Author Archives: omnilibros

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About omnilibros

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

The Boy Behind The Wardrobe: How C.S. Lewis Grew Up To Create Narnia

This inspiring picture-book biography captures the imaginative and sometimes painful childhood of C.S. Lewis. It beautifully connects Lewis’s early losses, boarding school struggles, and close friendships to the ultimate creation of Narnia. The warm, whimsical illustrations, created with graphite pencil and Procreate, perfectly evoke a sense of nostalgic wonder and anchor the emotional depth of the story. By highlighting how real-world hardships can fuel creative storytelling, the book serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of imagination. It is an enchanting read for young fans eager to discover the real-life magic behind the world of Narnia. Included are an author’s note, an illustrator’s note, a timeline of Lewis’s life, suggestions for further reading, and recommended resources. 

Title: The Boy Behind The Wardrobe: How C.S. Lewis Grew Up To Create Narnia
Author: Suzanne Poulter Harris
Illustrator
: Mia Miroslavova
Publisher
: Eerdmans Book for Young Readers
Copyright
: 2026
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0-8028-5616-9
Hardcover pages
: 56
Age range
: 6-12
Genre
: Picture book, Biography
Book setting
: Ireland, England
Author’s ethnicity
: Irish
Author’s residence
: Washington, DC
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Bulgarian
Illustrator’s residence
: England
Subjects
: Biography, Books, Boxen, Imagination, J.R.R. Tolkien, Narnia, Reading, Wardrobe

People Are Weird

Written from the perspective of an inquisitive child going about an average day, this delightful book explores the many strange habits, fears, and eccentric outfits of the diverse, multigenerational humans around him. It delivers a lighthearted and comforting message: it is entirely normal to be weird, and it might even be weird to be normal. The bold, vibrant, and quirky mixed-media illustrations were rendered with various dry media, watercolor, and wet charcoal digital brushes.

Title: People Are Weird
Author: Victor D.O. Santos
Illustrator
: Catorina Sobral
Publisher
: Milky Way Picture Books. Canada
Copyright
: 2025
Original Language
: Portuguese
ISBN
: 978-1990252488
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 5-8
Genre
: Picture book
Author’s ethnicity
: Brazilian-American
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Portuguese
Illustrator’s residence
: Lisbon, Portugal
Awards
: White Ravens Catalog
Subjects
: Emotions, Feelings, Humor, Self-esteem, Urban world

Blue Sky Morning

Eunny and her mama walk to school and notice the beauty of the world around them. It’s bright, and the air feels cool and fresh. They notice the pink flowers, the beautiful blue sky, and the orange-red-yellow leaves. They are ready for the day ahead. The highly detailed, soft illustrations were rendered in watercolor, pencil, and colored pencil – perfect for a lovely morning.
Title: Blue Sky Morning
Author: Kim Jihyun
Illustrator
: Kim Jihyun
Publisher
: Floris Books
Copyright
: 2025
Original Language
: Korean
Original Title
: An Autumn Morning
Original Publisher
: Wisdom House, Inc., Seoul, Korea
Original Copyright
: 2020
ISBN
: 978-178250-908-0
Hardcover pages
: 36
Age range
: 4-7
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: Seongbuk-dong, Seoul
Author’s ethnicity
: South Korean
Author’s residence
: Seoul
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: South Korean
Illustrator’s residence
: Seoul
Subjects
: Asia, Autumn, Beauty, Emotions, Feelings, Mindfulness, Multigeneratiional, Morning

Wind: Discovering Air In Motion

wind
This question-and-answer book features a young girl and her grandfather exploring the wind’s role in world history and earth science. Topics include: Where does the wind come from? What are the different types of wind? How does the wind help plants and animals? How has the wind affected history? What are ways we harness the power of wind? The answers offer many vocabulary words clearly explained. The richly textured double-page spreads were created with acrylic, collage, and digital media. They are breathtaking. mjw
Title: Wind: Discovering Air In Motion
Author: Olga Fadeeva
Illustrator
: Olga Fadeeva
Publisher
: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Copyright
: 2023
Original Language
: Russian
Translator
: Lena Traer
Original Title
: Bemep
Original Publisher
: Rech
Original Copyright
: 2020
ISBN
: 978-0-8028-5599-2
Hardcover pages
: 48
Age range
: 7-11
Genre
: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Information Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Russian
Author’s residence
: St. Petersburg, Russia
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Russian
Illustrator’s residence
: St. Petersburg, Russia
Subjects
: Air, Earth Science, Ecology, History, Meteorology, Nature, Science, STEAM, Weather

The Hunt For The Nightingale

Ten-year-old Jasper is waiting for his beloved nightingale to return to his garden to sing. He is also waiting for his sister, who has been away at college. His parents are sad and preoccupied and are not paying him much attention. So, Jasper sets out alone with his backpack, his Book of Birds, survival tools, and his courage, on a walk to find them both. On his way, he meets new friends who are also searching for lost things, discovers nature, learns to handle his loss and grief, and finds his way again. Thirty-eight wondrous bird facts are sprinkled throughout the book. Black-and-white sketches of birds further enhance this moving story. The endpapers depict all of the birds mentioned by Jasper on his journey.
Title: The Hunt For The Nightingale
Author: Sarah Ann Juckes
Illustrator
: Sharon King-Chai
Publisher
: Kane Miller
Copyright
: 2024
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-68464-947-1
Paperback pages
: 272
Age range
: 9 up
Genre
: Fiction
Book setting
: England
Author’s ethnicity
: English
Author’s residence
: East Sussex, England
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Australian
Illustrator’s residence
: London
Subjects
: Anxiety disorder, Bereavement, Birds, Death, Grief, Hope, Loss, Maps, Wilderness

One Day: A True Story Of Survival In The Holocaust

This rare story of survival during the Holocaust is based on the real-life account of Eugene Handschub and his father, who were Jews in Paris under Nazi occupation. They escaped from a convoy headed to Auschwitz. The story is told in concise language that children will understand. The somber ink, charcoal, and pencil illustrations in grays and browns reflect the sadness and honesty of the story. mjw
Title: One Day: A True Story Of Survival In The Holocaust
Author: Michael Rosen
Illustrator
: Benjamin Phillips
Publisher
: Candlewick Studio
Copyright
: 2025
Original Language
: English
Original Publisher
: Walker Books Ltd.
Original Copyright
: 2025
ISBN
: 978-1-5362-3894-5
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 7-10
Genre
: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Information Book
Book setting
: Paris, France
Author’s ethnicity
: English
Author’s residence
: London
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: English
Illustrator’s residence
: Hastings, England
Awards
: Author – UK Children’s Laureate, 2007-2009
Subjects
: Concentration Camps, Deportations, Deportation trains, Holocaust, Nazis, Prison camps

My Home Is In My Backpack

Inspired by real-life refugee stories from Venezuela, this powerful picture book tells the story of Clara, a young girl who becomes a refugee and must leave everything behind. The book follows her difficult journey as she and her family walk long distances each day, sometimes talking and joking, other times hiding in silence for safety. At night in their tent village, Clara connects with other displaced children who share stories about their own “special homes”—the precious memories and items that bring them comfort in the darkness. The story explores themes of forced migration, resilience, and hope through a child’s perspective, showing how refugees carry pieces of home in their hearts even when they’ve lost everything material. The sensitive illustrations are drawn with a graphite pencil on heavy watercolor paper and hand-colored using digital methods. They help young readers visualize both the hardships of displacement and the enduring power of hope and human connection. An author’s note is included. mjw

Title: My Home Is In My Backpack
Author: Eugenia Perrella
Illustrator
: Angela Salerno
Publisher
: Floris Books. Edinburgh, Scotland
Copyright
: 2025
Original Language
: Spanish
Translator
: Sally Polson
Original Title
: Mi casa especial
Original Publisher
: Editorial Amanuta Limitada. Santiago, Chile
Original Copyright
: 2023
ISBN
: 978-178250-925-7
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 4-7
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: Venezuela
Author’s ethnicity
: Argentine
Author’s residence
: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Argentine
Illustrator’s residence
: Valencia, Spain
Subjects
: Community, Drawings, Force migration, Journeys, Refugees

My Friend The Paintbrush: The Colorful World Of Marcus Pfister

Marcus Pfister, creator of the internationally bestselling Rainbow Fish series, uses rhyming, artistic, and self-referential narratives to explore creativity and to celebrate the paintbrush as a tool for artistic expression. The illustrations, created with watercolor, acrylic, water-soluble felt-tip pen, pencil, chalk pastel, Indian ink, and gouache, are bright, whimsical, and richly textured, with vivid colors and expressive characters. The book serves as an “homage to all things art,” encouraging readers to explore their own creativity. Backmatter includes a retrospective of Pfister’s work and offers inspiration for his many backlist titles and his creative techniques.
Title: My Friend The Paintb: The Colorful World Of Marcus Pfister
Author: Marcus Pfister
Illustrator
: Marcus Pfister
Publisher
: North South Books, Inc., New York
Copyright
: 2026
Original Language
: German
Translator
: David Henry Wilson
Original Title
: Jedem seinen Pinsel!
Original Publisher
: NordSud Verlag AG. Zurich, Switzerland
Original Copyright
: 2023
ISBN
: 978-0-7358-4594-7
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 4-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Swiss
Author’s residence
: Bern, Switzerland
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Swiss
Illustrator’s residence
: Bern, Switzerland
Subjects
: Artists, Art styles, Books, Color, Creativity, Paintings, Paintbrushes, Picture books, Reading, Rhymes, The Rainbow Fish

The Cariboo Trek Of Callum McBay

The Cariboo Trek of Callum McBay follows the 1862 journey of seventeen-year-old Callum McBay as he embarks on a perilous trek through the Cariboo region of British Columbia during the gold rush, hoping to save his family’s farm in Scotland from foreclosure. Along the way, he faces challenges that test his resilience and character, while also forming bonds with fellow travelers. The writing style is vivid and immersive, capturing the harsh realities of the landscape and the emotional depth of its characters. An author’s note, a map of Callum’s trek, and a historical note are included.
Title: The Cariboo Trek Of Callum McBay
Author: Colin Campbell
Publisher
: Tradewind Books. Vancouver
Copyright
: 2025
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-19905-98364
Paperback pages
: 138
Age range
: 12-17
Genre
: Historical Fiction
Book setting
: Scotland, British Columbia
Author’s ethnicity
: from Scotland
Author’s residence
: Vancouver, BC
Subjects
: Camels, Canadiana, Caribou, Environmental destruction, Fortune, Gold Rush, Indians, Indigenous Peoples, Prospectors

Mama’s Special Wonton Soup

This delightful story will remind readers of the classic book, Stone Soup. Mama needs ingredients for her soup, and she sends her daughter to the market. Along the way, the girl meets villagers and relatives who offer her radishes, shrimp, persimmons, and ginkgo nuts.  She returns home from the market with meat and the extra ingredients the others have shared. They now have more food than they could possibly eat. So, they invite all the contributors to come share a steaming bowl of wonton soup together. The illustrations are charming and colorful, beautifully complementing the story and bringing the characters to life. Overall, this book is a celebration of cooking, culture, and the joy of sharing meals.
Title: Mama’s Special Wonton Soup
Author: Wai Mei Wong
Illustrator
: Xin Yue Zhu
Publisher
: Lantana Publishing Ltd., UK
Copyright
: 2025
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-83629-018-6
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 4-9
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: Southern China
Author’s ethnicity
: Chinese
Author’s residence
: Canada
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Chinese
Illustrator’s residence
: UK
Subjects
: Cooking, Rural life, Sharing, Wonton soup

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

“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