Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Yo – serie

Mama’s love is brighter than the sun, even on the rainiest of days. This celebration of a mother-daughter relationship is perfect for sharing with little ones!On a rainy day when the house smells like cinnamon and Papa and Luca are still asleep, when the clouds are wearing shadows and the wind paints the window with beads of water, I want to be everywhere Mama is. With lyrical prose and a tender touch, Mama and Me is an ode to the strength of the bond between a mother and a daughter as they spend a rainy day together.

A young girl undertakes an impossible trip to the moon, makes friends with the stars, and brings back something priceless in this gentle and lyrically told picture book about family, history, and memory.Grana used to tell the best stories, and Mabel used to long to soar through the heavens. Nowadays, Grana mostly lies in bed and Mabel stays close to home. But one day, Grana asks, “If we can touch the moon, then what is impossible?” So Mabel decides to do just that, embarking on a journey through the stars where The Seven Sistahs, The Big Dipper, and other constellations help her on her quest and teach her about African mythology and African American history. With the support of her new companions, Mabel reaches for her biggest dream yet: to make her sick grandma well again.

A young girl looks out on the world from her favorite chair in this “quiet meditation on the sweet delight of simply observing the changing world” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) by award-winning poet and New York Times bestselling author Rio Cortez.In the morning, a young child opens her eyes, and, after one biiiiig streeeeetch, heads straight for her favorite place in the house: the blue velvet chair. Perched from the chair set by the living room window, the child daydreams about each season of the year and the changes that come with them. A now-snowy roof was once pelted by the slick rain of spring showers. Icy windows will once again transform into conveyors of sunshine and warmth against her skin. And just as the seasons change, the child will continue to change too. But one thing will always remain the same: the coziness of the blue velvet chair.

On Saturday walks with her grandfather, a young girl connects with her Cabo Verdean heritage while learning about the true meaning of home in this moving debut picture book.Papa always speaks of someday bringing his granddaughter back home to Cabo Verde. But the young girl has never set foot on their ancestral island’s faraway shores. And each time Papa urges her to speak Kriolu, the Portuguese creole native to the West African country, the girl’s tongue betrays her, and she stumbles over her own words. If she can’t even get the language right, can her grandfather’s home ever truly be hers, too? But each Saturday afternoon when she helps guide her sight-impaired grandfather through their close-knit Massachusetts community, the girl swears she can smell, hear, feel Kriolu. And each Saturday she comes closer to discovering where home truly lies.

In this endearing picture book by superstar chef and beloved TV host Carla Hall, Carla’s grandmother helps her turn things around when a game of dress-up leads to a fancy tea party gone wrong.Carla and her sister Kim love visiting their grandparents’ home, where they can always count on having something fun to get into, like Granny’s old chest full of treasures! Dressed up in mounds of beautiful dresses, sparkling jewels, and fancy gloves, Carla decides the day wouldn’t be complete without a tea party for the girls’ special guests, Granny and Doc. But when Carla accidentally ruins her grandmother’s favorite quilt and famous pound cake, she fears that all the fun is spoiled. How can Carla and her family have a proper tea party without an elegant set up and delicious food? Then Carla’s grandmother steps in, sharing her recipe for a special cake. Will the secret ingredient help Carla save the day?

A young boy calls on his loving uncles for a much-needed boys’ day in the wake of his father’s death in this touching debut picture book about grief and healing that’s a heartfelt homage to strong men who step in as loving role models for the children who need them.Lil’ Kev is the only boy in the house now that Daddy is gone. Momma and his sisters try to fill the void as best as they can, playing video games, racing cars, and even shooting hoops sometimes. But it’s not the same. Then Lil’ Kev gets an idea to ease his longing—he calls...the Uncles! The foursome scoops up Lil’ Kev and they spend the day capturing memories that’ll keep Daddy close at home and heart.

Getting caught in the rain at the park leads a little girl to discover a remarkable umbrella and, with it, the magic of friendship and community in this charming picture book inspired by Jan Brett’s classic The Mitten.Zora’s fun day in the park is interrupted by a sudden rain shower, and she finds just the thing she needs to stay dry: an umbrella big enough for one. When another child on the playground asks if he can join her, and then another and another still, Zora makes room for them all—and the umbrella does too! But suddenly, a gust of wind blows the umbrella away, and Zora and her new friends must work together to find it, a search that helps them discover the true value of friendship and collaboration.