Cathy Camper

This book is about the story of 3 friends who go on a journey to find their pet cat, Genie. Their journey takes them through the city, to a maize maze, down into the underworld, where they must pass through a knife wind, bring water to the center of the earth, and then fight the lord of the underworld. In the end they rescue their cat and make it out of the underworld in one piece. This book would be good for either 4th or 5th graders since it is longer, but it's a graphic novel, making it a little easier of a read. The book can be used to teach students about friendship and teamwork and also includes a short part about dia de los muertos.… (mais)

Lina wakes to find her neighborhood covered in snow. Last night’s blizzard left everything quiet and white. As she walks to her grandmothers to make a special meal of warak enab, Lina encounters new sounds in the snow-covered neighborhood. Lina knows her grandmother cannot see very well and asks about the snowstorm. She realizes that her Sitti has heard the snow rather than seeing it. Lina discovers 10 diverse ways to hear snow.

Wonderful, clean illustrations take the reader with Lina as she travels to Sitti’s house, and the onomatopoeia of the story heightens the sounds Lina is experiencing. This quiet book celebrates the sounds and feel of Lina’s journey, but also her strong familial relationships and Lebanese culture.
… (mais)