Author Archives: omnilibros

Brother’s Keeper

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Twelve-year-old Sora and her family live in Communist North Korea in 1950. War is coming and they need to escape.  The family plans to walk the 300 miles from their village to the South Korean city of Busan.  There is a bombing and Sora and her eight-year-old brother Youngsoo are left to get there on their own. It’s winter, and they have to face enemy soldiers, starvation, frostbite, deprivation, and other hardships as they struggle to complete their journey.  This highly engrossing story is loosely based on the author’s mother’s experiences. An author’s note, photographs of the author’s family, a glossary of Korean words, a timeline of the Korean War, and a map of Sora’s journey are included. mjw

Title: Brother’s Keeper Author: Julie Lee Publisher: Holiday House. New York Copyright: 2020 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0823444946 Hardcover pages: 320 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: Korea Author’s ethnicity: Korean Author’s residence: U.S. Subjects: Asia, Communism, History, Korean War, Military action, North Korea, Refugees,  Siblings, South Korea, War zone, Winter

One World Many Colors

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“We share one world. We share many colors.” This beautiful book explores the world and its vibrant colors. White shines and sparkles in the deserts of Oman, in icy Antarctica, and in sunny Australia. Pink blooms and brightens in the blossoms of Japan, in a Paris bakery, and in the flamingos in Kenya. Other colors can be found all over the world. A map of the journey is included that highlights all the locations and objects seen. Color words are given in seven different languages. The vivid illustrations are loaded with small details that are fun to find. A note from the author explains about colors and that we all share the same world – a world we should cherish. mjw

Title: One World Many Colors Author: Ben Lerwill Illustrator: Alette Straathof Publisher: Quarto Publishing, plc Copyright: 2020 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-7112-4983-7 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-7 Genre: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Information Book Book setting: The world Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Oxfordshire, England Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: Paris, France Subjects: Cities, Colors, Cultures, Fauna, Flora, Nature, Rural, Travel books, World

Priya Dreams Of Marigolds And Masala

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Young Priya and her family live in a house in a small city in the United States. It’s the only house on the street with an Indian family. As Priya’s Ba (grandmother) is cooking dinner, Priya asks, “What is India like?” Ba, in her colorful sari, describes special spices, beautiful fabrics, architecture, monsoons, strings of marigolds, and more. At school the next day, Priya tells about India and makes paper marigolds. Her classmates join her and make a long garland of marigolds for Priya’s Ba. “Sharing India with others is the best way to carry it with you.” The vibrant illustrations give readers a look into Indian life. Back matter includes information on meanings, definitions, and pronunciations. An author’s note provides even more information. mjw

Title: Priya Dreams Of Marigolds And Masala Author: Meenal Patel Illustrator: Meenal Patel Publisher: Beaver’s Pond Press, Inc. Edina, MN. USA Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-64343-955-6 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: U.S. Author’s ethnicity: Born in the U.S.. Family from Gujarat, India Author’s residence: U.S. Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in the U.S.. Family from Gujarat, India Illustrator’s residence: U.S. Awards: 2020 South Asia Book Award. Grade K-2 Subjects: Asia, Flowers, Grandmothers, Multigenerational family life, Tradition

Forward Me Back To You

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Katina King is a biracial teen with a White single mom. She attends an elite private high school in northern California and is a jiu-jitsu champion. After a sexual assault at her school that she is traumatized by, her mom sends her to Boston to heal with her Grandma Vee. Robin Thorton is eighteen. He was adopted by a wealthy White family in Boston, from an orphanage in India. Kat and Robin meet at the church both Robin and Grandma Vee attend. Both teens are dealing with heavy inner turmoil. They sign up for a summer service trip to Kolkata to work with survivors of human trafficking. A dual narrative depicts Kat’s and Robin’s individual points of view in this timely, unique novel with diverse characters about cross-cultural service. mjw

Title: Forward Me Back To You Author: Mitali Perkins Publisher: Farra Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers. New York Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-374304928 Hardcover pages: 432 Age range: 14 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Kolkata, India and Boston, MA Author’s ethnicity: Born in Kolkata, India Author’s residence: California Awards: 2020 South Asian Book Award Grade 9 up Subjects: Activism, Adoption, Christian fiction, Global awareness, Jiu-jitsu, Human trafficking, Physical and emotional abuse, Religion, Service, Sexual assault, Social justice, Violence, Volunteerism

Ida And The World Beyond Mount Kaiserzipf

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As a young girl in Vienna in 1802, Ida’s head is full of adventures.  She dreams of being a research scientist and going to the jungle to study unknown species of butterflies. Her mother thinks that this isn’t proper for girls. Ida should stay home and become a perfect young lady. Time passes and she marries and has children, but never loses sight of her dream.  After her children grow up, she packs her suitcase and journeys for months all over the world. She lands on an island that is full of mysteries.  She publishes a book about her travels and becomes the first woman to travel around the world alone and without financial support. Illustrations of bold colors and shapes enhance Ida’s story. Back matter gives more information about Ida Pfeiffer. mjw

Title: Ida And The World Beyond Mount Kaiserzipf Author: Linda Schwalbe Illustrator: Linda Schwalbe Publisher: NorthSouth Books, Inc., New York Copyright: 2020 Original Language: German Translator: David Henry Wilson Original Title: Ida und die Welt hinterm Kaiserzipf Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG. Zurich Original Copyright: 2020 ISBN: 978-0-7358-4420-9 Hardcover pages: 64 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Biography Book setting: Vienna and around the world Author’s ethnicity: German Author’s residence: Leipzig Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Leipzig Subjects: Explorers, Vienna, World

My Bison

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A little girl becomes friends with a bison. She brings it food that she makes. She misses it when it has to move away from the warm weather. She knows that it will return when the snow comes again.  They settle by the fire and she tells it stories as they drink cocoa. She loves it completely.  Year after year, the bison returns. They both grow older until one winter, the bison doesn’t come back. The girl, now grown up, knows that the bison will always be with her. Charcoal and ink illustrations, enriched with blue watercolor, enhance this gentle story. mjw

Title: My Bison Author: Gaya Wisniewski Illustrator: Gaya Wisniewski Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press. Hudson, New York Copyright: 2020 Original Language: French Original Title: Mon Bison Original Publisher: Editions MeMo Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-61689-886-1 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Belgian Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: Belgian Illustrator’s residence: France Subjects: Bison, Healing, Loss, Love, Passage of time

Hans Christian Andersen: The Journey Of His Life

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Through a magical conversation with a young girl in a horse-drawn carriage, Hans Christian Andersen tells his life story. “The most wonderful fairytale is life itself.” He was a cobbler’s son who left his town in Denmark, with thirteen coins in his pocket, to go to Copenhagen to seek his fortune. He wanted to be an actor or a dancer, but things did not work out for him. What he really enjoyed was writing. A sheet of paper became his stage. He wrote poems, stories, fairytales, and plays. He traveled around the country meeting people who loved the theatre – people like himself. Hans goes on to tell the girl some of his stories, such as The Flying Trunk, Thumbelina, The Princess and the Pea, The Ugly Duckling, Clumsy Hans, The Emperor’s New Clothes, and The Snow Queen. The sumptuous illustrations use graphic novel elements to tell the story. In the illustrations, there are references to well-known authors of children’s books and some famous children’s book characters, like The Little Prince, Pinocchio, and more. An author’s note tells more about Hans Christian Andersen’s life. mjw

Title: Hans Christian Andersen: The Journey Of His Life Author: Heinz Janisch Illustrator: Maja Kastelic Publisher: NorthSouth Books, Inc., New York Copyright: 2020 Original Language: German Translator: David Henry Wilson Original Title: Hans Christian Andersen: Die Reise seines Lebens Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG> Zurich, Switzerland Original Copyright: 2020 ISBN: 978-0-7358-4388-2 Hardcover pages: 56 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Biography Book setting: Denmark Author’s ethnicity: Austrian Author’s residence: Vienna Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Slovenia Awards: White Ravens Award – Illustrator, Janisch has won the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award Subjects: Biography, Denmark, European history, Fairytales, Literary biography

Welcome To Nowhere

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Twelve-year-old Omar lives in Bosra, Syria with his family.  He dreams of being a businessman and his sister wants to be a teacher. Their hopes are shattered when  war breaks out. The family is forced to flee Syria by foot to get to Jordan. This is a moving and sensitive novel with lovable characters. A Letter from the Author provides more information about the war in Syria. Also included is a section What Can You DoTo Help? that tells about the Hope School in Jordan. mjw

Title: Welcome To Nowhere Author: Elizabeth Laird Illustrator: Lucy Eldridge Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books Copyright: 22017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-5098-44047-2 Paperback pages: 329 Age range: 9-11 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Syria, Jordan Author’s ethnicity: Born in new Zealand of Scottish parents Author’s residence: Britain Awards: Winner of the UKLA Book Award Subjects: Cerebral Palsy, Homelessness, Middle East, Poverty, Refugees, Syria

We Kiss Them With Rain

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Fourteen-year-old, pregnant by rape, Mvelo lives with abuse, poverty, and disease in South Africa, and her mother has died of HIV/AIDS. She finds resources and hope in unlikely benefactors. Wonderful characters make Mvelo’s story a joy to read. An Afterword tells of the inspiration for the novel. A Q&A with the author section offers more insight and a list of Discussion Questions would make this a thought-provoking read for high school students. mjw

Title: We Kiss Them With Rain Author: Futhi Ntshingila Publisher: Catalyst Press. Livermore, California Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-946395-04-7 Paperback pages: 160 Age range: 14 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Durban, South Africa Author’s ethnicity: Born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Author’s residence: Pretoria, South Africa Subjects: Africa, AIDS, Coming of age, Generations, Poverty, Sexual abuse, Women’s sagas

Brown

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Three bullies – Anton, Ruben, and the minister’s son – destroy the fort that young Rusty and his friend Jack have constructed from scrap.  Dressed in a brown cape and mask, Rusty, as super hero “Brown”, sneaks out at night to paint Ruben’s bicycle brown. Jack becomes “Black” who paints Anton’s bike black. Another friend Lou, as “Blue” joins them, only to discover that most of their stash of blue paint has disappeared. They still manage to paint all three bikes blue. Rusty feels guilty, but does not get into trouble because the three bullies have written rude words in blue on the church’s spire. This is the first book to be translated from the award-winning trilogy My Alter Ego Is A Superhero series from Norway.  It has been translated into more than thirty languages. Fine-lined ink drawings with washes of color add humor to this fun story. mjw

Title: Brown Author: Hakon Ovreas Illustrator: Oyvind Torseter Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books, New York Copyright: 2019 Original Language: Norwegian Translator: Kari Dickson Original Title: Brune Original Publisher: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag AS Original Copyright: 2013 ISBN: 978-1-59270-212-1 Hardcover pages: 136 Age range: 6-10 Genre: Fiction Author’s ethnicity: Norwegian Author’s residence: Norway Illustrator’s ethnicity: Norwegian Illustrator’s residence: Norway Awards: 2020 ALA Mildred Batchelder Award, Norwegian Ministry of Culture’s Literature Prize Subjects: Grandfathers, Superheroes

The Pencil

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Based on the author’s childhood memories of growing up in an iglu, this story is about being responsible for belongings and community.  Susan, her sister Rebecca, and brother Peter are home with their father in their iglu. Mother has gone to help a neighbor.  The children get tired of playing games. Father brings out a pencil from the box where they keep special things. All of the children begin drawing and drawing until they start to worry about what Mother will say when she gets home. They are supposed to use things wisely. Mother just reminds them that they shouldn’t waste things because they are hard to get. They only have one pencil. But she is glad that drawing brought them such joy. The illustrations have a sketch-like quality and are done in pencil. mjw

Title: The Pencil Author: Susan Avingaq and Maren Vsetula Illustrator: Charlene Chua Publisher: Inhabit Media Inc. Iqaluit, Nunavut Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77227-216-1 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 5-7 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Nunavut, Canada Author’s ethnicity: Avinngaq born in Nunavut Author’s residence: Both authors – Nunavut Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Hamilton, Ontario Subjects: Canada, Community, Drawing, Iglu, Inaktitut, Polar regions, Thrift, Writing

When Spring Comes To The DMZ

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The beautiful paintings in this book show the changing seasons and the variety of wildlife that live peacefully in the Demilitarized Zone of Korea. Readers can also see the ever-present fences and soldiers. Salmon swim bravely upstream and mountain goats jump after their mother.  Grandfather goes to the DMZ every season and dreams of flinging the gates wide open and walking inside and looking up into the blue sky. The book is part of the Peace Picture Book Project by illustrators from Korea, China, and Japan. A map of Korea and historical facts are included as back matter and the endpapers provide a world map. mjw

Title: When Spring Comes To The DMZ Author: Uk-Bae Lee Illustrator: Uk-Bae Lee Publisher: Plough Publishing House. New York Copyright: 2019 Original Language: Korean Translator: Aileen Won Original Title: Bimujang chidae e bom i omyon Original Publisher: Sakyejul Publishing Ltd. Paju, Korea Original Copyright: 2010 ISBN: 978-0-87486-972-9 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book, Historical Fiction Book setting: Korea Author’s ethnicity: Korean Author’s residence: Korea Illustrator’s ethnicity: Korean Illustrator’s residence: Korea Awards: 2020 ALA Mildred Batchelder Honor Award Subjects: Grandfathers, Korean Demilitarized Zone, Seasons, Soldiers