Best Selling Books by Carolyn Marsden

Gloria always spends Christmas with Papi, Mama, and Nana. But this Christmas, Papi is away picking oranges and Mama has to work at the hotel where she is a maid. Gloria is miserable when Mama makes her go with her-until they get to the hotel with its lavish decorations and food piled high on the tables. What a magical place to spend Christmas! But then Mama explains that these lovely things are only for the guests: Gloria is to stay in the kitchen where nobody will see her. From her hiding spot, Gloria watches as a girl her age eats a fancy meal with her family. How can one girl have so much while another has so little?

How Gloria moves from disappointment to understanding makes for a beautiful story that honors the true spirit of the Christmas season.

Illustrations by Robert Casilla.

When Oy and her Thai American family move to a new neighborhood, her third-grade classmates tease and exclude her because she is different.