Children's Books

All the Colors of the Earth

Celebrate the colors of the children and the colors of love- not black or white or yellow or red, but roaring brown, whispering gold, tinkling pink and more with this poetic picture book.

Sale! $1.75 (Sheila Hamanaka, Mullberry Books, 1994. Paperback.)

Baseball Saved Us

In 1942, at the time the United States was at war with Japan, the U.S. Army moved all people of Japanese descent away from the West Coast. The Japanese were sent to internment camps in American deserts until 1945, because the U.S. government said it could not tell who might be loyal to Japan. The interned Japanese-Americans created a baseball field, and a young boy tells how baseball gave them a purpose.

$6.95 (Ken Mochizuki, illustrated by Dom Lee, Lee & Low Books, Inc., 1993. Paperback, oversize. A 1993 Parents' Choice Award winner.)

Book of Black Heroes, From A to Z: An Introduction to Important Black Achievers

This book was written to introduce young readers to black men and women who are heroes of their time. Some are from the past, some are contemporary, but they all have overcome great obstacles to make significant contributions.

SALE! $2.00 (Wade Hudson and Valerie Wilson Wesley, Just Us Books, 1988. Paperback, oversize.)

Book of Black Heroes, Volume Two: Great Women in the Struggle

The majority of the more than 80 historical and contemporary black women profiled in this timely and important book have received little or no recognition for the significant contributions they have made. Their stories and achievements have been left out of the pages of most history books. This book presents their inspiring stories in one volume for youngsters - and readers of all ages.

SALE! $5.50 (Edited by Toyomi Igus, Just Us Books, 1997. Paperback, oversize.)

Dealing With Feelings Series

Each book in this series acknowledges specific feelings and offers safe and creative ways to express them. "Choose-your-own-ending" formats show children what the outcomes of their choices might be.

SALE! $1.73 each (Elizabeth Crary, illustrated by Jean Whitney, Parenting Press. Ages 3 - 9. Paperback.)

I'm Scared. (1994) Tracy is terrified of the new neighbor's big dog and needs help deciding what to do about her feelings. Readers are offered several strategies for coping with fear in positive ways.

Grandfather's Journey

Say tells the poignant account of his family's unique cross-cultural experience and conveys his own love for his two countries (he was born in Yokohama, Japan, and came to the United States when he was sixteen). He describes the strong and constant desire to be in both places - something his grandfather would understand.

$16.95 (Allen Say, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1993. Hardcover, oversize.)

Just A Dream

Young Walter is not enlightened about the environment. He is a litterbug who believes sorting trash is a big waste of time and that his friend's birthday present (a tree) is the most ridiculous gift he's ever seen. One night while lying in bed, Walter wishes he could visit the future because he believes it will be wonderful, filled with robots and other amazing inventions. When he falls asleep and his wish comes true the world he sees is not exactly what he'd imagined.

$17.95 (Story and Pictures by Chris Van Allsburg, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1990. Hardcover, oversize.)

If You Lived at the Time of Martin Luther King

This book tells you what it was like during the exciting era when Martin Luther King led the fight against segregation.

Sale! 1.50 (Ellen Levine and Beth Peck, Scholastic Paperbacks, Jan 1, 1994. Paperbook.)

The Lorax

The Once-ler, the Lorax, Swomee-Swans, and Humming-Fish populate this classic children's story. With wonderful illustrations of Truffula Trees and Thneeds, Dr. Suess brings this cautionary environmental tale to life.

$14.95 (Dr. Suess, Random House, 1971. Hardcover, oversize)

Nobody Knew What To Do

This story tells how one child found the courage to tell a teacher about Ray, who was being picked on and bullied by other kids in school. Faced with the fact that "nobody knows what to do" while Ray is bullied, the children sympathetic to him feel fear and confusion and can only hope that Ray will "fit in some day." Finally, after Ray misses a day of school and the bullies plot mean acts for his return, our narrator goes to a teacher. The children then invite Ray to play with them, and, with adult help, together they stand up to the bullies.

$15.95 (Becky Ray McCain and Todd Leonardo, Albert Whitman & Company, March, 2001. Hardcover, oversized.)

The Polar Express

One Christmas Eve, a bathrobe-clad boy boards the mysterious Polar Express train on its way to the North Pole. Arriving in the mystical polar city, the boy is thunderstruck when Santa chooses him to be the recipient of the very first gift of Christmas. Shyly, the boy asks for his true heart's desire--one silver bell from the harness of Santa's reindeer. His wish is granted, and the train begins its return trip. But alas! The boy has a hole in his pocket, and the cherished sleigh bell is lost... forever?

Sale! $17.50 (Chris Van Allsburg, Houghton Mifflin, Oct 28, 1985. Hardcover, Special Edition)

The Quarreling Book

A rainy morning results in a forgotten goodbye kiss, which results in a mother being cross with her son. The son is then cross with his sister who then gets upset with her best friend at school. The chain reaction continues until it is stopped in an unusual fashion.

$5.95 (Charlotte Zolotow, Harper Collins Publishers, renewed 1991. Paperback.)

Sadako

In her novel Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, Eleanor Coerr told the story of Sadako and her grave struggle against leukemia that she developed at age twelve - ten years after the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. The novel became a classic and gives the hope that Sadako's story will inspire children of all ages. This is a beautifully illustrated version of that same story.

$6.99 (Eleanor Coerr, illustrated by Ed Young, G.P. Putman's Sons, 1993. Paperback, oversize.)

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes

This book is based on the true story of Sadako Sasaki, who was two years old when a U.S. atomic bomb destroyed Hiroshima. She grew to be a lively, athletic star of her school's running team before becoming gravely ill with leukemia. Recalling a Japanese legend, Sadako began folding paper cranes, believing that if she folded one thousand cranes, the gods would grant her to be healthy again.

$4.99 (Eleanor Coerr. Puffin Books, 1999. Paperback.)

Shin's Tricycle

This book tells the story of a young boy who was happily riding his red tricycle when his life was tragically cut short by the atomic blast in Hiroshima. His memory lives on through his cherished tricycle, which is now permanently displayed in the Hiroshima Peace Museum. The author lived through the atomic explosion and currently lives in Hiroshima.

$15.95 (Tatsuharu Kodama, illustrated by Noriyuki Ando, Walker Publishing Company, Inc., 1995. Hardcover, oversize.)

The Story of Ruby Bridges

Ruby Bridges found herself in the center of a storm of hatred and prejudice at the age of six when she was the first black child to attend an all-white elementary school. Each day she faced angry protesters as she was escorted to and from the first grade by Federal Marshal. This book captures Ruby's amazing courage and faith.

$5.99 (Robert Coles, illustrated by George Ford, Scholastic, Inc., 1995. Paperback, oversize.)

Tree of Cranes

This book tells the story of a young boy in Japan who celebrates his very first Christmas with two cultures joyously combined as his mother shares a glimpse of her American childhood with him on this special day. The author was born in Yokohama, Japan, and apprenticed himself at age twelve to a famous cartoonist.

$17.95 (Allen Say, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1991. Hardcover, oversize)

To Martin Luther King with Love: A Southern Quaker’s Tribute

This book reflects years of appreciation and assimilation, conscious and subconscious, of the writing and faith of Martin Luther King Jr. The essay tells of a painful but beneficial catharsis of a sad, racist past, and a joyous recognition of the essential truth of King’s message of nonviolent change and unconditional change.

Sale! .50 (David W.Pirte, Pendle Hill Publications, 1984. Paperback.)

White Socks Only

"A wonderful, touching story of a little girl who goes to town by herself to see if it is really possible to fry an egg on the sidewalk on a hot day, and ends up striking a blow against bigotry...Terrific illustrations perfectly complement the well-written story." -American Bookseller (Pick of the Lists, 1996) When this same child saw the "Whites Only" sign on the water fountain, she had no idea what she would spark when she took off her shoes and-wearing her clean white socks-stepped up to drink. A combination of defiance, bravery and a "touch of magic" win out over hatred.

$6.95 (Evelyn Coleman, illustrations by Tyrone Geter, Albert Whitman & Co., 1996. Paperback.)

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge

This was originally published in Australia and tells the story of a small boy who tries to discover the meaning of "memory." He wishes to restore the memory of his elderly friend Miss Nancy. Wilfrid is given many definitions of "memory" by the people he talks with and he finds examples of them to give to Miss Nancy in the hope of helping her to get her memory back.

Sale! $1.99 (Mem Fox, illustrated by Julie Vivas, Kane/Miller Book Publishers, 1985. Paperback.)

YO! Yes?

This book illuminates the peaks and pitfalls of getting acquainted, and puts in a food word for brotherhood as well. The watercolor and charcoal pencil illustrations have been described as brash, witty, and offbeat, and easily portray a vigorous range of emotion, as well as an appreciation of the rhythms of language and human exchange in a deceptively simple story.

$6.95 (Chris Raschka, Orchard Books, 1993. Paperback, oversize. Caldecott Honor Book; American Library Association Notable Children's Book; NCTE Notable Trade Book in the Language Arts; Parenting Magazine Best Book of the Year. Paperback, oversize.)