Carmen Agra Deedy

Books by This Author

14 Cows for America

Painting of landscape
Illustrated by: Thomas Gonzalez
Age Level: 6-9

This is the true story of a touching gift bestowed on the United States by a tribe of Maasai Warriors in the wake of the September 11th attacks. Accompanied by richly hued illustrations, this story of generosity and compassion crosses boundaries, nations, and cultures.

Growing Up Cuban in Decatur, Georgia (Audiobook)

Growing Up Cuban in Decatur, Georgia (Audiobook)

Popular storyteller and author Carmen Deedy shares the story of the childhood journey that took her from her island roots in Havana, Cuba, to small-town Southern life in Decatur, Georgia. This collection of twelve stories, many of which have been heard on National Public Radio's "Weekend All Things Considered," introduces readers to the wise and witty Agra clan and the hilarious, often poignant collision of cultures they experience when they leave their Cuban home and immigrate to the United States.

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale

Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale
Illustrated by: Michael Austin
Age Level: 6-9
Language: English, Spanish vocabulary featured

A sweet and witty retelling of the Cuban folktale. Martina the beautiful cockroach doesn’t know coffee beans about love and marriage. That’s where her Cuban family comes in. While some of the Cucarachas offer her gifts to make her more attractive, only Abuela, her grandmother, gives her something really useful: un consejo increíble, some shocking advice.

Return of the Library Dragon

Return of the Library Dragon
Illustrated by: Michael P. White
Age Level: 6-9

In this sequel to The Library Dragon, Miss Lotty is finally checking herself out of the Sunrise Elementary School Library, but not before Lotta Scales makes one final, fiery stand. After 557 years of faithful service, Miss Lotty is retiring from guarding books. But before she can check out of Sunrise Elementary for good, disaster strikes. Someone has ordered to have all the books removed from the library and replaced with machines! It’s enough to make Lotty feel a little…dragon-like.

The Last Dance

Age Level: 6-9

Bessie and Ninny are the best of friends. Sometimes on milk-moon nights, Ninny throws buttons at Bessie's window. When Bessie peeps outside, Ninny sings: "Bessie, oh Bessie! Come dance with me! For I hate to dance alone…" Down the drainpipe Bessie slides to visit Ninny, and off they go. Most nights, they visit the grave of Ninny’s grandfather, Oppa. It was Oppa who taught them three things that they will never forget: to dance, to sing, and to tell stories.

The Library Dragon

The Library Dragon
Illustrated by: Michael P. White
Age Level: 6-9

Sunrise Elementary School's new librarian is Miss Lotta Scales, a fire-breathing dragon who fiercely guards her new books. When a nearsighted child enters the unused facility and begins reading aloud, other children wander in, and Miss Scales realizes that kids don't necessarily damage books. The text is filled with dragon-related puns.

The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet!

Illustration of a rooster who is crowing
Illustrated by: Eugene Yelchin
Age Level: 6-9
Language: Spanish (Bilingual Eng/Sp)

La Paz is a happy, but noisy village. A little peace and quiet would make it just right. So the villagers elect the bossy Don Pepe as their mayor. Before long, singing of any kind is outlawed. But there is one noisy rooster who doesn't give two mangos about this mayor's silly rules. Instead, he does what roosters were born to do. This allegory celebrates the spirit of freedom, and the courage of those who are born to sing at any cost.

The Secret of Old Zeb

Illustrated by: Michael P. White
Age Level: 6-9

Disappointed when his parents go off to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and leave him behind with his Great Aunt Hortense, young Walter encounters mystery and intrigue when he meets Old Zeb, a shipbuilder with a secret dream

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