Marie-Louise Gay

"One day Pistachio Shoelace opens a mysterious present: a golden crown! Pistachio knew all along that she was a princess, but her 'real' parents, the king and queen of Papua, have sent her a message at last. Soon they will come to claim her. But for now, her adoptive parents still force her to eat spinach and go to school. Her former best friends laugh at her new crown. And her so-called baby sister is a pest. Princess Pistachio must prove that...

After leaving his war-torn country with his family, Mustafa visits a park near his new home and finds beautiful flowers, lady bugs, fall leaves, and finally, a friend.

"Lily wants a tree for her birthday. Although she and her father live in a tiny dark apartment, she promises to give it water and sun and air. But after she receives her tree--whom she names George--even Lily can't imagine how their daily walks will change the neighborhood! With George in a wagon, the two friends explore Lily's street, greeting neighbors who are happy to sit in George's shade. It turns out he's the only tree on the street! Soon Lily's...

Princess Pistachio is worried about Dog. He has such a boring life. She thinks he needs more adventure and excitement. Pistachio brings him to school with disastrous results. Then she takes Dog to a theater audition and transforms him into Maurice the Magnificant, star of the stage. Maurice is an overnight success. That's when things start to go really wrong.

Best friends Tiger and Badger work through their disagreements over a toy, a chair, and sharing.