Books with author Juana Martinez-Neal

A 2019 Caldecott Honor BookWhat’s in a name? For one little girl, her very long name tells the vibrant story of where she came from — and who she may one day be.If you ask her, Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has way too many names: six! How did such a small person wind up with such a large name? Alma turns to Daddy for an answer and learns of Sofia, the grandmother who loved books and flowers; Esperanza, the great-grandmother who longed to travel; José, the grandfather who was an artist; and other namesakes, too. As she hears the story of her name, Alma starts to think it might be a perfect fit after all — and realizes that she will one day have her own story to tell. In her author-illustrator debut, Juana Martinez-Neal opens a treasure box of discovery for children who may be curious about their own origin stories or names.

★ "An exceptionally satisfying picture book." —Booklist, STARRED review★ "This readaloud is sweetly told as Swashby overcomes his bitter habits to welcome new, friendly, and energetic people into his quiet life." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, STARRED review From New York Times best-selling author Beth Ferry and Caldecott Honor winner Juana Martinez-Neal comes a sweet-and-salty friendship story perfect for pirate-lovers learning new ways to communicate while at a distance. This hilarious picture book will keep emerging readers laughing, and the message-related mishaps in the story create an opportunity for spelling and sounding out new words while learning from home! Captain Swashby loves the sea, his oldest friend. And he loves his life by the sea just as it is: salty and sandy and serene. One day, much to Swashby’s chagrin, a young girl and her granny commandeer the empty house next door. All Swashby wants is for his new neighbors to GO AWAY and take their ruckus with them. When Swashby begins to leave notes in the sand for his noisy neighbors, however, the beach interferes with the messages that are getting across. Could it be that the captain’s oldest friend, the sea, knows what Swashby needs even better than he knows himself?

A 2019 Caldecott Honor BookWhat’s in a name? For one little girl, her very long name tells the vibrant story of where she came from — and who she may one day be.If you ask her, Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has way too many names: six! How did such a small person wind up with such a large name? Alma turns to Daddy for an answer and learns of Sofia, the grandmother who loved books and flowers; Esperanza, the great-grandmother who longed to travel; José, the grandfather who was an artist; and other namesakes, too. As she hears the story of her name, Alma starts to think it might be a perfect fit after all — and realizes that she will one day have her own story to tell. In her author-illustrator debut, Juana Martinez-Neal opens a treasure box of discovery for children who may be curious about their own origin stories or names.

A heartfelt, visually stunning picture book from the Caldecott Honor and Sibert Medal Winner illuminates a young girl's day of play and adventure in the lush rain forest of Peru. Zonia's home is the Amazon rain forest, where it is always green and full of life. Every morning, the rain forest calls to Zonia, and every morning she answers. She visits the sloth family, greets the giant anteater, and runs with the speedy jaguar. But one morning, the rain forest calls to her in a troubled voice. How will Zonia answer?Acclaimed author-illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal explores the wonders of the rain forest with Zonia, an Asháninka girl, in her joyful outdoor adventures. The engaging text emphasizes Zonia’s empowering bond with her home, while the illustrations—created on paper made from banana bark—burst with luxuriant greens and delicate details. Illuminating back matter includes a translation of the story in Asháninka, information on the Asháninka community, as well as resources on the Amazon rain forest and its wildlife.

★ "An exceptionally satisfying picture book." —Booklist, STARRED review★ "This readaloud is sweetly told as Swashby overcomes his bitter habits to welcome new, friendly, and energetic people into his quiet life." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, STARRED review From New York Times best-selling author Beth Ferry and Caldecott Honor winner Juana Martinez-Neal comes a sweet-and-salty friendship story perfect for pirate-lovers learning new ways to communicate while at a distance. This hilarious picture book will keep emerging readers laughing, and the message-related mishaps in the story create an opportunity for spelling and sounding out new words while learning from home! Captain Swashby loves the sea, his oldest friend. And he loves his life by the sea just as it is: salty and sandy and serene. One day, much to Swashby’s chagrin, a young girl and her granny commandeer the empty house next door. All Swashby wants is for his new neighbors to GO AWAY and take their ruckus with them. When Swashby begins to leave notes in the sand for his noisy neighbors, however, the beach interferes with the messages that are getting across. Could it be that the captain’s oldest friend, the sea, knows what Swashby needs even better than he knows himself?

In a perfect gift for new and expectant parents (and siblings), a gentle story pays tribute to the wonder and emotion of a family’s first quiet days with a newborn.The house is hushed. The lights are low.We’re basking in a newborn glow.Inside the cozy house, a baby has arrived! The world is eager to meet the newcomer, but there will be time enough for that later. Right now, the family is on its babymoon: cocooning, connecting, learning, and muddling through each new concern. While the term “babymoon” is often used to refer to a parents’ getaway before the birth of a child, it was originally coined by midwives to describe days like these: at home with a newborn, with the world held at bay and the wonder of a new family constellation unfolding. Paired with warm and winsome illustrations by Juana Martinez-Neal, Hayley Barrett’s lyrical ode to these tender first days will resonate with new families everywhere.

If you ask her, Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has way too many names: six! How did such a small person wind up with such a large name? Alma turns to Daddy for an answer and learns of Sofia, the grandmother who loved books and flowers; Esperanza, the great-grandmother who longed to travel; José, the grandfather who was an artist; and other namesakes too. As she hears the story of her name, Alma starts to think it might be a perfect fit after all―and realizes that she will one day have her own story to tell. Through Alma’s vibrant story, Juana Martinez-Neal opens a treasure box of discovery for children who may be curious about their own origin stories or names.

"The moon will soon rise, and the sun has just set. But it's still not my birthday yet". The Night Before My Birthday Book is a magical poem read to children on the night before their birthday. It captures the feelings of children as they are tucked into bed, full of anticipation, with dreams of waking up a brand new age. This beautifully illustrated hardcover book becomes a childhood keepsake with chronicle pages to record birthday dreams come true. The Night Before My Birthday Book will become a favorite tradition as it celebrates the birth of a child and becoming a growing family.

**Featured on PBS, Recipient of 2 Disney Awards ** Lena Jellie Beana, Science Matters is a science-based, character-driven book, targeted for children ages 6-10. Lena Jellie Beana is a 9 year old girl who enjoys conducting science experiments. In Science Matters, her latest experiment goes terribly awry. All of her classmates, including her science nemesis, will have their eyes on her to watch her resolve this blunder. The conflict ignites as Lena tries to rectify this mistake and do what is right in her interactions with those involved. Lena is not alone in her scientific journey - she has renowned scientists (Einstein, Imhotep, and Hypatia), comedic friends, and pesky little brother to help her along the way in the discoveries of science and life lessons.

The Boy Who Walked On Saturn's Rings is a short story for kids 3-7 years old. A great option as a bedtime story. In this book, a small boy looks outside of his bedroom door one night to see that outside his room there are countless stars. Then he decides to go explore, hops across stars, and even walks on the rings of Saturn! This story is simple and easy to understand, while simultaneously having an atmosphere of imagination and adventure. So make sure to scroll back up to the top of the page and purchase this book for your kids. I hope you enjoy it!