New Releases by Carmen Agra Deedy

The story of a Cuban refugee and her joy in an unexpected encounter that connects her beloved home in Havana with her new home in Atlanta Each evening Coqui waits for the familiar cry of the Peanut Man—"¡Mani! Peanuts!”—and watches for him to appear on the street below her window. They always greet each other in their own special way—Coqui tucks her thumbs in her ears and sticks out her tongue at Emilio. And Emilio, to her great amusement, does the same in return. Night after night, the two friends continue their ritual. One evening, Coqui sadly announces, “Nos vamos.” She tells him that they have to leave Cuba. They are going to the United States. Emilio tries to assure her that she will like many things about los Estados Unidos, especially beisbol, her favorite sport. “But don’t forget your friend Emilio,” he says as he walks away. “¡Nunca!” she calls out through tears. She could never forget him. Coqui and her family arrive in Decatur, Georgia, in the dead of winter to snow-covered ground. Her father seals the windows with duct tape and they await the arrival of spring. Coqui watches for the Peanut Man, but he does not appear. Several years pass, she learns wobbly English, and becomes a devoted Atlanta Braves fan. She forgets her beloved Peanut Man. Then one day her father surprises her with the perfect birthday gift—two tickets for a Braves game to see their favorite player Hammerin’ Hank Aaron. As they settle into their seats amid the cheering crowds, Coqui hears a man yelling “Peanuts! Get your peanuts!” The delicious smell of roasted peanuts reaches her and memories of home and Emilio rush into her head. With luminous illustrations by the award-winning artist Raúl Colón, this story of immigration, of being displaced and finding a connection to home, reminds us how much alike we humans are, regardless of culture, color, or creed.

A funny, playful salute to the value of books and libraries from the New York Times best-selling and beloved author Carmen Agra Deedy. Sunrise Elementary School had a BIG problem. Their new librarian was a real Dragon! When Miss Lotta Scales read an ad for a thick-skinned librarian with a burning love of books, she knew she was perfect for the job. After all, who could guard books better than a real dragon? She took her job seriously: hundreds of new, clean books replaced the old, smudged ones. The thought of sticky little fingers touching and clutching her precious books made her hot under the collar! The principal tried to reason with her, and she singed his tie. The teachers sent a delegation, including sweet Miss Lemon, who told her “the library belongs to the children,” but they were all sent away scorched. When nearsighted Molly Brickmeyer stumbled into the library looking for her glasses, she bumped into a shelf, and a book tumbled into her hands. As she began to read aloud, and the children came to listen, they came face to face with Miss Lotta Scales. Could a book read out loud temper the flames of the school’s hot-headed librarian? Often used to introduce the library during the first week of school, this classic picture book is reissued with an author’s note and a QR code to access an audio recording read by the author.

Carmen Agra Deedy, New York Times bestselling author and one of Scholastic’s most talented and cherished storytellers, retells a hilarious folktale set in Havana, Cuba. Illustrated by the brilliant, award-winning artist, Henry Cole. This is the first collaboration by this dynamic duo! The trouble started with a parrot and a bad idea. Pepe the parrot was beak over claws in love . . . with a cat! Until . . . u200bu200bu200bu200bu200bu200bu200b With a gobble and slurp, Carina swallowed that parrot whole! In fact — she ate everyone in her path: A florista and her flowers, the carretaro and his ox, a chivo and his boy — and more! Who will be able to stop this greedy cat? u200bu200bu200bu200bu200bu200bu200b u200bu200bu200bu200bu200bu200bu200bu200bIn this wickedly funny, classic folktale infused with vivid color and Cuban spice, Carmen Agra Deedy and Henry Cole have merged their talents to create an inspiring and satisfying picture book that proves it’s the smallest of creatures who sometimes possess the most surprising strength!

As time travelers, students will journey alongside the spirited and curious character Erg to learn about the power of solar energy... from the past, present, and future. Students will enjoy exploring inventions, learning fun facts -- and dreaming of solar discoveries to come! -- from title page verso.

A kindhearted wombat offers refuge to a parade of animal friends during an Australian bushfire in a delightful new picture book from New York Times best-selling creators Carmen Agra Deedy and Brian Lies. Australian bushfires roar above Wombat’s home. He is fortunate that his burrow is deep below ground and he is safe. He snuggles under his crazy quilt and drinks his tea. Then, one by one, five uniquely Australian animals – Wallaby, Kookaburra, Platypus, Koala, and Sugar Glider – seek refuge from the fires, and Wombat welcomes them all. When you have the heart of a wombat, there’s always room for one more! Fellowship, empathy, and adorable Australian animals star in this delightfully heartwarming and funny story about help in the time of trouble from author Carmen Agra Deedy (14 Cows for America, The Library Dragon, The Rooster Who Would Not Stay Quiet) and Caldecott Honoree Brian Lies (The Rough Patch, Bats at the Beach). The book will delight children with Deedy’s engaging story and Lies masterfully rendered animals. It is an ideal read-aloud for adults seeking a story with humor and heart. Generosity and kindness provide powerful SEL themes. Older readers will get a glimpse of the unique environmental challenges presented by the country’s annual bushfire season.

A beautiful picture book for older readers about life, death, and the enduring power of love from award-winning author and storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy. Bessie and Ninny are the best of friends. Sometimes on milk-moon nights, Ninny throws buttons at Bessie''s window. When Bessie peeks outside, Ninny sings: "Bessie, oh Bessie! Come dance with me! For I hate to dance alone..." Down the drainpipe Bessie slides to visit Ninny, and off they go. Most nights, they visit the grave of Ninny''s grandfather, Oppa. It was Oppa who taught them three things that they will never forget: to dance, to sing, and to tell stories. Oppah''s wisdom ultimately inspires a pact between the two young friends—a pact that binds them together through love and marriage, war and separation, birth and death. In this simple but extraordinary story, New York Times best-selling author Carmen Agra Deedy speaks to readers about the value of promises and the limitless power of love even in the face of death.

Have you ever seen the moon on a clear blue day and wondered why? “...Emotive watercolors...The well-told tale works on multiple levels....” --School Library Journal There once was a time when the sun alone ruled the day, the moon graced the night, and little children were sent to bed before sunset. Then early one dawn, the moon heard sounds of children laughing, and she yearned to see them by daylight. "Certainly not!" snapped the sun. "The day is mine. The night is yours!" But the moon had a clever plan... Carmen Agra Deedy and Jim LaMarche have brilliantly crafted an original pourquoi tale about finding one''s place in the universe.

Pura Belpre Honoree Carmen Agra Deedy and Newbery Honor-book author/illustrator Eugene Yelchin have created a powerful tale that celebrates the spirit of freedom. La Paz es un pueblo alegre, pero ruidoso. Un poco de silencio no le vendria nada mal. Asi que la gente del pueblo elige a don Pepe de alcalde para que resuelva el problema del ruido. Muy pronto, se prohibe cantar en cualquier sitio. ¡Y hasta las teteras tienen miedo de pitar! Pero un gallito muy ruidoso, a quien le importa un pito las reglas del alcalde, sigue haciendo lo que los gallos hacen desde que nacen: ¡cantar! La Paz is a happy, but noisy village. A little peace and quiet would make it just right. So the villagers elect the bossy Don Pepe as their mayor. Before long, singing of any kind is outlawed. Even the teakettle is afraid to whistle! But there is one noisy rooster who doesn''t give two mangos about this mayor''s silly rules. Instead, he does what roosters were born to do.

Without the yellow star to point them out, the Jews looked like any other Danes. In 1940, Nazis occupied Denmark and King Christian X, beloved amongst his people, had to find some way to resist their overwhelming power. When the order went out that all Jews must wear a yellow star on their clothes, the king had an idea that might just work. But it would take the faith and commitment of all Danes. In this retelling of a World War II legend, New York Times best-selling author Carmen Agra Deedy poignantly remind us of the power of a good, wise leader. Paired with Henri Sørensen''s arresting full-color portraits, this is a powerful and dignified story of heroic justice.

Have you ever been REALLY mad at your best friend? * "This well-crafted story is an excellent choice for those seeking books featuring conflict-resolution." -- Booklist, starred reviewIn two little houses,on two little hills,lived two best friends...So begins the story of Rita and Ralph. Every day they meet to play beneath the apple tree. It''s always fun and games -- until one roundly rotten day when a new game means someone ends up crying. Who knew it could be so hard to say "I''m sorry?"Just when it seems nothing will ever be right again, a surprising thing happens. The old friends try something new, that isn''t new at all. Something they''ve done a hundred times...Carmen Agra Deedy''s brilliant storytelling combined with Pete Oswald''s spirited illustrations make for a comforting tale of healing and true friendship.

The beautiful Martina Josefina Catalina Cucaracha doesn''t know coffee beans about love and marriage, so when suitors come calling, what is she to do? Luckily, she has her Cuban family to help! While some of the Cucarachas offer Martina gifts to make her more attractive, only Abuela, her grandmother, gives her some useful advice: spill coffee on his shoes to see how he handles anger. At first, Martina is skeptical of her Abuela''s suggestion, but when suitor after suitor fails the Coffee Test, she wonders if a little green cockroach can ever find true love. After reading this award-winning retelling of the Cuban folktale, readers will never look at a cockroach the same way again. Carmen Agra Deedy delivers a delightfully inventive Cuban twist on the beloved Martina folktale, complete with a dash of café Cubano.

This New York Times bestseller recounts the true story of the touching gift bestowed on the US by the Maasai people in the wake of the September 11 attacks. In June of 2002, a mere nine months since the September 11 attacks, a very unusual ceremony begins in a far-flung village in western Kenya. An American diplomat is surrounded by hundreds of Maasai people. A gift is about to be bestowed upon the American men, women, and children, and he is there to accept it. The gift is as unexpected as it is extraordinary. Hearts are raw as these legendary Maasai warriors offer their gift to a grieving people half a world away. Word of the gift will travel newswires around the globe, and for the heartsick American nation, the gift of fourteen cows emerges from the choking dust and darkness as a soft light of hope―and friendship. With stunning paintings from Thomas Gonzalez, master storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy (in collaboration with Naiyomah) hits all the right notes in this elegant story of generosity that crosses boundaries, nations, and cultures.

In this playful homage to Charles Dickens, Skilley, an alley cat with an embarrassing secret, longs to escape his street-cat life. Hoping to trade London''s damp alleyways for the warmth of ye olde Cheshire Cheese Inn, Skilley strikes a bargain with Pip, an erudite mouse. Skilley will protect the mice who live at the inn, and in turn, the mice will provide Skilley with the thing he desires most. But when Skilley and Pip are drawn into a crisis of monumental proportions, their new friendship is pushed to its limits. The escalating crisis threatens the peace not only of the Cheshire Cheese Inn but the entire British Monarchy! New York Times best-selling author Carmen Agra Deedy and coauthor Randall Wright collaborate on this compelling story set in Victorian England. With the artwork of award-winning illustrator Barry Moser, The Cheshire Cheese Cat is filled with charming characters and strong themes of friendship and loyalty.

"The mayor of the noisy city of La Paz institutes new laws forbidding all singing, but a brave little rooster decides he must sing, despite the progressively severe punishments he receives for continuing to crow"--

In this witty sequel to the beloved classic The Library Dragon, Miss Lotty is finally checking herself out of the Sunrise Elementary School Library, but not before Lotta Scales makes one final, fiery appearance. After 557 years of faithful service, Miss Lotty is retiring from guarding books. But on her very last day, disaster strikes! Someone has ordered all the books to be removed from the library and replaced with machines! It''s enough to make Lotty feel a little...dragon-like. After she bursts into a fiery rage, can anything make her shed her scales again? Best-selling author Carmen Agra Deedy''s timely and humorous tale is paired with Michael P. White''s lively illustrations to create an unforgettable sequel with an important message for librarians and students alike.

A collection of stories by Celestine Sibley about different characters around Christmas time

Some dreams are just too big to be kept in bottles. New York Times best-selling author Carmen Agra Deedy brings to life the story of Walter Higgins, a scrappy kid with a great imagination. When he''s shipped off to Boston to visit his unknown Great Aunt Hortensia, aka "the Warden," Walter is sure that this will be the worst summer ever. Then a lonely, grizzled sailor named Old Zeb comes into Walter''s life, and together they work on the Great Secret Project. Little by little, Old Zeb and Great Aunt Hortensia lead Walter to realize his own dreams and discover the magic that can be released when you reach for the stars. Deedy''s fun-filled and magical story reminds us of the power of reaching for impossible dreams.

Thirteen-year-old Guy and his mother leave California to move in with his grandfather in Montana after his father''s "unannounced departure." Having trouble fitting in, Guy quickly becomes a target for the class bully. But he has his beloved Border collie, Streak, and eventually he makes a friend, classmate Luke Grant. Soon Guy and Luke hatch a plan to train Streak to compete against the bully and his dog at the town''s Frisbee catching competition. But the rivalry between them escalates until a impulsive wager pits the boys head to head and places Streak in jeopardy.

In a dwindling forest, deep and old, by the banks of a river, dark and gold, there live three friends: a boa named Ana Conda, a sloth named Slow Jim, and a toucan named Bill, just Bill. THUS BEGINS A tale of generosity and tropical lunacy by Carmen Agra Deedy which will captivate readers young and old, all the way to its outrageous conclusion. Set in the equatorial rainforest, TreeMan is the story of three South American friends who meet the most revered resident of the North Pole (thanks to a bungling pilot) and, through that meeting, are introduced to a world outside their own threatened habitat. The result is an unforgettably funny Christmas story in which nothing turns out as expected and not everyone is who he seems to be. TreeMan reminds us of how much the heart and spirit matter. And that good intentions sometimes pave the way to... paradise.

A delightful twist on the O. Henry classic "The Gift of the Magi," starring a weaver and six angry, naked geese. From award-winning author and storyteller Carmen Agra Deedy. When children approach Agatha wanting to know the source of the beautiful fabrics in her weaving shop, she always recites a simple verse. "Everything comes from something, Nothing comes from nothing. Just like paper comes from trees, And glass comes from sand, An answer comes from a question. All you have to do is ask." Agatha spins yarn and weaves cloth like no other, and she''s worked hard to sell enough wares to buy a brand new feather bed. However, when six angry, naked geese show up to get their feathers back, Agatha must reckon with how precious resources can be. New York Times best-selling author Carmen Agra Deedy puts a delightful twist on the O. Henry story "The Gift of the Magi," reminding us of the delicate balance between our resources and responsibilities.