Tree of Cranes by Allen Say

In Japan, a Japanese boy celebrates Xmas with his mom who used to live in California when she was younger.  They dig out a pine tree that was planted when the boy was born and bring it into the house to decorate with origami cranes and candles.  The boy receives a warrior kite as a gift for promising to stay away from a dangerous pond with pretty fish.  There's something seriously zen about the books that Allen Say writes :o)  I love them all!

 

Dancing to Freedom: The True Story of Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin and illustrated by Anne Spudvilas

Autobiographical picture book about a poor boy from China who leaves his poor village and grows up to become a world renowned dancer.  The story is uplifting and inspiring. 

 

Manuelo the Playing Mantis by Don Freeman

Manuelo is a praying mantis who wishes to make beautiful music like the cricket, katydid and frog.  A spider comes along and they make a cello together.  Soon Manuelo is the leader of a music making group made up of different insects.

 

Outside and Inside Giant Squid by Sandra Markle

Giant squid are completely fascinating!  Their eyes are as big as volleyballs and can move independently of each other.  The right eye can look up and the left eye can look down!  They have 3 hearts and the plasticlike "spine" is called the gladius. 

 

Splat the Cat by Rob Scotton

It's Splat's first day of school and he's nervous about not having any friends.  Chaos ensues when he lets his mouse Seymour out of his lunchbox.  This is a simple, fun book.