Claudia Bellante Knihy

Three young Muslim girls in Indonesia discover their passion for heavy metal music in this empowering new picture book.In a small village in Java, Indonesia, three young Muslim girls begin to explore their passion for heavy metal music after watching a Metallica concert on YouTube. They worry about what their parents and friends—and even their Imam—will think about their new interest. But they persevere regardless, and find new meaning in their lives and new ways to connect to their religion.The stories told in the “Against All Odds” picture book series are true stories of brave boys and girls from different parts of the world, who, with their small everyday actions, beat the odds and achieve something great. The series is intended to promote diversity and acceptance by exposing children to kids’ stories from faraway places facing unfamiliar situations or overcoming prejudice.

Marcelo and Julio show determination and strength every day as they cross the border from Venezuela to Colombia to attend a better school in this empowering picture book. Marcelo and her cousin Julia live in Venezuela, but every day they get up at dawn to make the arduous journey to cross the border to their school in Colombia. Some days are harder than others and some days they can't even make it home. But for the amazing students of Venezuela, it is worth it since they know that the more they are able to learn, the more opportunities they will have. The stories told in the Against All Odds picture book series are true stories of brave boys and girls from different parts of the world who, with their small everyday actions, beat the odds and achieve something great. The series is intended to promote diversity and acceptance by exposing children to kids' stories from faraway places facing unique situations or overcoming prejudice.

A two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner for synchronized swimming inspires Jamaican girls to dedicate themselves to swimming and invest in their futures in this heartening nonfiction picture book. In the small coastal town of Port Antonio, Jamaica, something unusual is taking place. Many people in Jamaica cannot swim and are afraid of the sea but the arrival of Olga—a two-time Olympic Gold Medal winner for synchronized swimming—is changing the hearts and minds of young female swimmers who might have otherwise become mothers too soon, before having the chance to explore their ambitions. The stories told in the Against All Odds picture book series are true stories of brave boys and girls from different parts of the world, who, with their small everyday actions, beat the odds and achieve something great. The series is intended to promote diversity and acceptance by exposing children to kids' stories from faraway places facing unique situations or overcoming prejudice.

Two girls in Bolivia, with a passion for wrestling, beat the odds in this new empowering picture book Noelia and Wara are two girls who live in the city of El Alto, Bolivia. Wrestling is their passion. They are often told that “wrestling is for boys.” But despite this resistance, every Sunday they proudly put on the traditional costume of the Cholitas, the Aymara women of Bolivia, and head to the ring, where they would fight with courage and defy all the odds stacked against them. The stories told in the Against All Odds picture book series are true stories of brave boys and girls from different parts of the world, who, with their small everyday actions, beat the odds and achieve something great. The series is intended to promote diversity and acceptance by exposing children to kids’ stories from faraway places facing unique situations or overcoming prejudice.