Once upon another time by Matt Forrest Essenwine and Charles Ghigna
Ill by Andrés F. Landazábal. Beaming Books, 2021, 32 p. 277 words. 

​With lyrical text, playful rhyme, and vivid illustrations, this book compares the world ‘before one human step was taken’ to the world of concrete buildings and street traffic. Illustrations contrast pristine landscapes with modern cityscapes.
Then, in a tribute to the natural world, the reader is encouraged to get outside, breathe the air, taste the rain and watch the cloud ballet in the sky.
“Once upon another time, the world was young and new. If you want to know this world, there’s something you can do.” 

​The Purple Shell by Maritza Martinez Mejia ill by Valerie Mojica
Luz del Mes Publishing, 2021 / independently published . www.luzdelmes.com 32p. ; 141 words..

​A trip to the beach becomes a clean-up day when the main character of this story is upset by the trash left in the sand. When they’ve collected several bags of soda bottles, plastic fast-food containers and other trash, the girl and her mom go for a swim and are rewarded with a beautiful purple seashell.
The beautifully illustrated bilingual text (Spanish and English) shows the importance of taking care of our plastic garbage so it does not end up polluting the oceans. The story is augmented by backmatter that includes vocabulary, questions, facts, and several coloring pages.
 

On the first day of kindergarten Molly, Savera, and Hannah help each other and work together planting trees, and find they have lots in common, although they come from different backgrounds and religious traditions.
This wonderfully illustrated book teaches love and acceptance – friendship with those who are not like us. The three authors – also of different faith traditions – are friends who collaborated on this project. 
​This book should be part of every school library. 

I have never understood why people can do such evil to other people… yet it is so common in our world: Cambodia; Rwanda; Myanmar; Sudan; Kosovo… where does it stop?
Genocide has been part of my own family history from World War II in Poland. In The Sandcastle Girls, through a love story, Chris Bohjalian exposes the horrors of the Armenian genocide – the slaughter of 1.5 million people just over a century ago that many Americans are unaware of.
Set in Aleppo, Syria, with well-developed characters and captivating plot, you won’t be able to set this story down. 

​This is the story of Stefania Podgorska, a Polish teenager who risked her life to hide Jews. With gripping first-person narration, this fast-paced historical novel captivated me as a reader. The story shows that, even in terrible times, there are good people. Knowing it meant certain death if they were caught, there were still people willing to hide Jews – like the folks who hid my mother and my uncle, who are also Polish Holocaust survivors. It’s a part of history we should never forget. 

​This is an excellent introduction to the culture and tragedy of Sudan and Darfur.
Author Andrea Pinkney uses narrative verse, vivid imagery and figurative language that immerses the reader in the Sudan landscape and culture.  
12-year-old Amira and her family must flee as the Janjaweed militia invades and sets their village ablaze. They end up at the Kalma refugee camp where the gift of a red pencil sets Amira’s imagination on fire. 

There are dreamers – and there are builders.
We celebrate the dreamers – the visionaries like Gretas and Malalas, the Ghandis and Mandelas… we celebrate artists, writers, leaders, musicians, sports heroes. But what about the workers, the laborers who make things happen?
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Someone Builds the Dream celebrates them. It shows children that workers and tradespeople are important too, and that we need to work together to get the work done.
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Karen Long’s clear illustrations show women and people of different ethnic groups doing these important skilled trades jobs. Lisa Wheeler’s catchy, fast, rhyming text with the refrain “Someone had to build this dream” draws young readers in. A must read.

I loved this fun book! I was odd and quirky as a kid... so i understand not being accepted because of differences. 
Sassafrass doesn’t fit in because of her short tail – until it becomes a plus instead of a minus! Kids will love this engaging story about a unique and special squirrel – and will learn that being different can be a good thing.

​These two books show children that everyone can practice kindness. 

​The main character in this story wants to help her friend feel better. At first, t doesn’t work… She can’t fix Tanisha’s problem. She wonders what she could have done…  then asks, “What does it mean to be kind anyway?“ The rest of the book explores this with examples like putting dirty dishes in the sink or making cookies for a neighbor who lives alone, or painting a picture for a friend. 

​Kindness is… a kite string that lifts spirits, a footbridge that bridges what divides us, a chain that connects us. It is a ray of sunshine and an open door, inviting others in. Michelle Schaub uses similes and metaphors to show the power of kindness. Begin the day with a hug… and end it gently. Kindness is contagious – be sure to pass it on!
So many examples of kindness in this lovely book – and there are questions and ideas for discussing kindness with kids at school or at home. As well as information about metaphors and similes. 
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Both books show many examples of kindness, and show the reader that small acts of kindness matter.

Both promote conversation about what it means to be kind. Even though the girl could not fix Tanisha’s problem, her kindness helped her feel better.
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Kindness makes the world better. ​

A century ago, girls were told they couldn’t become conductors. But Antonia Brico didn’t listen – and she didn’t let that stop her!

In one ear and out the other: Antonia Brico and her amazing musical life by Diane Worthey. Illustrated by Morgana Wallace. Penny Candy books, 2020. 48 p. ; 12,000 words. 
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This 1200-word chapter book biography inspires girls to never give up on your dream! Antonia Brico had many things against her. Her foster parents abandoned her when she turned 18. She was told the audience would throw rotten eggs at a woman conductor. But she didn’t listen… she let the negative comments go in one ear and out the other and persevered in the pursuit of her goal to become a conductor. She was the first woman to conduct the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

As a teenager, Diane Worthey performed under Brico's baton - so she has firsthand experience with the subject of her biography. 


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