Lauren Castillo

A young boy is frightened by how busy and noisy the city is when he goes there to visit his Nana, but she makes him a fancy red cape that keeps him from being scared as she shows him how wonderful a place it is.

"Hedgehog and her friends discover that home can be found in unexpected places"-- Provided by publisher.

"When a young girl and her mother move to an apartment in a new city, the girl feels fine on her own. She would rather play by herself than meet new kids at the park or have a playdate with the other children in her building. And when her mom takes her to story time at the bookstore, she breaks down in tears. But things start to change when she meets Millie, a rescue dog who is not too big, not too small. On their daily walks, Millie isn't afraid...

When a boy finds a turtle basking in the sun at the park he thinks he has found the perfect pet, but the turtle only seems happy at bath time. Includes facts about turtles.

"Children's literacy advocate John Schu and Caldecott Honor recipient Lauren Castillo celebrate the power of finding the perfect book--in a story that's more relevant than ever. With a sea-horse kite in hand, a child heads out with Dad to the library. On the way they stop at a park, joining lots of people, some of whom are flying kites, too. At the library, a person toting a big pile of books hands over a story on a favorite subject: the sea horse....

A young girl named Callie learns that her family will be moving from their house to a smaller apartment, and must have a yard sale to downsize their possessions. Callie is sad to see strangers bargaining for precious family mementos, but she eventually realizes that home is about family rather than things.

"Five siblings worry that their shabby old house isn't 'proper' enough, but come to see that it's perfect just the way it is"-- Provided by publisher.

"Have you ever imagined what you might be when you grow up? When he was very young, Juan Felipe Herrera picked chamomile flowers in windy fields and let tadpoles swim across his hands in a creek. He slept outside and learned to say goodbye to his amiguitos each time his family moved to a new town. He went to school and taught himself to read and write English and filled paper pads with rivers of ink as he walked down the street after school. And when...

A boy and his dog hike to the top of a very tall, snowy hill where they play, enjoy a snack, and then share their favorite book before sledding home.