Judy Cox Books

The first day of school can be scary—especially when no one else speaks your language. Carmen wishes she was back in Mexico, where everyone spoke Spanish and she didn't stand out. But a little bravery, a loving family, and a compassionate, determined teacher help Carmen find her way. Señora Coski's Spanish is muy terrible, but that means Carmen knows she won't laugh if her English sounds terrible, too. Soon, Carmen is confident enough to join in lessons, games, and songs—and she starts to teach her classmates Spanish, too! Uno, dos, tres. . . . Brightly illustrated by Pura Belpré Honor illustrator Angela Dominguez, Carmen Learns English explores the frustrations and triumphs of a young immigrant learning a new language, and celebrates the ways in which we learn from one another. For anyone worrying about their first day of school, this sweet, realistic picture book is sure to reassure and entertain.

The good news is that the third grade can buy a class pet. The bad news for Rosemary is that the kids want a rat! How gross! There's no way Rosemary's mother will let her take a turn as ratkeeper for a creepy, dirty animal. But Rosemary surprises herself when she begins to like Cheese, the gray and white hooded rat. Then, when Cheese's life is in danger, it's Rosemary to the rescue . . . if she can hide him from her family!

One tiny mouse follows his nose to a Cinco de Mayo festival, where exciting performances and tasty treats await! Mouse smells some yummy candy in a piñata hung high up in a tree for the Cinco de Mayo festival. He NEEDS to have one! But first he wants to eat some mouse-meal-sized tamale crumbs and watch heel-stomping dancers in bright-colored dresses. Everything will be perfect so long as he stays away from the cat following him down the street. Now a board book, Cinco de Mouse-o! is the perfect read-aloud for the little explorers in any family. Illustrator Jeffrey Ebbeler uses bright colors to detail a joyous celebration of Mexican-American culture with music, food, and games.

Two rat brothers escape their classroom cage for a second adventure around the globe