Chicago, Illinois

Buster on the Town by Marc Brown. Little, Brown, 2005. Buster tells his friends back in Elwood City all about his adventures in Chicago, in this book version of the Postcards from Buster episode "A Sense of Direction."

Celebrating Ramadan by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith. Holiday House, 2001. Like five million other Americans, nine-year-old Ibraheem is a Muslim. Learn about Ibraheem's everyday life, as well as his family's celebration of Ramadan.

Ramadan by Susan L. Douglass. Carolrhoda, 2004. An easy-reader chapter book with interesting, age-appropriate information.

Sitti's Secrets by Naomi Shihab Nye. Aladdin, 1997. "Sitti" means "grandmother" in Arabic. Although Mona and her Sitti live far apart and do not speak the same language, they share many things with each other.

Knox, Indiana

Buster on the Farm by Marc Brown. Little, Brown, 2005. In this book version of the Postcards from Buster episode " Meet Me at the Fair, " Buster's new friend Lauren shows him what life is like on her family's farm.

The Cow That Went Oink by Bernard Most. Scholastic, 1990. A cow that says "oink" is laughed at by the other farm animals. But one day she makes friends with a pig that says "moo," and the two friends have the last laugh.

Do You Want to Play? by Bob Kolar. Dutton, 1999. Two colorful characters go through Friendship Park and learn how to make friends. It starts with one little question-do you want to play?

Tuesday by David Wiesner. Clarion, 1991. One Tuesday evening around 8:00, some frogs, riding on lily pads like magic carpets, rise into the air, hover over the pond, then swoop through the countryside on a wild adventure. This almost wordless picture book won the 1992 Caldecott Medal.

Whitesburg, Kentucky

Fiddlin' Sam by Marianna Dengler. Rising Moon, 1999. A wonderful fiddler named Fiddlin' Sam travels from town to town, making people happy with his music.

Nina's Waltz by Corinne Demas. Scholastic, 2000. When Nina's dad can't play his fiddle the day of the big fiddle contest, Nina saves the day.

Let's Dance by George Ancona. Morrow, 1998. All around the world, people love to dance. Find out about many different kinds of dances in these colorful photographs.

When Uncle Took the Fiddle by Libba Moore Gray. Orchard, 1999. A toe-tapping tale about music, dance and the hard-working families of Appalachia.

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Winchester, Kentucky

Best Friends, poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins. HarperCollins, 1986. Eighteen kid-appealing poems explore the ups and downs of friendship.

Poems About Friends by America's Children, edited by Jacqueline Sweeney. Marshall Cavendish, 2003. A collection of poems by kids (grades 1-5) about friends, feelings, and friendship. Illustrated with children's drawings.

39 Uses for a Friend by Harriet Ziefert. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2001. With humorous illustrations, this book points out many good reasons for having a friend. A friend can be…a pillow, a first mate, or even a bug remover!

You're Not My Best Friend Anymore by Charlotte Pomerantz. Dial, 1998. Best friends Molly and Ben get into a huge fight just before their birthdays. Usually they have a double party to celebrate both birthdays. What will happen this time?

New Orleans, Louisiana

Can You Dance, Dalila? by Virginia Kroll. Simon & Schuster, 1996. Dalila tries all different kinds of dancing before she finds the kind that she likes best.

I See the Rhythm by Tyomi Igus. Children's Book Press, 1998. With playful text, this book brings African American musical rhythms to life. Find out about the beginnings of jazz in New Orleans and hear the spirit and rhythm of gospel.

The Jazz of Our Street by Fatima Shaik. Dial, 1998. A jazz band in New Orleans draws a neighborhood crowd. A sister and brother join the marching and dancing, moving with the music of their streets.

The Sound That Jazz Makes by Carole Boston Weatherford. Walker 2000. Art and poetic text presents the origins and influences of jazz, from ancient Africa music to urban rap.

Slidell and Larose, Louisiana

Alligator Sue by Sharon Arms. Doucet. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003. When a baby girl named Sue is lost in a storm, Mama Coco, an alligator, finds her and raises her as her own.

Bayou Lullaby by Kathi Appelt. William Morrow, 1995. The croak of the bullfrogs and the slosh of the waves lulls alligators, crawdads, and children to sleep.

Buster and the Great Swamp by Marc Brown. Little, Brown, 2005.In this companion to the Postcards from Buster episode "Bayou, By Me," Buster visits the Louisiana bayou. He's on the look out for alligators and crabs, but most of all, he wants to see a swamp monster!

A Million Fish...More or Less by Patricia C. McKissack. Knopf, 1992. Papa-Daddy loves to amaze Hugh Thomas with his tall tales. "Strange things happen on the bayou," he says. Hugh Thomas comes up with an amazing tall tale of his own.

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Boston, Massachusetts

Babu's Song by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen. Lee & Low, 2003. Through hard work and ingenuity, Bernardi and his grandfather, Babu, scrape together enough money to send Bernardi to school. Then Babu surprises Bernardi with a gift: a home-made soccer ball that feels just like the real thing. Set in Tanzania.

Boston Tea Party by Pamela Duncan Edwards. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2003. The story of the Boston Tea Party and the role it played in the American fight for independence is told in cumulative rhyme, in the manner of "The House That Jack Built."

Froggy Plays Soccer by Jonathan London. Viking, 1999. Froggy is so excited to play soccer tomorrow. He just has to remember one rule: don't use your hands! He won't forget-will he?

Trouble Brewing: A Fun Song about the Boston Tea Party by Michael Dahl. Picture Window Books, 2003. The story of the Boston Tea Party is told in verse to the tune of "My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean."

Roswell, New Mexico

Amazing Bats by Frank Greenaway. Knopf, 1991. Fascinating facts and photos from the world of bats.

Company's Coming by Arthur Yorinks. Hyperion, 2000. Moe and Shirley invite some travelers from outer space to dinner. It seems like the neighborly thing to do.

UFO Diary by Satoshi Kitamura. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1989. A UFO visitor and a young boy explore Earth and space together.

Brooklyn, New York

A City Is by Norman Rosten. Holt, 2004. Free verse poems written by Brooklyn's first poet laureate celebrate New York City. "While buildings sleep / the moon is drifting / like a toy balloon / over Brooklyn Bridge."

Famous in Brooklyn by Amy Hest. Simon & Schuster, 1995. Experience Brooklyn through the eyes of Janie, a young Brooklynite who keeps a close watch on her neighborhood and jots down her observations in a notebook.

Music over Manhattan by Mark Karlins. Sagebrush, 1999. On a rooftop in Brooklyn, Uncle Louie teaches Bernie how to play the most beautiful song in the world on the trumpet, "Moonlight over Manhattan."

My New York by Kathy Jakobsen. Little, Brown, 1993. A young girl from the Midwest writes a letter to her friend describing her new home, New York City. Beautiful full color illustrations capture the scenes she describes.

Manhattan, New York

Abuela by Arthur Dorros. Penguin, 1991. In this imaginative adventure, Rosalba and her "abuela" (grandmother) soar above New York City, admiring the skyscrapers, docks, and bridges below.

The Always Prayer Shawl by Sheldon Oberman. Boyd Mills Press, 1994. When Adam and his parents move to America, he keeps the "always prayer shawl" his Jewish grandfather gave him. Someday he will pass it on to his own grandson.

Fancy Aunt Jess by Amy Hest. HarperCollins, 1990. Becky loves sleepovers at her Aunt Jess's New York City apartment. Jess is beautiful, single, and determined only to marry someone who will give her goose bumps. One Friday evening, Becky and Jess go to temple. Becky spots another girl her age with a handsome man…it's destiny!

Grandma Esther Remembers by Ann Morris. The Milbrook Press, 2002. Pamela and Allison listen to their Grandma Esther's stories about growing up in Lithuania. The girls cook with their Grandma, learning about Jewish traditions, songs, and recipes.

Uptown by Bryan Collier. Holt, 2000. A young boy takes readers on a tour of his community: "Uptown," in Harlem, New York City.