LeoNora M. Cohen

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I Know a Small Girl Who Wanted a Pet (2nd ed)


This story is about a small girl’s desire to have a pet for a friend to cuddle and love. She explores possible pets, from a cricket to more traditional cats, dogs, and even cows and horses. But no pet seem right until a giraffe finds her, even doing helpful stuff like drying laundry on his neck. Like so many children, wanting and finding the right pet is tricky!




Small Girl, Big Dreams


A small girl wants to be a beautiful princess in a gorgeous gown and crown, but her parents cannot afford these things. They make her a magic wand from a stick, tying on ribbons and painting a star, telling her to wave it, wish, and work very hard. The wand becomes her metaphor and she can imagine herself as a dancer, firefighter, princess, or later a teacher, poet, and finally a computer engineer.



Big Foot


This story is about a clumsy young girl who aspires to be a ballerina and to get on pointe. She works hard at her ballet studies, and when she gets very close to her goal and finally gets the toe shoes she dreams of, her feet quickly grow too big to fit them. How she copes with this setback is the heart of the story. 




Alfalfa’s Glasses


Alfalfa is a pretty little Palomino horse who goes to school. She is good at PE, but has a hard time with reading and writing, because she cannot see very well. Once she gets glasses, the world changes for her and she can read and write, but she faces bullying in school. The story deals with feeling terrible about not being able to read or write when others can, wearing glasses, and the bullying problem.


Magic Boots


When small children put on a pair of magic
boots, they can be anything they imagine or want to be! These books (3 for Martin, 3 for Miranda) are bilingual (English and Spanish), in the Mexican context. The books were written to develop occupational aspirations in young children ages 2-6, both in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries and in the USA, especially children who may not have exposure to job possibilities.


I Know an Old Lady Who Wanted a Salad (2nd ed.)


I Know an Old Lady Who Wanted a Salad is designed to teach children ages 7-11 about growing a vegetable garden, healthy eating, and sharing with others.  Children learn

about the garden cycle-planning, preparing the soil, planting, taking care of the plants, harvesting, cooking the food, and sharing it with others, in a fun, playful way. 

A Midwife For Angela



Where medical care is not available, women too often die in childbirth.
This story is about a young girl in rural Mexico whose older sister dies giving birth, along with her baby. To overcome her grief, she determines to become a midwife in order to prevent others in her community from suffering such a terrible loss. 

Martin and Miranda are Friends

This story is about the friendship of two preschool children, Martin and Miranda.  They share food, birthdays, and toys. They think about each other, offering the first piece of cake or pizza to their friend, reminding each other to make healthy choices.  They enjoy quiet times, looking at pictures in books or helping each other put puzzles together.

Maria Loves Mud


Maria is a small girl who loves to play in mud, drawing in it, squishing it between her toes, having so many questions. She imagines all manner of uses for it. She loves science in school and wants to learn more, but doing

so is a challenge.





Bear and Cat


This story is about the unusual relationship that developed between a


bear in a zoo and a little cat that slipped through the bars of his cage to


share his world. Their friendship inspires children at school to be kind to


each other and to accept differences.






Harriet's Chariot

Harriet's Chariot is about a little girl who is in a terrible accident and has to use a wheel chair. When she returns to school after a long period in the hospital, she is teased and bullied about her injured legs. The story focuses on how she overcomes this problem with the help of her teacher and her mother.


Cover Me Mama

Two adorable toddlers, a Mexican boy and a Mexican-American girl, have a very busy day. They put on their shoes, climb stairs, cuddle puppies, build with blocks, and play with each other. They get so tired! Their mamas tenderly get them ready for bed, putting on their jammies, rocking them, reading stories, giving kisses, putting teddy bear in bed with them, and covering them with their blanket.

Naughty Little Puppy

This bilingual children's story, which can be sung to the old folk tune, Down by the Station Early in the Morning, teaches kids about being responsible pet owners.  A puppy does not know how to behave and needs to be gently taught using treats for doing the right thing. Grooming, feeding and watering, cleaning up after dog messes, getting the puppy vaccinated and neutered are described in terms children ages 5-10 can understand.


Grumpy Grandpa Dinosaur

Grumpy Grandpa Dinosaur deals with the characteristics of old people that little kids sometimes find scary or off-putting. A small boy considers these aspects in his grandpa--using a cane, having difficulties seeing and hearing, burping and being grumpy when he is active. And the little boy and his grandpa obviously love each other despite the strange things grumpy grandpa dinosaur does.

Finding Grace

Finding Grace is a story of a clumsy young girl who is not very nice to other kids because she is scared. Her parents give her ballet lessons hoping she will gain confidence. She begins to feel more in control of her body and her emotions.


I'm Not Just a Deaf Kid!

This story is about Samuel, a deaf boy growing up in rural Mexico, his challenges and his courage. He wants so much to be accepted by hearing kids, but he is ignored in his rural school and can't get kids to play with him. Finally, he goes to a school for deaf children where he learns sign language and Spanish.

Campo Champions/Campeones del Campo

Pedro, age 10, works long hours in the fields with other family members, tending onions and broccoli. He hears that the Three Kings will be coming to a bigger town nearby. He so wants to ask the Kings for a soccer ball, so he and his friends can play. Their ball is flat as a tortilla!

Tamale the Skinny Donkey


Tamale, a young donkey, is given to his old cousin Paco to help him


make a better living.


The story starts with Tamale helping his mother on an avocado farm.


It follows the old man and donkey on the trip home, enters the shack


where he lives and follows them on trips to town to earn money. 

Taco Houdini


A rescued street dog panics every time his human leaves him, whether to


food shop or visit the doctor. We learn that Taco was abandoned as a tiny


puppy when his mother was picked up by dog catchers. He is rescued by


a sweet old lady, but she dies, and he is alone again.