Andrew Larsen

Bells Larsen

A child shares feelings about their identity with their dad in this powerful journey of self-discovery. While creating their annual ice rink together one winter, a child starts a conversation with their father about something important. “Do you ever feel mixed up about who you are?” But the father misunderstands. So, the child tries again later. “Do you ever feel different than the way you look?” The father still doesn’t get it but, this time, asks to hear more. “I look like a boy, but sometimes I feel more like a girl.” At last, it’s been said. And, at last, the child, who asks to be called Gray, begins to feel like themselves. Young readers may see their own uncertainties reflected in this sensitive portrayal of a child sharing their identity and finding acceptance.

Call Me Gray

Milan Pavlovic

Thing Lenny Loves Most about Baseball

A playful, multilayered tale about the power of the stories we tell ourselves

I Do Not Like Stories

Dusan Petricic

An evocative story about two brothers who are growing up at different speeds is set on an unusual summer night in a special tree house where they forge their bond and special memories.

In the Tree House

To replace his old garden, Theodora and her grandfather decide to paint a garden on the balcony of his new apartment, which takes on a life of its own thanks to Theo's love, imagination, and creativity.

The Imaginary Garden

A young boy doesn't want to go to bed. The hockey game is on! While listening to the game on his radio, which he placed under his pillow, the boy drifts off to sleep. He dreams he has joined his favorite team on the ice and scores the winning goal! Full color.

Goodnight, Hockey Fans

Who says there’s only one way to write a story? A young boy wants to write a story, but he only knows his letters, not words. His sister says, “Why don’t you start there, with a letter?” So the boy tries. He chooses an easy letter to begin with. The letter I. And to his delight, with just the power of his vivid imagination, and no written words, an amazing story begins to unfold. Right before his eyes. This playful tale about creativity will inspire budding authors everywhere to envision new ways to write stories of their own. With or without words!

Squiggly Story, A

A child and beloved grandma bond over birds during the grandma’s final days. When Grandma gets sick and comes to stay at her grandchild’s house, she brings her bird feeder. Grandma loves birds. And the child loves the time they spend together, drawing bird pictures and “talking about interesting things.” Grandma’s health declines, however. She moves to the hospice, where the child hangs the bird feeder outside her window. There, though the grandma’s ability to interact diminishes over time, their love for each other never wavers. Simple and deep, this quiet book speaks with empathy about the loss of a treasured grandparent, and with hope about the tomorrows — and the birds — that always come.

The Bird Feeder

An evocative story about two brothers who are growing up (one faster than the other), an unusual summer night and a special tree house that proves childhood is not just a time but also a place.

As Henry finishes fifth grade, his biggest concern is facing a summer with nothing to do. With his best friend, Max, away at summer camp, it’s looking so bad he can feel himself “being pulled by the gravitational force of nothingness.” But then Henry does something irresponsible, something with real consequences. And suddenly he’d give anything to go back to the nothingness. Has Henry turned into the dingus Max told him not to be? A classic coming-of-age story told with humor and heart.

Dingus

A hockey fan’s best night ever. A young boy doesn’t want to go to bed. The hockey game is on! And he’s worried he won’t be able to fall asleep. After his parents have tucked him in and turned out the light, he decides he’ll listen to the hockey game on a radio placed under his pillow. With the familiar drone of the announcer’s voice for company, the boy drifts off to sleep. And there he is on the ice playing for his favorite team — and scoring the winning goal! “What a play! What a goal! What a game!” What a beautiful dream!

Each summer, a girl travels with her family to the same beachside resort, with everything being comfortably predictable, but this year, the pattern of her vacation changes when she meets a new friend.

Andrew Larsen

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