Irene Latham

Perfect for fans of A Hole Is to Dig by Ruth Krauss and Maurice Sendak, here is a cozy yet witty collection of short poems about everyday objects that will inspire a love of language in readers ages 3-7. In this inventive collection of poems, author Irene Latham invites readers to take off their shoes and wander around a wide variety of houses, meeting everyday objects with newfound wonder. These short, thoughtful poems are wordspinners--a new poetry form invented by the author that delightfully defines a word by spinning together its sound and function. Charmingly illustrated by award-winning Amy Hevron, Come In Come In is a poetic celebration that young readers will want to savor over and over.

A granddaughter makes her Giddo's birthday extra special with a surprise gift in this delightful picture book that celebrates Egyptian art and family. When Somaya and her beloved Giddo (Arabic word for grandfather) make their weekly trip to the market, Somaya is impatient to get to the tentmaker's stall; she needs help to complete a birthday surprise for Giddo, but Giddo prefers to take his time to visit his many friends. At first Somaya is frustrated by the delay, but soon she sees the importance of checking in on friends. Like Hajj Mohammed who sells shimmery pots of ink and is sad since his son moved to a faraway land. "Good Morning with roses and jasmine," Hajj Mohammed greets them before inviting Somaya to choose a pen; Somaya bleeds a special birthday message onto paper for Giddo while he and Hajj Mohammed answer the call to prayer. Next, they visit the jeweler. All around sparkling abalone fill baskets like treasure boxes. "Good morning of sweet cream, dearest Somaya," Mariam says as she strings together a beautiful necklace. Giddo decides to stay for tea with Mariam's father. Somaya loves listening to their chatter as the minty tea dazzles her tongue. At last, they reach the tentmakers's stall. Sunlight splashes through the covered roof onto the rainbow of fabrics lining both sides of the narrow alleyway. As Giddo oohs and ahhs over Ammu Safwat's new designs, Somaya heads straight for his apprentice to get help with the final flourish of her gift to Giddo. Finally, they are on their way home where Somaya and her parents surprise Giddo with a cake and Somaya's special gift showing Giddo, the best tentmaker of them all, that she's now a tentmaker too Illustrator Basma Hosam entices the reader with a rich, tapestry of colors that honors the brilliance of artisans who keep the ancient arts of calligraphy, abalone inlay and textile alive. A Good Morning for Giddo is a wonderful celebration of community, art and culture and the bond between generations.

An ode to imagination and the power of "if," this exhilarating poetry collection features the voices of thirty-one diverse poets. If I could choose a best dayit would be sunny it would be summer and I would be with you. Imagine what you could do with if. Build a tree house, ride your bike back in time, catch a firefly like a tiny star in the palm of your hands and let it go to make a wish--anything, when it starts with if. Because if is where your imagination begins, where the impossible becomes possible, if only you imagine. And if you do, just think of how much better our world could be. Thirty-one poets, selected by "poetic forever friends" and frequent collaborators Irene Latham and Charles Waters, begin each of their poems with the word if and imagine the possibilities the gift of if can hold. Olivia Sua's cut-paper and painted-mosaic illustrations add warmth and meaning to the poems, allowing the reader's mind to soar with possibility. In an end note, the anthologists offer insight into their selection process, aimed at gathering a comprehensive and representative collection of poems. With poems by: Lacresha Berry * Robyn Hood Black * JaNay Brown-Wood * Joseph Bruchac * Siv Cedering * Emily Dickinson * Rebecca Kai Dotlich * Nikki Grimes * Jolene Guti rrez * Georgia Heard * Anna Grossnickle Hines * Irene Latham * Ren e M. LaTulippe * Nancy Tupper Ling * Sylvia Liu * Rebekah Lowell * Vikram Madan * Guadalupe Garc a McCall * Lilian Moore * Eric Ode * Bob Raczka * Lisa Rogers * Sydell Rosenberg * Laura Purdie Salas * Janice Scully * Teresa Owens Smith * Gabi Snyder * Sarah Grace Tuttle * Amy Ludwig VanDerwater * Charles Waters * Janet Wong

Scoring a goal against your own team. Copying a classmate's schoolwork. Accepting a dare to jump down the stairs . . . and getting hurt. This engrossing poetry anthology explores making mistakes and learning from them. Twenty brave poets―Linda Sue Park, Margarita Engle, Allan Wolf, David Elliott, Matt Forrest Esenwine, Lacresha Berry, George Ella Lyon, Jaime Adoff, Vikram Madan, Kim Rogers, Douglas Florian, Tabatha Yeatts, Jorge Argueta, Jane Yolen, Charles Waters, JaNay Brown-Wood, Irene Latham, April Halprin Wayland, Darren Sardelli, and Naomi Shihab Nye―share real-life mistakes they made as young people . . . and what happened next. Edited by Irene Latham and Charles Waters, with brilliantly evocative illustrations by Merc L pez, this is a book for all who are growing and discovering and still figuring out who we are. (Which is to say . . . all of us )

The most curious museum on Earth isn't on the earth at all; it's on the moon.A 2024 Notable Poetry Book, National Council of Teachers of EnglishHonor Award, 2024 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award (Pennsylvania State University Libraries and the Pennsylvania Center for the Book)Nominee, Intermediate Division, 2024-2025 Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Awards"The poetry and facts complement each other and make for a nice flow of information and fun, resulting in sometimes goofy poetry....A lovely picture book that mixes poetry and history about the moon."--School Library Journal?"A provocative tally of treasures and trash." --Kirkus ReviewsFootprints forever etched in time. A commemorative patch from a tragic flight. Two golf balls, still lodged in frozen dust 238,900 miles away. From the amusing to the poignant, The Museum on the Moon introduces readers to the mysterious objects left on the lunar surface since humans arrived in 1969. Part history, part poetry, heartwarming and haunting, and illustrated with breathtaking graphite drawings, The Museum on the Moon is a moving exhibit of humankind's most famous quest for knowledge and our place in the universe. From the book: The primary goals of the United States' NASA Apollo program (1961-1972) were to establish space technology, carry out scientific exploration of the moon, and to develop ways for humans to work in the lunar environment. Six missions--Apollos 11, 12, 14, 15, and 17--landed American astronauts on the moon. The astronauts carried with them a variety of items that are now artifacts--some personal mementos, some tools and equipment for the purpose of moon transport and experimentation, and other things, like human waste products, unavoidable. Because the moon has virtually no atmosphere, these things remain on the moon, just as they were, and will presumably continue to be there for years to come. The moon truly is a museum

In this upbeat picture book, acclaimed authors Irene Latham and Charles Waters bring key themes from their earlier collaborations (Can I Touch Your Hair? and Dictionary for a Better World) to a young audience. Rhyming verse describes different ways in which readers can be a bridge, from welcoming a new student and listening respectfully when someone else is talking to standing up to a bully and comforting a classmate who is upset. Nabila Adani's cheerful illustrations depict a diverse group of students, including young versions of Charles and Irene. Scan a Page Plus QR code at the end of the book to download a Bridge Builder Pledge. An ideal book to share with students in the fall to set the tone for the whole school year

Inspired by The Twelve Days of Christmas, this picture book illustrates the many different forms that kindness can take, from veteran picture book author Irene Latham. On the first day of kindness, I will give to you a hug that's warm and true. There are many ways to be kind. Follow one girl as she expresses gratitude through kind deeds all her own--a smile or encouraging word or even shared snacks--and discovers one act of kindness inspires another. In this heartwarming lyrical text, twelve acts of everyday kindness are set to the tune of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Along with vibrant and warm illustrations, this joyous read-aloud celebrates how small acts of kindness can be practiced at any age.

Chronicling the story of the last Africans brought illegally to America in 1860, African Town is a powerful and stunning novel-in-verse. In 1860, long after the United States outlawed the importation of enslaved laborers, 110 men, women and children from Benin and Nigeria were captured and brought to Mobile, Alabama aboard a ship called Clotilda. Their journey includes the savage Middle Passage and being hidden in the swamplands along the Alabama River before being secretly parceled out to various plantations, where they made desperate attempts to maintain both their culture and also fit into the place of captivity to which they'd been delivered. At the end of the Civil War, the survivors created a community for themselves they called African Town, which still exists to this day. Told in 14 distinct voices, including that of the ship that brought them to the American shores and the founder of African Town, this powerfully affecting historical novel-in-verse recreates a pivotal moment in US and world history, the impacts of which we still feel today.

Longlisted for the Cogan Heroes Picture Book Award 2023 Winner of the Caldecott HonorWinner of the Middle East Book Award ‘A beautifully told and illustrated story that offers a unique perspective on both war and humanity.’ Kirkus, starred review Out of the ravages of war came hope. How an act of kindness inspired millions worldwide. When war came to Syria, many fled the once-beautiful city of Aleppo and were forced to become refugees in far-flung places. But Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel decided to stay and work as an ambulance driver, helping the civilians that couldn’t leave. He quickly realised that it wasn’t just people who needed care, but also the hundreds of cats abandoned on the streets. Using the little money he earned, he began feeding and looking after them. But there were too many for Alaa to care for on his own, so he asked the world for help to keep his new friends safe. Soon, his call was answered. Alaa’s brave and heart-warming story is brought to triumphant life on these pages, which include a note from Alaa himself. Alaa’s cat sanctuary has expanded to work with local children traumatised by a lifetime of war. To find out more about his work, visit ernestosanctuary.org

Klynt's days on her Papa's farm are the all the same, even during wartime. Until the robodog, that is. A dystopic but heartwarming novel-in-verse perfect for fans of Pax by Sara Pennypacker. In a future United States, civil war is devastating a country on its last legs. On one side: the Patriots. On the other: President Vex's corrupt government. In the middle: everybody else, just trying to survive. The war is going from bad to worse, but out in the sparsely populated Worselands, twelve-year-old Klynt Tovis doesn't see much of it. Instead, Klynt spends most of her long summer days bored, or restoring artifacts in her Museum of Fond Memories. Real pet dogs are a thing of the past: after they were found to be carriers of a sickness the government ordered them all killed. But one day an incredible antique shows up at the farm: a D-39 robodog, Real as a dog can be Klynt is overjoyed, but the good luck doesn't last. When the war makes its way into the empty Worselands, she and D-39 find themselves thrown into an epic journey for survival and hope. Through the twists and turns of this riveting read, Irene Latham deftly shows how kindness can appear in unexpected places during uncertain times.

The Caldecott Honor-winning true story of Mohammad Alaa Aljaleel, who in the midst of the Syrian Civil War courageously offered safe haven to Aleppo's abandoned cats. Aleppo's city center no longer echoes with the rich, exciting sounds of copper-pot pounding and traditional sword sharpening. His neighborhood is empty--except for the many cats left behind. Alaa loves Aleppo, but when war comes his neighbors flee to safety, leaving their many pets behind. Alaa decides to stay--he can make a difference by driving an ambulance, carrying the sick and wounded to safety. One day he hears hungry cats calling out to him on his way home. They are lonely and scared, just like him. He feeds and pets them to let them know they are loved. The next day more cats come, and then even more There are too many for Alaa to take care of on his own. Alaa has a big heart, but he will need help from others if he wants to keep all of his new friends safe.

How can we make the world a better place? This inspiring resource for middle-grade readers is organized as a dictionary; each entry presents a word related to creating a better world, such as ally, empathy, or respect. For each word, there is a poem, a quote from an inspiring person, a personal anecdote from the authors, and a "try it" prompt for an activity. This second poetic collaboration from Irene Latham and Charles Waters builds upon themes of diversity and inclusiveness from their previous book Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship. Illustrations from Iranian-British artist Mehrdokht Amini offer readers a rich visual experience."Latham and Waters's personal stories are plainspoken and relatable . . . and the suggested actions, accessible. . . The approach creates multiple pathways for engagement. Extensive supplementary materials include an index of poetic forms."--starred, Publishers Weekly

A powerful story told through linked poems which raise questions of race and identity in an honest and tangible way for younger readers. How can Irene and Charles work together on their classroom poetry project? They don't know each other...and they're not sure they want to. Irene Latham, who is white, and Charles Waters, who is black, use this fictional setup to delve into different experiences of race in a relatable way, exploring such topics as hair, hobbies, and family dinners. Accompanied by artwork from acclaimed illustrators Sean Qualls and Selina Alko, this remarkable collaboration invites readers of all ages to join the dialogue by putting their own words to their experiences.

Two poets, one white and one black, explore race and childhood in this must-have collection tailored to provoke thought and conversation. How can Irene and Charles work together on their fifth grade poetry project? They don't know each other . . . and they're not sure they want to. Irene Latham, who is white, and Charles Waters, who is Black, use this fictional setup to delve into different experiences of race in a relatable way, exploring such topics as hair, hobbies, and family dinners. Accompanied by artwork from acclaimed illustrators Sean Qualls and Selina Alko (of The Case for Loving: The Fight for Interracial Marriage), this remarkable collaboration invites readers of all ages to join the dialogue by putting their own words to their experiences.

SIBA Book Award Finalist | Alabama Library Association Children's Book of the YearLudelphia Bennett may be blind in one eye, but that doesn't mean she can't put in a good stitch. In fact, Ludelphia sews all the time, especially when things are going wrong. But when Mama gets deathly ill, it doesn't seem like even quilting will help. Mama needs medicine badly—medicine that can only be found in Camden, over forty miles away. That's when Ludelphia decides to do something drastic—leave Gee's Bend. Beyond the cotton fields of her small sharecropping community, Ludelphia discovers a world she never imagined, but there's also danger lurking for a young girl on her own. Beyond the log cabins, orange dirt, and cotton fields of her small sharecropping community, Ludelphia discovers a world she could never have imagined. Fancy houses, cars, and even soda pop! But there's also danger lurking for a young girl on her own, and Ludelphia begins to wonder if she'll ever see Gee's Bend or her mama again. Despite the twists and turns, Ludelphia weathers each challenge in a way that would maker her mama proud, and she may even save the day for not just Mama, but her entire town. Set in 1932 and inspired by the rich quilting traditions of Gee's Bend, Alabama, Leaving Gee's Bend is a delightful story of a young girl facing a brave new world, presented in a new paperback edition. The book was 2011 Alabama Library Association Book of the Year and a SIBA Book Award finalist. Book Page calls it "captivating, a tale that will stay with the reader forever."

Welcome wildebeest / and beetle, / Oxpecker and lion. / This water hole is yours. / It offers you oasis / beside its shrinking shores. Spend a day at a water hole on the African grasslands. From dawn to nightfall, animals come and go. Giraffes gulp, wildebeest graze, impalas leap, vultures squabble, and elephants wallow. Fact sidebars support the poems about the animals and their environment. Imaginative illustrations from Anna Wadham complete this delightful collection.