Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

Vejeigantes masquerade | by Delacre, Lulu

Ramon wanted to be a vejigante masqueradae and dance in the carnival. He didn't have enough money to buy a new costume, so he made one. He worked in a mask store so he could have a new mask too.

Keywords: assertiveness, carnival, clothing, courage, critical thinking, decision making, goal setting, language, parade, persistence, poverty, preparation, puerto rican, self esteem, verbal communication

As right as right can be | by Rose, Anne

Ron Ronson's shoestrings break. He decides that once he has new shoelaces that his whole outfit should match the new shoelaces and that leaves him broke.

Keywords: clothing, critical thinking, decision making, greed, peer resistance, poverty, self esteem

Shaker lane | by Provensen, Alice//Provensen, Martin

Shaker Lane was built up when the Herkiner sisters sold off bits and pieces of land. The houses were old shacks. When the townspeople decide to build a dam on the land, the residents of Shaker Lane decide to leave rather than fight the battle.

Keywords: change, community, critical thinking, decision making, moving, nonverbal communication, peer resistance, poverty, shelter, teamwork

Friends from the other side | by Anzaldua, Gloria

Prietita is a young girl who befriends a young immigrant from Mexico. He lives with his mother in a shed. When the police come, Prietita hides them so they won't be taken away. This story is in English and Spanish.

Keywords: assertiveness, caring, conflict resolution, critical thinking, family, friendship, immigrants, mexican, multicultural, nonverbal communication, parents, poverty, pride, verbal communication

The tale of ginger and pickles | by Potter, Beatrix

Ginger and Pickles have to close their store when they run out of money, but Henny Penny opens it back up for business.

Keywords: animals, business, careers, cat, dog, dolls, mouse, poverty, rabbit, shopping

The rich man and the shoemaker | by La Fontaine

A poor, old, but happy shoemaker sings all day long to keep his rich neighbor from sleeping. A rich man gives the shoemaker a bag of gold to keep quiet. The gold causes him to worry constantly and the shoemaker loses all his friends. The shoemaker realizes he is unhappy, returns the gold, and decides to go back to making shoes and friends.

Keywords: assertiveness, careers, change, clothing, coping, decision making, feelings, friendship, greed, happiness, money, neighbors, poverty, refusal skills, sleep

Gertrude's pocket | by Miles, Miska

Gertrude is bullied by a boy at school. She decides to tear his shirt which brings more serious consequences than she had ever imagined.

Keywords: bully, conflict resolution, consequences, critical thinking, decision making, fight, learning, peer resistance, poverty, school

Erandi's braids | by Madrigan, Antonio Hernandez

Erandi has thick, long, beautiful hair that her mother braids each morning. One day while making dinner with her mother, Erandi hears voices from the street offering money for the women's hair. Mama' explains that the hair buyers would pay well for Erandi's braids. That day they go fishing and mama' discovers that they need a new fishing net badly but they do not have money for one. The next day is Erandi's birthday and Erandi picks out a new dress for her present. On the way home mama' and Erandi stop at the barber shop where Erandi allows the barber to cut her hair so her mama' can afford a…

Keywords: author's note, birthday, body parts, clothing, critical thinking, culture, decision making, dolls, embarrassment, fish, fishing, food, language, market, mexican, multicultural, nutrition, playing, poverty, pride, recreation

Railway passage | by Keeping, Charles

The people who live in the old run down railway passage win a football pool. They now have money to fix the railway passage up and follow their dreams.

Keywords: bicycle, decision making, dreams, environment, football, goal setting, neighbors, nonverbal communication, poverty, sports, verbal communication

The babe and i | by Adler, David A.

A young boy and his family are living through the Great Depression of 1932 When he learns that his father does not have a job, he gets a job with his friend selling newspapers to help make money for his family. He sells all of his papers outside of Yankee Stadium due to the popularity of Babe Ruth and his stories in the paper. He even gets to meet the Babe!

Keywords: author's note, baseball, business, conflict resolution, depression, family, feelings, food, friendship, frustration, hard work, history, money, newspaper, parents, poverty, responsibilities, sadness, shopping, sports, stress management, work, worry

Merry christmas, ernest and celestine | by Vincent, Gabrielle

It is Christmas time and Ernest promises Celestine that they could throw a party. Now Ernest doesn't think it is possible because they don't have any money. But Celestine persists and they make all the decorations and presents by hand. The party is a hit based on love and friendship.

Keywords: animals, assertiveness, bear, caring, christmas, conflict resolution, creativity, decision making, friendship, goal setting, holidays, mouse, party, peer resistance, poverty, presents, self esteem, teamwork, verbal communication

Bravo, ernest and celestine! | by Vincent, Gabrielle

Ernest, the bear, and Celestine, the mouse, have a leaky roof and no money to fix it. In order to make money, Celestine gets Ernest to play the violin while she sings. They end up spending all the money, so they must do it again.

Keywords: animals, assertiveness, bear, conflict resolution, critical thinking, goal setting, mouse, music, nonverbal communication, performance, poverty, problem solving, shelter, song, teamwork, verbal communication

At the crossroads | by Isadora, Rachel

A little boy and the children in a poor South African village, sing and expect the arrival of their fathers who work in the mines. They sing, dance, make instruments, and sit in the dark until their fathers finally arrive.

Keywords: african american, anticipation, careers, celebration, community, family, multicultural, music, parents, poverty, reunion, stress management, verbal communication

Basil brush and the windmills | by Firmin, Peter

A fox and a mole decide they need to cut down on their electrical costs. So, they invent a windmill to supply energy for many different things. By charging people to come see their inventions, they make enough money to pay their bills.

Keywords: animals, critical thinking, decision making, fox, goal setting, imagination, inventions, mole, poverty

The tailor of gloucester | by Potter, Beatrix

When the tailor of Glouchester falls ill, he worries that he will not get the mayor's waistcoat finished and not make any money to use for food. But some helpful mice come to the rescue and surprise the tailor on Christmas morning.

Keywords: animals, careers, cat, christmas, clothing, helping, holidays, illness, mouse, poverty

Matthew's dream | by Lionni, Leo

Matthew is a poor smart mouse. He does not know what to do with his life. He ends up becoming a professional painter as the result of a dream he had after going to the art museum. He becomes a very famous artist.

Keywords: animals, art, careers, colors, decision making, dreams, goal setting, mouse, poverty

No need for money | by Stevenson, James

Convinced that crossing the river on the back of a donkey is too slow, some animals try to find a faster way to get to school.

Keywords: animals, bodies of water, decision making, donkey, goal setting, poverty, river, school, transportation

Charlie's house | by Schermbrucker, Revina

Charlie is a young, poor boy. The shabby house he lives in was not made properly so Charlie decides to make a house of his own that is perfect with only one bedroom.

Keywords: anger, creativity, critical thinking, decision making, feelings, goal setting, imagination, poverty, shelter

Tar beach | by Ringgold, Faith

A young, 8 year old, African American girl dreams of flying above her Harlem home and having the many things she sees. She speaks of her wish to have money and liberation for her family and herself.

Keywords: african american, airplane, art, creativity, discrimination, dreams, family, freedom, goal setting, imagination, money, multicultural, nonverbal communication, poverty, quilt, self esteem, transportation

The black snowman | by Mendez, Phil

Jacob, a young African American boy, lives with his poverty striken family in the city. He dislikes his culture, life and heritage and is filled with hate. It takes some special magic to change his ideas.

Keywords: african american, anger, body image, change, conflict resolution, courage, critical thinking, decision making, family, feelings, growing up, magic, multicultural, nonverbal communication, poverty, seasons, self esteem, traditions, verbal communication

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