This beautifully illustrated book is introduced by King Charles. His call to action for our planet is divided into four sections –Nature, People, Planet, and Terra Carta. The Terra Carta is a plan of action for the Earth created by HRH the Prince of Wales, now King Charles. The text is included in the book. Thirty-three award-winning artists from around the world have contributed wonderful artwork. Profiles of the illustrators are included as back-matter. The story tells how Nature operates and how People have damaged it. Information about the Prince’s Foundation and an index/glossary are also provided. mjw |
| Title: It’s Up To Us: Building A Brighter Future For Nature, People, and Planet Author: Christopher Lloyd Illustrator: 33 artists from around the world Publisher: What On Earth Books Copyright: 2022 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-9137505-6-5 Hardcover pages: 64 Age range: 6-10 Genre: Picture book, Information book, Nonfiction Author’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s ethnicity: 33 illustrators from around the world Subjects: Climate change, Conservation, Earth, Environment, Global community, Green living, Prince of Wales, Recycling, Sustainability. Terra Carta, Values |
Author Archives: omnilibros
Fly
Fourteen-year-old Felix Landon Yarrow – F.L.Y., or Fly has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. He carries around his father’s worn copy of Don Quixote to prove that there is a brain inside his uncooperative body. His first-person narrative in engaging free verse tells of his fascination with knighthood and chivalry. He fears that Carter, the school villain, is a danger to his crush/damsel in distress, Daria. Using his cleverness and invisibility – his superpower – he constructs a plan to save Daria. Fly is a courageous, kind, and funny character on a “quest/ for a noble life.” mjw |
| Title: Fly Author: Alison Hughes Publisher: Kids Can Press Ltd., Toronto Copyright: 2022 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1525-305-832 Hardcover pages: 197 Age range: 10-14 Genre: Fiction, Novel in verse Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Edmonton, Alberta Subjects: Cerebral palsy, Courage, Don Quixote, Free verse, Poetry, Wheelchairs |
The Library Bus
Author Bahram Rahman grew up in Afghanistan during the civil war and Taliban regime of 1996-2001. His story was inspired by the first library bus in Kabul that brought books to girls in remote villages and refugee camps who had no other access to education. Five-year-old Pari is starting her first day as her mother’s helper on the library bus. The girls in the villages and camps are learning English, but Pari cannot even read or write in Farsi yet. She is lucky that she will attend school next year. Her mother had to learn in secret because not long ago, girls were forbidden to read. The captivating watercolor and digital media artwork portrays the girls’ smiling faces, the rich landscape of Afghanistan, and the power of education. Included are notes about refugee camps and the author’s experiences in Kabul. mjw |
| Title: The Library Bus Author: Bahram Rahman Illustrator: Gabrielle Grimard Publisher: Pajama Press. Toronto Copyright: 2020 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77278-101-4 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture book Book setting: Kabul, Afghanistan Author’s ethnicity: born in Kabul, Afghanistan Author’s residence: Ontario, Canada Illustrator’s ethnicity: born in Montreal Illustrator’s residence: Canada Awards: 2021 Governor General’s Literary Award, 2021 Middle East Book Award Winner, 2021 Sout Asian Book Award – Highly recommended book Subjects: Books, Education, Libraries, Homelessness, Middle East, Poverty, Reading, Refugees |
The Mountain
The bear claims that a mountain is a forest full of trees and green things. The sheep says that a mountain is a meadow with flowers, herbs, fresh smells, and buzzing bees. All the animals have their own opinions in this clever story about different perspectives. The detailed artwork is very appealing and magnificent. mjw |
| Title: The Mountain Author: Rebecca Gugger Illustrator: Simon Rothlisberger Publisher: NorthSouth Books, New York Copyright: 2021 Original Language: German Translator: Marshall Yarbrough Original Title: Der Berg Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG. Zurich, Switzerland Original Copyright: 2021 ISBN:978-0-7358-4457-5 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Swiss Author’s residence: Switzerland Illustrator’s ethnicity: Swiss Illustrator’s residence: Switzerland Subjects: Ants, Bears, Chamois. Forests, Octopi, Perspectives, Poin of view, Sheep, Snow hare, Tolerance |
Leilong’s Too Long!
Every morning, Leilong the brontosaurus shuttles through the city, picking up children for school. But he is longer than a tennis court, and he weighs as much as five elephants. He breaks bridges and knocks over houses. He feels awkward in the city. There are so many complaints that the school is forced to take its brontosaurus bus off the road. The children find a way to help Leilong fit in. He becomes the city’s most popular playground. The imaginative cartoon illustrations are rendered in crayon and watercolor and have a child-like quality. This book follows the bestselling Leilong the Library Bus (2021). mjw |
| Title: Leilong’s Too Long Author: Julia Liu Illustrator: Bei Lynn Publisher: Gecko Press. New Zealand Copyright: 2022 Original Language: Chinese Translator: Helen Wang Original Title: Riding A Brontosaurus To School Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-1-77657-433-9 Hardcover pages: 28 Age range: 2-5 Genre: Picture book Author’s ethnicity: Taiwanese Author’s residence: Taiwan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Taiwanese Illustrator’s residence: Taiwan Subjects: Brontosaurus, Bus, Dinosaurs, Imagination, School bus, Transportation |
Born Behind Bars
Nine-year-old, low-caste Kabir was born in jail in Chennai, India, because his mom is serving time for a crime she didn’t commit. He ends up living on the streets when a new warden decides that he is too old to still be living in jail. He meets Rani, a Roma girl, who helps him survive in the harsh, ugly outside world. He eventually finds his grandparents and a helpful lawyer who gets his mother released from jail. This story told through the lens of a young boy is both educating and entertaining. Kabir is brave and optimistic. Like Venkatraman’s other books, A Time To Dance, Climbing The Stairs, and The Bridge Home, this book is unforgettable. mjw |
| Title: Born Behind Bars Author: Padma Venkatraman Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC Copyright: 2021 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0593-11247-2 Hardcover pages: 273 Age range: 10 up Genre: Fiction, Novel Book setting: Chennai, India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: U.S. Awards: 2022 NCSS Notable Books, 2022 South Asia Award Winner Subjects: Homelessness, India, Poverty, Prejudice, Prisoners’ families, School, Street children |
Bandoola: The Great Elephant Rescue
The colored pencil drawings are stunningly beautiful in this incredible true story about war veteran James Howard Williams; Bandoola, a working elephant; and Po Toke, the elephant’s keeper. They work together on a teak plantation in Myanmar (Burma), a country in Southeast Asia that was a colony of the British Empire. When World War II forces them to evacuate their home in the jungle, they lead a group of over 200 refugees and over 50 elephants across mountainous terrain to safety in Assam, India. A table of contents, a map, a wonderfully illustrated glossary, suggestions for further reading, and an author’s note add to this highly educational masterpiece. mjw |
| Title: Bandoola: The Great Elephant Rescue Author: William Grill Illustrator: William Grill Publisher: Flying Eye Books, an imprint of Nobrow Ltd. London Copyright: 2021 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-83874-123-8 Hardcover pages: 88 Age range: 8-14 Genre: Picture Book, Information Book, Nonfiction Book setting: Myanmar and India Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: London Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: London Awards: Author /Illustrator has won the 2015 Kate Greenaway Medal Subjects: Asian history, Burma, Deforestation, Elephants, Green living, Jungle, Logging industry, Monsoons, Mountains, Rainforests, Timber, Timber elephants, World War II |
Last Witnesses (Adapted for Young Adults)
A very helpful Historical Context sets the scene for 65 short personal narratives told by those who were Russian children during World War II and survived terrifying war-time experiences. Nobel Prize-winning Svetlana Alexievich discloses the traumatic memories of children who were separated from their parents, most of them never to be reunited. This is the young adult adaptation of her masterpiece, Last Witness: An Oral History of the Children of WWII. The Russian perspective stories are fascinating as they portray terror, survival, and hope. The book also features a useful glossary. mjw |
| Title: Last Witnesses (Adapted for Young Adults) Author: Svetlana Alexievich Publisher: Penguin Random House LLC Copyright: 2021 Original Language: Russian Translator: Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky Original Title: Last Witnesses: An Oral History Of The Children Of WWII Original Publisher: Molodaya Gvardiya, Moscow Original Copyright: 1985 ISBN: 978-0-593-30853-0 Hardcover pages: 288 Age range: 12-17 Genre: Information book, Nonfiction, Oral history Book setting: Russia Author’s ethnicity: Ukrainian Author’s residence: Soviet Union, Belarus, Western Europe Awards: Author has won the 2015 Nobel Prize for Literature. 2022 NCSS Notable Books Subjects: Childhood, Death, Historical biographies, Hope, Military history, Oral history, Resilience, Survival, Terror, WWII, Young adult |
Bharatanatyam In Ballet Shoes
Paro comes from a dancing family. She dances Bharatanatyam at home with her mother and now she is about to begin ballet lessons. She is worried because the two dance forms are so different. Ballet dances twirl and swirl like fairies and Bharatanatyam dancers move like queens. Paro tries to share the traditional South Asian dance with her new ballet classmates, but they just don’t get it. Paro’s mother comes to class to perform and then everyone loves Bharatanatyam. And Paro learns to dance like a fairy queen. Vibrant illustrations complement this encouraging story about cultural competency. Back matter provides more information about the two dance forms and instructions for making ghungroo, which are both anklets and musical instruments at the same time, an essential part of Bharatanatyam. mjw |
| Title: Bharatanatyam In Ballet Shoes Author: Malak Jain Illustrator: Anu Chouhan Publisher: Annick Press, Toronto Copyright: 2022 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1773216164 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Born in Delhi, India Author’s residence: Toronto, Ontario Illustrator’s ethnicity: Punjabi-Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Vancouver, BC Awards: Author has won the 2017 South Asia Book Award Subjects: Asian, Asian-American, Mother-daughter relationships, Parents, Self-esteem, Self-reliance |
189 Canaries
Yellow canaries sing melodies to the silver miners in the Harz Mountains in Germany. Today, a bird dealer has come to put the canaries into individual wooden cages and take them on a voyage by train and then by steamship across the Atlantic Ocean to bustling New York City. Beautiful mixed media illustrations enhance this fascinating story about the little-known history of the canaries and their lovely melodies. Back matter includes notes on the history of canaries and the ways they were used and transported by humans in the 1800s. In the year 1882 alone, 120,000 canaries were shipped to New York City. A map of their journey is featured on the book’s endpapers. mjw |
| Title: 189 Canaries Author: Dieter Boge Illustrator: Elsa Klever Publisher: Eerdmans Book for Young Readers. Grand Rapids, Michigan Copyright: 2021 Original Language: German Translator: Laura Watkinson Original Title: 189 Original Publisher: Aladin Verlag, an imprint of Thienemann-Esslinger. Stuttgart Original Copyright: 2020 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5574-9 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 6-10 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Germany and United States Author’s ethnicity: German Author’s residence: Germany Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Germany Awards: 2022 USBBY Outstanding International Books List. Author has won the German Youth Literature Prize and has been included in the White Ravens Catalog Subjects: Birds, Canaries, Harz Mountains, Home, Miners, Voyages |
Lena, The Sea, And Me
In this sequel to the OmniLibros post Waffle Hearts (Adventures With Waffles in the U.S.), Trille and Lena are growing up in Mathildewick Cove in Norway, where they have another year of adventures. They hoist Trille’s little sister up a flagpole, sail into a fjord on a flimsy raft, and go caroling during a hurricane. Trille becomes interested in a new girl in town and Lena plays soccer and takes music lessons. There is a smattering of Norwegian culture, which is interesting and lovely. mjw |
| Title: Lena, The Sea, And Me Author: Maria Parr Illustrator: Lara Paulussen Publisher: Candlewick Press. Somerville, Massachusetts Copyright: 2020 Original Language: Norwegian Translator: Guy Puzey Original Title: Keeperen og havet Original Publisher: Det Norske Samlaget. Oslo, Norway Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-1-5562-0772-9 Hardcover pages: 304 Age range: 7-10 Genre: Fiction, Novel Book setting: Norway Author’s ethnicity: Norwegian Author’s residence: Norway Subjects: Best friends, Family life, Grandparents |
When The Sakura Bloom
In winter, people “hustle, bustle; hurry, dash” to work and to school. Little by little the days get longer and warmer. In spring, the Sakura (Japanese cherry) trees begin to bloom. Birds visit the brand new cherry blossoms. The people realize that something is different. They pause. The Sakura blossoms make them happy and everyone enjoys the Sakura Festival. The delicate illustrations perfectly complement the message of the importance of slowing down to appreciate the moment. mjw |
| Title: When The Sakura Bloom Author: Narisa Togo Illustrator: Narisa Togo Publisher: Berbay Publishing, Australia Copyright: 2022 Original Language: Japanese Translator: Michael Sedunary Original Title: Sakura Ga Sakura Original Publisher: Fukuinkan Shoten Publishers, Inc. Tokyo, Japan Original Copyright: 2020 ISBN: 978-0-6489-5331-9 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Japan Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Japan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: Japan Subjects: Cherry blossoms, City life, Festivals, Sakura, Spring, Trees |



Paro comes from a dancing family. She dances Bharatanatyam at home with her mother and now she is about to begin ballet lessons. She is worried because the two dance forms are so different. Ballet dances twirl and swirl like fairies and Bharatanatyam dancers move like queens. Paro tries to share the traditional South Asian dance with her new ballet classmates, but they just don’t get it. Paro’s mother comes to class to perform and then everyone loves Bharatanatyam. And Paro learns to dance like a fairy queen. Vibrant illustrations complement this encouraging story about cultural competency. Back matter provides more information about the two dance forms and instructions for making ghungroo, which are both anklets and musical instruments at the same time, an essential part of Bharatanatyam. mjw
Yellow canaries sing melodies to the silver miners in the Harz Mountains in Germany. Today, a bird dealer has come to put the canaries into individual wooden cages and take them on a voyage by train and then by steamship across the Atlantic Ocean to bustling New York City. Beautiful mixed media illustrations enhance this fascinating story about the little-known history of the canaries and their lovely melodies. Back matter includes notes on the history of canaries and the ways they were used and transported by humans in the 1800s. In the year 1882 alone, 120,000 canaries were shipped to New York City. A map of their journey is featured on the book’s endpapers. mjw