A NIGHT OF TAMALES & ROSES Illustrated by Elena Caravela (Shenanigan Books)

Ana Luisa thinks she has ruined her sister’s wedding day when she fails to do her job as flower girl. But to her surprise she discovers that her sister is not angry and that her family’s love is unchanging.

A Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year.

The following books were written by Joanna Kraus, click on each title for more information or to purchase.

Books

SECRETS (Harper Collins Publishers Limited)

When 13-year-old Lisa gets a phone call out of the blue telling her she was adopted as a baby, how will she come to terms with the shocking news? And what are the repercussions for her adoptive family and the mother she comes to know? A sensitive play about the issues surrounding adoption and its impact on the individuals concerned, Joanna H. Kraus’s Secrets dramatizes Lisa’s tentative steps to discovering who she is, where she came from and where she might be going. With a large cast, the play is perfect for class performance in English or Drama lessons. The supporting resources by drama consultant Cecily O’Neill provide a full range of teaching suggestions and classroom activities.

WOMEN OF COURAGE, FIVE PLAYS BY JOANNA KRAUS (Dramatic Publishing)

This quintet of award-winning family plays appreciates women’s courage both historical and fictional. The foreword by Dr. Nellie McCaslin introduces the plays. Each selection has an author’s note and  Rubin's suggested curriculum activities.

The Ice Wolf is an Inuit tale of a fair child born into a superstitious village and forced to seek refuge in the forest in the shape of a wolf. In Mean to Be Free a brother and sister flee slavery via the Underground Railroad with help from Harriet Tubman and learn “to stand tall.”  When the Nazis invade Marseille in Remember My Name: A Story of Survival in Wartime France, young Rachel is sent away. As she matures, she assists the Maquis, fighting for her own life and for France. Angel in the Night is based on the true story of Marysia Szul, a Polish Catholic teen, who hid and protected four Jewish refugees during World War II. Sunday Gold is set in the North Carolina Gold Rush of the 1840s. Twelve-year old Lizzie, a rocker girl, and Annie, a hired out slave, learn that friendship is stronger than prejudice.

THE DRAGON HAMMER and THE TALE OF ONIROKU (New Plays, Inc.)

Two short plays from Korea and Japan based on traditional folklore, illustrated by Marisabina Russo. Goblins, river ogres, magical  bridges and villagers abound. Production notes and a  guide for teachers and recreation leaders included. Ideally suited for 6-12 year-olds to read or perform.

MEAN TO BE FREE (Harper Collins Publishers Limited.)

Set in America’s Deep South, this is the true story of the famous Harriet Tubman, an ex-slave, who led other slaves to freedom in Canada. The play follows the escape of a brother and sister, who are a part of a small group fleeing the harsh life on a plantation. The book contains a stimulating playscript suitable for classwork and school production, accompanied by resources, including background material and lively activities, developed by British drama specialist, Cecily O’Neill.

TALL BOY’S JOURNEY (Carolrhoda Books Inc.)

When Kim Moo Yong, a Korean orphan boy, is adopted by an American couple and makes the long journey by plane to their house, he finds it a strange and terrifying experience, until he begins to adjust to his new life.

“Karen Ritz’s sensitive watercolors . . . reflect the unusually perceptive and detailed portrayal of the first days of a transcultural adoption.” —Kirkus Reviews

THE LAST BARON OF ARIZONA (Pyracantha Press)

The Last Baron of Arizona, a handsome illustrated book, is about the largest land swindle in US history and one of the most colorful characters of the southwest, James Addison Reavis.  His charisma and skill in forgery convinces lawyers, financiers and a beautiful young Hispanic woman that she’s an heiress entitled to 7, 500 square miles of Arizona Territory, thus officially delaying Arizona statehood for years. The play was part of the celebration of the Arizona State University Centennial and tells of a rogue hero who lives by his wits. Reavis believes he can fool everyone and make a fortune. He nearly succeeds. And one doesn’t have to look too far for contemporary parallels.

BLUE TOBOGGAN Illustrated by Chiara Savarese (Mascot Books)

When Danny loses his best friend, Will, his grief is overwhelming. But with the help of a sympathetic teacher and class, he discovers love and friendship don’t have to die, as long as he remembers.

“Blue Toboggan is a moving and touching book about dealing with the death of a friend. It is very sensitively written as it shows how we can help each other remember the special attributes of a person and how to celebrate their life. Every school principal should have a copy in their library of books to real aloud to students.”

—Jane Blomstrand, retired principal

The book is available to purchase from the author.

Blue Toboggan is also available www.IndieBound.org.

BRAVO, BENNY Illustrated by Mariana Dragomirova (Mirror Publishing) 

Can a rescue dog win a grandmother's affection?

When a beagle “marks his territory” and ruins a picnic, Nina worries if she can ever convince her grandmother to allow a dog to live with them. But when a snake threatens Granny Lil, a barking Benny races to the rescue.

An intergenerational  story geared to readers 4-8.

Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites or order through your favorite bookstore via Ingram.

Bravo, Benny is available at www.IndieBound.org.

OH, LITTLE HAM OF BUFFALO a Korean adoption memoir (Mirror Publishing) 

Can  a starving Korean boy find a new life in the home of strangers ten thousand miles away?

The memoir written by mother and son, in narrative and free verse accompanied by photographs, describes the challenges, difficulties and joys encountered en route to adoption. Our story is gleaned from our son’s recollections and my own memories of the journey we traveled to become a family.

An intergenerational book geared to readers ages nine up and any adoptive family.

Oh, Little Ham of Buffalo is a brutally honest and insightful memoir of Joanna, Ted, and Tim’s journey to become a family. It’s a must read for adoption professionals and parents who want to adopt an older child from a foreign country.”

—Midwest book Review

“An inspiring memoir. A very readable combination of the factual and the poetic. This book should be compulsory reading in elementary schools, and maybe in secondary schools too!  Not only does it recount the history of the progress of young Tim’s adoption, it is also a valuable encouragement towards tolerance.”

—David Wood, playwright—the UK’s ‘National Children’s Dramatist’ (TV Times), ‘undisputed master of children’s theatre’ (Evening Standard), ‘Master of children’s shows’ (Daily Telegraph)

Available at websites: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Book Depository, Walmart, or order through your favorite bookstore.

THE BLUE JEAN REBELLION (Leicester Bay Books)

Can a young boy defy the strict regulations of his Mormon community?
Eleven-year old Gideon detests the homespun trousers that all boys wear. As soon as he sees his first pair of jeans he breaks rules to obtain them. When they are confiscated, he’s crushed.
However, the other boys devise a clever way for all of them to get new pants.
So, blue jeans and change both come to Orderville.
This early-reader chapter-book is inspired by a little-known anecdote in Latter-day Saint history.

Available at: Amazon, Leicester Bay Books, or order through your favorite bookstore. Kindle version also available.

PLAYWRITING AND YOUNG AUDIENCES by Matt Omasta and Nicole B. Adkins

I’m proud to be included in a new book called Playwriting and Young Audiences published by Intellect Ltd. The book provides a range of perspectives from 75 practitioners and artists offering practical advice and wisdom.

FIVE PLAYS FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES (Leicester Bay Theatricals)

A collection of five plays that speak to young hearts and minds whether they are in school, in the home, or in the workforce. These plays are about life and honor, about love and family, about the gifts of culture from around the world and right here at home.

Written by award winner Joanna H. Kraus over a span of nearly 50 years, her prolific career boasts many more plays, plus fiction novels that deal with the timeless issues still facing our citizens and our society: bullying, adoption, blended families, being decent, kind, and loving, tolerance, the nature of truth, parenting, and coming of age.

Available at Leicester Bay Books.

DOG ON TRIAL (Mirror Publishing)

Can a dog be convicted of murder?

Twelve-year old Peter demands justice after a huge dog attacks his best friend, who was swimming in the canal.

Though he couldn’t save him, Peter vows to get even in the courtroom.

After conflicting testimony and surprise evidence, his doubts mount.

Justice is served, but not the way Peter expects.

The fictional chapter book is inspired by a 1936 landmark court case in upstate New York.

Geared to readers eight to twelve.

© 2014-2023 Joanna H. Kraus. All rights reserved.