"The inspiring classic that The New Yorker called 'an exciting tale [with] top-notch writing,' about one girl facing harsh conditions and huge responsibility as she brings her family to the American colonies.
Featuring a heroine with faith, courage, and a great deal of grit, this acclaimed historical fiction novel portrays the realities faced by three children hoping to find a new home in an unknown land.
Amanda Freebold doesn't know what to do. Her father left three years ago for the new colony of Jamestown in America, thousands of miles away. But now that her mother has died, Amanda is left to take care of her younger brother and sister all alone back in England.
As the new head of the family, Amanda finally decides to take her brother and sister to America to find Father. The ocean crossing is long and hard, and the children don't know whom to trust. But with her father's little brass lion's head to guard them, Amanda knows that somehow everything will work out."
"When young Pablo is given some poppy seeds, he dreams of spreading color and beauty throughout his dusty Mexican village. Daring to enter Old Antonio's walled yard to plant the seeds, he is chased away with angry words and a stick. The stingy old man thinks Pablo has come to steal his precious spring water. Poor Pablo becomes sick from staying too long in the hot sun and cannot leave his bed. Meanwhile, the seeds he dropped by the spring have grown into beautiful red poppies. Will the poppies soften Old Antonio's hard heart and make him realize the boy wasn't after his water after all. Clyde Robert Bulla's name is a by-word in beginning-reading circles. This delightful tale of a simple village boy with a generous spirit is sure to enchant young listeners. Robert Ramirez's gentle voice, with its slight hint of an accent, will be their passport to Pablo's world."
"Uncle Pancho isn't really anybody's uncle, but he's everybody's friend. He is also a good storyteller. All the neighborhood children love to hear him talk about growing up in a beautiful place called Mexico. Now Uncle Pancho is about to lose his house. The state wants to tear it down to make room for a new freeway. As Gregory and his friends search for a way to help him, Uncle Pancho's stories give Gregory a good idea. If he uses his artistic talent to paint the old man's house, maybe it will be too beautiful to destroy. As Gregory and the neighborhood kids create a beautiful mural, news cameras gather in front of the house. Maybe his idea will work, after all. As Gregory's idea leads to an unexpected conclusion, realistic characters and situations move the story along at a pleasant pace. Johnny Heller's narration captures the poignancy of this moving story for young readers."
