A community is a place where people feel safe, where people can laugh and cry, and where people help each other when they need it. A community can be a city, a neighborhood, a family, or a group of friends. In the following children's books, communities are celebrated by those who've lived in them, discovered by those within them, and even created by those who need them most.

Uptown, story and illustrations by Bryan Collier. In this picture book, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winner, "Uptown" is Harlem in all its wonder. Collier celebrates Harlem's architecture, landmarks, music, and personalities with poetic imagery and beautiful watercolor/collage illustrations. "Uptown is a barbershop. It's a place where last night's ball game can be more important than what style haircut to expect." "Uptown is little sisters. They're on their way to church in matching yellow dresses." Collier's descriptions reveal the diverse elements that make up this exciting community. Ages five to 10. (Henry Holt and Company, 2000)

The Last Dragon, story by Susan Miho Nunes, illustrations by Chris K. Soentpiet. Peter Chang is unhappy about spending the summer away from his family with his Great Aunt in Chinatown until she buys him the old dusty dragon in the Lung Fung Trading Shop window. As Peter works on cleaning and fixing the dragon, he is introduced to the fascinating Chinatown community by learning what role each member plays in making the dragon. Mr. Pang, the tailor, sews the dragon's body; Miss Rose Chiao, the kite lady, fixes its tail; and Dr. Fong, the herbalist, finds the dragon a set of eyes. Nunes and Soentpiet create an entertaining book about the complex community of Chinatown and how it rallies to resurrect the last dragon. Ages four to eight. (Clarion Books, 1995)

The Car Washing Street, story by Denise Lewis Patrick, illustrations by John Ward. On Saturday morning, Matthew wakes his dad up when he hears splashing on the street outside. Even though they don't own a car, Matthew and his father love to sit on the steps watching the neighbors wash their cars. Junior Boy Taylor sets the station on his radio, Mrs. Kennedy uses a pink towel on her pink Cadillac, and Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez wash their station wagon with their children. Something wild always happens. Today, when Junior Boy spills some water on another neighbor, the street erupts in a water fight that ends with everyone soaked and laughing on the steps of Matthew's house. In this sweet story, Patrick pays tribute to the small details of a friendly community as seen by a little boy living in it. Ages four to eight. (Tambourine Books, 1993)

The Garden of Happiness, story by Erica Turner, illustrations by Barbara Lambase. Marisol notices one day that her neighbors are cleaning the abandoned lot down the street and staking out garden plots. Each is planning to grow something special, from black-eyed peas to sweet potatoes. Too late to get a plot of her own, Marisol claims a large crack in the sidewalk in front of a wall where the older kids are painting a mural. She plants one of the seeds that Mrs. Garcia feeds to the pigeons. Watching over her "plot," she listens to the adults reminisce as their plants grow. Finally, Marisol's sunflower grows fantastically tall, towering over the sidewalk and the garden beside it. At the end of summer, she is saddened when this sunflower begins to curl up and fade until she sees that the older kids have painted her sunflower on the wall where it will stay bright and beautiful. Turner's endearing story and Lambase's bright oil paintings reveal the efforts of Marisol's community to transform a junked lot into a bountiful garden together. Age four to eight. (Harcourt Brace, 1996)

Something Beautiful, story by Sharon Dennis Wyeth, illustrations by Chris K. Soentpiet. Living in a community where homeless people sleep on the sidewalk, broken glass covers the yard, and the word "DIE" is written in graffiti on the wall, a little girl searches for "something beautiful," something that "when you have it, your heart is happy." For some, she finds, it's a fried fish sandwich, a turn at jumping rope, a new baby, or an old stone kept in a pocket; but she can't decide what it means for her. Then she realizes that, for her, "something beautiful" is all of these things; it's her entire community. She washes the "DIE" off the wall and makes plans to plant a garden where the glass lies, and to give the homeless lady in front of her house a bed one day. Wyeth's story, with Soentpiet's realistic paintings, shows that beauty can exist in any community and, more important, that sometimes it's up to you to help create it. Ages four to eight. (Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc., 1998)

Chato and the Party Animals, story by Gary Soto, illustrations by Susan Guevara. Chato has been a party animal since he was a kitten. But his best friend, Novio Boy, gets sad at birthdays because he is from the pound, doesn't know his birthday, and never knew his mamí. Chato wants to change this so he plans a surprise party, inviting the entire barrio, but forgets to invite the guest of honor. When Novio Boy finally arrives, they celebrate with dancing, piñatas, and food. Novio Boy realizes that Chato and his friends are his familia. This fun story shows how friends can build a loving family for someone who hasn't had one before. Ages five to nine. (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2000)

Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch, story by Eileen Spinelli, illustrations by Paul Yalowitz. Mr. Hatch never smiles as he methodically leaves every morning at 6:30, eats lunch alone, and silently buys his usual paper and turkey wing for dinner. All that changes the day he gets a heart-shaped box of chocolates with a note saying, "Somebody loves you." Not knowing who gave it to him, Mr. Hatch starts being nice to everyone: baking brownies for his neighbors, taking over for the newspaperman when he needs to go to the doctor, and giving chocolates to his co-workers at lunch. Mr. Hatch newly found happiness disappears when the postman returns to tell him that the package wasn't meant for him. He begins to slip back into his depressing lifestyle-but the next Saturday the entire community throws a party for him with a sign that reads, "Everybody Loves Mr. Hatch." Spinelli's heartwarming tale accompanied by Yalowitz's warm illustrations show how simple acts of kindness can help to reveal the love of a community. By being nice to others and opening himself up, Mr. Hatch realizes the joy that existed around him the entire time. Ages five to 10. (Bradbury Press, 1991)

Amber was Brave, Essie was Smart, story and illustrations by Vera Williams. Introduced as "the story of Amber and Essie told in poems and pictures", this is the story of two sisters who create their own two-person community of caring, trust, and friendship to cope with being alone in their house after school each day. While their father is in jail and their mother works long hours, Essie and Amber take on different but equally important roles to help each other and their mother. Williams offers a realistic portrayal of two loving children who, despite minor fights and name-calling, depend on each other for safety and love. Ages seven to twelve. (Greenwillow Books, 2001)