Children's Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Difficult Discussions > Homelessness & Poverty
Monthly median sales (top 30)
$2,391
The median book price
$9.49
Bestseller's daily sales
44
50th book's daily sales
1
Average number of pages per book
208
Monopoly/Olygopoly detected
No
Performance tracking
Competitiveness
Volume sales
Book price
Volatility
New releases
Self published
Matching KDP categories
juvenile > nonfiction > social issues > homelessness & poverty
38.73%
juvenile > fiction > social issues > homelessness & poverty
38.73%
nonfiction > social science > poverty & homelessness
28.28%
juvenile > nonfiction > lifestyles > country life
28.28%
Keyword requirement
Best selling keywords
Median title & subtitle length is 3 words:
- Esperanza Rising
- Those Shoes
- Coat of Many Colors
- Home in the Woods
- Maddi's Fridge
- Indie success
-
15%
- Volatility
- New releases
- KDP Select
100%
0%
6.67%
Extract of the best seller list's front page
Front-page bestsellers:
Book title | Author | Publisher | Absolute rank | Monthly sales volume | Price | Amazon stars | Amazon reviews | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Esperanza Renace (Esperanza Rising) (Scholastic Gold) (Spanish Edition) | Pam Munoz Ryan | Self published | N/A | $187 | $6.69 | 850 | |
2 | Crenshaw | Katherine Applegate | Self published | N/A | $251 | $8.99 | 8,986 | |
3 | How to Steal a Dog | Barbara O'Connor | Self published | 2,991 | $9,057 | $7.89 | 2,451 | |
4 | Esperanza Rising | Pam Munoz Ryan | Listening Library | 3,637 | $16,585 | $17.95 | 10,521 | |
5 | Crenshaw | Katherine Applegate | Bestseller | 5,543 | $3,066 | $7.30 | 8,986 | |
6 | Making a Difference: An Inspirational Book About Kids Changing the World! | Stacy C. Bauer | Stacy C. Bauer | 6,610 | $4,723 | $12.05 | 691 | |
7 | Thirst | Varsha Bajaj | Nancy Paulsen Books; Reprint edition | 9,019 | $2,520 | $7.50 | 328 | |
8 | Those Shoes | Maribeth Boelts | Candlewick; Reprint edition | 13,237 | $1,960 | $7.00 | 2,316 | |
9 | An Invisible Thread: The True Story of an 11-Year-Old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny | Laura Schroff | Howard Books; Standard Edition | 13,651 | $4,737 | $16.92 | 9,954 | |
10 | Coat of Many Colors | Dolly Parton | Grosset & Dunlap; Illustrated edition | 15,103 | $2,895 | $11.49 | 1,974 | |
11 | Saturday at the Food Pantry | Diane O'Neill | Albert Whitman & Company | 17,783 | $3,696 | $16.50 | 139 | |
12 | Home in the Woods | Eliza Wheeler | “What do families do when times get tough? They work hard and stick together! That is the main theme of this book, which was inspired by the true story of the author’s grandmother’s childhood. . . . The author/illustrator walks the reader through the seasons and shows how the family comes together not merely to survive but to thrive, all through hard work and an abundance of love. The illustrations, done in beautiful watercolors, support this tender story.”— | 19,476 | $3,514 | $15.69 | 572 | |
13 | Maddi's Fridge | Lois Brandt | Flashlight Press | 19,659 | $1,520 | $6.79 | 792 | |
14 | The Benefits of Being an Octopus: A Novel | Ann Braden | Sky Pony | 21,778 | $1,566 | $7.99 | 1,246 | |
15 | Free Lunch | Rex Ogle | Norton Young Readers | 29,381 | $1,114 | $7.96 | 931 |
A Mexican "Grapes of Wrath," based on a family story, from the award-winning author of Riding Freedom.Esperanza Ortega tiene todos los tesoros que una chica pueda desear: hermosos vestidos, una linda casa llena de sirvientes en México, y la promesa de que un día llegará a presidir el Rancho como su mamá. Pero una tragedia inesperada destruye ese sueño, obligando a Esperanza y a su madre a escapar a California dónde tendrán que trabajar en una finca junto a otros mexicanos. Allí tendrá que olvidar su pasado y enfrentarse a las nuevas realidades de su vida: trabajo duro, aceptación y dificultades económicas. Esperanza descubrirá que la verdadera riqueza está en la familia y la comunidad. Read more
Crenshaw
Katherine Applegate
In her first novel since The One and Only Ivan, winner of the Newbery Medal, Katherine Applegate delivers an unforgettable and magical story about family, friendship, and resilience. Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There's no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. His parents, his little sister, and their dog may have to live in their minivan. Again.Crenshaw is a cat. He's large, he's outspoken, and he's imaginary. He has come back into Jackson's life to help him. But is an imaginary friend enough to save this family from losing everything?Beloved author Katherine Applegate proves in unexpected ways that friends matter, whether real or imaginary.This title has Common Core connections. Read more
How to Steal a Dog
Barbara O'Connor
Don't miss Barbara O'Connor's other middle-grade work―like Wish; Wonderland; Greetings from Nowhere; Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia; The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester; and more!Half of me was thinking, Georgina, don't do this. Stealing a dog is just plain wrong. The other half of me was thinking, Georgina, you're in a bad fix and you got to do whatever it takes to get yourself out of it.Georgina Hayes is desperate. Ever since her father left and they were evicted from their apartment, her family has been living in their car. With her mama juggling two jobs and trying to make enough money to find a place to live, Georgina is stuck looking after her younger brother, Toby. And she has her heart set on improving their situation. When Georgina spots a missing-dog poster with a reward of five hundred dollars, the solution to all her problems suddenly seems within reach. All she has to do is "borrow" the right dog and its owners are sure to offer a reward. What happens next is the last thing she expected.How to Steal a Dog is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year. This title has Common Core connections. Read more
Esperanza Rising
Pam Munoz Ryan
Esperanza Ortega possesses all the treasures a young girl could want: fancy dresses; a beautiful home filled with servants in the bountiful region of Aguascalientes, Mexico; and the promise of one day rising to Mama’s position and presiding over all of El Rancho de las Rosas. But a sudden tragedy shatters that dream, forcing Esperanza and Mama to flee to California and settle in a Mexican farm labor camp. There they confront the challenges of hard work, acceptance by their own people, and economic difficulties brought on by the Great Depression. When Mama falls ill from Valley Fever and a strike for better working conditions threatens to uproot their new life, Esperanza must relinquish her hold on the past and learn to embrace a future ripe with the riches of family and community. Read more
Crenshaw
Katherine Applegate
In her first novel since The One and Only Ivan, winner of the Newbery Medal, Katherine Applegate delivers an unforgettable and magical story about family, friendship, and resilience.Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There's no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. His parents, his little sister, and their dog may have to live in their minivan. Again.Crenshaw is a cat. He's large, he's outspoken, and he's imaginary. He has come back into Jackson's life to help him. But is an imaginary friend enough to save this family from losing everything?Beloved author Katherine Applegate proves in unexpected ways that friends matter, whether real or imaginary. This title has Common Core connections. Read more
Read by thousands of kids and teachers, the best selling book Making a Difference is the first book in the Young Change Makers series. Packed with stories of young people around the world who are changing their communities, these books will inspire your children to follow their dreams and make a difference too!Kids around the world are doing extraordinary things to make a difference and they want you to know that you can too!Making a Difference is the first book in the inspirational nonfiction children's book series Young Change Makers. It is filled with stories of kids who are making the world a better place by following their hearts and chasing their dreams. Whether planting a billion trees, bringing joy to others through music, fundraising for sick children or starting an inclusive dance team, these determined youth are using their talents to do amazing things!Packed with beautiful illustrations, color photos and interesting facts, these inspiring stories prove that you're never too young to make a difference!Each book in this series includes:12 young change makers from around the world.Fun facts about the change makers.A map showing where they are from.The 12 young change makers' signatures!Information about how they made their dreams a reality.Ideas on how YOU can become a change maker too!Get your copy today and be inspired to change the world for the better!"Motivate. Educate. Differentiate. Those are words I live by and this book reflects ALL of them! Sit down and read this book with your kiddo- you will BOTH be inspired. Looking forward to more from this series!" - Pam Olivieri, School Curriculum Designer"This series is sure to inspire kids, teachers, and parents alike. Through hearing the compilation of remarkable true stories of real kids, others can feel encouraged to make their own positive impact in the world. This book would make a wonderful addition to any elementary school classroom library, or to a child's home book collection. Definitely a gift for anyone who would like to inspire young ones to know that kids can make a difference." - Shannon Olsen, teacher and best selling author"Young Change Makers: Making a Difference is revolutionary in that it identifies the initial motivations for each change maker that started them on their journeys to make change in the first place. This shows the average kid reading this book that everyday struggles and circumstances can lead to extraordinary change making over time." - Dante Plush, Director of Youth Engagement and Outreach Giving Tuesday"Stacy C. Bauer does a fantastic job of telling the stories of these inspirational young people. She presents both their work and personalities in a beautifully illustrated and well-researched book to inspire more kids to take action. The world needs books like this. I couldn’t put it down!" - Sarah M. W. Maston, Inventor & Founder of Project 15 from Microsoft Read more
Thirst
Varsha Bajaj
This New York Times Bestseller features a heroic girl who fights for her belief that water should be for everyone.Minni lives in the poorest part of Mumbai, where access to water is limited to a few hours a day and the communal taps have long lines. Lately, though, even that access is threatened by severe water shortages and thieves who are stealing this precious commodity—an act that Minni accidentally witnesses one night. Meanwhile, in the high-rise building where she just started to work, she discovers that water streams out of every faucet and there’s even a rooftop swimming pool. Then one day, Minni encounters the water mafia boss and faces her biggest dilemma yet—should she expose him even if it means risking her job . . . and maybe her life? How did her future get so complicated? Read more
Those Shoes
Maribeth Boelts
"In this witty, wise picture book, Boelts presents a kid’s-eye view of a consumer fad that rages through school at gale force." — Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)All Jeremy wants is a pair of those shoes, the ones everyone at school seems to be wearing. Though Jeremy’s grandma says they don’t have room for "want," just "need," when his old shoes fall apart at school, he is more determined than ever to have those shoes, even a thrift-shop pair that are much too small. But sore feet aren’t much fun, and Jeremy soon sees that the things he has — warm boots, a loving grandma, and the chance to help a friend — are worth more than the things he wants. Read more
This 10th anniversary edition of the beloved #1 New York Times bestseller includes a new introduction and afterword by the author. Chronicling the lifelong friendship between a busy sales executive and a disadvantaged young boy that began with one small gesture of kindness, this is a “ray of hope for a better future, as well as an assurance that love is a stronger force than injustice and inequality” (Sybrina Fulton, mother of Travyon Martin and coauthor of Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin).Stopping was never part of the plan... She was a successful ad sales rep in Manhattan. He was a homeless, eleven-year-old panhandler on the street. He asked for spare change; she kept walking. But then something stopped her in her tracks, and she went back. And she continued to go back, again and again. They met up nearly every week for years and built an unexpected, life-changing friendship that has today spanned almost three decades. Whatever made me notice him on that street corner so many years ago is clearly something that cannot be extinguished, no matter how relentless the forces aligned against it. Some may call it spirit. Some may call it heart. It drew me to him, as if we were bound by some invisible, unbreakable thread. And whatever it is, it binds us still. Now with new material that brings the life-changing story up to date for its tenth anniversary, An Invisible Thread is “a book capable of restoring our faith in each other and in the very idea that maybe everything is going to be okay after all” (Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Pay It Forward). Read more
Coat of Many Colors
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton lends the lyrics of her classic song "Coat of Many Colors" to this heartfelt picture book for young readers.Country music legend Dolly Parton's rural upbringing in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee provides the backdrop for this special picture book. Using lyrics from her classic song "Coat of Many Colors," the book tells the story of a young girl in need of a warm winter coat. When her mother sews her a coat made of rags, the girl is mocked by classmates for being poor. But Parton's trademark positivity carries through to the end as the girl realizes that her coat was made with love "in every stitch." Beautiful illustrations pair with Parton's poetic lyrics in this heartfelt picture book sure to speak to all young readers. Read more
Saturday at the Food Pantry
Diane O'Neill
Chicago Public Library Best Picture Books of 2021Parents Magazine October 2021 Book of the MonthA sensitive story about food insecurity.Molly and her mom don't always have enough food, so one Saturday they visit their local food pantry. Molly's happy to get food to eat until she sees her classmate Caitlin, who's embarrassed to be at the food pantry. Can Molly help Caitlin realize that everyone needs help sometimes? Read more
Home in the Woods
Eliza Wheeler
This stunningly beautiful picture book from New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Eliza Wheeler is based on her grandmother's childhood and pays homage to a family's fortitude as they discover the meaning of home.Eliza Wheeler's gorgeously illustrated book tells the story of what happens when six-year-old Marvel, her seven siblings, and their mom must start all over again after their father has died. Deep in the woods of Wisconsin they find a tar-paper shack. It doesn't seem like much of a home, but they soon start seeing what it could be. During their first year it's a struggle to maintain the shack and make sure they have enough to eat. But each season also brings its own delights and blessings--and the children always find a way to have fun. Most importantly, the family finds immense joy in being together, surrounded by nature. And slowly, their little shack starts feeling like a true home--warm, bright, and filled up with love. Read more
Maddi's Fridge
Lois Brandt
Winner of: 2014 Christopher Award, Books for Young People 2014, ILA Primary Fiction Award 2015, MLA Mitten Award Honor, Human Rights in Children's Literature Honor. With humor and warmth, this children's picture book raises awareness about poverty and hunger. Best friends Sofia and Maddi live in the same neighborhood, go to the same school, and play in the same park, but while Sofia's fridge at home is full of nutritious food, the fridge at Maddi's house is empty. Sofia learns that Maddi's family doesn't have enough money to fill their fridge and promises Maddi she'll keep this discovery a secret. But because Sofia wants to help her friend, she's faced with a difficult decision: to keep her promise or tell her parents about Maddi's empty fridge. Filled with colorful artwork, this storybook addresses issues of poverty with honesty and sensitivity while instilling important lessons in friendship, empathy, trust, and helping others. A call to action section, with six effective ways for children to help fight hunger and information on antihunger groups, is also included. Read more
The Benefits of Being an Octopus: A Novel
Ann Braden
One of Edutopia's "25 Essential Middle School Reads from the Last Decade," NPR Best Book of 2018, Bank Street List for Best Children's Books of 2019, Named to the Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher List, Maine's Student Book Award List, Louisiana Young Reader's Choice Award List, Rhode Island Middle School Book Award 2020 List, 2020 Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award Nominee, 2021 South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominee, 2020-2021 Truman Award (Missouri) Nominee, Middle School Virginia Readers’ Choice Titles for 2020–2021, Charlie May Simon Award 2020–2021 List, 2021–2022 Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee, and 2023 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award nominee. Some people can do their homework. Some people get to have crushes on boys. Some people have other things they've got to do. Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer. At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them. Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses. Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had? This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward. Read more
Free Lunch
Rex Ogle
Winner of the 2020 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award. Instead of giving him lunch money, Rex’s mom has signed him up for free meals. As a poor kid in a wealthy school district, better-off kids crowd impatiently behind him as he tries to explain to the cashier that he’s on the free meal program. The lunch lady is hard of hearing, so Rex has to shout. Free Lunch is the story of Rex’s efforts to navigate his first semester of sixth grade―who to sit with, not being able to join the football team, Halloween in a handmade costume, classmates and a teacher who take one look at him and decide he’s trouble―all while wearing secondhand clothes and being hungry. His mom and her boyfriend are out of work, and life at home is punctuated by outbursts of violence. Halfway through the semester, his family is evicted and ends up in government-subsidized housing in view of the school. Rex lingers at the end of last period every day until the buses have left, so no one will see where he lives.Unsparing and realistic, Free Lunch is a story of hardship threaded with hope and moments of grace. Rex’s voice is compelling and authentic, and Free Lunch is a true, timely, and essential work that illuminates the lived experience of poverty in America. Read more
Esperanza Rising (Scholastic Gold)
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Esperanza Rising joins the Scholastic Gold line, which features award-winning and beloved novels. Includes exclusive bonus content!Esperanza thought she'd always live a privileged life on her family's ranch in Mexico. She'd always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home filled with servants, and Mama, Papa, and Abuelita to care for her. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California and settle in a Mexican farm labor camp. Esperanza isn't ready for the hard work, financial struggles brought on by the Great Depression, or lack of acceptance she now faces. When Mama gets sick and a strike for better working conditions threatens to uproot their new life, Esperanza must find a way to rise above her difficult circumstances-because Mama's life, and her own, depend on it. Read more
Train to Somewhere
Eve Bunting
Marianne, heading west with fourteen other children on an Orphan Train, is sure her mother will show up at one of the stations along the way. When her mother left Marianne at the orphanage, hadn't she promised she'd come for her after making a new life in the West? Stop after stop goes by, and there's no sign of her mother in the crowds that come to look over the children. No one shows any interest in adopting shy, plain Marianne, either. But that's all right: She has to be free for her mother to claim her. Then the train pulls into its final stop, a town called Somewhere . . . Read more
Blue Willow
Doris Gates
To Janey Larkin, the blue willow plate was the most beautiful thing in her life, a symbol of the home she could only dimly remember. Now that her father was an itinerant worker, Janey didn't have a home she could call her own or any real friends, as her family had to keep moving, following the crops from farm to farm. Someday, Janey promised the willow plate, with its picture of a real house, her family would once again be able to set down roots in a community.Blue Willow is an important fictional account of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, and has been called The Grapes of Wrath for children. It won a Newbery Honor and many other awards. Read more
Born Behind Bars
Padma Venkatraman
The author of the award-winning The Bridge Home brings readers another gripping novel set in Chennai, India, featuring a boy who's unexpectedly released into the world after spending his whole life in jail with his mom.Kabir has been in jail since the day he was born, because his mom is serving time for a crime she didn't commit. He's never met his dad, so the only family he's got are their cellmates, and the only place he feels the least bit free is in the classroom, where his kind teacher regales him with stories of the wonders of the outside world. Then one day a new warden arrives and announces Kabir is too old to stay. He gets handed over to a long-lost "uncle" who turns out to be a fraud, so Kabir runs away as fast as his legs will take him. How does a boy with nowhere to go and no connections make his way? Fortunately, another street kid, named Rani, takes him under her wing. But plotting their next moves are hard in a world that cares little for homeless, low caste children. This is not the world Kabir dreamed of--but he's discovered he's not the type to give up. Kabir is ready to show the world that he--and his mother--deserve a place in it. Read more
Thirst
Varsha Bajaj
A New York Times BestsellerThe riveting story of a heroic girl who fights for her belief that water should be for everyone.Minni lives in the poorest part of Mumbai, where access to water is limited to a few hours a day and the communal taps have long lines. Lately, though, even that access is threatened by severe water shortages and thieves who are stealing this precious commodity—an act that Minni accidentally witnesses one night. Meanwhile, in the high-rise building where she just started to work, she discovers that water streams out of every faucet and there’s even a rooftop swimming pool. What Minni also discovers there is one of the water mafia bosses. Now she must decide whether to expose him and risk her job and maybe her life. How did something as simple as access to water get so complicated? Read more