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K-Gr 2—Following a war, Cartwheel and her aunt emigrate from their rural village to a westernized city. Under a barrage of foreign sights and sounds, Cartwheel finds comfort by wrapping herself in a "blanket" of familiar words and memories: "When I went out, it was like standing under a waterfall of strange sounds…. It made me feel alone." One day at the park, a blonde girl waves to her. Feeling scared, Cartwheel doesn't respond. Eventually they connect, and the girl starts teaching Cartwheel words, but Cartwheel is very self-...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

In this Australian import, Cartwheel and her auntie leave their war-torn home and immigrate to the safety of a new country. Evocative, mo...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

This touching story shows how difficult it can be to move-especially to a foreign land-and how time, patience, and a new friend can make a difference. The author uses a vivid, easy-to-understand metaphor to show how Cartwheel feels as she struggles to adapt to a new culture: Her "old blanket" represents her homeland, while the "new blanket" is the country where she now lives. Readers will empathize with Cartwheel as she experiences loneliness ("Nobody spoke like I did. . . . it was l...Log In or Sign Up to Read More