Author Archives: eabler

The Bus Ride

This book captures the thrills, fears, and excitement a child has when experiencing something new. It is Clara’s first time riding on the bus to her grandmother’s house alone. Detailed illustrations, made by tiny strokes of softly colored pencils, and words are reminiscent of “Little Red Riding Hood”. Similarities include Clara traveling to her grandmother’s house, a red sweater and picnic basket, and a family of wolves. Readers should pay close attention to the other character’s actions and newspaper headings which foreshadow upcoming events. ema

Title: The Bus Ride
Author: Marianne Dubuc
Illustrator: Marianne Dubuc
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: French
Translator: Yvette Ghione
Original Title: L’autobus
Original Publisher: Comme des géants inc.
Original Copyright: 2014
ISBN: 978-1-77138-209-0
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: French Canadian
Author’s residence: Canada
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Canadian
Illustrator’s residence: Canada
Subjects: Busses, Bus ride, Fairytales, Friendly community, Independence, Little Red Riding Hood, Travel

Over The Hills And Far Away: A Treasury Of Nursery Rhymes

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This collection of 150 culturally diverse nursery rhymes is illustrated by a fantastic team of 77 well-known and emerging artists from various countries. The collection combines familiar and unfamiliar nursery rhymes on the same page to complement each other and create new and refreshing interpretations. Both younger and older readers will swoon over the pictures and laugh aloud when reading these rhymes. A book perfect for reading aloud. ema

Title: Over The Hills And Far Away: A Treasury Of Nursery Rhymes
Author: Collected by Elizabeth Hammill
Illustrator: Various
Publisher: Seven Stories
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: English
Original Title: Over The Hills And Far Away: A Treasury Of Nursery Rhymes
Original Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Original Copyright: 2014
ISBN: 978-1-84780-406-8
Hardcover pages: 160
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Nursery Rhyme Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: English
Author’s residence: Newcastle upon Tyne
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Various
Illustrator’s residence: Various
Subjects: African American, Akan, American, Anglo American, Art, Australian, Caribbean, Chinese American, Chippewa, Classics, English, Diversity, Inuit, Jamaican, Language, Latino, Maori, Mother Goose Rhymes, Nursery Rhymes, Oral reading, Poetry, Punjabi, Scottish, South African, Tohono O’odham, Trinidadian, Tsimshian, Wintu, Yiddish

Rose Under Fire

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American Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) pilot, Rose Justice, is captured by the Nazis and is sent to the women’s concentration camp, Ravenshrück. She finds solace in her “camp family” that encourages her to write about medically experimented upon Polish women. Even in bleak circumstances, Rose finds beauty, bravery, and the hope she will tell the world what she has seen. This heart-wrenching companion to Code Name Verity by the same author has stunning writing, fascinating characters, and gorgeous imagery. ema

Title: Rose Under Fire
Author: Elizabeth Wein
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Copyright: 2013
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-4231-8309-9
Hardcover pages: 368
Age range: Young Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book setting: England, Scotland, France, and Germany in WWII
Author’s ethnicity: English; born in New York City
Author’s residence: Scotland
Awards: 2014 Schneider Family Book Award Winner, 2014 Josette Frank Award Winner, 2014 Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book, 2014 Golden Kite Award Honor Book
Subjects: Adventure, Air Pilots, Concentration Camps, Death, Families, Flying, Female Friendships, Friends, Historical Fiction, Hope, Language, Nazis, Planes, Poetry, Relationships, War, Women Air Pilots, World War II

The Herd Boy

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Readers experience a typical day of the courageous and bright Malusi who is responsible for protecting a herd of sheep in South Africa. Malusi dreams of becoming president despite his friend’s doubts. Expressive illustrations of the lively landscape, a special appearance by Nelson Mandela, a glossary of words from South Africa, and a note from the author describing the inspiration for the book are featured. ema

Title: The Herd Boy
Author: Niki Daly
Illustrator: Niki Daly
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Copyright: 2012
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Janetta Otter-Barry Books, Frances Lincoln Books
Original Copyright: 2012
ISBN: 978-0802854179
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 6-10
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: South Africa
Author’s ethnicity: South African
Author’s residence: Cape Town
Awards: 2012 Junior Library Guild Selection, Poetry Center at Passaic County CC, 2013 Paterson Prize for Young People Honor Book, United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY), 2013 Outstanding International Books
Subjects: African People, Animals, Baboons, Family, Food, Friends, Herders, Language, Leaders, Nelson Mandela, Presidents, Sheep, South Africa, Xhosa, World Leaders

Code Name Verity

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A British pilot’s plane crashes down in Nazi occupied France. “Kittyhawk” has a chance of survival, but her friend “Verity” is unlikely to survive. Verity is captured by the Gestapo and can either reveal her mission or be gruesomely tortured. Careful attention to historical detail makes Verity and Kittyhawk’s story believable. This riveting tale told in journal entries with literary references and plot twists is about a beautiful friendship forged in a dark time in history. ema

Title: Code Name Verity
Author: Elizabeth Wein
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Copyright: 2012
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1423152194
Hardcover pages: 352
Age range: 14 up
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book setting: England, France, and Scotland
Author’s ethnicity: American; grew up abroad
Author’s residence: Scotland
Awards:UK Literary Association Award Winner, 2013 Edgar Award Winner, 2013 Printz Honor Book, 2012 Boston Globe/Horn Book Award Honor Book, Shortlisted for the 2013 CILIP Carnegie Award, Golden Kite Award Honor Book, Shortlisted for the 2012 Scottish Children’s Book Award
Subjects: Adventure, Air Pilots, Espionage, Families, Flying, Female Friendships, Friends, Historical Fiction, Language, Nazis, Planes, Spies, War, Women Air Pilots, World War Two

The Blue Whale

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Readers will feel like they are on a fantastic journey with the little boy who is also reading The Blue Whale. Illustrations are helpful in conveying the size of a whale, and the use of images and comparisons gives the perfect visualization of the enormousness of a blue whale in relation to everyday objects. The rich and playful illustrations are well woven with fascinating facts about the “largest living creature on our planet”. ema

Title: The Blue Whale
Author: Jenni Desmond
Illustrator: Jenni Desmond
Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-59270-165-0
Hardcover pages: 48
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Nonfiction Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: English
Author’s residence: London
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English
Illustrator’s residence: London
Subjects: Animals, Blue Whales, Ecology, Endangered Species, Facts, Nonfiction, Ocean, Pollution, Protected Species, Science, Water, Whales, Wildlife

Haiti My Country

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Haiti My Country is a collection of poems written by Haitian children before the county’s earthquake in 2010. The authors of these poems about Haiti are from Camp Perrin which is a small village in the southern Republic of Haiti. It is accompanied by illustrated portraits of the book’s poets recreated from photographs by Rogé. Though Haiti is typically associated with being a nation struck by poverty and the natural disasters which have occurred in the country in recent years, these young writers paint an optimistic, heartwarming, and beautiful picture of Haiti. These young writers’ contemplative poetry demonstrates how people can learn much from observing their surroundings. Haiti My Country will make readers see Haiti from a new viewpoint through the luscious descriptions of the vibrant landscape. The authors show how hope can be found everywhere. ema

Title: Haiti My Country
Author: Poems by Haitian children with preface by Dany Laferriére
Illustrator: Rogé
Publisher: Fifth House Publishers
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: French
Translator: Solange Messier
Original Title: Haïtimon Pays
Original Publisher: La Bagnole
Original Copyright: 2011
ISBN: 978-1927083239
Paperback pages: 44
Age range: 6-10
Genre: Poetry
Book setting: Haiti
Author’s ethnicity: Canadian
Author’s residence: Canada
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian
Illustrator’s residence: Canada
Awards: 2011 Governor General Finalist in Children’s Illustration Category, 2011 Lauréat Prix Saint Exupéry French Category, 2012 White Ravens Selection
Subjects: Camp Perrin, Children Authors, Haiti, Hope, Love of Country, Nature, Poetry, Schools, School Verse, Students, Writing

The Wrath And The Dawn

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The brutal Caliph of Khorasan each night kills his new bride before dawn breaks. This changes when Khalid marries Shahrzad. Shahrzad volunteers herself as the caliph’s bride. She wishes to get revenge for her best friend’s death by marrying the King of Kings and giving him the same fate as her friend. Although Shahrzad plans on killing the king, she realizes that Khalid is not the callous monster that she believed he would be. When Shahrzad falls in love with him, she must decide whether to follow her heart or avenge the lives of the caliph’s late wives. The book’s gorgeous cover and fantastical end pages will entice readers to open the book, while the story will keep them mesmerized. The book also features a map of the book’s setting and a glossary of words readers may be unfamiliar with. The Wrath and The Dawn is a dazzling retelling of A Thousand and One Nights. This romance versus loyalty tale has beautiful imagery, great characterization, and magical elements which will leave readers craving for the next book. ema

Title: The Wrath And The Dawn
Author: Renée Ahdieh
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, a Penguin Publishing Group
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-399-17161-1
Hardcover pages: 388
Age range: 14 up
Genre: Fairytale Reimagining, Fantasy
Book setting: Fantasy World Based on the Middle East
Author’s ethnicity: Asian American
Author’s residence: United States
Awards: A Junior Library Guild Selection, A Summer 2015 Kids’ Indie Next List Top Ten Pick
Subjects: Arabian Nights, Arranged Marriages, Fairy Tale Reimaginings/ Retellings, Fantasy, Friendships, Loyalty, Love, Magical Elements, Marriages, Middle East, Murder, One Thousand and One Nights, Persian, Relationships, Romance

I Have The Right To Be A Child

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Inspired by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, I Have The Right To Be A Child is a picture book that makes young readers ponder about rights of children. The simplistically beautiful acrylic illustrations perfectly accompany the book’s first person narration. This moving picture book explains the types of rights children around the world should be entitled to. It is important to note that at the end of the book, there is an explanation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. This explanation details the specific rights the states who sign the agreement must uphold. There is also a list of states who are party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. There are only three members of the UN who are not party to the Convention. These three countries are Somalia, the United States, and South Sudan. I Have The Right To Be A Child is a perfect book to teach about peace and human rights. It illustrates the type of world we hope to live in and challenges readers to advocate for children’s rights. ema

Title: I Have The Right To Be A Child
Author: Alain Serres
Illustrator: Aurélia Fronty
Publisher: Groundwood Books House of Anansi Press
Copyright: 2012
Original Language: French
Translator: Helen Minster
Original Title: S’ai le droit d’être un enfant
Original Publisher: Rue du Monde
Original Copyright: 2009
ISBN: 978-1-55498-149-6
Hardcover pages: 48
Age range: 4-7
Genre: Non-Fiction Picture Book
Book setting: Around the World
Author’s ethnicity: French
Author’s residence: Paris
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French
Illustrator’s residence: France
Awards: IRA Notable Books for a Global Society List, Selected for Children’s Literary Assembly, 2013 Notable Children’s Books, and USBBY Outstanding International Booklist
Subjects: Activism, Children’s Rights, Disabilities, Diversity, Education, Families, Friends, Gender, Human Rights, Peace, Race, United Nations, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Moribito: Guardian Of The Spirit

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Balsa is a formidable warrior. After she saves the Second Prince of New Yogo, Chagum, from an attempt on his life, the Second Queen hires Balsa to protect her son. The eleven year old second prince is the guardian of the water spirit, the Moribito. The Moribito is chosen every hundred years to deliver the egg of the water spirit to its home. Although Balsa realises taking the assignment puts herself in danger, Balsa’s heart empathizes with the innocent Chagum, and she vows to protect his life. This thrilling fantasy story based on Japan during the Middle Ages told in third person narrative from multiple viewpoints will captivate readers. Uehashi’s writing demonstrates that characters’ motives, desires, and actions do not always align. Moreover, this book illustrates how differences in politics, traditions, histories, ethnicities and beliefs can impact people’s thoughts and actions.This English translated edition also features black and white action packed illustrations at the beginning of each part of the book, a glossary of character names, a list of places and terms, and a note from the author. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit is the first book in a ten book fantasy series. There is also a manga series, and a subtitled and dubbed anime series in English based on the book series. ema

Title: Moribito: Guardian Of The Spirit
Author: Nahoko Uehashi
Illustrator: Yuko Shimizu
Publisher: Scholastic
Copyright: 2009
Original Language: Japanese
Translator: Cathy Hirano
Original Title: Seirei no Moribito
Original Publisher: Kaisei-sha
Original Copyright: 1996
ISBN: 978-0545005432
Paperback pages: 288
Age range: 12 up
Genre: Fantasy
Book setting: Middle Ages Japan
Author’s ethnicity: Japanese
Author’s residence: Japan
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese
Illustrator’s residence: New York
Awards: 1997 Sankei Children’s Book Award, 2009 Batchelder Award, 2009 Beacon Award, 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing
Subjects: Displaced indigenous people, Family, Fantasy, Fathers, Fiction, Friends, Japan, Middle Ages, Monsters, Mothers, Princes, Religious tolerance, Spirits,Traditions, Water Spirits