Children's Picture Books: Stories set in North America

"In today’s Alaskan Yup'ik Eskimo communities, the villagers still gather in the kashim to sing, drum, and dance, carrying forward their forebears’ traditions. DANCE ON A SEALSKIN is the heartwarming story of Annie’s “first dance,” a coming-of-age ceremony that signifies a young person’s official entry into the Eskimo community. As northern lights dance above Annie with the spirit of her recently departed grandmother, she prepares to honor the living and the dead in her first dance at potlatch. Inside the kashim, she listens to the drums and songs of the others. Soon, when Annie’s father places a silvery sealskin at her feet, it is her turn to dance out a story for family and friends. The heartwarming story of Annie, a Yup'ik Eskimo girl, and her coming-of-age ceremony in her Alaskan village." -- publisher

Draw what you see

2015

by Kathleen Benson

Introduces readers to Benny Andrews, one of the most important African-American painters of the 20th century

First Pooch

2015

by Carole Boston Weatherford

"Throughout their father’s twenty-two month campaign for president, Malia and Sasha Obama begged their parents for a dog. Finally, when their father became the 44th president of the United States, he rewarded their patience and good behavior in his victory speech: “Malia and Sasha will get their new puppy.” Would the girls choose a Foxhound like President George Washington’s? Or a chocolate Labrador Retriever like the Clintons’? Maybe a shelter dog? Finally, on February 25, 2009, they decided to look for a Portuguese Water Dog to move into the White House. Art rendered in watercolor, gouache, and pencil." -- publisher

Fishing with grandma

2015

by Susan Avingaq, Maren Vsetula and Charlene Chua

"Adventure begins when Grandma takes her two grandchildren out for a trip on the lake. After showing the kids how to prepare of a fishing trip, Grandma and the kids enjoy a day of jigging in the ice for fish. Grandma shows them everything they need to know to complete a successful fishing trip, from what clothes to wear, to how to drill and clear holes in the ice, to how to make a traditional Inuit jigging rod. By the end of the day, the kids have a yummy meal of Arctic char, and they have also learned everything they need to know to have a successful day on the lake."--Provided by publisher

Francisco’s kites

2015

by Alicia Klepeis and Gary Undercuffler

Francisco misses his village in El Salvador, and especially flying a kite with his friends, but Mamá cannot afford to buy a kite so he gathers discarded materials around his apartment building and makes his own, which catches the eye of a store owner and leads to a wonderful project

Freedom’s school

2015

by Lesa Cline-Ransome and James Ransome

Hungry for learning, Lizzie and her brother Paul attend a new school built for freed slaves

From Manila with Love

2015

by Amy Luna Capelle and Auri Asuncion Yambao

"What does it mean to "come home" for the first time? Here is a story that tenderly captures the incomparable joy of the balikbayan experience." -- publisher

Game changer

2015

by John Coy and Randy DuBurke

"Discover the true story of how in 1944, Coach John McLendon orchestrated a secret game between the best players from a white college and his team from the North Carolina College of Negroes. At a time of widespread segregation and rampant racism, this illegal gathering changed the sport of basketball forever"--Dust jacket flap

Gordon Parks

2015

by Carole Boston Weatherford and Jamey Christoph

"Gordon Parks is most famous for being the first black director in Hollywood. But before he made movies and wrote books, he was a poor African American looking for work. When he bought a camera, his life changed forever. He taught himself how to take pictures and before long, people noticed"--|cBook jacket

Growing up Pedro

2015

by Matt Tavares

Before Pedro Martínez pitched the Red Sox to a World Series championship, before he was named to the All-Star team eight times, before he won the Cy Young Award three times, he was a kid from a place called Manoguayabo in the Dominican Republic. Pedro loved baseball more than anything, and his older brother Ramón was the best pitcher he'd ever seen. He dreamed of the day he and his brother could play together in the major leagues. This is the story of how that dream came true--Dust jacket

Children's Picture Books: Stories set in North America

Dance on a Sealskin

Dance on a Sealskin

Draw what you see

Draw what you see

First Pooch

First Pooch

Fishing with grandma

Fishing with grandma

Francisco’s kites

Francisco’s kites

Freedom’s school

Freedom’s school

From Manila with Love

From Manila with Love

Game changer

Game changer

Gordon Parks

Gordon Parks

Growing up Pedro

Growing up Pedro