CCBC Booklists

CCBC booklist are compiled from books we have recommended in various editions of CCBC Choices. Most of these booklists are updated annually. You can also select books from one or more booklists to create a custom list, which can also include additional books from the CCBC-Recommended Book Search.

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Two Drops of Brown in a Cloud of White

by Saumiya Balasubramaniam

CCBC Review:

A young girl who loves snow and winter walks home from school with her immigrant mother, who misses the sun and warmth and colors of home. But for the girl, this winter-white landscape is home. To her mother, the dry brown leaves are like skeletons; to the girl, brown leaves make her think of maple syrup. There isn’t wrongness in their contrasting perspectives as this quiet, observant story progresses, just difference. Eventually, the girl’s buoyant spirit, vivid imagination, and delight in the moment proves infectious. “Ma hugs me tight. ‘When the sun comes out, everything will look so shiny and bright!’” This story featuring a South Asian mother and daughter affirms a sense of both longing and belonging across two generations of an immigrant family. Illustrations in oil and pastel on canvas showcase both the whites and grays of winter and bright punctuations of color and warmth. ©2021 Cooperative Children’s Book Center

Illustrated by Eva Campbell

CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 5-8
Age Range: PreK-Early Elementary (Ages 4-7) Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Format: Picture book
Subjects: Immigration and Immigrants Mothers Perspective/Point of View Seasons
Diversity subject: Asian
On CCBC Booklist: Wisconsin Social Studies Standards: Suggested Books for K-5

Publishers: Groundwood, House of Anansi
Publish Year: 2020
Pages: 32
ISBN: 9781773062587
CCBC Location: Picture Book, Balasubramaniam

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