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Children's Fiction General

A Handful of Seeds

by (author) Monica Hughes

illustrated by Luis Garay

Publisher
Fitzhenry and Whiteside
Initial publish date
Apr 1993
Category
General
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781895555271
    Publish Date
    Apr 1993
    List Price
    $11.95

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Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels

  • Age: 5 to 7
  • Grade: k to 2

Description

One sad day, Grandmother died. "You cannot stay here," said the man who owned the land. "I have a family ready to move in."

Young Concepcion has no choice but to move to the [barrio of the nearby city. There she meets children who, in order to survive, must steal the good they eat. But Concepcion has a plan. With back-breaking work she plants a garden amid the rubble, using her grandmother's legacy: a handful of chili, corn and bean seeds. But her garden is destroyed. Will she have the strength to begin again?

Monica Hughes's powerful story is complemented perfectly by the paintings of Luis Garay, a young Nicaraguan artist. Sharon, Lois and Bram provide a moving introduction. Published in collaboration with UNICEF Canada, A Handful of Seeds offers a message of hope on behalf of the thirty million children worldwide who live on the streets of their cities.

About the authors

Monica Hughes
A writer of international acclaim, Monica Hughes published over 35 books and many more short stories and articles during her 29-year career. She was often honored for her work; Hunter in the Dark and Keeper of the Isis Light both won the Canada Council Children's Literature Award. She was the recipient of the Vicky Metcalfe Award for a body of work, the Queen's Jubilee Medal and the Order of Canada.

Monica Hughes' profile page

Luis Garay is a celebrated Nicaraguan illustrator who spent six months in Guatemala doing research for the illustrations in this book. He has also illustrated Jade and Iron, A Handful of Seeds, Cousins / Primas and Alfredito Flies Home / Alfredito regresa volando a su casa. One of the best young Latin American illustrators working today, Luis Garay now lives in Mexico.

Luis Garay's profile page

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