Kids Book Index
Ricardo Chávez Castañeda
A boy confronts his father’s disturbing writing project, which concerns the killing of children across history. The project brings him face-to-face with material described as harrowing, including events that are true. Bold illustrations accompany the story page by page, giving visual form to its devastating subject matter and to the boy’s struggle with what his father is creating.
This book appears on 1 reading list across 1 edition.
On a Wing and a TearCynthia Leitich SmithAfter an injured Great-Grandfather Bat asks for help, Charlie Halfmoon, his grandson Ray, and Ray’s friend Mel take him on the road. Their destination is the Great Ball Game, where Birds face Mammals. The trip brings a legendary bat, two friends, and a contest together in a journey that carries both mystery and danger.Twelve to FourteenOn the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details
DragonfruitMakiia LucierAs a child, Hanalei and Princess Oliana are poisoned. Hanalei’s father saves her by wishing on a seadragon’s egg, but the wish brings exile and his death. Now orphaned, Hanalei helps protect seadragons from people who hunt their eggs, known as dragonfruit. Captured by a dragoner, she escapes near Tamarind and returns to the queen and Prince Sam, her childhood friend. Sam seeks an egg to heal his comatose mother, while Hanalei warns him that wishes on dragon eggs always demand a price.Twelve to FourteenOn the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details
The Door Is Open: Stories of Celebration and Community by 11 Desi Voices11 Desi VoicesEleven interconnected short stories follow young South Asian protagonists in fictional Maple Grove, New Jersey. The Maple Grove Community Center connects the stories, hosting a chess tournament, badminton and cooking classes, and a wedding. In one story, Chaya meets a rival who previously made racist comments about Indian people. Family relationships appear throughout the collection, while the center itself becomes a shared concern when its funding is threatened. The final story brings civic engagement and activism into focus as the community responds.Twelve to FourteenOn the same reading list for the same age or grade groupView book details