Danielle Daniel Libri

Inspired by the expression “once in a blue moon,” Danielle Daniel has created a book of short poems, each one describing a rare or special experience that turns an ordinary day into a memorable one. She describes the thrill of seeing a double rainbow, the Northern Lights or a shooting star as well as quieter pleasures such as spotting a turtle basking in the sun or a family of ducks waddling across the road.In simple words and delightful naïve images, Once in a Blue Moon celebrates the magical moments that can be found in the beauty and wonders of nature.With the same simple yet sophisticated design as Danielle’s award-winning picture book Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox, this book is a very accessible and inviting introduction to poetry for young readers.

In this haunting historical novel, Danielle Daniel explores her ancestral ties to the Algonquin territories of the 1600s, inspired by a family link to a girl murdered near Trois-Rivières during early French settlement. Marie, an Algonquin woman of the Weskarini Deer Clan, has already suffered the loss of her first husband and children to an Iroquois raid. After another attack, her chief urges her to remarry for the clan's survival. As a healer who honors her people's traditions, Marie is reluctant to accept Pierre, a green-eyed ex-soldier from France, as her husband. The dwindling population of her clan, ravaged by diseases brought by settlers, leaves her feeling trapped; a marriage to Pierre could solidify an alliance with the French against their common enemies. Marie grapples with the painful choice of moving on from her deceased husband to a man whose beliefs clash with her own. The narrative also follows Jeanne, the first child of this new union, who finds herself caught between cultures. As she matures, her two-spirited identity is met with misunderstanding and rejection from both her father's world and the settlers. Through Jeanne's poignant story, Daniel sheds light on the historical violence against Indigenous women and the disruption of First Nations culture, opening a door to a narrative long overlooked.

Focusing on a space-obsessed girl with aspirations of becoming an astronaut, the story unfolds in verse as she navigates her dreams and challenges. The arrival of a substitute teacher sparks a transformation, prompting her to view her surroundings in a new light. This middle grade novel explores themes of ambition, self-discovery, and the impact of mentorship, inviting readers to join the protagonist on her journey of growth and exploration.

A touching, playful exploration of empathy and interdependency from an acclaimed author and illustrator. I’m afraid, Said the leaf. / You’re not alone, Said the tree. But who will comfort a nervous bird, a lonely crab, a lost wolf? How can a horse find warmth, a snail some cheer, a child some rest? Through a series of amusing and soothing exchanges, this deceptively simple and profound picture book depicts different pairings to celebrate interconnectedness and underlines the importance of caring for every living organism to ensure a strong and healthy natural world. I’m Afraid, Said the Leaf invites young readers to understand that we all need each other for support and survival — and that we're all stronger together.

Following the huge success of Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox, this companion book is a lyrical celebration of our relationship to the natural world. In each of twelve short poems, a child tells us how or why they feel like the sun, a river, a mountain, a cloud, the rain, a forest and more. Their deeply felt connections and identification with these wonders point to how much we are all part of the natural world. Each poem comes to life through vivid, playful illustrations that show the children immersed in their surroundings. The book serves as a gentle call to action -- to notice, appreciate, preserve and protect our environment, while delighting in all its beauty. A mindfulness activity -- A Mindful Walk or Roll -- invites young readers to use their senses to experience their surroundings to the fullest. Includes a brief author's note that highlights our connections to the natural world. Key Text Features author's note illustrations poems procedural text Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.5 Recognize common types of texts (e.g., storybooks, poems). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2 Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4 Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.