Author Archives: eabler

Moko Jumbi Dreams

Ten-year-old Lexi dreams of becoming a moko jumbi majorette, a stilt walker in a parade. Though Lexi misses her best friend, she befriends her new neighbors, Miss Ivy and her foster children. Unfortunately, people petition that they should move out of the neighborhood. Moreover, Lexi’s family worries about the threatening hurricane which is quickly approaching. This lively first book in a series has a glossary of terms, questions which accompany the reading, a list of vocabulary words, and a bibliography of helpful resources. ema

Title: Moko Jumbi Dreams
Author: Alscess Lewis-Brown
Illustrator: Wayne “Bully” Petersen and Cynthia Hatfield
Publisher: Little Bell Caribbean an imprint of Editorial Campana
Copyright: 2011
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-934370-22-3
Paperback pages: 112
Age range: 9-14
Genre: Fiction Novel
Book setting: The US Virgin Islands/ the Caribbean
Author’s ethnicity: Born in Antigua
Author’s residence: St. Croix, US Virgin Islands
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Petersen: Caribbean
Illustrator’s residence: Petersen: The Virgin Islands, Hatfield: St. Croix
Subjects: Caribbean, Dreams, Foster children, Neighbors, Racism, Small towns, Stilt walkers

The Day Everything Went Wrong

Leave a reply

One day Badger wakes up and tells himself that he will do only things he enjoys. From this moment on, it seems like everything is going wrong for Badger. He almost knocks his lamp off his bedpost, accidentally breaks his favorite mug, loses his colored pencils, trips over his shovel, and knocks his wheelbarrow over. Badger decides to visit his friends to see if they are having as bad of a day as he is. When he visits his friends, Badger helps solve their problems. Although everything has gone wrong for Badger, he finds some consolation in helping his friends. Badger wants to go straight to bed after his horrible day, but he finds a surprise when he returns home. Adorable illustrations created using playfully vibrant colors work with the text in showing readers that they can always find good even when it seems like everything is wrong. ema

Title: The Day Everything Went Wrong
Author: Moritz Petz
Illustrator: Amélie Jackowski
Publisher: North South Books
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: German
Translator: David Henry Wilson
Original Title: Der Dachs hat heute einfach Pech
Original Publisher: NordSüd Verlag AG
Original Copyright: 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4209-0
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: German
Author’s residence: Germany
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French
Illustrator’s residence: France
Subjects: Bad days, Badgers, Friendship, Helping others

The Bernadette Watts Collection: Stories And Fairy Tales

Leave a reply

Watts’s works “display warm and pleasing colors that bathe each image in an almost theatre-like setting” -Eric Carle.

Bernadette Watts is an iconic English children’s book author and illustrator who has illustrated several fairy tales and fables. This huge collection of fairy tales features some stories written by world renowned storytellers and Watts herself. The gorgeous impressionistic illustrations of animals, creatures, people, and nature complement the wondrous stories. This collection is excellent for introducing readers to popular tales, such as Cinderella, Rapunzel, The Ugly Duckling, Sleeping Beauty, and The Snow Queen, as well as some unfamiliar works. ema

Title: The Bernadette Watts Collection: Stories And Fairy Tales
Author: Short stories by Bernadette Watts, Jacob (1785-1863) and Wilhelm Grimm (1786-1859), Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875), Aesop (620-560 BC), Gerda Marie Scheidl (1913-2005), Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910), and more
Illustrator: Bernadette Watts
Publisher: North-South
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: German
Translator: North-South Books
Original Title: Bernadette
Original Publisher: NordSüd
Original Copyright: 2014
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4242-0
Hardcover pages: 317
Age range: 4 up
Genre: Fables, Fairy Tales, Picture Books
Author’s ethnicity: Watts: English, Grimm Brothers: German, Andersen: Danish, Aesop: Greek, Scheidl: German, Tolstoy: Russian
Author’s residence: Watts: England
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English
Illustrator’s residence: England
Subjects: Fables, Fairy tales, Fairy tale reimaginings/ retellings, Folktales, Illustrated children’s books, Short stories

Painted Skies

Leave a reply

Leslie has recently moved to the Arctic. Her new friend, Oolipika, teaches her about one of the most amazing wonders of the world, the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights or aqsarniit in Inuktitut. Awe-striking illustrations depict these “painted skies” in various shades of greens, blues, yellows, purples, and pinks. The book includes exquisite artwork, text about the Inuit legend, and an explanation about the science behind the Northern Lights which sure will fascinate readers. ema

Title: Painted Skies
Author: Carolyn Mallory
Illustrator: Ameri Zhao
Publisher: Inhabit Media Inc.
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-77227-004-4
Hardcover pages: 36
Age range: 5 up
Genre: Picture Book, Contemporary Fiction
Book setting: the Arctic
Author’s ethnicity: Canadian
Author’s residence: Canada
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Australian
Illustrator’s residence: Sydney
Subjects: Arctic, Aqsarniit, Aurora Borealis, Beliefs, Inuit, Legends, Northern Lights, Science

John Diamond

Leave a reply

Twelve-year-old William Jones cannot stop hearing his father’s footsteps and sighs at night. When William learns that his father is troubled because he swindled his old business partner, Mr. Diamond, he promises to himself that he will travel to London to rectify his father’s wrongs. He quickly realizes that London is an eerie city full of danger, death, and betrayal. The author’s gothic writing is reminiscent of Charles Dickens’s works. Middle-grade readers who are fans of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events will devour this mystery novel. ema

Title: John Diamond
Author: Leon Garfield (1921-1996)
Illustrator: Isobel Lundie
Publisher: Random House
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: English
Original Title: John Diamond
Original Publisher: Kestrel Books
Original Copyright: 1980
ISBN:978-0099583271
Paperback pages: 256
Age range: 9-11
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book setting: Victorian London
Author’s ethnicity: English
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English
Illustrator’s residence: London
Awards:1980 Whitbread Prize for Children’s Novel
Subjects: Creepy, Death, Detective stories, Mystery, Scary stories

The Letter For The King

Leave a reply

As he waits in a chapel on the eve of his knighting ceremony, sixteen-year-old Tiuri is asked to deliver a secret letter to the king of the neighboring kingdom, Unauwen. Though leaving the chapel could cost him his knighthood, he goes on a lengthy journey to deliver a message which could change the destiny of the kingdoms of Unauwen and Dragonaut. This epic tale of heroism, bravery, and true friendship will intrigue readers who are fans of fantasy, mystery, and medieval literature. Dragt’s sequel, The Secrets Of The Wildwood, has also been translated into English. ema

Title: The Letter For The King
Author: Tonke Dragt
Illustrator: Tonke Dragt
Publisher: Pushkin Children’s
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: Dutch
Translator: Laura Watkinson
Original Title: De brief voor de koning
Original Publisher: Uitgeverij Leopold
Original Copyright: 1962
ISBN: 978-1-782690-10-8
Hardcover pages: 460
Age range: 12 up
Genre: Fiction, Novel
Author’s ethnicity: Born in Indonesia
Author’s residence: The Netherlands
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Indonesia
Illustrator’s residence: The Netherlands
Awards: 2004 Gouden Griffel Winner, 1976 State Prize for Youth Literature, 1963 Children’s Book of the Year Award for the Netherlands
Subjects: Action, Kings, Knights, Journeys, Medieval setting, Quests

Aladdin

Leave a reply

When Aladdin is tricked by his greedy magician uncle, he becomes trapped in a cave with a lighted lamp. As Aladdin plans what to do next, he accidentally rubs the lamp and a genie appears who promises to serve any of his requests! His wishes come true, but he has to learn how to fix things when his uncle acquires the lamp. This marvelous abbreviated retelling of Aladdin was created using gorgeous brown, blue, and black cut paper illustrations laid on lavishly gem colored background paper. ema

Title: Aladdin
Author: from the Arabian Nights; retold by Sheri Safran
Illustrator: Agnese Baruzzi
Publisher: Tango Books
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: English
ISBN:978-1857078732
Hardcover pages: 14
Age range: 5-7
Genre: Cut Paper Picture Book
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian
Illustrator’s residence: Bologna
Subjects: Arabian Nights, Arabian, Fairytales, Folklore

Brother Hugo And The Bear

Leave a reply

Brother Hugo is unable to return his library book because it was consumed by a bear. The Abbot of Hugo’s monastery was very disappointed because he lost their only copy of St. Augustine’s letters. It is now Hugo’s responsibility to travel to a neighboring monastery to retrieve a copy of the cherished text, craft a new book, and return his library book on time without it becoming bear food again. These beautifully detailed illustrations resembling monks’ manuscripts were created using ink and watercolor. Brother Hugo And The Bear is loosely based on a true twelfth-century story where the monk, Abbot Peter the Venerable, asked the neighboring monastery to send him St. Augustine’s letters because their volume was eaten by a bear. The book also features a historical note, a glossary of terms and people, an author’s note, and an illustrator’s note. ema

Title: Brother Hugo And The Bear
Author: Katy Beebe
Illustrator: S.D. Schindler
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5407-0
Hardcover pages: 34
Age range: 5-9
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Middle Ages France
Author’s ethnicity: American
Author’s residence: Texas
Illustrator’s ethnicity: American
Illustrator’s residence: Pennsylvania
Awards: 2014 American Booksellers Association Best Books for Children Catalog, 2014 Society of Illustrators “The Original Art” annual exhibition, 2014 Kirkus Best of the Year, 2014 School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, 2014 Huffington Post Best Picture Books of the Year: Honorable Mention, A 2015 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, A 2015 Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year
Subjects: Bears, Books, Manuscripts, Middle Ages, Monks, Reading

In Search Of The Little Prince: The Story Of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

1 Reply

In 1942, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote the beloved classic, The Little Prince. This picture book biography follows “Tonio” (what Saint-Exupéry is called in the book) as he grows up to be a man who is fascinated by flying. Tonio becomes interested in writing when he is incapable of flying a plane any longer. He finds a new way to journey to far away places through his writing. The book features photographs of Antoine at the beginning of the book, text explaining the inspiration for The Little Prince, and full-page illustrations with a lush palette of colors showcasing the vivid dreams and imagination of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s world. ema

Title: In Search Of The Little Prince: The Story Of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Author: Bimba Landmann
Illustrator: Bimba Landmann
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: Italian
Translator: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Original Title: Antoine de Saint-Expéry in cerca del piccolo principe
Original Publisher: Edizioni ARKA S.r.l., Via Raffaello Sanzio
Original Copyright: 2013
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5435-3
Hardcover pages: 34
Age range: 6 up
Genre: Nonfiction Picture Book
Book setting: France, Africa, and New York
Author’s ethnicity: Italian
Author’s residence: Milan
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian
Illustrator’s residence: Milan
Awards: A 2015 Bank Street College Best Children’s Book of the Year
Subjects: Air Pilots, Arts, Biography, French Authors, Writers

This One Summer

Leave a reply

Every year Rose and her family go to Awago Beach, but this year her parents are fighting. Best friends Rose and Windy question what it means to be grown up. The gorgeous blue illustrations and writing capture the pace of summer, the joys, struggles, relationships, and feelings during adolescence. It subtly and powerfully touches on misogyny, sexism, depression, and will leave readers pondering how they come to their conclusions of others without knowing the full story. ema

Title: This One Summer
Author: Mariko Tamaki
Illustrator: Jillian Tamaki
Publisher: First Second Books
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-62672-094-7
Hardcover pages: 320
Age range: 12-18
Genre: Graphic Novel
Book setting: Canada
Author’s ethnicity: Canadian
Author’s residence: Canada
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian
Illustrator’s residence: Brooklyn
Awards: 2014 Governor General’s Literary Award for Illustration, 2015 Caldecott Honor, 2015 Printz Honor, 2015 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Winner
Subjects: Bullying, Cartoons, Comics, Coming of Age, Female Protagonists, Graphic Novels, Love, Marital Conflict, Relationships, Summer, Teenage Pregnancy, Teenagers, Vacation, Verbal Abuse

The Red Bicycle: The Extraordinary Story Of One Ordinary Bicycle

Leave a reply

In this amazing story about a red bike’s journey, Leo outgrows his bike and donates it to a charity which sends bikes to people in countries who cannot afford them. The bike touches all of the lives it encounters. The story invites readers to think about all of the ways a bicycle can help people. The digitally-inspired illustrations incorporate elements of real acrylic and silkscreen textures. The book also includes excellent resources and activities for educators. ema

Title: The Red Bicycle: The Extraordinary Story Of One Ordinary Bicycle
Author: Jude Isabella
Illustrator: Simone Shin
Publisher: CitizenKid, a trademark of Kids Can Press Ltd.
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Kids Can Press Ltd.
Original Copyright: 2015
ISBN: 978-1-77138-023-2
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: North America, Ghana, and Burkina Faso
Author’s ethnicity: Canadian
Author’s residence: British Columbia
Illustrator’s ethnicity: American
Illustrator’s residence: San Francisco Bay Area
Subjects: Africa, Altruism, Burkina Faso, Bicycles, Caring, Charities, Helping others, Working

Climbing The Stairs

Leave a reply

Fifteen year-old Vidya has aspirations of attending college, but this is rare for a girl living in British-occupied India during World War II. When misfortune falls upon Vidya’s family, they are forced to live with her father’s family which is a traditional Indian household where women are expected to be married and not educated. Vidya feels suffocated by the lifestyle, but she feels like she can breathe a bit easier when she discovers her grandfather’s library. In the library, Vidya gains a new friend who encourages her to pursue her education. Unfortunately, it is when Vidya finally feels that she finds some comfort in the house that her brother unexpectedly leaves. This moving story about a young woman overcoming political and her own inner turmoils will effectively enlighten readers about Hindi words, traditions, religious festivals, and historical events that occurred during a critical time in Indian history. ema

Title: Climbing The Stairs
Author: Padma Venkatraman
Publisher: Speak, an imprint of Puffin Books
Copyright: 2010
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0142414903
Paperback pages: 254
Age range: 12 up
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book setting: India during WWII
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: America
Awards: A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, A Bank Street College of Education Best Book of the Year, An ALA/YALSA Best Book for Young Adults, An 2009 ALA/Amelia Bloomer Book, A Book Sense Notable, A Publishers Weekly Flying Start Selection, A Booklist Editor’s Choice
Subjects: Brain damage, British occupation of India, Gender roles, Prejudices, World War II