Tony Johnston

Twelve-year-old Manuel leaves his small town in Mexico to join his older brother in Los Angeles. To cross the US border, he must become a "beast rider"—someone who hops on a train. The first time he tries, he is stopped by the Mexican police, who arrest and beat him. When he tries again, he is attacked by a Mexican gang and left for dead. Just when Manuel is ready to turn back, he finds new hope. Villagers clothe and feed him, help him find

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Lizzie meets an elderly man and his companion, Cecile, at the park, but Lizzie is afraid of dogs, so she relies on her new friend to help her take things one step at a time.

Rabbit outwits Coyote in this Zapotec tale which explains why coyotes howl at the moon.

A young boy is embarrassed by his grandfather's old Japanese ways, but on one of their Fishing Sundays, he learns to see Grandfather in a new light.

In 1950s Tennessee, ten-year-old David's racist father refuses to let him associate with his best friend Malcolm, an African American boy.

A young boy lists all the things he will have to take with him on his first day in kindergarten.

The country of Mexico has long been a popular travel destination. But there's much more to enjoy and appreciate than just sunshine and warm temperatures when exploring this region with its ancient history and proud traditions. Enjoy an A-Z tour of our neighbor to the south in P is for Piñata: A Mexico Alphabet. Young readers can visit the tomb of a Mayan king, experience the life of the vaquero (Mexican cowboy), attend the world-famous Ballet Folklórico...

Unwelcomed by their neighbors because they are squiggly, skinny, and long, the Worm family moves from place to place before finally finding friends who accept and appreciate those who are different.

The great sculptor Gaston Pompicard creates a snow sculpture for his friends the children, and then later he receives a similar gift from them during the last snow of winter.

With great gusto, a child's grandmother performs deep knee bends, consumes a breakfast of "huevos estrellados," and practices vocal exercises before going to work as a storyteller.