Publisher Description

Winner of the International Literacy Association Social Justice Literature Award
An award-winning middle-grade novel about the power of grassroots activism and how kids can make a difference.Every day, nine-year-old Yasmin borrows a book from Book Uncle, a retired teacher who has set up a free lending library on the street corner. But when the mayor tries to shut down the rickety bookstand, Yasmin has to take her nose out of her book and do something.What can she do? The local elections are coming up, but she's just a kid. She can't even vote!Still, Yasmin has friends -- her best friend, Reeni, and Anil, who even has a blue belt in karate. And she has family and neighbors. What's more, she has an idea that came right out of the last book she borrowed from Book Uncle.So Yasmin and her friends get to work. Ideas grow like cracks in the sidewalk, and soon the whole effort is breezing along nicely... Or is it spinning right out of control?An energetic, funny and quirky story about community activism, friendship, and the love of books.Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.2
Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.6
Distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those of the characters.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.2
Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.

Author Biography

UMA KRISHNASWAMI was born in India and now lives in Victoria, British Columbia. Her other publications include Two at the Top, illustrated by Christopher Corr; Book Uncle and Me, illustrated by Julianna Swaney, winner of the ILA Social Justice Literature Award; and The Girl of the Wish Garden, illustrated by Nasrin Khosravi. She has been nominated twice for the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Uma is faculty emerita in the Writing for Children and Young Adults program at Vermont College of Fine Arts.JULIANNA SWANEY grew up birdwatching with her dad, and birds have always had an important place in her life. She has illustrated numerous books for children and spends her time at her home in Oregon painting, gardening and daydreaming.

Review

[Readers] will surely be charmed by Yasmin's upbeat personality and determination.-- "Horn Book"
This sweet slice-of-life tale ... demonstrates that children can be empowered to effect change in their own neighborhoods. This is also a perfect title to shine a light on elections taking place elsewhere.-- "School Library Journal"
Yasmin's campaign should help inspire young readers to believe in their own potential to make a difference and teach the valuable lesson that sometimes it takes several small actions to make big moves.-- "Kirkus, starred review"

Review Quote

Winner of the International Literacy Association Social Justice Literature Award NPR's Guide to 2016's Great Reads USBBY's Outstanding International Books List OLA Best Bets Top Ten Little Free Library Action Book Club Selection Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices List Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year "Yasmin's campaign should help inspire young readers to believe in their own potential to make a difference and teach the valuable lesson that sometimes it takes several small actions to make big moves." Kirkus, starred review "This sweet slice-of-life tale ... demonstrates that children can be empowered to effect change in their own neighborhoods. This is also a perfect title to shine a light on elections taking place elsewhere." School Library Journal, starred review "[Readers] will surely be charmed by Yasmin's upbeat personality and determination." Horn Book

Promotional "Headline"

REVIEW COPIES: Publishers Weekly Booklist Kirkus Reviews

Feature

NEW MATERIAL: The new paperback edition will feature classroom discussion questions at the back of the book. TIMELY BOOK ABOUT COMMUNITY ACTIVISM: This book about community activism, literacy and elections will be a timely release with the US midterm elections coming up in fall 2018. It demonstrates how even though children cannot vote they still have agency and the power to make a real difference in their community. CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED BESTSELLER: The hardcover edition of this short, accessible middle-grade book (first published in September 2016) was reprinted four times (and sold through over 8,000 units), won the International Literacy Association Social Justice Literature Award, and was named to NPR's Guide to 2016's Great Reads and USBBY's Outstanding International Books List. UMA KRISHNASWAMI: Uma is highly respected and well connected in the children's book community, especially in the US, where she lived and worked for many years (Maryland and New Mexico). She is a major voice in the sharing of international and multicultural viewpoints in children's literature. CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Include civics, language arts / independent reading. Common Core: RL.3.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10; RF.3.3,3b,3c,3d,4,4a,4c; W.3.1,2,3,4,7,8,10; L.3.3,3a,4,4a,4c,5,5a,5b,5c,6; SL.3.1,1c,1d,2,3,4,6.

New Feature

NEW MATERIAL: The new paperback edition will feature classroom discussion questions at the back of the book. TIMELY BOOK ABOUT COMMUNITY ACTIVISM: This book about community activism, literacy and elections will be a timely release with the US midterm elections coming up in fall 2018. It demonstrates how even though children cannot vote they still have agency and the power to make a real difference in their community. CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED BESTSELLER: The hardcover edition of this short, accessible middle-grade book (first published in September 2016) was reprinted four times (and sold through over 8,000 units), won the International Literacy Association Social Justice Literature Award, and was named to NPR's Guide to 2016's Great Reads and USBBY's Outstanding International Books List. UMA KRISHNASWAMI: Uma is highly respected and well connected in the children's book community, especially in the US, where she lived and worked for many years (Maryland and New Mexico). She is a major voice in the sharing of international and multicultural viewpoints in children's literature. CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Include civics, language arts / independent reading. Common Core: RL.3.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10; RF.3.3,3b,3c,3d,4,4a,4c; W.3.1,2,3,4,7,8,10; L.3.3,3a,4,4a,4c,5,5a,5b,5c,6; SL.3.1,1c,1d,2,3,4,6.

Excerpt from Book

I go zig-zig-zag, off on my daily mission. Mind the crooked tree. Mind the istri lady with her iron and heap of clothes. Mind the broken pavement and the pigeons cooling their feathers in mud puddles. Watch-watch-watch ... And here it is! Book Uncle's Lending Library on the corner of St. Mary's Road and 1st Cross Street, with books spread out on planks of wood and a small tin can for donations. Just to help out, if anyone wants to. Here is the sign in faded old letters: Books. Free. Give One. Take One. Read-read-read.

Description for Sales People

NEW MATERIAL: The new paperback edition will feature classroom discussion questions at the back of the book. TIMELY BOOK ABOUT COMMUNITY ACTIVISM: This book about community activism, literacy and elections will be a timely release with the US midterm elections coming up in fall 2018. It demonstrates how even though children cannot vote they still have agency and the power to make a real difference in their community. CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED BESTSELLER: The hardcover edition of this short, accessible middle-grade book (first published in September 2016) was reprinted four times (and sold through over 8,000 units), won the International Literacy Association Social Justice Literature Award, and was named to NPR's Guide to 2016's Great Reads and USBBY's Outstanding International Books List. UMA KRISHNASWAMI: Uma is highly respected and well connected in the children's book community, especially in the US, where she lived and worked for many years (Maryland and New Mexico). She is a major voice in the sharing of international and multicultural viewpoints in children's literature. CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Include civics, language arts / independent reading. Common Core: RL.3.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,10; RF.3.3,3b,3c,3d,4,4a,4c; W.3.1,2,3,4,7,8,10; L.3.3,3a,4,4a,4c,5,5a,5b,5c,6; SL.3.1,1c,1d,2,3,4,6.

Details