author results for LaRocca, Rajani,

Summer Is for Cousins

LaRocca, Rajani — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Ravi spends summer vacation with his cousins sharing in all their favorite activities, including eating ice cream.

Summer Is for Cousins

LaRocca, Rajani — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

From Newbery Honor author Rajani LaRocca comes a celebration of extended family and summertime fun
Summer is for cousins.
Mom and Dad,
Two uncles, two aunties,
Thatha and Pati,
Seven cousins,
All of us are together.
Ravi can't wait to spend summer vacation at the lake house with his family—especially his cousins! Summer vacation is for days at the beach, long hikes, paddleboarding, and—of course—ice cream. Ravi and his oldest cousin, Dhruv, had the same favorite flavor last year, but everything feels different now.
Dhruv's much taller and his voice is deeper. Ravi's worried that Dhruv won't be interested in spending time with him, the little cousin. The ice cream shop doesn't even have their favorite flavor this year. But on the last night of vacation, the cousins decide to make dinner, and Ravi's in charge of dessert. He only has one special thing in mind!
This picture book all about summertime fun celebrates the resilient bond between extended family members.

Masala Chai, Fast and Slow

LaRocca, Rajani — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

When his grandfather, who makes masala chai each morning for the family, sprains his ankle, impatient Aarav decides to make the chai himself, but when his rushing causes him to miss some crucial steps, he must learn to slow down to get the recipe right.

Masala Chai, Fast and Slow

LaRocca, Rajani — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Aarav loves his grandfather very much, but they're as different as water and molasses. Where Aarav runs and races, Thatha likes to saunter and stroll. Every day at five o'clock, Thatha makes masala chai for the family, and no matter how much Aarav urges him to hurry, Thatha insists on taking his time. "Masala chai cannot be rushed," says Thatha. "It must be made carefully." One day, when Thatha sprains his ankle and must rest on the couch, Aarav eagerly decides he'd like to make the chai himself--after all, what would make his grandfather feel better than a cup of warm, spiced sweetness? But no matter how hard Aarav tries, his rushing causes him to miss some crucial step. Will Aarav be able to slow down and get the recipe right?

Sona and the Golden Beasts

LaRocca, Rajani — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

"Though music is outlawed in the land of Devia, Sona hears it everywhere. Sona is a Malech, a member of the ruling class that conquered Devia centuries ago. Malechs forbade music to prevent the native Devans from using their magic, and Sona hides her abilities lest they put her in danger. Then Sona discovers an orphaned wolf pup. She believes the pup, with its golden ears, might be related to one of the five sacred beasts of Devia, and she vows to keep it safe. That means bringing the pup in tow when Sona embarks on a perilous quest, along with a Devan boy, to secure the nectar of life for a loved one who has fallen gravely ill. On the journey, as Sona uncovers secrets about the Malechian empire and her own identity, she realizes that the fate of the sacred beasts, and the future of Devia, just might come down to her"--Amazon.

Rohan Murthy Has A Plan

LaRocca, Rajani — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

With plans to start a pet-sitting business, third-grader Rohan practices taking care of animals by taking home Honey, the class guinea pig, but when she escapes her cage, Rohan realizes he might be in over his head.

The Secret Code Inside You

LaRocca, Rajani — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

"There's a secret code inside you, a code called DNA. A code that tells your body's cells what they should do each day. It looks like twisted ladders, or tiny, twirling noodles. It makes us into people, instead of into poodles. Why can't humans breathe underwater? Why are some people tall and others short? Why do we resemble our parents and grandparents? This book explores all this and more in flowing, rhyming text, explaining cells, DNA, and genetics in a way that is simple and easy for children to understand. Colorful and brilliantly illustrated, The Secret Code Inside You illustrates that while DNA may be the blueprint for how a person looks, what you choose to do with your body is entirely up to you!" --Provided by publisher

Red, White, and Whole

LaRocca, Rajani — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

1983: "Reha feels torn between two worlds: school, where she's the only Indian American student, and home, with her family's traditions and holidays. But Reha's parents don't understand why she's conflicted--they only notice when Reha doesn't meet their strict expectations. Reha feels disconnected from her mother, or Amma, although their names are linked--Reha means "star" and Punam means "moon"--they are a universe apart. Then Reha finds out that her Amma is sick. Really sick. Reha, who dreams of becoming a doctor even though she can't stomach the sight of blood, is determined to make her Amma well again. She'll be the perfect daughter, if it means saving her Amma's life"-- Provided by publisher.

Bracelets for Bina's Brothers

LaRocca, Rajani — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Bina has three older brothers and this year she wants to make them bracelets for Raksha Bandhan, an Indian holiday that celebrates brothers and sisters--but first she must come up with patterns that include only their favorite colors, plus one unique bead that celebrates their special interests.

Seven Golden Rings

LaRocca, Rajani — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

In ancient India, a boy named Bhagat travels to the rajah's city, hoping to ensure his family's prosperity by winning a place at court as a singer. Includes author's note about binary numbers.

Some of Us

LaRocca, Rajani — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

"Equal parts emotional and informative, here is a worthy picture book about citizenship and naturalization. This thoughtfully crafted text precisely breaks down the process by which new residents apply for and acquire US citizenship"-- Provided by publisher.

Fall Is for Beginnings

LaRocca, Rajani — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT

For Ravi, fall brings cool weather and time with his best friend Joe, but when a new girl named Ellie joins their class, Ravi struggles with the changes until he learns that fall can be the perfect time to start a new friendship.

Sona and the Golden Beasts

LaRocca, Rajani — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

In Devia where music is outlawed, Sona, a member of the ruling class who secretly hears music, embarks on a perilous quest with a Devan boy and a sacred wolf pup to find the nectar of life, uncovering secrets about her empire and her identity that could shape the future of Devia.

Your One and Only Heart

LaRocca, Rajani — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

"A beautifully illustrated and poetic exploration and ode to the human heart and all that it does"-- Provided by publisher.

A Vaccine Is Like A Memory

LaRocca, Rajani — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

"Do you remember every time you've been sick? You may not, but your body does! With many illnesses, you can't get sick more than once because your body remembers and fights it off before you get sick again. But what if your body could recognize germs that you've never had before so you don't get ill? There's where vaccines come in! This book comes complete with extensive back matter all about types of germs and vaccines"--Amazon.com.

The Secret of the Dragon Gems

LaRocca, Rajani — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

"Eleven-year-olds Tripti Kapoor, a feisty "word nerd" from Massachusetts, and Sam Cohen, a shy, imaginative, budding geologist from California, are both miserable at Camp Dilloway, a summer camp in upstate New York. On the last night of camp, they follow a shooting star to a quiet creek. There they find two silvery rocks glowing in the night. They each take one home, and their long-distance friendship begins. It's soon clear that these are no ordinary rocks. They seem to move on their own, get strangely hot, and even take over Tripti and Sam's thoughts! Inspired by their mutual love of their favorite book series, The Dragon Gems, they dub the rocks Opal and Jasper, after the Dragon Gems in the books. But others are interested in the stones too--including the owner of Camp Dilloway, who hides a secret of his own. Tripti and Sam must crack the Dragon Gems' code and keep them out of Dilloway's clutches, all while navigating the rocky road of middle school friendships and learning to stand up for what is right" -- Provided by publisher.

Mirror to Mirror

LaRocca, Rajani — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Unable to find their rhythm, once-close twin sisters Maya and Chaya make a bet: they'll switch places at summer camp and whoever can keep the ruse going the longest will get to make a life-changing decision, which isn't as easy as it sounds.

I'll Go and Come Back

LaRocca, Rajani — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

When Jyoti visits her grandmother halfway around the world, she is overwhelmed by the differences between India and home. At first she feels lonely and out of place, but soon, despite a language barrier, she and Sita Pati are able to understand each other. They form a bond--looking at books together, making designs with colored sand, shopping at the market, playing games, eating chapatis, and sipping warm milk with saffron to bring sweet dreams. When it's time to part, Jyoti doesn't want to leave, but then she remembers that in Tamil, people don't say goodbye, they say "I'll go and come back." Sure enough, the two reunite the next summer when Pati visits Jyoti in America, and it's Jyoti's turn to make her grandmother feel welcome. Can they create some special memories that will last until the next time they see each other?

My Little Golden Book About Kamala Harris

LaRocca, Rajani — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

"A biography of vice president Kamala Harris, written for preschoolers"-- Provided by publisher.

Where Three Oceans Meet

LaRocca, Rajani — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Traveling to the southern tip of India, Sejal, Mommy, and Pati find their way to Kanyakumari, where three oceans meet, and delight in making it to the end of the earth together.

Much Ado About Baseball

LaRocca, Rajani — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Loosely based on Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing," twelve-year-olds Trish and Ben should be automatic friends because they both play baseball on a Little League team in Comity, Massachusetts, and they both love solving math puzzles, but obstacles stand in their way.

Midsummer's Mayhem

LaRocca, Rajani — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

"Can Mimi undo the mayhem caused by her baking in this contemporary-fantasy retelling of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream? Eleven-year-old Mimi Mackson comes from a big Indian American family: Dad's a renowned food writer, Mom's a successful businesswoman, and her three older siblings all have their own respective accomplishments. It's easy to feel invisible in such an impressive family, but Mimi's dream of proving she's not the least-talented member of her family seems possible when she discovers a contest at the new bakery in town. Plus, it'll start her on the path to becoming a celebrity chef like her culinary idol, Puffy Fay. But when Mimi's dad returns from a business trip, he's mysteriously lost his highly honed sense of taste. Without his help, Mimi will never be able to bake something impressive enough to propel her to gastronomic fame. Drawn into the woods behind her house by a strangely familiar song, Mimi meets Vik, a boy who brings her to parts of the forest she's never seen. Who knew there were banyan trees and wild boars in Massachusetts? Together they discover exotic ingredients and bake them into delectable and enchanting treats. But as her dad acts stranger every day, and her siblings' romantic entanglements cause trouble in their town, Mimi begins to wonder whether the ingredients she and Vik found are somehow the cause of it all. She needs to use her skills, deductive and epicurean, to uncover what's happened. In the process, she learns that in life, as in baking, not everything is sweet...."-- Provided by publisher.

Sona and the Golden Beasts

LaRocca, Rajani — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

From Newbery Honor and Walter Award–winning author Rajani LaRocca comes a gripping middle grade fantasy perfect for fans of The Serpent's Secret and The Last Mapmaker.

Though music is outlawed in the land of Devia, Sona hears it everywhere. Sona is a Malech, a member of the ruling class that conquered Devia centuries ago. Malechs forbade music to prevent the native Devans from using their magic, and Sona hides her abilities lest they put her in danger.

Then Sona discovers an orphaned wolf pup. She believes the pup, with its golden ears, might be related to one of the five sacred beasts of Devia, and she vows to keep it safe. That means bringing the pup in tow when Sona embarks on a perilous quest, along with a Devan boy, to secure the nectar of life for a loved one who has fallen gravely ill. On the journey, as Sona uncovers secrets about the Malechian empire and her own identity, she realizes that the fate of the sacred beasts, and the future of Devia, just might come down to her.

This captivating fantasy novel by award-winning author Rajani LaRocca will sweep readers into Sona's quest across the land of Devia as she grapples with the lasting impact of colonial rule and learns to fight for what she knows is right.

Brazaletes para los hermanos de Bina / Bracelets for Bina's Brothers (Spanish-English Bilingual Edition)

LaRocca, Rajani — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

¡Celebremos la diversidad, las matemáticas y el poder del cuento!

Celebrate diversity, math, and the power of storytelling with this bilingual (Spanish and English) edition!
¡Ahora en edición bilingüe inglés-español! Para la celebración hindú Raksha Bandhan, Bina decide regalarles a sus hermanos brazaletes de cuentas hechos por ella misma. Para eso averigua qué colores le gusta a cada uno y cuáles no, y se pone manos a la obra. Al seguir patrones de cuentas de colores alternados, uno y uno, Bina descubre algo nuevo sobre los patrones... y sobre sus hermanos.

Los libros de la serie Cuentos matemáticos celebran las aventuras diarias de niños que usan las matemáticas mientras juegan, construyen y descubren el mundo que los rodea. Historias divertidas y actividades prácticas facilitan que tanto los niños como los adultos exploren juntos las matemáticas de la vida diaria. Fue desarrollada junto a expertos en el currículum STEM,

For the Hindu holiday of Raksha Bandhan, Bina is determined to make beaded bracelets for her brothers all by herself. She finds out which colors her brothers like and dislike and sets to work. Working with her every-other-one beading pattern causes Bina to discover something new about patterns—and her brothers.
Storytelling Math celebrates children using math in their daily adventures as they play, build, and discover the world around them. Joyful stories and hands-on activities make it easy for kids and their grown-ups to explore everyday math together. Developed in collaboration with math experts at STEM education nonprofit TERC, under a grant from the Heising-Simons Foundation.

Red, White, and Whole

LaRocca, Rajani — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Newbery Honor Book! A heartbreakingly hopeful novel in verse about an Indian American girl whose life is turned upside down when her mother is diagnosed with leukemia.

* Walter Award Winner * New England Book Award Winner * An NCTE Notable Verse Novel * Golden Kite Award Winner * Crystal Kite Award Winner * Goodreads Choice Nominee * A Washington Post Best Children's Book of the Year * An SLJ Best Book of the Year * A BookPage Best Book of the Year * An NYPL Best Book of the Year * A Mighty Girl's Best Book of the Year * An ILA Notable Book for a Global Society * A Bank Street Best Book of the Year *Junior Library Guild Selection * A Judy Lopez Memorial Award Honor *

Reha feels torn between two worlds: school, where she's the only Indian American student, and home, with her family's traditions and holidays. But Reha's parents don't understand why she's conflicted—they only notice when Reha doesn't meet their strict expectations. Reha feels disconnected from her mother, or Amma. Although their names are linked—Reha means "star" and Punam means "moon"—they are a universe apart.

Then Reha finds out that her Amma is sick. Really sick.

Reha, who dreams of becoming a doctor even though she can't stomach the sight of blood, is determined to make her Amma well again. She'll be the perfect daughter, if it means saving her Amma's life.

From Indies Introduce author Rajani LaRocca comes a radiant story about the ties that bind and how to go on in the face of unthinkable loss. This is the perfect next read for fans of Jasmine Warga and Thanhhà Lại.