front desk

Another of our favorite middle grade books this year!

Mia Tang doesn’t lead a typical life.  She lives in a motel with her immigrant parents and manages the front desk.  Her hard-working parents have to deal with the cruel, heartless owner Mr. Yao and his unjust ways.  They take compassion on struggling immigrants by hiding them in the empty rooms of the motel, which they desperately need to keep secret from him.  Meanwhile, Mia is pressing on towards her dream of becoming a writer despite the fact that she’s still working on mastering English in school.  Her story is one of determination, taking risks, forming meaningful friendships and taking care of one’s community.  We’ve loved getting to know Mia—her tremendous heart, unwavering courage, selflessness and diligence were so inspiring and left a huge impression on us.

“I hope when children step into this story, that it opens their eyes and fills their hearts.  I hope it gives them empathy for people from all different backgrounds and walks of life.  I hope it gives them the courage to stand up to injustice when they see it.  Most of all, I hope it gives them the hope that we can get through anything, if we don’t give in to fear.” — from author Kelly Yang

Front Desk was written by Kelly Yang and published by Scholastic.  It’ll be out on May 29 and is available for pre-order now.  And, we’re giving away an ARC of Front Desk.  This giveaway is open to US residents and ends Sunday, May 6, at 11:00 PM PDT.  Head over to this Instagram post to enter.

little lit book series: family

This month’s theme for #littlelitbookseries is family and this is a beautiful tribute to immigrant mothers.

"My mom is a foreigner,

She's from another place.

She came when she was ten years old,

With only one suitcase."

Sometimes it’s difficult for the children of immigrants to understand their parents’ ways—the words they use, their accents, their expressions and terms of endearment (mon petit chou!) are foreign to them.  The foods their mothers make, the clothes they wear and the songs they sing are all different from what everyone else in the neighborhood does.  They feel they have nothing in common with their mothers.  But in the end—Mutti, Mamma, Mummy, Maman—is the most familiar person in the world to them.  Her voice, her cooking, the sound of her slippers shuffling across the kitchen floor—the thought of her and all her ways—feel unmistakably and overwhelmingly like home.

My Mom Is a Foreigner, But Not to Me was written by Julianne Moore, illustrated by Meilo So and published by Chronicle Books.

Stop by @littlelitbookseries for more books about family throughout the month and search #littlelitbookseries on Instagram to see what our friends are sharing today.

in the tree house

A story about a treehouse, the nostalgia of childhood, siblings growing up, and a sudden unexpected event that brings a boy and his older brother back together one quiet, dark summer night.

In the Tree House was written by Andrew Larsen, illustrated by Dusan Petricic and published by Kids Can Press.

the honeybee

We’re invited to delve into the sweet world of a little bee and the wonderful, busy life of its hive in The Honeybee.  Kirsten Hall’s lovely and energetic rhyming text is fittingly paired with Isabelle Arsenault’s radiant  and exuberant art.  An author’s note follows about practical ways readers can protect honeybees.

The Honeybee was written by Kirsten Hall, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers.  It’ll be out soon on May 8!

mabel and sam at home

A sweet story that demonstrates how young children use imaginative play to process emotions and understand significant events in their lives.  It’s moving day for Mabel and Sam and they are sailing the high seas as their belongings are packed up and transported to their new home.  Upon disembarking, they’re off to tour their “New House Museum,” with enough time to explore the reaches of outer space before bedtime.  All in a day’s work.  Children possess an innate creativity and allowing them unstructured free time lets them tap into it.  Social learning, cognitive development, language growth and of course joy — all these things take place during play.  “Play is the work of childhood.” — Jean Piaget

Also, the bond between these siblings is so endearing.

Mabel and Sam at Home: One Brave Journey in Three Adventures was written by Linda Urban, illustrated by Hadley Hooper and published by Chronicle Books.  It'll be out on June 5.