Wonder World Book Cafe'

At the age of nine, Javier Zamora migrated to California. Decades later, Zamora, a Salvadorian poet, tells his story in this memoir, Solito: a nine-year-old boy from El Salvador who embarked on a harrowing "trip" with strangers and a coyote who was paid to safely reunite him with his parents in the United States. 

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Twelve-year old Iveliz's story brings mental health conversations to the forefront. She is grieving the loss of her father whose death, she's sure, is her fault. When her Abuela Mimi comes from Puerto Rico, this sets off a generational and cultural rift as Mimi dismisses the need for the therapy and medication Iveliz needs for trauma and PTSD. 

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During WWII, ten year old Mari and her family are forced to the Manzanar Relocation Center. Mari is devastated with her brother Mak decides to join the Army, even against his father's wishes. In protest, Mari takes a vow of silence until Mak returns home safely. 

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Teenage sisters embark on "world school" with their parents. Listen in on this true story to learn all the places this family of four traveled to along with the many ups and downs of learning about new places and cultures. 

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Evan Pao doesn't feel he fits into his new community steeped in its Civil War history and traditions until he learns Chinese soldiers fought in this war. He is delighted to see himself represented. It's a little known fact that Chinese Americans fought in the Civil War. 

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Jama, a 12 year-old Maasai girl, lives in rural Kenya and has a heart for "her herd of elephants." She uncovers corruption between poachers and the ranger who is supposed to be stopping such cruel acts. Inspired by the threats elephants in Asia and Africa continue to endure. The Elephant Girl is heart-pounding and heart-warming. 

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Indigenous Wisdom and Scientific Knowledge.

Savor the stories. Ponder the questions. Heed the call to action. Use as a reference guide. Care for and love this one Earth. 

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Twelve-year old Joseph is aggressive and angry, and now finds himself living with Mrs. F, a cold woman who is trying to keep the few animals left in her family's zoo alive during WWII. One animal is Adonis, a huge ferocious silverback gorilla. Adonis saves him from a school bully, and a friendship between Adonis and Joseph ensues. But, time is running out for Adonis; Joseph and Mrs. F come together to try to find a way to save Adonis's life. 

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It's 1965 in Delano, California. Seventh-grader Lula is inspired when she meets Dolores Huerta and thinks maybe she wants to be an activist and organizer, too. But, first Lula's family and all the other farm workers are on strike demanding better working conditions and wages from the growers. The families meet  important historical figures fighting on their behalf, such as Dolores Huerta, Cesar Chavez and Larry Itliong. Lula is stronger than she believes, despite her traditional Papa's goals for her; after all, she's a girl. When farm workers decide to garner national attention, they organize a 300 mile march from Delano to California's capital, Sacramento. Lula desperately wants to convince Papa to allow her to be part of this important, life-changing event. 

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Set in Ghana, Abena and Faiza, both 14 years old, meet in a busy market place where Faiza earns a meager living being a kayayoo (a porter girl). Abena left her plush lifestyle behind to spend the summer holidays working in her auntie's market cloth shop. The girls quickly develop a deep friendship; it's inconsequential that they don't speak the same language. Both are bright and curious about the world and are way out of their comfort zone. Auntie cannot support the friendship as she doesn't want Abena associating with a poor, uneducated kayayoo, yet in Faiza, Abena sees well beyond the social and economic disparities. 

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