Lauren Castillo

In a gentle story from Caldecott Honoree Lauren Castillo, a shy young girl finds exploring her new city and making friends overwhelming – until a rescue dog helps her uncover the bravery that was always in her.A young girl and her mother move to an apartment in a new city. Despite her mum's efforts to take her out, the girl would rather play by herself in their cosy home – she feels just fine on her own. Meeting any children her age has her hiding behind her mother’s legs, and invitations to group activities has her in tears. That is, until she meets Millie, a rescue dog who is not too big, not too small, and kisses her arm when the girl nervously reaches out. With Millie, saying hello to new people isn’t so scary, and maybe making a friend isn’t either.Through emotionally honest prose and soft, expressive illustrations, Lauren Castillo explores one girl’s shyness and anxiety – and how one dog’s love helps her open up – in a warm picture book that reminds readers of how the right companion can make the world feel like a less frightening place.

Celebrating the love of grandparents and grandchildren, this gorgeous companion to the Caldecott Honor–winning Nana in the City is an appealing intergenerational exploration of country life.When Nana comes from the city to visit her grandson in the country, the boy is so excited to teach her about all the wonderful things he does on the farm where he lives—feeding the ducks, milking the cow, even tending to bees.But to his disappointment, Nana already seems to know how to do just about everything. And she isn’t the least bit nervous about picking up bugs or easing a hen aside to collect an egg. But then a storm hits in the night, and the boy must take the lead and make sure the animals are safe and dry.And it turns out there are many more unique-to-the-country adventures to surprise his beloved Nana with.

In a gentle story from Caldecott Honoree Lauren Castillo, a shy young girl finds exploring her new city and making friends overwhelming--until a rescue dog helps her uncover the bravery that was always in her. A young girl and her mother move to an apartment in a new city. Despite her mother's efforts to take her out, the girl would rather play by herself in their cozy home--she feels just fine on her own. Introductions to children her age have her hiding behind her mother's legs, and invitations to group activities have her in tears. That is, until she meets Millie, a rescue dog who is not too big, not too small, and kisses her arm when the girl nervously reaches out. With Millie, saying hello to new people isn't so scary . . . and maybe making a friend isn't either. Through emotionally honest prose and soft, expressive illustrations, Lauren Castillo explores one girl's shyness and anxiety--and how one dog's love helps her open up--in a warm picture book that reminds readers of how the right companion can make the world feel like a less frightening place.

From the Caldecott Honor-winning author of Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us comes a warm-hearted story about the meaning of home and the power of friendship to help you become your truest self. Families come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they are joined by birth, and other times they are chosen... Autumn leaves are falling in Hedge Hollow, and the change in season brings with it a spiny surprise... another hedgehog Is it friend or foe? Or is it . . . family? On the one paw, Hedgehog is excited to meet one of her own kind, but on the other paw, she has never felt so different--or distant--from her old friends. Where does Hedgehog belong, and who does she belong with? A journey upriver through an unfamiliar forest just might lead her home... From the award-winning author-illustrator of Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us comes a tale of old friends and new, and the true meaning of home.

From the Caldecott Honor-winning author of Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us comes a warm-hearted story about the meaning of home and the power of friendship to help you become your truest self. Families come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they are joined by birth, and other times they are chosen... Autumn leaves are falling in Hedge Hollow, and the change in season brings with it a spiny surprise... another hedgehog Is it friend or foe? Or is it . . . family? On the one paw, Hedgehog is excited to meet one of her own kind, but on the other paw, she has never felt so different--or distant--from her old friends. Where does Hedgehog belong, and who does she belong with? A journey upriver through an unfamiliar forest just might lead her home... From the award-winning author-illustrator of Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us comes a tale of old friends and new, and the true meaning of home.

From a Caldecott Honor-winning artist comes a cozy classic-in-the-making about finding your friends and sticking together through thick and thin. The perfect read-aloud for fans of Mercy Watson or Winnie-the-Pooh. Sometimes you make a friend, and it feels like you have known that friend your entire life. . . . Hedgehog lives on a teeny-tiny island with only her stuffed dog, Mutty, for company. When a great storm carries Mutty away, she embarks on a quest to find her friend. Following the trail of clues Mutty left behind, brave Hedgehog meets a wiggly Mole, a wordy Owl, a curmudgeonly Beaver, a scatterbrained Hen and Chicks, and a girl who's new to the neighborhood, Annika May. With bravery and teamwork, there's nothing that can stop these seven from finding Mutty, but along the way they discover something even more important: each other. The first book in a new series from Caldecott Honor winner Lauren Castillo, Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us has the feel of a timeless classic, introducing an unforgettable cast of characters who will star in many more adventures to come.

A Caldecott Honor Book * A Huffington Post Best Picture Book about Family * An NYPL 100 Books for Reading and Sharing * A 100 Scope Notes Top 20 Book of the YearIn this magical picture book, a young boy spends an overnight visit with his nana and is frightened to find that the city where she lives is filled with noise and crowds and scary things.But then Nana makes him a special cape to help him be brave, and soon the everyday sights, sounds, and smells of the city are not scary—but wonderful. The succinct text is paired with watercolor illustrations that capture all the vitality, energy, and beauty of the city.