A lyrical biography of a Cuban slave who escaped to become a celebrated poet.
Born into the household of a wealthy slave owner in Cuba in 1797, Juan Francisco Manzano spent his early years by the side of a woman who made him call her Mama, even though he had a mama of his own. Denied an education, young Juan still showed an exceptional talent for poetry. His verses reflect the beauty of his world, but they also expose its hideous cruelty. Powerful, haunting poems and breathtaking illustrations create a portrait of a life in which even the pain of slavery could not extinguish the capacity for hope.
"The Poet Slave of Cuba" is the winner of the 2008 Pura Belpre Medal for Narrative and a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year. Latino Interest.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor tells her own story for young readers for the very first time! As the first Latina Supreme Court Justice, Sonia Sotomayor has inspired young people around the world to reach for their dreams. But what inspired her? For young Sonia, the answer was books! They were her mirrors, her maps, her friends, and her teachers. They helped her to connect with her family in New York and in Puerto Rico, to deal with her diabetes diagnosis, to cope with her father's death, to uncover the secrets of the world, and to dream of a future for herself in which anything was possible. In Turning Pages, Justice Sotomayor shares that love of books with a new generation of readers, and inspires them to read and puzzle and dream for themselves. Accompanied by Lulu Delacre's vibrant art, this story of the Justice's life shows readers that the world is full of promise and possibility--all they need to do is turn the page. Praise for Turning Pages: * "A sincere and insightful autobiography that also demonstrates the power of the written word. A winning addition to libraries that serve young readers." --School Library Journal, starred review "A personal and appealing book made to inspire." --Booklist "A thoughtful introduction to both the power of reading and an inspiring role model." --Kirkus Reviews "This book would be great as a read-aloud for class discussions of the Supreme Court, or United States government, or of important people in public service. It would also be good for independent reading by students interested in biographies or political figures." --School Library Connection

Dallas's life was turned upside down the day her mum was killed in a traffic accident. Now she lives with her brothers, step-sister and her mum's partner Gemma in a too-small house filled with bickering and grief. As the end of primary school approaches, Dallas learns that the local library has run out of funding and will soon be closing. Dallas decides she cannot let another thing she loves be lost. Together with her friends Aiza and Ruby, and her freewheeling American aunt Jessi, she starts a campaign to save the library for everyone.

A beautifully told tale about family, grief and growing up.

Social Issues in Literature meets the need for materials supporting curriculum integration. Each title in this distinctive new series examines an important literary work or body of work through the lens of a major social issue. Each volume presents biographical and critical information on the author, viewpoints on the social issue portrayed in the book, and contemporary assessments of the social issue as well as a chronology of important dates in the author's life, discussion questions, a guide to additional literary works that focus on the same social issue, a bibliography for further research and a thorough subject index.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery was born in France in 1900, when aeroplanes were just being invented. He always dreamt of flying, and when he became a pilot as a young man, his adventures truly began. He was one of the first pilots to deliver mail by plane and, along with his fellow pilots, helped to create new routes to faraway places. Antoine flew over mountains and deserts, battled winds and storms, and even tried to break aviation records. He also crashed a number of times. From his plane he reflected on life on the earth and in the skies, and this inspired him to write about his experiences. Peter Sis's remarkable biography celebrates the author of The Little Prince, one of the world's most beloved books.

Social Issues in Literature meets the need for materials supporting curriculum integration. Each title in this distinctive new series examines an important literary work or body of work through the lens of a major social issue. Each volume presents biographical and critical information on the author, viewpoints on the social issue portrayed in the book, and contemporary assessments of the social issue as well as a chronology of important dates in the author's life, discussion questions, a guide to additional literary works that focus on the same social issue, a bibliography for further research and a thorough subject index.

Social Issues in Literature meets the need for materials supporting curriculum integration. Each title in this distinctive new series examines an important literary work or body of work through the lens of a major social issue. Each volume presents biographical and critical information on the author, viewpoints on the social issue portrayed in the book, and contemporary assessments of the social issue as well as a chronology of important dates in the author's life, discussion questions, a guide to additional literary works that focus on the same social issue, a bibliography for further research and a thorough subject index.

A humorous and lively African folktale, specially adapted for children just beginning to read. With colour illustrations on every page, this is another addition to Usborne's hugely popular First Reading series. Find out what happens when trickster Tortoise joins the birds at the Great Feast in the sky, and then gobbles ALL of the food. Perhaps it's time for Tortoise to be tricked too?

For the first time in paperback, this Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary takes readers aged 8+ on a phizz-whizzing, splendiferous, fantabulous journey deep into the language of Roald Dahl's bestselling children's stories. This is a dictionary which will develop language and literacy skills by igniting the creativity in all readers and writers everywhere. Lots of dictionaries tell you what an 'alligator' is, or how to spell 'balloon' but they won't explain the difference between a 'ringbeller' and a 'trogglehumper', or say why witches need 'gruntles' eggs' or suggest a word for the shape of a 'Knid'. This dictionary does all those things. All the words that Roald Dahl invented are here, like 'biffsquiggled' and 'whizzpopping' to remind you what means what, but that is not all. You'll also find out where words came from, rhyming words, synonyms and lots of alternative words for words that are overused. Oxford Children's Dictionaries are perfect for supporting literacy and learning and this is the world's first Roald Dahl Dictionary from the word experts at Oxford University Press.

Elizabeth Bishop (1911-1979) grew up to become a famous poet, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1956. Before that she was a little girl who lived with her Gammie and Pa in Great Village, Nova Scotia. It was there that Bishop learned to walk, to read, to write, to sing hymns, and to catch bumblebees in foxglove flowers. It was there she first went to school and, when she was five, where her mother left and never returned. Lovingly rendered, this visual and lyrical feast tells the story of Bishop's childhood days, inspired by Bishop's own poetry and prose, paired with Quentin Blake-style artwork from illustrator Emma FitzGerald. A love letter to words, 'A Pocket of Time' is a lesson for young readers in finding the poetry in everything.

What do Philip Pullman and J.K. Rowling have in common that has made both of their stories so successful? What does Pullman listen to while he writes - and who, or what, is Dust? Pullman's award-winning trilogy His Dark Materials has been appreciated by readers of all ages. It is now set to welcome new fans as it is adapted for television by the BBC, and his new trilogy at last sees publication. Nicholas Tucker, a leading authority on children's literature, writes about the man he knows as a friend. Unpacking and examining Pullman's life and the sources he drew on for his masterpiece, he explores the world of science, theology, imagination and adventure that Pullman has created. Including a personal interview with Pullman himself, Darkness Visible offers a unique exploration of the author's work - and its controversies. "Enigmas from His Dark Materials are unraveled. Unmissable for all Pullman readers" Sussex Express

Celebrate Black Historical Figures Who Changed HistoryEmbrace Black girl magic and learn about the Black historical figures who made their impact on society as we know it. Female, Gifted and Black, the follow-up to The Book of Awesome Black Women, celebrates the power of the women in black history who shaped and revolutionized the past. Learn about amazing women in Black history. Whether you learned about these women in school or not, these Black historical figures changed society and inspired future generations. Read all about these powerful women in black history such as Amanda Gorman, Alice Walker, Warsan Shire, Eartha Kitt, Gloria Hendry, Issa Rae, Pearl Bailey, Shonda Rhimes and so many more. From artists to writers, models to dancers, Female, Gifted and Black inspires you to be a trailblazer with these stories of strength, perseverance, and talent. Dive into this Black history book. Driven by female empowerment, this collection of biographies tells the unique stories of these powerful women in Black history who made a difference. From artists to activists, Female, Gifted and Black showcases a plethora of passions and skills to prove that Black is beautiful. These mighty women in Black history prove that your passions and drive are the most powerful things you have. Inside Female, Gifted and Black, you'll learn to: Recognize the importance of honoring Black intelligence, willpower, and passion Celebrate the strength of these revolutionary women in Black history Channel your inner womanhood Discover powerful stories of accomplishments achieved by Black historical figures If you enjoyed books like The Book of Awesome Black Women, Badass Black Girl, or Black Heroes, you'll love Female, Gifted and Black.

It's another busy day at Stanley's Library! Stanley loads his van with books and sets off to the village green. Who will visit today and which books will they choose? Later, Stanley arrives back at the library just in time for a special event . . . A wonderful first introduction to libraries, books and the joy of reading. Discover more Stanley books: Stanley's Garage Stanley the Builder Stanley the Farmer Stanley's Cafe Stanley's Shop Stanley the Postman Stanley's School Stanley's Train Stanley's Fire Engine

The open door felt like an invitation, or a trap. Bastien wasn't sure which, but with no other choice, he stepped inside...and hoped he'd make it out again alive. Bastien Bonlivre is a boy with a big imagination, determined to finish the story his parents started, left to him in a red notebook. On the other side of Paris, bestselling author Olivier Odieux is struggling to complete his latest novel. Along with his villainous brothers, he is masterminding his greatest plot yet...one that will spread fear throughout the city and beyond. What connects these two stories is a dangerous secret, a hidden mystery and an unexpected race across Paris for the truth. Can Bastien and his friends Alice, Theo and Sami be brave enough to stop Olivier stealing the ending they deserve? A classic adventure story about friendship, hope, bravery and the power of imagination.