Hrab, Naseem

"Otis and Peanut are back! Grounded in the . . . supportive friendship between a long-haired guinea pig and a naked mole rat, the second book in this junior graphic novel series explores themes of celebrating life's simple pleasures, grief, and making new memories with sensitivity, humor, and optimism. The three stories in this book reveal how the pair feel the loss of Pearl, Peanut's sister and Otis's friend. In 'The Cake,' Peanut bakes a sweet treat for Otis using Pearl's recipe and teaches him that there's always a good reason to eat cake--even if it's for no reason at all! In 'The Dream,' Peanut is missing his sister, but finds a way to keep her memory close. And in 'The Collection,' the two friends celebrate old memories, and make some new ones"--Provided by publisher.

"Snail is an epic explorer. Well . . . kind of. He especially loves the quiet things about adventures, like reading maps, collecting souvenirs, and finding wonder around every corner. And Snail knows that not all adventures need to be far--they can also be near--away! Which is why he and Stump choose a vacation destination a mere stone's throw from home. Snail and Stump smell the smells, listen for the sounds, and take in the sights of their home. And then something astonishing happens when a group of parachute seeds blows into their neighbourhood. Snail and Stump offer to show the seeds the sights, and as the seeds ooh and ahh over their favorite haunts, the two friends find an even deeper appreciation for their home and are able to see it in a whole new light"--Provided by publisher.

Snail loves the quiet things about parties, like confetti and the silence before everyone yells, "surprise!", and decides to plan his own party without any loud noises, but when he feels like something is missing he discovers he may long for the "loud" after all.

"A long-haired guinea pig and a naked mole rat may seem like unlikely friends, but Otis and Peanut perfectly support one another's quirks and foibles. . . In "The Haircut," Otis worries about getting a haircut because he's afraid he'll look so different he'll no longer be himself. In "The Swing," Peanut helps Otis come to terms with missing a beloved friend. And in "The House," Otis struggles to make his house a home with Peanut's help"--OCLC.

"After her grandfather's death, a young girl wanders through his house. As she tours each room, the objects she discovers stir memories of her grandfather--her Baba Bozorg. His closet full of clothes reminds her of the mints he kept in his pockets. His favorite teacup conjures thoughts of the fig cookies he would offer her. The curtains in the living room bring up memories of hide-and-seek games and the special relationship that she and her baba bozorg shared, even though they spoke different languages"--Provided by publisher.

"[A] boy . . . enters his dad's new apartment for the first time. His dad moved out on Monday and now it's Friday night, the start of his weekend with his dad. The boy and his dad follow their normal weekend routine - they eat eggs for breakfast, play cards and spend time at the park. And then they do the same things on Sunday. It is hard to say goodbye at the end of the weekend, but Dad gives his son a letter to remind him that, even if they can't always be together, the boy is loved"--Provided by publisher.

Ira is confused with what he's feeling, but with the help of a friend, he learns how to process his feelings.

"Ira Crumb ... [is the] new kid in town ... So Ira launches a whole-hearted campaign to befriend neighborhood kids before the first day [of school]. But his best-laid plans ... fall flat, and playing it cool doesn't seem to work either. Just as Ira decides school will be horrible, a comical misunderstanding connects him with Malcolm, who was the new kid last year and totally gets it -- and who, it turns out, will make a pretty good friend"--Provided by publisher.