Stealing Little Moon is both a moving family saga and an expertly told true story that all Americans should know. --Steve Sheinkin, New York Times bestselling author of Bomb and Undefeated

Scholastic Focus is the premier home of thoroughly researched, beautifully written, and thoughtfully designed works of narrative nonfiction aimed at middle grade and young adult readers. These books help readers learn about the world in which they live and develop their critical thinking skills so that they may become dynamic citizens who are able to analyze and understand our past, participate in essential discussions about our present, and work to grow and build our future.

Little Moon There Are No Stars Tonight was four years old when armed federal agents showed up at her home and took her from her family. Under the authority of the government, she was sent away to a boarding school specifically created to strip her of her Ponca culture and teach her the ways of white society. Little Moon was one of thousands of Indigenous children forced to attend these schools across America and give up everything they'd ever known: family, friends, toys, clothing, food, customs, even their language. She would be the first of four generations of her family who would go to the Chilocco Indian Agricultural School.

Dan SaSuWeh Jones chronicles his family's time at Chilocco--starting with his grandmother Little Moon's arrival when the school first opened and ending with him working on the maintenance crew when the school shut down nearly one hundred years later. Together with the voices of students from other schools, both those who died and those who survived, Dan brings to light the lasting legacy of the boarding school era.

Part American history, part family history, Stealing Little Moon is a powerful look at the miseducation and the mistreatment of Indigenous kids, while celebrating their strength, resiliency, and courage--and the ultimate failure of the United States government to erase them.

Celebrate Black History Month with extraordinary Black heroes throughout history--biographies for kids ages 8 to 12

You're invited to meet ancient rulers, brilliant scientists, legendary musicians, and civil rights activists--all in the same book! Black Heroes: A Black History Book for Kids introduces you to 51 Black leaders and role models from both historical and modern times. This collection of Black history biographies for kids features inspirational stories of trailblazers from the United States, Egypt, Britain, and more.

Discover where in the world they lived, and what their lives and families were like growing up. Learn about the obstacles they faced, such as escaping slavery, on the way to making groundbreaking accomplishments. You'll find out how these inspirational figures left a legacy of lasting change--and paved the way for future generations.

Fascinating biographies -- Read about famous icons like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Harriet Tubman, as well as lesser-known pioneers like aviator Bessie Coleman and astronomer Benjamin Banneker.

Colorful portraits -- Bring these 51 historical heroes to life in your imagination with beautiful illustrations of each one.

Ways to learn more -- Every biography includes an option to keep exploring the person and their work--like a book to read, website to visit, or video to watch.

Who will your new hero be?

Introduce your little ones in English and Spanish to Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, known together as the Elephant and the Dove.

Who's your other half, your media naranja?

Medias naranjas: Diego & Frida will introduce your little ones to two of Mexico's iconic figures and the friendship that united them. Muralist Diego Rivera and artist Frida Kahlo were each other's muses and peculiar halves. This iconic, creative couple has left the art world ablaze with their murals, paintings and love stories. They will be forever known by their nicknames, of the Elephant and the Dove.

Parents will adore this bilingual English-Spanish hardcover as it introduces little ones to the iconic artists, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, and the lasting impact they left in Mexico and beyond!

Yuyi Morales brought her hopes, her passion, her strength, and her stories with her, when she came to the United States in 1994 with her infant son. She left behind nearly everything she owned, but she didn't come empty-handed.

From the author-illustrator of Bright Star, Dreamers is a celebration of making your home with the things you always carry: your resilience, your dreams, your hopes and history. It's the story of finding your way in a new place, of navigating an unfamiliar world and finding the best parts of it. In dark times, it's a promise that you can make better tomorrows.

This lovingly-illustrated picture book memoir looks at the myriad gifts migrantes bring with them when they leave their homes. It's a story about family. And it's a story to remind us that we are all dreamers, bringing our own strengths wherever we roam. Beautiful and powerful at any time but given particular urgency as the status of our own Dreamers becomes uncertain, this is a story that is both topical and timeless.

The lyrical text is complemented by sumptuously detailed illustrations, rich in symbolism. Also included are a brief autobiographical essay about Yuyi's own experience, a list of books that inspired her (and still do), and a description of the beautiful images, textures, and mementos she used to create this book.
A parallel Spanish-language edition, Soñadores, is also available.

Winner of the Pura Belpré Illustrator Award!
A New York Times / New York Public Library Best Illustrated Book
A New York Times Bestseller
Recipient of the Flora Stieglitz Strauss Award
A 2019 Boston Globe - Horn Book Honor Recipient
An Anna Dewdney Read Together Honor Book
Named a Best Book of 2018 by Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, Shelf Awareness, NPR, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune, Salon.com-- and many more!
A Junior Library Guild selection
A Eureka! Nonfiction Honoree
A Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon title
A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year
A CLA Notable Children's Book in Language Arts
Selected for the CBC Champions of Change Showcase

In 1762, Prince Abdulrahman Sori was born in West Africa's prosperous kingdom of Futa Jallon. His name meant servant of God, and as a child, he was fascinated by the stories of the great prophets Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. Each had faced great challenges, and each had accepted their fate as determined by God, no matter how difficult.

Always curious, Abdulrahman grew up to become a scholar, fluent in five languages. He was also a warrior, a husband, a father, and an instrumental leader in his father's court.

But that happy life was cruelly ripped away the day Abdulrahman and his men were ambushed while on patrol by a rival tribe and sold to English traders. Forced aboard a ship, Abdulrahman was taken across the Atlantic to Natchez, Mississippi, and enslaved.

Resistant at first, Abdulrahman ran away, but ultimately, like the prophets he revered, Abdulrahman accepted his fate as determined by God. So with a heavy heart, he began a new life helping the plantation owner prosper, and after some time, though risky, Abdulrahman found love and became a father again. Then, by virtue of an incredible coincidence, Abdulrahman's life changed once more, setting into motion a series of events that would not only free Abdulrahman, but return him to African shores after forty years of enslavement.

Incredibly well-researched, N. H. Senzai chronicles Prince Abdulrahman's remarkable life and journey to freedom with extraordinary grace and care, illuminating not only the horrors of slavery, but how one Muslim man relied on his faith in God to persevere. Anna Rich's striking art makes each scene of Abdulrahman's life sing with emotion and meaning.

Discover the backstory of one of America's favorite toys, the yo-yo, in this colorful biography of businessman Pedro Flores.

It can spin and roll, leap and twirl. You can stretch it between your hands or swing it between your legs. The tricks you can do with one are nearly endless. No wonder the yo-yo is one of the most successful toys ever made! And its popularity began with a Filipino immigrant.

Pedro Flores was born in the Philippines in 1896, when Spain still ruled his country. After the US took over, Pedro traveled to California, received an education, and looked for ways to go into business for himself. Then he remembered a toy from his childhood called the yo-yo, which means come back in Tagalog. With a couple of blocks of wood and a little string, Pedro created his first model yo-yo and practiced tricks to show it off.

It was an instant hit! When children saw the yo-yo in action, they clamored to get one themselves. So Pedro always performed his tricks near movie theaters, outside candy shops--anywhere he knew children would see the toy. Soon he was hiring fellow Filipinos to advertise it for him, while he ran factories that manufactured more than a million yo-yos a week! Winner of Lee & Low's New Voices award, Pedro's Yo-Yos is the lively story of one immigrant's ups and downs as an entrepreneur and his determination to create a toy that would capture the imagination of children and adults all over the world.

the author's rise from migrant farm worker to astronaut

A loving tribute to a towering figure in Jewish American history from two award-winning creators.

Two-time National Jewish Book Award winner Norman H. Finkelstein and Sydney Taylor Award winner Vesper Stamper have teamed up to tell the story of Abraham Cahan, the founder and longtime editor of the Yiddish language newspaper the Forverts (the Forward), which, in its heyday, was one of the largest newspapers in the United States. As the saying went: What's a home without the Forverts?

From explaining voting rights to the importance of public health measures to everyday questions like how to play baseball, Cahan improved the lives of countless newly arrived Jewish immigrants who wanted to feel at home in a new, strange land. He also published celebrated writers such as Isaac Bashevis Singer and created the iconic advice column the Bintel Brief for homesick readers.

Back matter includes a bibliography, a time line, more info on Cahan's life and the Yiddish language, and a note on the author's personal connection to the Forverts.

An Instant New York Times and Indie Bestseller!

In the first middle grade offering from Zora Neale Hurston and Ibram X. Kendi, young readers are introduced to the remarkable and true-life story of Cudjo Lewis, one of the last survivors of the Atlantic human trade, in an adaptation of the internationally bestselling and critically acclaimed Barracoon.

This is the life story of Cudjo Lewis, as told by himself.

Of the millions of men, women, and children transported from Africa to America to be enslaved, eighty-six-year-old Cudjo Lewis was then the only person alive to tell the story of his capture and bondage--fifty years after the Atlantic human trade was outlawed in the United States. Cudjo shared his firsthand account with legendary folklorist, anthropologist, and writer Zora Neale Hurston.

Adapted with care and delivered with age-appropriate historical context by award-winning historian Ibram X. Kendi, Cudjo's incredible story is now available for young readers and emerging scholars. With powerful illustrations by Jazzmen Lee-Johnson, this poignant work is an invaluable contribution to our shared history and culture.

Come and meet 101 of the world's greatest Black inventors ranging from superb scientists to incredible innovators to exciting entrepreneurs who changed the face of technology and design! 101 Black Inventors and their Inventions introduces you to 101 groundbreaking historical and modern-day Black inventors.

This beautifully illustrated book will take you on a journey to discover the lives of these inspirational inventors and how they came to impact the world with their unique ideas. From Gerald Lawson's home video game console that led to the Xbox and PlayStation to Annie Malone's haircare products which led her to become a millionaire, read and be amazed at just how much these real-life superheroes achieved in the face of adversity and, at times, discrimination paving the way for future generations.

Delve into 101 Black Inventors and their Inventions and have a think about what inventions you might like to invent.

Following on from 101 Black Inventors and their Inventions, come and meet another 101 of the world's greatest Black inventors ranging from superb scientists to incredible innovators to exciting entrepreneurs who have changed the face of technology and design! Another 101 Black Inventors and Their Inventions introduces you to more groundbreaking historical and modern-day Black inventors.

This beautifully illustrated book will take you on a journey to discover the lives of these inspirational inventors and how they came to impact the world with their unique ideas. From Henry Thomas Sampson's rocket fuels that powered and launched satellites to Gladys Mae Brown West whose work led to the development of the Global Positioning System (GPS), read and be amazed at just how much these real-life superheroes achieved in the face of adversity and, at times, discrimination paving the way for future generations.

Delve into Another 101 Black Inventors and Their Inventions and have a think about what inventions you might like to invent!

Introduce your little ones to the famous graffiti artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat, in both English and Spanish.

Known for his contributions to graffiti and neo-expressionism, Jean-Michel Basquiat became one of the youngest household names in the world of art. The Haitian-Puerto Rican prodigy used his obsessive scribbling and skull designs to paint his legacy through New York--and worldwide.

Parents will discover this biography book on Basquiat to be an encouraging story to their little ones hoping to express themselves through creativity, imagination, and, most importantly, perseverance.

No space, no problem. Poor soil, there's a solution. Need help, found it. Farmer Will is a genius in solving problems. In 2008, the MacArthur Foundation named him one for his innovative urban farming methods, including aquaponics and hydroponics.

Jacqueline Briggs Martin, author of the Caldecott Medal winner, Snowflake Bentley, and Alice Waters and the Trip to Delicious , along with debut artist Eric-Shabazz Larkin's striking artwork, tells the inspiring story of the African American innovator, educator, and community builder.

Farmer Will Allen is the first book of Martin's Food Heroes series, followed by Alice Waters and the Trip to Delicious. In 2015, it was selected by Points of Light Foundation to set a new Guinness World Record for the most children reading the same book across the globe to promote literacy. Nearly 300,000 participated.

Charlotte Cheng's grandfather always had a bag of coins rustling in his pocket. That bag carried with it a story of joyful jingles, sultry summers, and fresh frozen fruit which began in 1965 in the lush valleys and mountains of an island called Taiwan.

This story of Agong's Icy Fruit company, from first inspired idea through experimentation to countrywide success, is a lyrical, lively, and richly illustrated read that's part biography, part family tribute, and part celebration of summer. Gather round for Icy Fruit!

RECIPIENT OF THE PURA BELPR HONOR

* A Today Show's Best Kids' Books of 2019 * Indie Next List Pick * Junior Library Guild Selection *

An appealing tribute and successful remedy to the lack of titles about the groundbreaking librarian...a must-have for all libraries. --School Library Journal (starred review)

An inspiring picture book biography of storyteller, puppeteer, and New York City's first Puerto Rican librarian, who championed bilingual literature.

When she came to America in 1921, Pura Belpr carried the cuentos folkl ricos of her Puerto Rican homeland. Finding a new home at the New York Public Library as a bilingual assistant, she turned her popular retellings into libros and spread story seeds across the land. Today, these seeds have grown into a lush landscape as generations of children and storytellers continue to share her tales and celebrate Pura's legacy.

Brought to colorful life by Paola Escobar's elegant and exuberant illustrations and Anika Aldamuy Denise's lyrical text, this gorgeous book is perfect for the pioneers in your life.

Informative backmatter and suggested further reading included.

A Spanish-language edition, Sembrando historias: Pura Belpr bibliotecaria y narradora de cuentos, is also available.

Anika Aldamuy Denise's intimate telling captures the magical, folk-tale feeling of Belpr 's own stories. Her lyrical text, sprinkled like fairy dust with Spanish words, begs to be read aloud, while Paola Escobar's stylishly detailed and warmly expressive illustrations capture the joy of sharing stories. --New York Times Book Review

Introduce little ones to the life of legendary soccer player, Pelé, in both English and Spanish!

Born October 23, 1940 in Brazil, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, is widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time.

Bilingual English/Spanish. The Upside Down Boy is award-winning poet Juan Felipe Herrera's engaging memoir of the year his migrant family settled down so that he could go to school for the first time.

Juanito is bewildered by the new school, and he misses the warmth of country life. Everything he does feels upside down. He eats lunch when it's recess; he goes out to play when it's time for lunch; and his tongue feels like a rock when he tries to speak English. But a sensitive teacher and loving family help him to find his voice and make a place for himself in this new world through poetry, art, and music.

Juan Felipe Herrera's playful language and the colorful, magical art of Elizabeth Gómez capture the universal experience of children entering a new school feeling like strangers in a world that seems upside down-at first.

This book is based on my life, all the hurt and pain I have experienced in my life from the deaths of my brothers, mom, friends, cousins, and grandfather. When COVID-19 took place in 2020, I began to write my thoughts down. We had never experienced a horrific event like that, and it was so scary to see the entire world go through changes that would impact us for the rest of our lives.

To heal from all the things I have gone through in life, I wanted to write a book. I felt this was the perfect opportunity to talk about everything. I talk about the challenges of being a school teacher, a single mom with two autistic kids with ADHD, the mental health challenges with the students I serve on a daily basis, and the deaths of my loved ones.

It was like letting my soul bleed out, and when I began to write, it became difficult at times to discuss the different things that affected my life. I feel that other people can relate to this book based on love relationships, the death of my kids' father, and other topics.