Books published by publisher First Avenue Editions

June 19th, 1865, began as another hot day in Texas. African American slaves worked in fields, in barns, and in the homes of the white people who owned them. Then a message arrived. Freedom! Slavery had ended! The Civil War had actually ended in April. It took two months for word to reach Texas. Still the joy of that amazing day has never been forgotten. Every year, people all over the United States come together on June 19th to celebrate the end of slavery. Join in the celebration of Juneteenth, a day to remember and honor freedom for all people.

Aesop's famous collection of fables are intended to teach a variety of moral lessons. But instead of being long-winded and serious, these lighthearted tales are full of talking animals and often silly situations. Featuring such popular fables as "The Lion and the Mouse" and "The Fox and the Grapes," this collection is sure to entertain readers of any age. While the existence of Aesop's fables dates back to 6th century BCE, this version is taken from a 1919 copyright edition, with original illustrations by Milo Winter.

The Velveteen Rabbit is not a 'real' rabbit, like the rabbits he meets in the forest. He has seams and is full of stuffing. Still, the Velveteen Rabbit doesn't mind as long as the boy who owns him loves him. One of the rabbit's friends tells him that a toy becomes real if its owner truly loves it. But when the boy leaves home to recover from an illness and is forced to leave his Velveteen Rabbit behind, what will become of his beloved toy? A heartwarming tale of childhood and the transforming power of love, this unabridged version of the children's picture book written by English-American author Margery Williams Bianco was first published in 1922.

Jaclyn Roessel live in Kayenta, Arizona, on the Navajo reservation. Like most young girls, Jaclyn has many interests. She likes her math class, she plays basketball and volleyball, and she loves in-line skating. She is also interested in rug weaving, and she has asked her grandmother to teach her how to weave. For the Navajos, weaving is more than a craft or hobby. It is an important part of the culture and history of the Dine--the people. Jaclyn's grandmother has explained that she wants Jaclyn to learn not just the technique of weaving but the stories and songs that go along with it. These stories about Spider Woman and Changing Woman have been passed down from generation to generation. In Songs from the Loom, photographer and writer Monty Roessel accompanies Jaclyn and her grandmother as they shear sheep, gather plants to dye wool, and weave a rug. Navajo rugs are highly valued and hang in museums around the world. This book looks at what the beautiful rugs mean to the Navajos.

In 1957, nine teenagers were chosen to be the first black students to attend all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. A small group of people in Little Rock, including the governor of Arkansas, wanted to keep them out. But those nine students knew they had a right to a good education. And they would do anything to crack the wall that had kept black people and white people apart.