This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
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This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
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For Camden, whose Pa let him hold his first real tools —T.B. For my niblings, who make my life more spectacular because they are in it —Z.G.H.
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Abrams Books for Young Readers ∑ New York PaMeandOurSidewalkPantry_INT_RTP_6-17-22.indd 5
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With the Sidewalk Library sign in my hands, I hear my grandpa call, “Back here!” I head out to his workshop under the pines.
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Pa’s workshop is just about my favorite place— better than the playground, better than the ice cream shop, almost as good as the public library (but not quite).
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I blink in the dusty morning light. “I’ve been thinking . . .” I say. Pa sets down his pliers and points to the stool next to his workbench. “What’s on your mind, Jelly Bean?”
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“With Mom out of work, we need food as much as we need books. I think other people might too.” Pa tilts his head to look into my eyes. “Why, you’re right!” he says. “Sometimes, you just need to switch things up.” Pa runs his thumb over the sign. “So, what do you propose, Jelly Bean?” I lean in close and tell him.
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After tugging two long boards down and sorting through a barrel full of scraps, Pa says we have enough wood. We set to work making a matching cupboard— a cupboard for food.
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Pa operates the table saw, then hands the boards over to me for sanding. When they are smooth, we nail the boards together. We find brackets in Pa’s drawers for the shelves. Finally, we attach glass doors from an old china cabinet.
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We set our creation aside while the paint dries and turn our thoughts to the sign. Even though we love the words SIDEWALK LIBRARY and FEED YOUR MIND, we now want something new.
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When everything is dry, we plant our new pantry right next to the library we built together last year. I open the glass doors where the books wait patiently and trace the spines of my favorites— those I donated, and the ones from generous neighbors.
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Next, Pa and I select food from our kitchen cabinets. Even though the shelves aren’t crowded, each time we find two of something, we snatch up one for our pantry.
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Before long, we’ve got: soup and crackers, oatmeal and raisins, tea and honey.
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I add a package of peanut butter cookies. I hesitate . . . then add my favorite too—chocolate. Pa gives my shoulder a squeeze.
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Pa starts to fill the pantry shelves by container size, but I say no. “We have to keep the friendly foods together. If someone takes oatmeal, Thisthe is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or they need those raisins!” reposting. Please do not quote without Pa agrees, so we adjust the shelves comparison to the finished book. for pairs of foods. But there’s still lots of lonely space when we’re done.
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When Pa and I go out to check the pantry the next morning, I see even more empty space. Two soup cans and two cracker boxes are gone, along with one package of cookies— the chocolate ones. “Pa,” I yell, “we already This is an advance, uncorrected hadproof. a hungry visitor!” Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
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I snatch up the note I find on the shelf.
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This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book. “Pa, we need to get more food for my friend,” I say.
“And for other hungry people too.” “So, what do you propose we do now, Jelly Bean?” Pa asks.
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First, we knock on our neighbors’ doors.
They’re used to making book donations, This is an advance,but uncorrected proof. we remind them there are times Not for resale,when duplication, or as much as books. food matters reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
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Some neighbors have extra books, This is an advance, and some have extra food. uncorrected proof. Not A few are able to for giveresale, both. duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
We head home with our bags loaded up.
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Now, though, we’ve got some pairs with missing partners:
pasta, but no sauce;
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without chips, but no salsa; comparison to the finished book.
peanut butter, but no jelly.
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We empty the coffee can with our spare change and strike out to the market to add the missing items.
I steer us straight to the cookie aisle and grab up a package of chocolate ones. This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.
I pay for those with the coins in my own pocket.
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On our way home, we put up flyers advertising our new pantry. Then, we load up our shelves with food pairs.
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I place the chocolate cookies on the very bottom shelf. “Do you think my friend will come back, Pa?” He ruffles my hair. “I hope so, Jelly Bean.”
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Each day, hungry people find food they need:
pancake mix and syrup,
rice and beans,
tuna and mayo.
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Sometimes, from the living room window, I spot a person filling a small bag. Other times, I see someone refilling the shelves. This their is anprivacy advance, uncorrected proof. Either way, I give them Not for resale, duplication, or like Pa says I should. reposting. Please do not quote without But day after day, comparison to the finished book. the cookies for my friend sit waiting
on the bottom shelf.
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Then one day the cookies are gone— along with a can of chicken soup and a box of cheddar crackers.
Sure enough, there is a note from my friend!
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When I open the library doors, my favorite book about chicken soup every month of the year is missing from the shelf.
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I run to tell Pa. “So, what do you propose we do now, Jelly Bean?” he asks, just like I knew he would.
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We get started right away. This is an advance, uncorrected proof. I sort through the kids’ books and Not for resale, duplication, or Pa without tackles the adult books. reposting. Please do not quote comparison to the finished Every book. time we find a book that has a food connection we shelve the book with the food or move the food over to join the book. Like my grandpa says: Sometimes, you just need to switch things up!
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Resources Hunger is a big problem in our world. In the United States, many children—nearly one in five—are hungry some or most of the time. But the Little Free Pantries movement, begun in 2016, which has followed in the footsteps of Little Free Libraries, is part of changing that. And you can help! First, if you and your family want to learn more about Little Free Pantries, visit littlefreepantry.org. You’ll especially want to read about Liam Hannon and his work to feed hungry people by visiting liamslove.com.
How You Can Help 1. If possible, set up your own Little Free Pantry, like Jelly Bean and his grandpa did, or donate food to a Little Free Pantry near you. (Find them at mapping.littlefreepantry.org.) 2. Get in touch with your local food bank to see what kind of help they most need. To locate local food banks, visit the Take Action section of the Feeding America website: feedingamerica.org/take-action. 3. Start a fundraiser—even a small one, like a lemonade stand, craft sale, or bake sale—to raise money for the local food bank or to buy items for a Little Free Pantry.
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The artwork for this book was created using watercolor, colored pencils, and a bit of Photoshop magic. Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for and may be obtained from the Library of Congress. ISBN 978-1-4197-4937-7 Text © 2023 Toni Buzzeo Illustrations © 2023 Zara González Hoang Book design by Heather Kelly
This is an advance, uncorrected proof. duplication, or All rights reserved. Published in 2023 byNot Abramsfor Booksresale, for Young Readers, an imprint of ABRAMS. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in ado retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, reposting. Please not quote without mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. comparison to the finished book. Printed and bound in China 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Abrams Books for Young Readers are available at special discounts when purchased in quantity for premiums and promotions as well as fundraising or educational use. Special editions can also be created to specification. For details, contact specialsales@abramsbooks.com or the address below. Abrams® is a registered trademark of Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
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2022/7/20 16:30
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