The Happiest Cat in the World is a simple picture book with an important message. Throughout the book, the cat shares its ideas of freedom, including finding its own food, making shelter, and having kittens. The cat leads a supposed happy life, repeating “whenever I want, as much as I want”, with no fear of these freedoms being taken away. When paired with the author’s explanation of the book, the reader will learn that these ideas of freedom are only dreams, rather than reality.
Petunia loves to be perfect: in school, at dance class, and at home. When she overhears her classmates calling her “Petunia the Perfectionist”, she is elated. After all, who wouldn’t want to be a perfectionist? When Petunia tells her mom about her new nickname, her mom has an opposite reaction. She tries to explain to Petunia that it is okay to make mistakes, and in fact, they help us grow. Petunia, however, does not agree and continues to strive for perfection each and every day.
Gerald Ruhoy’s It’s Just a Penny is an informational text about American money. To begin, the reader is introduced to each type of coin and paper money, along with their values, various names, and the faces that can be found on them. The author then shows conversions for each bill of paper money to coins and smaller bills. The information is conveyed through stick figures and speech bubbles, as well as bullet points.
Sam, Sara and the Red Ball is a novel written for children between the ages of 8 and 12. Jenifer Ratliff details the day-to-day events of two rescue pets; Sam, the bunny, and Sarah, the cat, who live with their owner, Meg. When Meg learns she will be relocating for work, Sam and Sara take advantage of exploring the empty rooms and pantry while Meg packs. There is something mysterious in the back corner of the pantry that captures the attention of the pets.
When Timmy, Jade, and Mateo take a trip to their magic spot, they embark on a nautical adventure across the seven seas. Jade quickly discovers a mysterious treasure chest loaded with jewels and a tattered treasure map signed by Owen Edward Fastbottom. When a cannon booms nearby, the children realize they are being followed by a pirate and his crew. Not just any pirate, but the dreaded pirate captain, who claims the treasure belongs to him!
Historian Ruth Behar, inspired by her ancestors, tells the stories of four Sephardic Jewish girls in three vastly different time periods and locations. As the story unfolds, the reader sees the intergenerational connections among these four distinct stories. Benvenida, along with her family, is facing expulsion during the Spanish Inquisition from the only home she has ever known. She leads the reader out of Medieval Spain on an arduous journey to 20th century Turkey, introducing Reina.
