"Wordy Birdy loves to talk, but will she ever learn to listen?"--

Recent immigrants from China and desperate for work and money, ten-year-old Mia Tang's parents take a job managing a rundown motel in Southern California, even though the owner, Mr. Yao is a nasty skinflint who exploits them; while her mother (who was an engineer in China) does the cleaning, Mia works the front desk and tries to cope with demanding customers and other recent immigrants--not to mention being only one of two Chinese in her fifth grade...

"Let's hear it for everything that makes you the amazing, awesome, inspiring kid that you are... Your curiosity and creativity. Your bravery and kindness. Your sense of humor and fun. Your ability to get up again when you get knocked down. Your way of helping others. Yeah--you are all that and more! You are every good thing that makes the world go round. So go ahead and show us your magnificence--all the things that make you, you." --

Otto is a young otter who can do many things well, but swimming is not one of them until his older sister tells him to start small and, little by little, he is able to reach his goal, adding swimming to his "I can do" list.

Twelve-year-old Ana Flores has never really taken to sports, but when she observes the women's softball team practice at the college where her mother is going to teach, she is intrigued and decides to try out for a local team; unfortunately it is harder than it looks--but with some help from one of the college girls, Caitlin, and Mali, a pitcher who is mad she only made second team, Ana gets to work on her catching, and Mali works on her attitude,...

Twelve-year-old Ava finds an old pencil in her family's junk drawer and discovers, during a math test, that it will answer factual questions, so she and her best friend Sophie have a great time--and Ava grows in self-confidence--until the pencil reveals a truth about her family that Ava would rather not know.

"It can be hard to be different-whether because of how you look, where you live, or what you can or can't do. But wouldn't it be boring if we were all the same? Being different is great! Being different is what makes you YOU. This inclusive and empowering picture book from Sofia Sanchez-a young model and actress with Down syndrome-reminds readers how important it is to embrace your differences, be confident, and be proud of who you are. Imagine all...