Patricia Polacco

Fedir and Alina loved their life--and their family--in Kyiv, Ukraine. Their sunflower fields were growing bright, and their first daughter, Yana, was born as the country celebrated its independence from Russia. Years passed, and now Yana had a husband and daughter of her own--and a grand sunflower harvest. Then one day in February, the sky turned dark. Russia had invaded Ukraine. The life Yana's family knew was gone, and they fled their beloved home...

"Little Trisha is overjoyed at the thought of starting school and learning how to read. But right from the start, when she tries to read, all the letters and numbers just get jumbled up. And her classmates make matters worse by calling her "dummy" and "toad." Then, in fifth grade, a new teacher comes. A real character! He sees right through the sad little girl to the artist she really is. and when he discovers Trisha's secret - that she still can't...

Emigrating from Ireland to America, Fiona's family settles in Chicago, where Fiona's handmade lace keeps the family together during a devastating fire.

When Mr. Lincoln, "the coolest principal in the whole world," discovers that Eugene, the school bully, knows a lot about birds, he uses this interest to help Eugene overcome his intolerance.

Soon after her beloved grandmother's death, Trisha's family moves to a diverse California neighborhood where she meets Stewart and his grandmother, Miss Eula, who brings people together to help a grieving neighbor.

In 1912, orphaned Irish street musician Jonathan Harker accidentally stows away on the Titanic, where he is befriended by Wallace Hartley, called "the bravest man in the world" for playing violin with the band as the Titanic sank. Includes historical note.

Inspired by a teacher who believes each of them is a genius, a class of special-needs students invents something that could convince the whole school they are justifiably proud to be "Junkyard Wonders."

Grandma finds a way to dispel her grandchild's fear of thunderstorms.

A single china cup from a tea set left behind when Jews were forced to leave Russia helps hold a family together through generations of living in America, reminding them of the most important things in life.

During the Nazi occupation of France, Monique's mother hides a Jewish family in her basement and tries to help them escape to freedom.