From Maya Soetoro-Ng, sister of former President Barack Obama, comes a lyrical story relaying the loving wisdom of their late mother to a young granddaughter she never met. Little Suhaila wishes she could have known her grandma, who would wrap her arms around the whole world if she could, Mama says. And one night, Suhaila gets her wish when a golden ladder appears at her window, and Grandma Annie invites the girl to come along with her on a magical journey. In a rich and deeply personal narrative, Maya Soetoro-Ng draws inspiration from her mother’s love for family, her empathy for others, and her ethic of service to imagine this remarkable meeting. Evoking fantasy and folklore, the story touches on events that have affected people across the world in our time and reaffirms our common humanity. Yuyi Morales’s breathtaking artwork illuminates the dreamlike tale, reminding us that loved ones lost are always with us, and that sometimes we need only look at the moon and remember.

Ladder to the Moon

Children's Books

Soetoro-Ng, Maya

Science Fiction & Fantasy

CANDLEWICK PRESS +

"A lush, haunting story. . . . Soetoro-Ng, sister of Barack Obama, has written this story of compassion as a tribute to their mother." — Booklist (starred review) Little Suhaila wishes she could have known her grandma, who would wrap her arms around the whole world if she could, Mama says. And one night, Suhaila gets her wish when a golden ladder appears at her window, and Grandma Annie invites the girl to come along with her on a magical journey. In a rich and deeply personal narrative, Maya Soetoro-Ng draws inspiration from her mother’s love for family, her empathy for others, and her ethic of service to imagine this remarkable meeting. Evoking fantasy and folklore, the story touches on events that have affected people across the world in our time and reaffirms our common humanity. Yuyi Morales’s breathtaking artwork illuminates the dreamlike tale, reminding us that loved ones lost are always with us, and that sometimes we need only look at the moon and remember.

Ladder to the Moon with CD

Candlewick

Escalera a la Luna (Spanish Edition)

“A lush, haunting story that brings together a grandmother and her grandchild. . . . Captures the luminosity of both the sky and the people on earth striving to make the world a better place.” — Booklist (starred review)\nUna noche fresca de luna llena, 
Suhaila le preguntó a su mamá: 
?¿Cómo era Abuela Annie? 
?Tu abuela era como la Luna 
?le contestó su mamá?. 
Llena, suave, curiosa. 
Tu abuela rodearía el mundo entero con sus brazos si 
fuera posible.\nEn una noche adornada de estrellas, Suhaila ve realizado el sueño de conocer a su abuela cuando una escalera dorada aparece en su ventana y Abuela Annie, tendiéndole sus brazos, invita a Suhaila a una maravillosa aventura.\nDe la mano de Maya Soetoro-Ng, hermana del Presidente Obama, nos llega una lírica historia inspirada en la vida y en el espíritu de su madre, Ann Dunham. Esta mágica aventura, de fantasía y folclore, evoca sucesos que han afectado a personas a través del mundo, y reafirma nuestra humanidad común. El asombroso arte de Yuyi Morales ilumina el camino, recordándonos que nuestros seres queridos están siempre junto a nosotros, y que a veces solo es necesario mirar a la Luna para comprobarlo.\nLittle Suhaila wishes she could have known her grandma, who would wrap her arms around the whole world if she could, Mama says. And one night, Suhaila gets her wish when a golden ladder appears at her window and Grandma Annie invites the girl to come along with her on a magical journey. Renowned translator Teresa Mlawer has translated this dreamlike tale into Spanish, reminding us that loved ones lost are always with us, and that sometimes we need only look at the moon to remember.

Education & Reference

“A lush, haunting story that brings together a grandmother and her grandchild. . . . Captures the luminosity of both the sky and the people on earth striving to make the world a better place.” — Booklist (starred review)Una noche fresca de luna llena,Suhaila le preguntó a su mamá:?¿Cómo era Abuela Annie??Tu abuela era como la Luna?le contestó su mamá?.Llena, suave, curiosa.Tu abuela rodearía el mundo entero con sus brazos si fuera posible.En una noche adornada de estrellas, Suhaila ve realizado el sueño de conocer a su abuela cuando una escalera dorada aparece en su ventana y Abuela Annie, tendiéndole sus brazos, invita a Suhaila a una maravillosa aventura. De la mano de Maya Soetoro-Ng, hermana del Presidente Obama, nos llega una lírica historia inspirada en la vida y en el espíritu de su madre, Ann Dunham. Esta mágica aventura, de fantasía y folclore, evoca sucesos que han afectado a personas a través del mundo, y reafirma nuestra humanidad común. El asombroso arte de Yuyi Morales ilumina el camino, recordándonos que nuestros seres queridos están siempre junto a nosotros, y que a veces solo es necesario mirar a la Luna para comprobarlo.Little Suhaila wishes she could have known her grandma, who would wrap her arms around the whole world if she could, Mama says. And one night, Suhaila gets her wish when a golden ladder appears at her window and Grandma Annie invites the girl to come along with her on a magical journey. Renowned translator Teresa Mlawer has translated this dreamlike tale into Spanish, reminding us that loved ones lost are always with us, and that sometimes we need only look at the moon to remember.

“A lush, haunting story that brings together a grandmother and her grandchild. . . . Soetoro-Ng, maternal half-sister of Barack Obama, has written this story of compassion as a tribute to their mother." —Booklist (starred review) Little Suhaila wishes she could have known her grandma, who would wrap her arms around the whole world if she could, Mama says. And one night, Suhaila gets her wish when a golden ladder appears at her window and Grandma Annie invites the girl to go along with her on a magical journey. Maya Soetoro-Ng and Yuyi Morales’s dreamlike tale reminds us that loved ones lost are always with us, and that sometimes we need only look at the moon and remember.

Growing Up & Facts of Life

In a new picture book presented by the Peace Studio and its cofounder Maya Soetoro-Ng, author Todd Shuster and illustrator Tatiana Gardel offer a moving modern parable highlighting the wondrous power of kindness and sharing. Season after season, the mountain people give life to their crops with water from the river, while the valley people use water from a nearby lake to nourish their fields. Despite their similarities, neither allows the other to seek water on their land--instead, they exchange harsh words, and when drought descends, they come to blows. But when the hottest summer yet brings torrential downpours, the waters overflow and trap the valley people. A wise mountain girl sees their plight and says, "We need to help." Featuring an afterword by Maya Soetoro-Ng, The First Day of Peace is a fable for a time when many parents and children are deeply worried about our warming planet. At once timeless and timely, it sheds light on the importance of protecting the environment and of sharing rather than fighting over the earth's precious natural resources. Todd Shuster's lyrical writing is brought to vivid life by Tatiana Gardel's rich and luminous illustrations in a story for everyone who hopes for love, justice, and peace across all mountains and valleys.

The First Day of Peace

Shuster, Todd

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Soetoro-Ng, Maya. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Soetoro-Ng, Maya

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Soetoro-Ng, Maya. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Ladder to the Moon

Ladder to the Moon with CD

Escalera a la Luna (Spanish Edition)

Escalera a la Luna (Spanish Edition)

Ladder to the Moon

The First Day of Peace