STARRED Reviews in Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Shelf Awareness This "beautifully illustrated, nearly wordless book" (New York Times) set in the dawn of human life imagines how art and storytelling were born from the power of one young girl's observation. Once upon a time, during the Pleistocene, somewhere between two-and-a-half million and ten thousand years ago, small groups of people traveled their known world, hunting for food, seeking shelter, and slowly becoming more like the people we are today. As far back as 40,000 years ago (and maybe even earlier) people began drawing pictures on cave walls. And a bit later, they carved images onto stones. Some pictures are of humans, usually drawn as stick figures, but most are of animals. We don't know their purpose, though in some cases, evidence seems to suggest they were used for storytelling. But when we look at these pictures, we can't help but admire the extraordinary talent of the first artists. They aren't just scratches on the wall. They are great art. In this book of few words, we follow a young girl who notices everything that happens around her as her people search for a cave to shelter for the winter. And we can believe that she feels the absolute necessity to draw what she has seen and to tell stories. Afterward, Everything was Different features: Backmatter explaining what we know—and don't know—about cave drawings. Stunning black and white illustrations of life during the Pleistocene. An Aldana Libros Book, Greystone Kids

Ana looks out the pet store window with the store’s last remaining animals for sale—a dog, a hedgehog and a mouse. What are they waiting for?  Ana remembers finding the dog and bringing him to the store as a puppy. She’s watched as all the other dogs—the most charming, the most elegant, the strongest—have all gone off. Ana, too, has never left, except at nights when she closes the store and goes home to the modest apartment she shares with her grandmother.  But a day comes when the store owner announces that he has sold the store. An office tower will be built in its place. It makes no difference to him what happens to the animals, but Ana knows what she does next will make all the difference to her friends. Because after being together so long, isn’t that what they are? An exciting new offering by internationally acclaimed, award-winning picture book creators Jairo Buitrago and Rafael Yockteng, The Pet Store Window is a stirring reminder of those who are often overlooked or left behind by society, showing readers the ways in which we can offer each other hope, support and friendship in difficult times. Key Text Features illustrations Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6 With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.9 Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories.

"This inspired story about the magic of art, nature, and educators is a breath of fresh air." -Booklist "Full of wonder... Schoolhouse bliss." -Kirkus STARRED Review Let's all draw dinosaurs ... outdoors! In this remarkable picture book, a group of students spend an unforgettable day drawing dinosaurs outside with their extraordinary teacher. Maybe your school has a playground, gym, computers, and a library. But at this school in a faraway mountain range, things are a little different. There's a blackboard, some chairs ... and not much else. But with the help of an extraordinary teacher and a little imagination, anything is possible! The students in this spirited picture book spend their days drawing dinosaurs outdoors. They draw astounding, spectacular creatures that come to life before their eyes, and turn their school into a wondrous place, where any child would want to go and learn. Drawing Outdoors celebrates the amazing impact of teachers, and the wonderful worlds kids can create while drawing. A perfect gift for a beloved teacher, kids who love dinosaurs, and aspiring artists! An Aldana Libros Book, Greystone Kids

In this moving and timely story, a young child describes what it is like to be a migrant as she and her father travel north toward the US border. They travel mostly on the roof of a train known as The Beast, but the little girl doesn't know where they are going. She counts the animals by the road, the clouds in the sky, the stars. Sometimes she sees soldiers. She sleeps, dreaming that she is always on the move, although sometimes they are forced to stop and her father has to earn more money before they can continue their journey. As many thousands of people, especially children, in Mexico and Central America continue to make the arduous journey to the US border in search of a better life, this is an important book that shows a young migrant's perspective. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3 With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.

"Those who feel physically or emotionally distant from beloved adults will take comfort in the idea that there are others who care. A subtle and affecting journey to resilience best shared one-on-one to pore over the spectacular artwork."-School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW From one of the great creative teams in picture books, On the Other Side of the Garden is about a city girl learning to accept the change brought about by her parents' separation after she is left at her grandmother's house in the country. The girl feels abandoned and lonely, but after venturing into the nighttime garden, she is befriended by an owl, a frog and a mouse. Her talkative new companions show her an extraordinary new world by the light of the moon. When the girl gets back in the morning, her grandmother seems neither alarmed or angry about the girl's nighttime adventures. Instead she gently introduces her granddaughter to her new surroundings, making clear that the girl is welcome. And as the sun warms their backs, the two seem content to get to know each other better. Buitrago's stories convey large truths through understatement and suggestion. This story, beautifully illustrated by Yockteng, shows how a child can use her own bravery and curiosity to confront confusing and potentially frightening realities, such as a parents' separation and being left with an almost unknown relative. There is an endnote about the plants and animals that might be found in such a garden. Key Text Features garden inventory Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3 Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.7 Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.7 Explain how specific aspects of a text's illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a character or setting) CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.1 Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.

A story about the heart-opening effect that taking care of a wounded creature has on a wounded boy, from acclaimed picture-book creators Jairo Buitrago and Rafael Yockteng. Adrian is always in trouble, at school and at home, while Santiago gets along quite well. But they are friends. When Adrian finds a wounded bird in an abandoned lot in the midst of the city, things begin to change. Taking care of the bird, learning all about it, discovering that it is a falcon, loving it - and accepting what this love means - gives Adrian a chance to show others a glimpse of who he truly is. Santiago has always known that Adrian has a big heart, and his steadfast friendship is also the reason Adrian has a chance to heal. Key Text Features illustrations Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3 With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.6 With prompting and support, name the author and illustrator of a story and define the role of each in telling the story. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7 With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4 Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3 Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

In this moving and timely story, a young child describes what it is like to be a migrant as she and her father travel north toward the US border. They travel mostly on the roof of a train known as The Beast, but the little girl doesn’t know where they are going. She counts the animals by the road, the clouds in the sky, the stars. Sometimes she sees soldiers. She sleeps, dreaming that she is always on the move, although sometimes they are forced to stop and her father has to earn more money before they can continue their journey. As many thousands of people, especially children, in Mexico and Central America continue to make the arduous journey to the US border in search of a better life, this is an important book that shows a young migrant’s perspective. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3 With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.

Entre dos montanas, cerca de un arroyo, en medio de la nada, se encuentra una escuela sin patio de juegos, gimnasio, biblioteca, ni computadoras. Como dice la nina que nos cuenta esta historia: "Nuestra escuela no tiene casi nada. Un pizarron, unas sillas". Pero en esta escuela hay algo que nadie mas tiene: una maestra como ninguna otra en el mundo. "Ahi esta siempre, en la puerta de la escuela esperandonos en la manana", dice la nina. El dia en que se desarrolla esta historia, la maestra lleva a sus alumnos afuera y les pide que dibujen algo grande y puntiagudo escondido entre los arboles. A medida que los estudiantes observan de cerca, comienzan a comprender lo que estan viendo... !pero, entonces, la maestra ya esta senalando a la proxima bestia magnifica! Este inspirador e ingenioso libro hara que cualquier nino tenga el inmenso deseo de asistir a esta escuela especial y recibir lecciones de esta extraordinaria maestra. ?Y quien dice que esto no puede suceder en todas partes? An Aldana Libros Book, Greystone Kids

This delightful recipe in poem form shows us all, young and old, how to make a heartwarming, tummy-filling bean soup From gathering the beans, onions and garlic to letting them swim in the pot until the house smells wonderful and it’s time for supper. A young boy helps his mother prepare a soup the whole family will enjoy using ingredients from Mother Earth. Onions are “yellow as the dawn,� beans are like stars spread out on the “sky of the table� and the water in the pot is “as deep as a little lake.� While the soup is cooking, the boy buries the cooking scraps under a tree in the yard “so Mother Earth keeps on growing flavors.� Simply written, yet full of vivid imagery, Jorge Argueta’s verse and Rafael Yockteng’s animated illustrations make preparing bean soup a fun, almost magical experience. This book is a great family recipe/poem for those who already love bean soup — it is a comfort food for many — and for those who are looking for a delicious new healthy food. Key Text Features recipe procedural text Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.4 Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.5 Recognize common types of texts (e.g., storybooks, poems). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.4 Describe how words and phrases (e.g., regular beats, alliteration, rhymes, repeated lines) supply rhythm and meaning in a story, poem, or song.