Lali has worked hard to earn money for a special treat—but should she spend her earnings on herself or her friends? Lali works hard to earn some money while her animal friends watch. She stirs. She stokes. She pounds. She pours. Then off she goes to the market on the twisty-curvy, dusty, stony, prickly, sizzly-wizzly path. What shall she buy with the jingle in her pocket? Lentils for Hen? Berries for Goat? Ribbons for Bird? Or perhaps a lovely pair of flip-flops for her poor tired feet. But when Lali returns home and sees her friends’ disappointed faces, sherealizes that while hard work pays off, generosity also has rewards.

A vivacious and endearing story of identification, values, and the rewards in looking closely and thinking imaginatively. Lali finds a little feather in the field. Who might it belong to? Lali sets out to find the feather a home, but one bird after another rejects it. The feather is too small for Rooster, too slow for Crow, and too plain for Peacock. That is until Lali decides to keep the little feather and discovers all the things she can do with it, and the other birds begin to recognize its value. Farhana Zia offers a charming tale with an inventive circular structure that reveals the importance of looking beyond first impressions. Illustrator Stephanie Fizer Coleman brings this delightful story of imagination and inspiration to life.

A 1960s Indian village populated by endearing characters springs to life in Farhana's Zia's novel about privilege, perspective, and opportunity. Impulsive and passionate, Basanta may not always understand the consequences of her actions, but that doesn't stop her from involving herself in the lives of friends and neighbors in her village—even if things don't necessarily go the way she intends. Basanta longs for the beautiful ring worn by her young mistress, but when it is finally hers, she realizes that it's not the wonderful possession she expected. Increasingly aware of the struggles of her less privileged friends, Lali and Bala, she finds a way to improve their lives and entertain their community— and the beautiful ring takes on new meaning. Over time, Basanta gains maturity, self-awareness, and compassion—all while hosting doll weddings, attending kite fights, and planning an exciting performance of Bala the Wonder Dog. Farhana Zia's engaging novel—filled with a cast of distinct, endearing characters and humorous, thought-provoking events—provides an insightful look at relative privilege and opportunity.

Willie enjoys a special afternoon at Grandma's house. Four-and-a-half-year-old Willie loves to visit Grandma's house, where the stairs are "dark as chocolate" and the dust dances in the sunlight, where he can kiss Grandma's wrinkled, crinkled cheeks and be served tea in the dining room. Grandma even has a special prize waiting for Willie. Here, in an atmosphere rich in trust and understanding, mistakes are forgiven and lessons are learned. With Grandma's assistance, Willie discovers that some problems can be readily solved and good secrets are a wonderful gift. Willie has promised to stay out of trouble on this visit to Grandma's house. "Last weekend," his mother admonishes him, "you cut up all the fruit and put it in the big bowl and poured salt on top. If there's any trouble, you won't go overnight for a year." Unfortunately, Willie (in the way of all four-year-olds) is so busy enjoying himself that trouble sneaks up on him again. But it's Grandma to the rescue, as she works her magic to restore order. The trouble, Grandma tells her daughter, "was that Willie and I didn't have enough time together."

Set at one young boy's annual family reunion, this Caldecott Honor-winning picture book is a rich and moving celebration of Black history, culture, and the power of family traditions. "On reunion morning, we rise before the sun. Daddy hums as he packs our car with suitcases and a cooler full of snacks. He says there's nothing like going down home" Down home is Granny's house. Down home is where Lil Alan and his parents and sister will gather with great-grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Down home is where Lil Alan will hear stories of the ancestors and visit the land that has meant so much to all of them. And down home is where all of the children will find their special way to pay tribute to their family history. All the kids have to decide what they'll share, but what will Lil Alan do? Kelly Starling Lyons' eloquent text explores the power of history and family traditions, and stunning illustrations by Coretta Scott King Honor- and Caldecott Honor-winner Daniel Minter reveal the motion and connections in a large, multi-generational family.

Award-winning storyteller Donna L. Washington has cooked up a delightfully spooky tale in this imaginative twist on the classic "Goldilocks." Curly Locks is a good-hearted girl, but she's an awful cook. All the townspeople of Toadsuck Swamp know to steer clear of her peculiar dishes—like batwing brownies and toad eye toffees. So it's quite a mystery when one of her dishes goes missing from her windowsill. Next morning, chaos breaks out in town and word spreads how the Scares of Toadsuck Swamp are running wild and terrorizing the town at mealtime. They shriek "Gitchey Boo, Gitchey Bon! Gitchey Goo, Gitchey Gone!" and send folk running for their lives! But Curly Locks isn't frightened, and she has an inkling her unsavory cooking can help corral those Scares for good. Exercising tremendous narrative skill, internationally known storyteller Donna L. Washington breathes a spirited new life into an old classic. Her clever, can-do protagonist and joyful language pair brilliantly with Jeffrey Ebbeler's fantasy-like illustrations. This enchanting read is a treat for any time of the year!

A delightfully warm, encouraging story of a young girl and the special library dog who helps her develop patience, acceptance, and confidence as she learns to read, from award-winning author-illustrator Lisa Papp. Madeline Finn does NOT like to read. But she DOES want a gold star from her teacher. Except stars are for good readers, for understanding words, and for saying them out loud—things that Madeline Finn doesn't believe she can do. Fortunately, Madeline Finn finds a little help when she meets Bonnie, a library dog. Reading out loud to Bonnie isn't so bad, and when Madeline Finn gets stuck, Bonnie doesn't mind. As it turns out, it's fun to read when you're not afraid of making mistakes. Bonnie teaches Madeline Finn that it's okay to go slow—and, most importantly, to keep trying. Lisa Papp offers an inspiring and comforting story, perfect for new readers who just need a little confidence to overcome their fears.