Julie Abery

Lyrically told true story of the teacher who coached Hawaiian swimmers to Olympic glory. When the children of workers on a 1930s Maui sugar plantation were chased away from playing in the nearby irrigation ditches, local science teacher Soichi Sakamoto had an idea. He would take responsibility for the children and train them to swim. Using his science background, Sakamoto developed a strict practice regime for the kids, honing their skills and building their strength and endurance. They formed a team and began to dominate events, first nationally and then internationally — until they made it all the way to Olympic gold! Told in simple rhyme, Sakamoto’s story will inspire athletes, coaches — and everyone who believes impossible dreams can come true.

How a Teacher Led an Unlikely Team to Victory

Sakamoto's Swim Club

Pierre Pratt

A True Story of True Friendship

Old Man and the Penguin

An oxpecker lands on Little Hippo, and one bird is a fun friend to play with--until there's a whole flock bothering Little Hippo! And where is Mama? Little Hippo has fallen behind as the herd grazes on African plains. Mama shoos away the birds, cheers up Little Hippo, and all is right again. A sweet story of youthful adventure and motherly love, told with short poetic rhyming lines and warm illustrations. Written by preschool teacher Julie Abery and captured by Suzie Mason's beautiful artwork, this book in Little Animal Friends board book series will delight babies and toddlers and demand to be read again and again. Little Panda and Little Tiger in the same series were named to the CCBC Choices 2020 list for picture books for young readers.

Little Hippo

Little Zebra dancing, prancing, jumps without a care - - until she loses her Mama! As the zebra herd moves on the African plains, Mama is not far behind and helps her young one find the herd again. A sweet story of youthful adventure and motherly love, told with short rhyming lines and warm illustrations.Written by preschool teacher Julie Abery and captured by Suzie Mason's beautiful artwork, this book in Little Animal Friends board book series will delight babies and toddlers and demand to be read again and again.

Little Zebra

Little Panda goes on an adventure in the jungle, but mama is always close by her cub. Short rhyming lines in this illustrated board book tell a sweet story of youthful adventure and motherly love.

Little Panda

A biography in rhyme relates the story of Olympic swimmer and Syrian refugee Yusra Mardini.

Yusra Swims

The heartwarming true tale of the friendship between and a man and the penguin he saved. João finds a penguin, soaked in oil, on the shore. Barely moving on the sand, too tired to swim, too weak to stand … João must save this little guy. Without his help, he’ll surely die. João takes the penguin home. He cleans him, feeds him and nurses him back to health — and the pair develop an unlikely bond. When the penguin is fully recovered, João knows it’s time to return him to the wild where he belongs. But the penguin has other ideas … When the heart is open, friendship can happen anywhere.

Julie Abery

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