Jackie Azúa Kramer – författare

This profoundly moving tale about a grieving boy and an imaginary gorilla makes real the power of talking about loss.On the day of his mother’s funeral, a young boy conjures the very visitor he needs to see – a gorilla. Wise and gentle, the gorilla stays on to answer the heart-heavy questions the boy hesitates to ask his father: Where did his mother go? Will she come back home? Will we all die? Yet with the gorilla’s friendship, the boy slowly begins to discover moments of comfort in tending flowers, playing catch and climbing trees. Most of all, the gorilla knows that it helps to simply talk about the loss – especially with those who share your grief and who may feel alone too. Author Jackie Azúa Kramer’s quietly thoughtful text and illustrator Cindy Derby’s beautiful impressionistic artwork depict how this tender relationship leads the boy to open up to his father and find a path forward. Told entirely in dialogue, this direct and deeply affecting picture book will inspire conversations about grief, empathy, and healing beyond the final hope-filled scene.

From an award-winning author, a New York Times bestselling artist, and a Coretta Scott King Honor artist, lyrical text about how we are all one is paired with beautiful illustrations of two girls and their families.If you’re a star, I’m a moon.Together we dream.When we are together,we are one.Two girls—one from a city who lives with her mom, and one who lives by the beach with her dads and brother—come together at a lantern festival in a beautiful story of how we are all one, whether near or far, friend or newcomer.From an award-winning trio, this celebration of community, friendship, and the natural world features poetic, lyrical text paired with a vibrant visual tale of two characters, each illustrated by a different artist.

"Delightful story to read as a family during the toddler and preschool years." - Pamela Gombert (Librarian)Prunella wakes up on the morning of her birthday and announces,“I’m a big kid now.” She doesn’t want to do any of the things she usually loves.“That’s for babies,” she announces over and over again.Even her favorite doll is abandoned.But what happens when a big kid gets scared during the night?A story about growing up, for little kids and big kids ages 5 years and up.Guided Reading Level KAt Clavis, our focus is on what’s best for children. We believe that books play an important role in each new phase in life. Our toddler books are tailored for every stage from 0 to 3 and focus on the five most important themes in their life: daily life, skills, emotions, the world, and language development. The age range and theme of every book in our toddler series can be found on the back cover in the form of a colored train.

A story about seeing, believing wholeheartedly in the extraordinary—unicorns and oneselfTo Manolo, the world is a magical place, a place where he searches for the most magical creature of all: unicorns. Manolo loves unicorns. When the Wild Animal Parade is announced at school, and Manolo declares that he will come as his favorite animal, his classmates say there is no such thing as unicorns, making the world feel ordinary. That is, until Manolo meets a real unicorn—wild and graceful—and discovers that the world is truly extraordinary.

“This bilingual counting book uses bold primary colors to depict the diversity and joy of the Bronx” – Foreword ReviewsIt’s time to dance down to the block party! The nurses samba down the stairs, the firefighters groove to reggaeton, and the kids jump to hip-hop beats—who else will you find as you count your way down? This singalong adventure brings 10 styles of Latin, Afro-Latin, and African American dance and music to life in a Bronx high-rise! Introduces English and Spanish vocabulary Endnotes share fun facts about each dance style Perfect for little music lovers ready to move and groove

“This bilingual counting book uses bold primary colors to depict the diversity and joy of the Bronx” – Foreword Reviews Joining Barefoot’s singalong collection, this upbeat story depicts residents of a high-rise apartment building in the Bronx, New York, who are dancing down to their neighborhood block party. From samba-dancing nurses to reggaeton-loving firefighters, this unique song-story introduces 10 kinds of Latin, Afro-Latin, and African American dance and music from throughout the Americas. Readers can count along in English and Spanish as they visit each floor of the building! Endnotes provide more information about the dance styles. Includes an online access link to original audio and video animation.Types of dance featured:TangoSalsaReggaetonSambaCumbiaMamboHip-hopRumbaMerengueConga