In this poignant, empowering picture book debut, a girl and her beloved abuelita lean on each other as they contend with racism while running errands in the city. Spending time at home with Abuelita means pancakes, puddle-jumping, and nail-painting. But venturing out into the city is not always as fun. On the bus and at the grocery store, people are impatient and suspicious--sometimes they even yell. Sad, angry, and scared, the story's young narrator decides not to leave home again...until a moment of empowerment helps her see the strength she and Abuelita share when they face the world together. Warm, expressive illustrations by Rafael Mayani highlight the tenderness in Abuelita and the narrator's relationship.

From the author of All You Knead Is Love and How to Make Friends with the Sea, an upper middle grade contemporary story of survival and grief about two biracial Filipino cousins whose resilience is tested when one of them is lost at sea. Cousins Coral and Isa are so close that they're practically siblings; their mothers are sisters, and the two girls grew up on the same small island. When Coral and her parents leave on a months-long sea voyage amid the islands of Indonesia, Isa is devastated that they'll be kept apart, and the two vow to write to each other no matter what. Then the unthinkable happens, and Coral's boat capsizes at sea, where her parents and the rest of the crew vanish. Washed up on a deserted island, alone and wracked by grief, she must find the strength within to survive, and find her way back home. Meanwhile, Isa is still on Pebble Island, the only one holding out hope that her beloved cousin is still alive. Told in alternating points of view, this is a powerful story of loss and hope, love and family—and the unexpected resilience of the human spirit.

It's the worst summer on record for nearly-twelve-year-old Callie Boone. Not only has she been ditched by her best friend for someone more "awesome", but she may never live down her recent humiliation at the community pool. Her ex-drillsargeant mom is on her case, and her uncle Danny has moved in--along with cages of ferrets that he hopes to make his fortune breeding as pets, and which Callie's cranky grandma despises. The only things keeping her afloat are dive practices with her dad and a secret Olympic dream. That is, until a boy named Hoot moves in next door. But just when everything finally seems to be going her way, disaster strikes--one day she comes home to an ambulance in the driveway... only it's not her crotchety old grandma who's being taken away, it's her beloved dad. Now it's up to Callie to grow up fast and hold on tight to what matters most: her friendship with Hoot, the love of her family and a newfound belief in herself. This is a story that will make readers laugh and cry. There are no magic spells or paranormal characters, and the only fantasy is Callie's athletic dream. It's real, honest, crazy everyday life with all the joy and the agony that come with the territory.

David isn't happy about leaving Florida and his friends to summer with his crazy grandmother in "Middle-of-Nowhere," Washington. Arriving at her Intergalactic Bed & Breakfast, he isn't surprised by its the-60's-meets-Star-Wars décor, but heissurprised by the weird-looking guests. It turns out that each room in the inn is an off-earth portal and his grandma the gate-keeper, allowing aliens to vacation on Earth. Grandma desperately needs David's help monitoring the visitors, shopping for cartloads of aluminum-foil for dinner, and taking rambunctious alien kids, that glow-in-the-dark and look like trees, camping. The problem is, the town sheriff, already suspicious about Granny, is a scout leader camping in the same spot. Will David blow Granny's cover, forcing the B&B to shut down for good, or will the intergalactic police have to intervene?

An ode to the way memories allow us to be in many places at once, Also is a powerful exploration of being present as well as looking back. Perfect for Mother's Day, birthdays, or graduation, this modern classic is by Ezra Jack Keats honor-winner E.B. Goodale.

With lush art by NYT Best Illustrated recipient Violeta Lópiz, a picture book about a boy and his larger-than-life immigrant grandfather, who shares with him the kind of learning that's not found in books. At six years old, the child-narrator of this picture book loves nothing more than spending time with his grandpa, Luis--especially in his marvelous garden, where green beans reach as high as the sky. Luis's garden is where the little boy practices reading and writing. But just as importantly, it's also where he learns wonderful things from Luis, like the names of all the birds in the trees and new expressions that are so much fun to say. Luis's playful vocabulary is as vibrant and full of life as his garden, and phrases that are particular to his way of talking, like "at the drop of a cat" (which means right away), are soon adapted into the little boy's lexicon, too. A talented cook, artist, and gardener, Luis has much wisdom to impart and many experiences to share with his grandson--even though, as a war refugee, he never went to school himself and never learned to read and write. A loving testament to the intergenerational transmission of knowledge and the breathtaking beauty of the natural world, illustrated with evocative, multilayered art by Violeta Lópiz.

While spending time with her Babajoon and Mamanjoon, Miriam begins to notice details about her Babajoon that make her think he could be a pirate, which leads him to share memories with her about his childhood in Iran.

A child and beloved grandma bond over birds during the grandma’s final days. When Grandma gets sick and comes to stay at her grandchild’s house, she brings her bird feeder. Grandma loves birds. And the child loves the time they spend together, drawing bird pictures and “talking about interesting things.” Grandma’s health declines, however. She moves to the hospice, where the child hangs the bird feeder outside her window. There, though the grandma’s ability to interact diminishes over time, their love for each other never wavers. Simple and deep, this quiet book speaks with empathy about the loss of a treasured grandparent, and with hope about the tomorrows — and the birds — that always come.

A Chinese-American boy gains a new understanding of his Chinese grandfather in this celebratory story of family, martial arts, and the Chinese New Year. Vinson is very excited when his grandfather comes from China for a visit. When Grandpa practices tai chi in the garden, Vinson asks to learn, hoping it will be like kung fu, full of kicks and punches. But tai chi’s meditative postures are slow and still, and Vinson quickly gets bored. He can’t understand why Grandpa insists on calling him by his Chinese name, Ming Da, or why he has to wear a traditional Chinese jacket to the Chinese New Year parade. As the parade assembles, however, he notices the great respect given to his grandfather and the lion dancers under his training. And when Vinson is offered a role in the parade, he realizes that being part Chinese can be pretty cool—and is ready to start learning from his grandpa’s martial-arts mastery in earnest.

Darius Kellner is having a bit of a year. Since his trip to Iran this past spring, a lot has changed. He's getting along with his dad, and his best friend Sohrab is only a Skype call away. Between his first boyfriend, Landon, his varsity soccer practices, and his internship at his favorite tea shop, Darius is feeling pretty okay. Like he finally knows what it means to be Darius Kellner. Then, of course, everything changes. Darius's grandmothers are in town for a long visit while his dad is gone on business, and Darius isn't sure whether they even like him. The internship isn't what Darius thought it would be, and now he doesn't know about turning tea into his career. He was sure he liked Landon, but when he starts hanging out with Chip--soccer teammate and best friend of Trent Bolger, epic bully--well, he's just not so sure about Landon anymore, either. Darius thought he knew exactly who he was and what he wanted, but maybe he was wrong. Maybe he deserves better.

Royce (aka Rolly) is having a bad year. Not only has his mother dragged him across the country in order to be close to her aged father Arthur, a celebrated cellist, but he's also recovering from mono. When he convinces his mother to let him finish the school year by correspondence, he's left feeling isolated and lonely, and spends his time watching TV and plotting ways to get back to his friends in Nova Scotia. But before his plans can be implemented, his grandfather has a small stroke. Suddenly Arthur needs more care than Royce's mother can provide and, after a couple of hired care aides quit, Royce is pressed into service. Looking after a ninety-five-year-old-especially one as cantankerous, crafty and stubborn as Arthur-is a challenge. But as Royce gets to know the eccentric old man-who loves the Pussycat Dolls, hates Anderson Cooper and never listens to the kind of music that made him famous-he gradually comes to appreciate that his grandfather's life still has meaning. Even if Arthur himself seems to want it to end.

A dancing dinosaur discovers his family has some sweet moves Darwin the Dinosaur loves to dance, but he needs someone to join his troupe. When Mom and Dad offer to show him their moves, Darwin laughs. There's no way his prehistoric parents can groove like him, he thinks ... until they show off some funky Jurassic dance steps! When Grandma arrives and throws down some old-school grooves, Darwin's jaw drops. His family's moves are fly! Together, the troupe dances until they drop, and Darwin goes to sleep dreaming of his crew and all their fresh moves.

Every night, my Ametti Fatma sings the sounds of Egypt to me as I fall asleep. This is the Nile, that flows through the city. Swish, swoosh, swish. This is the boat, that glides on the Nile, that flows through the city. Swish, swoosh, swish. Each night, a young girl's Auntie Fatma puts her to bed, singing a lullaby filled with rich imagery of her home in Egypt. As Auntie Fatma sings, we are given a glimpse of modern Cairo, from boats making their way down the Nile to gentle calls to prayer from the mosques to young children joyfully playing soccer in the streets.