Patricia Polacco

A homemade quilt ties together the lives of four generations of an immigrant Jewish family, remaining a symbol of their enduring love and faith.

Inspired by a teacher who believes each of them is a genius, a class of special-needs students invents something that could convince the whole school they are justifiably proud to be "Junkyard Wonders."

Describes how a teacher named Miss Chew encouraged individuality, and accepted learning differences, and helped a young student with academic difficulties get extra time to take tests and permission to be in advanced art classes. Inspired by the author's memories of her art teacher.

Hensely's, a neighborhood general store, always seems to have what Molly, Kate, and their mother need.

A long-lasting friendship develops between Larnel, a young African-American, and Mrs. Katz, a lonely, Jewish widow, when Larnel presents Mrs. Katz with a scrawny kitten without a tail.

A little girl gets a doll that turns out to be twice as rambunctious as her owner.

On her birthday Dad takes a young girl and her brother to see the Monster at Clay Pit Bottom.

During the Nazi occupation of France, Monique's mother hides a Jewish family in her basement and tries to help them escape to freedom.

Emma Kate and her best friend, an imaginary elephant, share many activities, such as homework and soccer practice, and even have their tonsils out at the same time!

A tapestry that is being used to cover a hole in a church wall at Christmas brings together an elderly couple who were separated during World War II.