrorism. A child's first awareness of drugs should come from a better source. It's Just a Plant is a story for parents who want to discuss the complexities of pot with their kids in a thoughtful, fact-oriented manner. The book also features an afterword by Marsha Rosenbaum, PhD, founder of the Safety First Project for drug education and director emerita of the San Francisco office of the Drug Policy Alliance, the nation's leading organization working to end the war on drugs." -- publisher

Cross Group Informational

The International Day of the Girl

by Rona Ambrose, Jessica Dee Humphreys and Simone Shin

"This introduction to the International Day of the Girl and its worldwide significance encourages children to recognize their own potential to make change, providing both a perfect lesson in social justice and a celebration of girl power. The United Nations designated October 11th as the International Day of the Girl, a day to increase awareness of problems that affect girls --- and only girls --- around the world and to encourage progress toward gender equality. Nine stories inspired by the real-life experiences of girls from all over the globe bring to light the importance of this day. Each story is set in a different country and sensitively describes an inequity faced by a character and how she addressed it. The challenges include gender-based violence, illiteracy, lack of access to technology, sanitation, nutritional disparity and child marriage. Each story features a positive description of the main character --- strong, smart, creative, inventive, brave, talented, caring, funny, ambitious --- and each concludes with a realistic yet hopeful outcome, presenting the girls as more than victims of their circumstances. Their powerful, and empowering, experiences will stir the activist in every child. Jessica Dee Humphreys's well-researched and illuminating stories are both readable and age appropriate. Award-winning Simone Shin's simple, warm illustrations bring the characters and their circumstances to life. Sidebars expand on the issues covered in each story. This book is a perfect choice for social justice discussions, as well as for social studies lessons on global communities, and for character education conversations on citizenship. It includes a foreword by the Honorable Rona Ambrose, who led Canada's call for the day to be formally adopted by the United Nations. Also included are an annotated time line of the day's creation and additional statistical information. A portion of the proceeds will go to Plan International Canada." -- publisher

Informational Oppression & Resilience Race/Culture Concepts

Crayola team colors

2020

by Jon M. Fishman

"From the bright green of a football field to the black and white of a soccer ball, the world of sports is full of color. This book explores the vibrant colors of sports in the reader's world"--

Incidental Informational

From Cotton to T-Shirts

2020

by Cari. Meister and Albert Pinilla

"A child wonders where t-shirts come from and learns about how cotton is harvested and made into yarn to make t-shirts. This illustrated narrative nonfiction book includes a map of where major cotton-growing areas are, a glossary, and further resources" -- publisher

Informational

Ruby’s Birds

2019

by Mya Thompson and Claudia Dávila

"Meet Ruby, a plucky young girl who uncovers the wild side of her city neighborhood with the help of a grown-up friend. When Ruby realizes there are amazing birds right in her neighborhood, her imagination takes flight. Birders have a name for the moment they get hooked—they call it their spark moment. This is the story of Ruby’s spark moment, in her very own words. This delightful story includes a seek and find element with birds hiding on nearly every page. Information about where to find all of the birds in real life follows, plus Ruby’s tips for taking a nature walk, and how to connect with Celebrate Urban Birds, a citizen-science project at the Cornell Lab." -- publisher

Any Child Cross Group Informational

What Is Hip-Hop?

2017

by Eric Morse, George Nelson and Anny Yi

Introduces young readers to hip-hop music through rhyming verse and three dimensional clay illustrations. Offers a guided tour visiting legendary hip-hop figures such as Run D.M.C., LL Cool J, Beastie Boys, Salt-N-Pepa, Tupac, and more

Beautiful Life Biography Informational

What Does it Mean to Be American?

2019

by Rana DiOrio, Elad Yoran and Nina Mata

Discusses what it means to be an American, including enjoying the freedoms offered in America, respecting others rights, and taking advantage of opportunities to become better citizens and persons

Informational

Dads

2020

by John Coy and Wing Young Huie

"elebrate all that fathers do: building, fixing, cooking, cleaning, laughing, crying, hugging, playing and more! John Coy and Wing Young Huie—the author and photographer behind Their Great Gift—reunite for a new book that shows a wide range of fathers and children, particularly highlighting families of color and lower-income families, who often aren't depicted in children's books. This beautiful book is a perfect Father's Day gift!" -- publisher

Incidental Informational

The hike

2019

by Alison Farrell

"The Hike is a plucky and sweet adventure story about three intrepid young female explorers set out to conquer the outdoors in their local forest. Here is the best and worst of any hike: from picnics to puffing and panting, deer-sighting to detours. This spirited picture book is filled with lyrical language that captures the majesty of the natural world, coupled with a fun narrative throughout." -- publisher

Any Child Cross Group Informational