Sonia Sanchez

There are intimate verses here for family and friends, verses of profound loss and silence, of courage and resilience. Sanchez is innovative, composing haiku in new forms, including a section of moving two-line poems that reflect on the long wake of 9/11. In a brief and personal opening essay, the poet explains her deep appreciation for haiku as an art form. With its touching portraits and by turns uplifting and heartbreaking lyrics, Morning Haiku...

"A representative collection of the life work of the much-honored poet and a founder of the Black Arts movement, spanning four decades of her literary career"--

Evelyn Del Rey is Daniela's best friend. They do everything together and even live in twin apartments across the street from each other: Daniela with her mami and hamster, and Evelyn with her mami, papi, and cat. But not after today--not after Evelyn moves away. Until then, the girls play amid the moving boxes until it's time to say goodbye, making promises to keep in touch, because they know that their friendship will always be special. The tenderness...

"A day at the community pool is full of unwater magic--dunking and diving with friends; somersaulting, walking on your hands, and bursting up through the surface like a tortoise. But when a thunderstorm comes and a little brother ventures too close to the pool's edge, will our main character be quick enough and brave enough to save the day?"--

Loosely adapted from The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Ruby and her brothers want to cross a bridge to pick blueberries, but it is guarded by the bully Santiago--the boys manage to trick him, but clever Ruby takes a different tack, builds her own bridge, and turns Santiago into an ally and friend.

"When a boy's grandmother shows him how to fold an origami crane, the boy and crane become instant friends. They sail around the room and play, but the crane also watches over the boy and comforts him in a time of loss. The crane is always on the boy's nightstand--it's the last thing he sees each night and the first thing he sees each morning. Over time, the boy grows older, and the crane becomes dusty. But even when the boy becomes a young man,...

When his parents yell, Quinn escapes in his Quiet Ship but one day, the ship is broken and he must find a way to stop the fighting.

"With a countdown from one to ten and back woven in, this celebration of music and community brings to life a shared moment in a diverse neighborhood where everyone comes together to make one sweet song"--

"How MUCH is the crazy-much love?" This simple question is answered as two parents recount the journey of adopting their daughter and the many milestone moments that follow. From the child's first bath and first time riding a tricycle, all the way to her boarding that big yellow bus, the crazy-much love grows SO MUCH that it spills out the windows and busts down the doors. A warm, lyrical celebration of the deep love parents hold for their children,...

When her big sister is too busy to play "Let's pretend" and tell entertaining stories, a little sister creates Sister Day.