Author Archives: omnilibros

About omnilibros

Professor of Education Carthage College Kenosha, WI PhD. Children's Literature

How Do You Eat Color?

A boy, a girl, and their chameleon journey through the colors of fruits and vegetables, starting early in the day with leafy greens and moringa. They taste red tomatoes, red beans, and hibiscus. Next, they sample sunshine yellow in pineapple, mango, and cora. A rainbow of colorful fruits and vegetables entices them as they continue their day. White coconut juice, orange carrots, purple yams – their day of colors darkens into the black of sleep. Then, tomorrow is another colorful day. Back matter explains about healthy eating, why we should eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, and how families can eat more colors together. Brilliant, colorful oil on paper illustrations depict dozens of delicious ways to eat something new and delicious.

Title: How Do You Eat Color?
Author: Mabi David
Illustrator: Vas Doctor
Publisher: Eerdmans Book for Young Readers
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: Filipino
Translator: Karen Llagas
Original Title: Paano Kumain ng Kulay
Original Publisher: Adarna House, Inc.
Original Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5638-8
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Philippines
Author’s ethnicity: Filipina
Author’s residence: Philippines
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Filipina
Illustrator’s residence: Manila, Philippines
Subjects: Asia, Chameleons, Colors, Eating, Fruits, Healthy eating, Plants, Rainbows, Vegetables

The Richest Cow In The World

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“The Richest Cow in the World” by Barroux is a charming modern fable that follows a contented cow who enjoys simple pleasures like resting under her apple tree, listening to the wind, and watching clouds drift by. When Pig arrives with an elaborate entrepreneurial scheme—suggesting Cow could sell apples, make pies and applesauce, plant orchards, and eventually build a multinational food empire to become the world’s richest cow—Cow listens patiently to these grand visions of fame and fortune. The story serves as a 21st-century retelling of the classic fisherman parable, exploring timeless questions about what truly brings happiness and contentment in life. Through Cow’s gentle wisdom, readers discover that she already has a much better plan than chasing wealth and expansion, one that values peace and satisfaction over material success. Barroux’s simple, humorous watercolor illustrations in a limited palette perfectly capture the story’s whimsical tone while reinforcing its profound message about money, contentment, and self-respect. mjw

Title: The Richest Cow In The World
Author: Barroux
Illustrator: Barroux
Publisher: Kids Can Press. Toronto
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: French
Original Title: La vache la plus riche du monde
Original Publisher: Les ARenes. Paris
Original Copyright: 2024
ISBN: 978-1-5253-1411-7
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: French
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French
Subjects: Careers, Cows, Fame, Fisherman parable, Fortune, Parables, Pigs

Origin: An Illuminating Look At Indigenous Peoples And Their Connection To The Natural World

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This remarkable book features portraits of over 20 Indigenous communities from five continents, highlighting humanity’s shared origins and our interconnectedness with the planet. Through 22 first-person stories, the book explores diverse Indigenous cultures—including the !Kung, Inuit, Tuareg, Cherokee, Sami, Yanomami, and many others—highlighting their values of reciprocity, solidarity, mutual aid, and respect for nature’s gifts. The book underscores the crucial role Indigenous peoples play as guardians of 80 percent of terrestrial biodiversity and documents their ongoing struggles to defend their territories, languages, and traditional ways of life against encroaching “civilization” and exploitation. Cardozo creates an informative narrative that honors both the past and present of these First Nations while inviting readers to reflect on creating a new unity that reconnects all humanity to the living world. The beautiful illustrations blur the boundaries between humans and their environments, visually reinforcing the book’s central message of interconnectedness and presenting these little-known cultures with stunning artistry that complements the diverse ways of life portrayed. An introduction, a map of lands and territories, and notes with additional information about the peoples round out this impressive work. mjw

Title: Origin: An Illuminating Look At Indigenous Peoples And Their Connection To The Natural World
Author: Nat Cardozo
Illustrator: Nat Cardozo
Publisher: Red Comet Press. Brooklyn
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: Spanish
Translator: Ian Farnes and Layla Benitez-James
Original Title: Origen
Original Publisher: Libros del Zorro Rojo. Spain
Original Copyright: 2023
ISBN: 978-1-63655-155-5
Hardcover pages: 64
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Picture Book, Information Book
Author’s ethnicity: Franco-Uruguayan
Author’s residence: Montevideo, Uruguay
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Franco-Uruguayan
Illustrator’s residence: Montevideo, Uruguay
Subjects: Continents, Cultures, Customs, First Nations, Languages, Traditions

Rez Kid

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This inspiring story captures the complexities of identity and belonging on an Indigenous Peoples’ reservation (rez). The young girl is taunted by the kids while riding on the school bus home. She just wants to get home to the reservation, where she can feel safe. One by one, she tells her mom, nóhkom, moshum, and aunty about what happened, and they all offer advice. She decides to share something from her reservations with the other children. She says that she does beadwork, can ride a horse, and that she eats food straight from the land. She gives them all a piece of bannock and explains that the people she lives with on the rez speak their own language, dance pow-wow, smudge, snare rabbits, and more. She invites them to visit her rez, her home, so that they can see what it’s like. The writing is both lyrical and accessible, drawing readers into this celebration of traditional ways of life and the power of sharing. The vibrant illustrations created with pencil crayon and finished digitally complement the narrative beautifully, enhancing the story’s themes and evoking a deep sense of place. A beautiful author’s note is included. mjw

Title: Rez Kid
Author: Andrea Landry
Illustrator: Isabella Fassler
Publisher: Kids Can Press. Toronto, Canada
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-5253-1125-3
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-7
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Anishinaabe
Author’s residence: Poundmaker Cree Nation, Ontario, Canada
Illustrator’s residence: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Subjects: Ancestors, Canadiana, Culture, Food, Indigenous Peoples, Reservations, Self-esteem, Self-reliance, Tradition

Desert Queen

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This picture book biography tells the true story of Harish Kumar, who, after losing his parents, used his passion for traditional dance and the persona of Queen Harish to support his two sisters. He defied strict gender norms, faced taunts, but ultimately achieved global fame, dancing with Bollywood stars and performing internationally. The gorgeous prose explores themes of gender fluidity, the power of dance and self-expression, overcoming adversity, and finding one’s inner strength. The illustrations are vibrant, kaleidoscopic, and inspired by the desert landscape and traditional artwork of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. The art was created using pen and ink and then painted over with over twenty layers of detail, combining color-blocking, detailing, and textures. An author’s note, an illustrator’s note, and more information about Queen Harish are included.

Title: Desert Queen
Author: Jyoti Rajan Gopal
Illustrator: Svabhu Kohli
Publisher: Levine Quarto
Copyright: 2023
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1646142620
Hardcover pages: 56
Age range: 7-14
Genre: Picture Book, Nonfiction. Biography
Book setting: India
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: New York
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: Goa
Awards: ALA Stonewall Honor
Subjects: Costumes, Dance, Drag performers. Music, Theatre

The Wolves Of Greycoat Hall: Boris In Switzerland

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Boris Greycoat is a friendly, sophisticated young wolf who likes to meet people and try new foods. In this sequel to The Wolves of Greycoat Hall (also on OmniLibros.com), he attends the Institute of International Excellence, a fancy Swiss boarding school, while his parents visit his great aunt. He makes human friends, rides horses, enjoys delicious cakes, and learns to snowboard. But something suspicious at the school leads to an entertaining art mystery to solve. The book is a quick, fun read about wolves and humans living in harmony. The book includes a table of contents; a detailed map of the Institute of Excellence in Switzerland; humorous, illustrated sidebar comments on wolfish behavior and culture; and reproductions of paintings by Degas, Picasso, Munch, Monet, Cezanne, Braque, and Klee alongside their comical wolf counterparts. The brilliant, amusing, crisp pen and ink drawings add to the fun. Lucinda Gifford’s author website offers fun activities to go with the book. mjw

Title: The Wolves Of Greycoat Hall: Boris In Switzerland
Author: Lucinda Gifford
Illustrator: Lucinda Gifford
Publisher: Kane Miller, A division of EDC Publishing
Copyright: 2023
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Walker Books Limited, London
Original Copyright: 2023
ISBN: 978-1-68464-720-0
Paperback pages: 232
Age range: 7-10
Genre: Fiction, Humor, Fantasy
Book setting: Switzerland
Author’s ethnicity: English
Author’s residence: Melbourne, Australia
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English
Illustrator’s residence: Melbourne, Australia
Subjects: Art, Art forgeries, Boarding schools, Cakes, Ghosts, Heroes, Horses, Mystery, Skiing, Snowboarding, Swiss cuisine, Villains, Wolves

Hilwa’s Gifts

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This heartwarming picture book follows a young girl’s journey to discover her cultural heritage through her grandmother’s traditional cooking. The story beautifully captures the intergenerational bond as Hilwa learns to prepare family recipes that connect her to her ancestral homeland. The illustrations, rendered in vibrant watercolors with intricate details, depict the rich textures of Middle Eastern fabrics, the steam rising from aromatic dishes, and the expressive faces of the characters as they share meaningful moments in the kitchen. Throughout the book, the illustrator uses a warm color palette dominated by rich oranges, reds, and golds to evoke the spices central to the narrative and create a sense of comfort and belonging. The final spreads feature stunning double-page illustrations of a family gathering where Hilwa presents her perfected dish, symbolizing how food traditions can preserve cultural identity across generations and distances. mjw

Title: Hilwa’s Gifts
Author: Safa Suleiman
Illustrator: Anait Semirdzhyan
Publisher: Candlewick Press. Somerville, Massachusetts
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-5362-2942-4
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Palestine
Author’s ethnicity: Palestinian American
Author’s residence: Colorado
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Kazakhstan, raised in Armenia
Illustrator’s residence: Seattle
Subjects: Cousins, Farm life, Grandparents, Heritage, Middle East, Multigenerational, Olive harvest, Olive oil, Olives, Picnic, Traditions

Ayo’s Adventure Across The African Diaspora From Afro To Zulu

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Ayo drifts off to sleep and dreams ( in ABC order) about the cultures, celebrations, and places of the African diaspora. He starts with A is for Afro and B is for braids, continues with H is for Hip-Hop and K is for Kente, and finishes with Y is for Yoruba and Z is for Zulu. Country labels, inset boxes, and pronunciation guides appear throughout the book. Backmatter includes a map, information about the diaspora, and extensive fascinating facts about the Black history and culture entries in the story, The brilliant, joyous illustrations were prepared digitally. mjw

Title: Ayo’s Adventure Across The African Diaspora From Afro To Zulu
Author: Ain Heath Drew
Illustrator: Erin K. Robinson
Publisher: Barefoot Books. Concord, Massachusetts
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 979-8-88859-211-3
Hardcover pages: 56
Age range: 5-10
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Africa and the Americas
Author’s residence: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Illustrator’s residence: Nairobi, Kenya and New York City, USA
Subjects: African American, Alphabet Book. Celebrations, Culture, Dance, Diaspora, Diversity, Heritage, Music, Revolutions, Traditions

The Spice Box

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Rishi’s grandmother (Paati) is arriving from India. Rishi wants to help his dad make potato curry using the family’s cherished spice box, a box that holds not just fragrant spices, but also family history and stories passed down through generations. When an accident with the box occurs, Rishi must draw on these treasured memories to set things right. The story highlights South Asian and Tamil cultural elements, such as the use of traditional spices and the term of endearment “Paati”. The vibrant illustrations are digitally rendered. Back matter includes descriptions of spices in a traditional Indian spice box and a recipe for Paati’s Potato Curry.

Title: The Spice Box
Author: Meera Sriram
Illustrator: Sandhya Prabhat
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-503-42713-2
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: South India
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: Berkeley, California
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: California
Awards: 2025 South Asia Book Award for Young Readers winner
Subjects: cooking, Courage, Grandmothers, Intergenerational stories, Love, Resilience

Frank’s Red Hat

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One day, Frank the penguin shows up wearing a red knit hat that stands out in his black-and-white-and gray Antarctic world. The other penguins become very nervous because they have never seen anything red before. Frank convinces his friend Neville to try out the ref hat – it would not be dangerous. But just then, a killer whale leaps from the ocean and eats Neville in one big bite ( the action takes place off the page). Frank tries other hat designs and many different colors to get his penguin friends to don the hats, but they don’t trust a single one. The new colored hats in violet and cyan to apricot and fuchsia stand out on the black-and-white double-page spread. Frank declares, “THAT’S IT, I WILL NOT MAKE ANY MORE HATS!” A seal hears him and asks for a hat. Seals like his hats. In the end, all the seals appear wearing Frank’s brightly-colored hats. His hats still make the penguins nervous, but that doesn’t stop Frank. He comes up with a new idea to bring warmth and wonder to his winter white world – the scarf. This heart-warming, humorous story was illustrated using digital collage techniques and snow brushes.

Title: Frank’s Red Hat
Author: Sean E. Avery
Illustrator: Sean E. Avery
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, Pty Ltd.
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-761600-66-1
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 5-7
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Antarctic Coast
Author’s ethnicity: born in South Africa
Author’s residence: Perth, Western Australia
Illustrator’s ethnicity: born in South Africa
Illustrator’s residence: Perth, Western Australia
Awards: Children’s Book Council of Australia Picture Book of the Year
Subjects: Colors. Hats, Penguins, Seals, Snow, Social themes, Walruses, Whales

The Sleeper Train

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This soothing bedtime story is about a little girl who is spending the night on a sleeper train with her Sikh family. However, she is so excited that she cannot sleep. As the train weaves through various Indian landscapes, she shares memories of places where she has slept, from a camping trip on the beach to her grandparents’ house. Jackson’s prose is lyrical and gentle. The richly detailed pencil and digital illustrations, vibrant and enchanting, complement the text perfectly and are based on the Punjabi and Sikh diaspora experiences. They include traditional Indian attire, hair practices, and visual motifs.

Title: The Sleeper Train
Author: Mick Jackson
Illustrator: Baljinder Kaur
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Walker Books. UK
Original Copyright: 2025
ISBN: 978-1-5362-3898-3
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: India
Author’s ethnicity: English
Author’s residence: Brighton, England
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: London
Subjects: Bedtime books, Memories, Sleep, Trains, Transportation

My Saree

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Divya adores her mother’s lovely sarees. Each one is unique. There are Kancheevaram silks, Bengali cottons, Banarasi brocades, and Rajasthani chiffons. They are parrot green, peacock blue, turmeric yellow, and lotus pink. Divya watches her amma (mother) carefully drape and fold the cloth into a beautiful saree. Divya dreams of the day when she can wear her own saree. Then, at Heritage Night at her school, students are to wear something that celebrates their culture and heritage. Divya is so excited, but her amma says that she has to be older to wear a saree and that she should wear the red silk skirt that her grandmother sent her for her birthday. She is heartbroken, but when Heritage Night arrives, Amma surprises her with a green and blue saree decorated with peacocks that she sewed just for Divya. The vibrant illustrations were created with pencil on paper with digital coloring. An author’s note, an illustrator’s note, and a glossary (with pronunciations) appear as back matter in this gorgeous picture book. mjw

Title: My Saree
Author: Gita Varadarajan
Illustrator: Archana Sreenivasan
Publisher: Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc.
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-338-83414-7
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: Princeton, New Jersey
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: Bangalore, India
Subjects: Culture, Dress, Fabrics, Heritage, Sarees, Self-discovery