Lesléa Newman

"A warm and wonderful bedtime hug." —STARRED REVIEW, Kirkus Reviews This sweet, rhyming bedtime lullaby is a calming ode to nature as a loving family embraces their child as night falls and dream time begins. From rivers to eagles, to lions and lambs, to leaves and rain, and to stars and the moon, the soothing sounds of the world become the inspiration for a loving night of restful sleep for a weary baby. This book shares the spirit of shared community and the common values of love and hope. Award-winning and beloved author Lesléa Newman crafts a sweet tale that all families with a young one can appreciate.

Count on cats as a fun way to learn numbers--in rhyming spreads with expressive appeal for animal lovers of all ages. Cat Number One has nothing to do . . .Until she makes friends with Cat Number Two. Meet cats from one to a dozen in this adorable board book introduction to counting with a feline twist. Author Lesl a Newman draws on her love for (and familiarity with) cats in a concept book for the very young, while illustrator Isabella Kung captures the animals' movements and gestures in a way that is sure to delight.

A beguiling array of felines from A to Z makes learning the alphabet the cat's pajamas. Adorable cat with eyes of gold.Baby cat just two weeks old. From curious to elegant, grouchy to inquisitive, rowdy to tangled to . . . well, unusual (who says cats don't swim in the tub?), these twenty-six charming felines interact with oversize alphabet letters on rhyming spreads. Author Lesl a Newman and illustrator Isabella Kung offer a cat's-eye concept book that makes the ABCs go down easy--and is sure to inspire many a repeat viewing.

"My intention was to 'peek' at I Wish My Father, but I couldn't put it down, and after the last poem, I started again from page one and read to the end. This collection is so moving and plain-spoken, that the careful attention to the ingredients of sound and prosody baked into each line might go unnoticed, which is what we, as poets, hope for. I got to know the author's dad in all his humanity; he is now part of my family. A wonderful companion to I Carry My Mother; in both volumes, Newman captures the moods and personalities beautifully".-Richard Michelson, author of More Money Than God "I Wish My Father is a study of a father-daughter relationship, full of daily expressions of love, loyalty, and devotion that passes between the two. In this book-length verse sequence, a partner to Newman's previous collection I Carry My Mother, the poet bears witness to her father's life, post losing his wife/her mother, and brings forth their shared grief in finely wrought observations of domestic moments that resound with larger meaning. With Newman's trademark clarity of language and her matter-of-fact tone mixed with tenderness, these poems offer moving reflections on facing the vicissitudes of aging, loss, and mortality."-Shara McCallum, author of No Ruined Stone "This collection speaks eloquently to the dictum that if you write fully about one person, you write about all people in their humanity. Lesl a Newman deftly enumerates situations that in their beautifully observed wrinkles and folds give forth the feeling of an aged man's life and his relationship with his daughter, who, in dealing with his crotchets and quibbles, to saying nothing of pure stubbornness, is 'on the edge / of a nervous breakdown.' Droll and sad, these poems possess an abundance of insight, a precious empathy that rises out of the depths of exasperation into the bemused heights of love."-Baron Wormser, author of Unidentified Sighing Objects

One of Bank Street’s 2021 Best Children’s Books of the Year Ethan. Ethan. Ethan. Sarah misses her adored big brother with all her heart. She wants to celebrate all the fun times she and her parents spent with him. But ever since Ethan died, Mommy and Daddy won’t mention him. Sarah can’t even say his name without upsetting them. Why don’t they want to remember Ethan? Ethan is gone, but he won’t be forgotten as his sister rallies her family to never forget. Includes a note with recommendations of what to say and how to help children after the death of a loved one. Lesléa Newman offers a tender tribute to a lost family member in this touching story that can help families start to heal.

Celebrated author Lesl a Newman unites a young boy and a stray kitten in a warm, lyrical story about Passover, family, and friendship. Inside, a boy and his family sit around the dinner table to embrace the many traditions of their Passover Seder around the dinner table. Outside, a cat wonders, hungry and alone. When it's time for the symbolic Passover custom of opening the family's front door for the prophet Elijah, both the boy and the cat are in for a remarkable surprise.

Gittel and her mother were supposed to immigrate to America together, but when her mother is stopped by the health inspector, Gittel must make the journey alone. Her mother writes her cousin’s address in New York on a piece of paper. However, when Gittel arrives at Ellis Island, she discovers the ink has run and the address is illegible! How will she find her family? Both a heart-wrenching and heartwarming story, Gittel’s Journey offers a fresh perspective on the immigration journey to Ellis Island. The book includes an author’s note explaining how Gittel’s story is based on the journey to America taken by Lesléa Newman’s grandmother and family friend.

The animals in the forest are playing hide-and-seek...but there's one animal that can't be found. Where oh where has Bear gone? The animals in the forest are playing hide-and-seek, and everyone is found--except for the biggest creature of all Where, oh where, could Bear have gone? One thing is certain: his loyal friends will do whatever it takes to find him. Join the search for Bear in this sweet padded board book

"In her new collection Lovely, Lesl a Newman takes us on a long glittering walk through nostalgia, from her childhood memories in New York City, to silver sequined mini-dresses and steamy woman love. She holds up a world that is crumbling in our very sight. She holds us close as she guides us through the hardships of being homeless and displaced, being young and queer and still not accepted in our world. Her words are raw and tender, transparent and visceral. She holds nothing back. She aches with a vulnerability that both calls us out and challenges us to do our part to make our planet safe and inhabitable."-Cheryl Boyce-Taylor, author of Arrival "Wise, sharp, sometimes rueful, often witty, always self-aware, Lesl a Newman's Lovely ranges across the landscape of human experience, reflecting on the moral complexity of childhood, the many phases of Newman's relationship with her mother, growing up and growing old, and the lifelong weave of sex and love. Lovely offers a kaleidoscope variety of forms, including ghazals, villanelles, and playful forms of Newman's own invention, such as 'My Mother's Stories, ' a marvelous portrait composed almost entirely out of soap opera titles."-Joy Ladin, author of Fireworks in the Graveyard "Lesl a Newman lures the love poem into beguiling territory in her new collection Lovely. Funny, sassy, tender, Newman knows how to entice a line-with formal dazzle she gives us the beat of the repeat (the villanelle, the triolet) in her pitch-perfect, lucid voice. With a marvelous mimic's ear, she even conjures up her recently deceased mother's exasperating advice as feisty love-loss litanies. Newman examines the sheer loveliness of girlhood as she lived it and observes it now, reveling in the girly side of adult lesbian love in a woman's long relationship with her butch. As the poet leads us from childhood to the pleasures of mature love-yes, in a garden, too-she sketches a self-portrait over time, from makeup to curls. Calling all Lesl a Newman fans: alluring Lovely is a must for your shelf."-Molly Peacock, author of The Analyst, Poems "Lovely is an adventure and a romp, a slide through loves, a trip back in time, a reflection of earlier days. There are poems where Newman allows us to hear her mother's voice, her admonitions, the Brooklyn accent, the cadences, the oft-repeated clich s, in a playful way. In the final section, we find an unleashed exuberance, a celebration of same-sex marriage, an all-abiding adoration for a life partner, and also, throughout, an over-arching love for life, for mangoes and chocolate, a 'Paradise Found.'"-Laura Foley, author of Night Ringing "In this book, innocence yields to awakening, cruelty softens into compassion, and ever-present delight tussles with ever-looming death. Lovely offers tender requiems, taut memories, hot pink love letters, and odes to the edible. Poet Lesl a Newman writes with rhythm, humor, sensuality and care. Lovely is just that "-Lenelle Mo se, author of Haiti Glass

Young Casey loves sparkly things, just like his older sister, who does not approve until an encounter with teasing bullies helps her learn to accept and respect Casey for who he is.Casey loves to play with his blocks, puzzles, and dump truck, but he also loves things that sparkle, shimmer, and glitter. When his older sister, Jessie, shows off her new shimmery skirt, Casey wants to wear a shimmery skirt too. When Jessie comes home from a party with glittery nails, Casey wants glittery nails too. And when Abuelita visits wearing an armful of sparkly bracelets, Casey gets one to wear, just like Jessie. The adults in Casey's life embrace his interests, but Jessie isn't so sure. Boys aren't supposed to wear sparkly, shimmery, glittery things. Then, when older boys at the library tease Casey for wearing "girl" things, Jessie realizes that Casey has the right to be himself and wear whatever he wants. Why can't both she and Casey love all things shimmery, glittery, and sparkly?Here is a sweet, heartwarming story about acceptance, respect, and the freedom to be yourself in a world where any gender expression should be celebrated. Sparkly things are for everyone to enjoy

New in the UK, a rediscovered modern classic for today's generation in an updated, beautifully illustrated edition.All but unavailable since 2009, this delightful, important modern classic is back by public demand – revitalised in an updated, beautifully illustrated new edition for young readers. Celebrated author Lesléa Newman and bestselling illustrator Laura Cornell tell the story of a little girl called Heather. Heather’s favourite number is two – she has two arms, two legs, two pets and two lovely mummies. But when Heather goes to school for the first time, someone asks her about her daddy ... and Heather doesn't have a daddy! But then the class all draw portraits of their families, and not one single drawing is the same. Heather and her classmates realize – it doesn’t matter who makes up a family, the most important thing is that all the people in it love one another very much.

I Carry My Mother is a book-length cycle of poems that explores a daughter's journey through her mother's illness and death. From diagnosis through yahrtzeit (one-year anniversary), the narrator grapples with what it means to lose a mother. The poems, written in a variety of forms (sonnet, pantoum, villanelle, sestina, terza rima, haiku, and others) are finely crafted, completely accessible, and full of startling, poignant, and powerful imagery. These poems will resonant with all who have lost a parent, relative, spouse, friend, or anyone whom they dearly love. In a passionate book, Lesl a Newman chronicles her mother's dying and the phases of her own grieving. She fuses an unsparing realism with lyrical intensity, in honest, direct, clear language, in mostly rhymed stanzas. The pages seem to tremble with an accurate description of changing emotional states, all born of the closeness, humor, and love in the mother-daughter relationship.-Naomi Replansky, author of The Dangerous World and Collected Poems. After the introductory poem I thought 'oh dear, I'm going to cry my way through the whole thing.' And then, the exquisite first-rate poetry-using forms like triolet and rondeau-took me to a much deeper place than tears can possibly reveal. This is a very beautiful book.-Judy Grahn, author of A Simple Revolution: The Making of an Activist Poet. Throughout her long career, Lesl a Newman has distinguished herself by diving deep into the essentials of life and delivering them with a light touch. The poems in her new collection, I Carry My Mother, are both light and dark. They are small rituals that draw us closer to the child within, revealing the complex love between a vivacious mother and an independent daughter. Each verse is a spiritual chant; each line is a lyric glistening with grief. -Jewelle Gomez, author ofThe Gilda Stories and Oral Tradition. Using forms inspired by poets ranging from Wallace Stevens to Dr. Seuss, from Sir Philip Sidney to Elizabeth Bishop, Lesl a Newman's heartfelt poems are a loving tribute to her mother. The poems move back and forth between precise images of her mother in life-"her tiny feet/Her toenails painted candy-apple red," -and images of her mother as she dies-"a tiny, mottled lump of clay." I Carry My Mother allows us to look into a deeply personal portrait of a mother and daughter who are so much alike that when the daughter looks into the mirror, "my mother stares back." In the dedication, Newman writes, "may her memory be a blessing." These poems evoke and preserve those memories, showing how love lives on after death.-Ellen Bass, author ofLike a Beggar and The Human Line

Here is the world, ever changing and new,Spinning with joy at the wonder of you!Here Is the World is a joyous celebration of the Jewish holidays throughout the year for young children. Beginning with the weekly observance of Shabbat, readers join a family through the holidays and the corresponding seasons. From sounding the shofar on Rosh Hashanah to lighting the menorah for Chanukah to rattling a grogger for Purim, and on through the Jewish year, the joy and significance of each holiday beautifully come to life.In addition to the narrative text, there is a description of each holiday in the back matter along with an easy craft or recipe.Praise for Here is the World "Both lovely and eminently useful." --Kirkus Reviews "Illustrating the change of seasons, Gal’s charcoal and digital collage images effervesce with cheery colors, moving from the radiant gold, yellows, and reds of autumn to the greens and blues of spring—with a stop in snowy winter for Chanukah, of course." --Publishers Weekly

In this charming and humorous story, Miriam discovers—with the help of her family and a little matzah bread—the true meaning and importance of Passover. Miriam loves spending time with her family during Passover, and all week long she is happy to eat lots of matzah. But when she wakes up on the last day of the holiday, she is sick of matzah and refuses to eat it ever again. Then Grandpa makes his special matzah brei for the whole family, and Miriam learns there’s more to Passover than just the matzah. Award-winning illustrator David Slonim brings to life this story by celebrated author Lesléa Newman. The book includes a recipe for matzah brei, a brief summary of the Passover holiday, and a glossary of terms. Praise for A Sweet Passover“Deliciously traditional.”–Kirkus Reviews Awards Sydney Taylor Book Award - Notable book, Younger Readers Category, 2013

Donovan's two moms are getting married, and he can't wait for the celebration to begin. After all, as ringbearer, he has a very important job to do. Any boy or girl with same-sex parents--or who knows a same-sex couple--will appreciate this picture book about love, family, and marriage. The story captures the joy and excitement of a wedding day while the illustrations show the happy occasion from a child's point of view.

Selena is a young girl who would rather twirl than walk, prance than dance. So one day her mother takes her to Miss Tutu's dance class, where Selena learns how to dance. At first, Selena has trouble performing some of the intricate moves, but she keeps practicing. After some time, the big day comes for Selena to make her stage debut. Will she let stage fright get in the way? Or will she dance and bow in front of the audience? As is typical of her work, Carey adds little stories in the art that are very funny.

"What a good dog you are. What a fine dog you are. Hachi, you are the best dog in all of Japan." Professor Ueno speaks these words to his faithful dog before boarding the train to work every morning. And every afternoon, just before three o'clock, Hachi is at the train station to greet his beloved master. One day, the train arrives at the station without the professor. Hachi waits. For ten years, Hachi waits for his master to return. Not even Yasuo, the young boy who takes care of Hachi, can persuade him to leave his post. Hachiko Waits, a novel inspired by a true story, brings to life the legendary Akita who became a national symbol for loyalty and devotion. This is a must-read for dog lovers of all ages. Hachiko Waits is a 2005 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.