written by: Monica Brown and Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri

This beautifully illustrated, bilingual book has one page written in Spanish and the opposing page written in English. Spanish is the native language of Julio C. Tello, the main character in our story with the setting in the country of Peru. The story begins with the background history of Peru, bluntly and truthfully explaining the brutal invasion of Spain in the 1500s and the extermination attempt of the indigenous people’s and culture of Peru. Our main character grew up understanding the historya nd stories of his people and his respect and intellect will eventually help to tell the story of this ancient civilization.

As a young child Julio lives in the countryside and plays with courage in the tombs of his ancestors. His father sent the skulls to the city to be scientifically studied. At age 12 he moves to Lima with the financial assistance of his aunt, who was a maid for the presidential palace. Here he becomes educated. He went on to study medicine at the University of San Marcos. While working in the library, he came across an article about the skulls that he and his brothers found and his father had sent in to be studied. He decided to devote his medical skills to studying the Indigenous History of Peru. He went to America to attend Harvard University and study Archaeology, and then back to Lima Peru to work in the Museum of Natural History in Lima, Peru. He was able to prove that Peruvian people had originated from their own soil over 3,000 years ago. He went on to discover a group called, the Paracas who were over 25,000 years ago! Because of Julio, Peruviasns have discovered and told the world of their history. It began much earlier than the Spanish Conquest.

I am Courage is a must read, for any age, with its universal themes of learning to believe in ourselves and face what challenges us, including our fears. But this time, the life lesson is to do it together! The star character, a young girl, learns that courage is not the absence of fear, but the strength to try new and difficult things, or to stand up for others, even and especially when we are afraid. Simple, uplifting messages are skillfully illustrated showing children who find courage to keep riding even after they stumble, who share doubts with friends, and who always get up and try again whenever they fall. The book includes an appendix with multiple, easy to use techniques for calming ourselves with breath exercises and gathering strength with yoga poses. Children and adults alike can incorporate the simple messages to decrease stress and increase courage. I am Courage motivates and the illustrations inspire us all to cultivate resilience by kindly encouraging ourselves and leaning on each other. This way we can share our inner worries and triumphs, and others can share with us, leading to the creation of a stronger community together. A wonderful addition to any social and emotional learning collection, this book can be read again and again. 

Where the Oceans Meet is an endearing tale of an intergenerational road trip seen through the eyes of a young girl who has traveled with her mother to Southern India to visit her Paati (grandmother). The story symbolically braids together three generations, living oceans apart, who take a trip to visit special friends and places as they eat their way through Southern India heading for the tip of the country where three oceans meet. Highlights abound of a beautiful land full of whimsical patterns in fabrics, foods and gardens. The immigrant experience of a generation returning to their homeland is vividly expressed through illustrations where you feel the love, traditions and intimate relationships regardless of time and distance apart. The book includes a brightly illustrated map bringing to life the route, colorful places and local foods, including boiled peanuts carefully wrapped in folded newspaper cones. Any student who has ventured to visit new places, together with family, will relate to the unexpected and in between moments that accentuate a road trip and fill us all with lasting memories.

This is a wonderfully written and illustrated book for primary aged children explaining healthy understanding of circles of people in our lives. Illuminating that we are in the center and those closest to us are immediate family, then extended family, then friends, community, ect. The story encourages inclusivity as we “widen” our circles to include more and more people. Our story ends with bringing it back to our first person (the reader) and the love they hold inside.