Author Archives: omnilibros

Hello, Crow!

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Franny is a dreamer. Her dad calls her Franny Featherhead. She loves listening to the cries of the birds in the branches outside.  To her, every bug, every leaf, and every petal is shimmering with wonder. She meets a crow that brings her presents in its beak.  Her dad doesn’t believe that she can have a crow as a friend, so she takes him out to her favorite spot to wait for the crow, to prove that they are friends. Information about crows is included in this fun story illustrated with vivid drawings. mjw

Title: Hello, Crow! Author: Candace Savage Illustrator: Chelsea O’Byrne Publisher: Greystone Kids Books Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77164-444-0 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Saskatchewan, Canada Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Vancouver, Canada Subjects: Animal behavior, Birds, Crows, Outdoor activities, Self-esteem

Leila In Saffron

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Leila is a Pakistani-American girl visiting her naani (her maternal grandmother) for dinner.  She has low self-esteem until her naani tells her that the saffron color of her scarf suits her. Leila describes her evening using all of her senses and sees herself as a beautiful girl with a unique identity.  Detailed, colorful gouache illustrations show the colors of lentils, pomegranates, cucumbers, and saffron.  A glossary of Arabic and Hindi words is included. mjw

Title: Leila In Saffron Author: Rukhsanna Guidroz Illustrator: Dinara Mirtalipova Publisher: Salaam Reads, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-534425644 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Persian-Indian and Chinese Author’s residence: Hawaii, U.S. Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan Illustrator’s residence: Ohio, U.S. Subjects: Family origins, Identity, Multigenerational, Muslim fiction, Pakistani-Americans, Self acceptance, Self-discovery

Greyfriars Bobby: A Puppy’s Tale

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Today, visitors to Edinburgh, Scotland, come from all over the world to see Bobby’s statue and to lay flowers and sticks on his grave.  Bobby was the wee faithful Skye Terrier who patrolled Scotland’s streets with local policeman John Gray.  This story tells of Bobby’s early days when he and an orphaned boy named Sandy caught a pickpocket and how he met his master John Gray.  After John Gray died in 1858, the loyal dog lay beside his master’s grave in Greyfriar’s churchyard every day for fourteen years.  A glossary defines Scottish words.  Lively illustrations bring the Victorian streets of Edinburgh to life. mjw

Title: Greyfriar’s Bobby: A Puppy’s Tale Author: Michelle Sloan Illustrator: Elena Bia Publisher: Kelpies, an imprint of Floris Books Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English  ISBN: 978-178250-590-7 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture Book, Historical Fiction Book setting: Edinburgh, Scotland  Author’s ethnicity: Scottish Author’s residence: Brought Ferry, Scotland Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian Illustrator’s residence: Novara, Italy Subjects: Dogs, Loyalty, Policemen, Scottish folklore

Panthera Tigris

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A highly educated scientist whose knowledge is astounding realizes that he knows nothing about Bengal tigers.  He reads every book about tigers that he can find and concludes that he must travel to the Indian jungle to learn more.  After his long journey, he asks a local hunter to be his guide.  He proceeds to tell the guide all he knows about tigers. He doesn’t stop talking and the guide never gets a word in.  When confronted by a magnificent tiger, the guide climbs the nearest tree and the scientist learns that the guide’s practical experience is best.  The tale is inspired by Swami Prajnanpad, a modern Indian guru and philosopher (1891-1974).  Fine lined drawings splashed with greens, browns, and neon orange complement the humorous text.  They include complicated diagrams and anatomical details. mjw

Title: Panthera Tigris Author: Sylvain Alzial Illustrator: Helene Rajcak Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. Grand Rapids, Michigan Copyright: 2019 Original Language: French Translator: Vineet Lal and Sarah Ardizzone Original Title: Panthera Tigris Original Publisher: Rouergue. Paris Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-0-802855299 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: India Author’s ethnicity: Born in Monaco Author’s residence: Paris Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: Paris Subjects: Bengal tigers, Humor, Scientific expeditions

Lubna And Pebble

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Lubna lives with her father and brothers in a world of tents.  Her best friend is a shiny, smooth, gray pebble.  She draws a happy face on it and keeps it warm wrapped in a tea towel in a shoebox.  She tells the pebble about home, the war, and that she loves it.  Soon, a little boy arrives.  At first, he has no words.  He coughs, sneezes, smiles, and says his name is Amir.  Lubna and Amir become friends.  One day, Lubna’s daddy announces that they are leaving because they have found a home.  Lubna feels happy, then sad.  Amir cries. Lubna gives Amir her pebble.  He needs it more than she does.  Larger-than-life, stunning illustrations complement this powerful story. mjw

Title: Lubna And Pebble Author: Wendy Meddour Illustrator: Daniel Egneus Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers. New York Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-052-5554-165 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Middle East Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: England Illustrator’s ethnicity: Swedish Illustrator’s residence: Athens, Greece Awards; 2020 USBBY Outstanding International Books List Subjects: Refugees

The Piano Recital

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It’s Momo’s first piano recital and she is terribly nervous.  She keeps telling herself, “I’ll be okay…” She hears a small voice saying, “I’ll be okay…” She looks down and sees a mouseling who is nervous about her first performance. Momo follows the mouseling backstage to discover a fantastic mouse circus and a mouse audience. Momo agrees to accompany the mouseling on the piano, but when she takes her bow, she realizes it isn’t a mouse audience after all.  This wonderful story about childhood anxiety and challenges is illustrated with beautifully detailed pencil, charcoal, and gouache artwork.  A Spanish edition is also available. mjw

Title: The Piano Recital Author: Akiko Miyakoshi Illustrator: Akiko Miyakoshi Publisher: Kids Can Press, Toronto, Canada Copyright: 2019 Original Language: Japanese: Original Title: Piano Happyoukai Original Publisher: Bronze Publishing, Inc Tokyo Original Copyright: 2012 ISBN: 978-1-5253-0257-2 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Japan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: Japan Awards: New York Public Library best illustrated Children’s Book Award and the Nissan Children’s Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix Subjects: Anxiety, Challenges, Character education. Courage, Imagination, Mice, Performing arts, Piano recital

Girl Under A Red Moon: Growing Up During China’s Cultural Revolution

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This powerful book is the story of Sisi and her younger brother Da whose lives are turned upside down under the rules and regulations of the Chinese Communist takeover.  Sisi had been a model student and was expected to be appointed to the Red Guard, but she was overlooked because her grandfather had been a landowner.  She and Da run away to another school where they have to work.  They find a place in their new school until their principal is also subjected to the cultural retraining.  This beautifully written story covers the struggles and social injustices during a difficult time in Chinese history. mjw

Title: Girl Under A Red Moon: Growing Up During China’s Cultural Revolution Author: Da Chen Publisher: Scholastic Focus, and imprint of Scholastic, Inc. Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-3382-6386-2 Hardcover pages: 208 Age range: 12 up Genre: Historical Fiction (Autobiographical) Book setting: China Author’s ethnicity: Chinese Author’s residence: California, U.S. Subjects: Brithers and sisters, Communism, Cultural Revolution, Families, Political persecution, Siblings

The Dot (The Dot That Couldn’t Sit Still)

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Once upon a time there was a dot in the big broad universe.  One day, it gets tired of sitting still and starts to move around. The dot meets other dots and together they make shapes – squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles.  The shapes realize they can make a house. They are amazed by what they can make if they work together – highrises, the sun, the moon, and even a boy, a girl, and a cat.  The brief text is accompanied by stark black and white drawings with bright red, yellow, and orange accents.  The book is a celebration of creativity. mjw

Title: The Dot Author: Gulnar Hajo Illustrator: Gulnar Hajo Publisher: Darf Children’s Books. London Copyright: 201 Original Language: Arabic Translator: Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp Original Title: Hekayat Nuqta’ala dafter abyadh Original Publisher: Bright Fingers Publishing House. Damascus, Syria Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-1-85077-329-0 Paperback pages: 20 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Syrian Author’s residence: Istanbul Illustrator’s ethnicity: Syrian Illustrator’s residence: Istanbul Subjects: Creativity, Shapes, Universe

The Forest

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This beautiful book is for those who are captivated by a walk in the forest.  The open-ended mystery of what lies beyond the forest is achieved through bold illustrations, embossing, die cuts, and gatefolds.  The elaborate embossed images show first a baby, then a young child, and on through to an old, wrinkled face.  New greenery grows from lines in the landscape.  This stunning work of art is about the adventure of life. mjw

Title: The Forest Author: Riccardo Bozzi Illustrator: Violeta Lopiz and Valerio Vidali Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books, New York Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Italian Translator: Debbie Vidali Original Title: La Foresta Original Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books, New York Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-59270-218-3 Paperback pages: 72 Age range: 10 up Genre: Picture Book, Information Book Author’s ethnicity: Italian Author’s residence: Italy Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish – Lopiz, Italian – Vidali Illustrator’s residence: Ibiza, Spain.  Berlin Awards: A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2018 Subjects: Allegory, Explorers, Forests and forestry, Metaphysical, Natural world, Paper engineering, Toy book

The Eleventh Hour

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Jules and Jim are childhood friends who were born on the same day in the same town in Canada.  Jim is always a little faster and a little stronger.  In 1914, when a war begins in Europe, Canada is at war with Germany.  Jules and Jim understand that their country needs them. So they enlist in the army and sail to Europe.  On the Front, conditions are muddy and barbaric.  Jules is always lagging two minutes behind Jim.  Jim gets a medal, while Jules gets stuck doing chores.  On November 11, 1918, at 11 o’ clock the fighting is supposed to stop.  But on the battlefields, not everyone gets the message.  Jules gets shot at 10:58, two minutes before the war ends.  He is the very last Canadian soldier to die in World War I.  Illustrated in a cartoon style and inspired by true events, this picture book is a thought-provoking parable. mjw

Title: The Eleventh Hour Author: Jacques Goldstyn Illustrator: Jacques Goldstyn Publisher: Owlkids Books. Toronto Copyright: 2018 Original Language: French Translator: Anne Louise Mahoney Original Title: Jules et Jim: freres d’armes Original Publisher: Bayard Canada Livres, Inc. Montreal Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-77147-348-4 Hardcover pages: 64 Age range: 7-10 Genre: Picture Book, Historical fiction Book setting: Canada, Germany Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Montreal Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Montreal Subjects: Armistice, Canadian history, Military fiction, World War I

A Boy And A House

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This wordless book is the story of a boy wandering down dark Grimm Street past interesting street and window scenes.  When he gets to #34 Andersen Street, he sees a cat in an open doorway.  He follows the cat up a stairway where there are discarded drawings on the floor, which he collects.  The sepia-toned watercolor paintings are full of enticing details. The two mice on each page are especially fun.  The boy journeys through the house, drawn forever forward until he reaches a lovely surprise.  Each page in the book is more amazing than the last. mjw

Title: A Boy And A House Author: Maja Kastelic Illustrator: Maja Kastelic Publisher: Annick Press Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Slovenian Original Title: Decek in Hisa Original Publisher: Mladinska Knjiga Zalozba Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-77321-055-1 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Wordless Picture Book Book setting: Slovenian townhouse Author’s ethnicity: Slovenian Author’s residence: Slovenia Illustrator’s ethnicity: Slovenian Illustrator’s residence: Slovenia Awards: White Ravens List Subjects: Cats, Companionship, Discovery, Houses, Stories without words, Surprises

Milky Way

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In the remote mountains of Ladakh in India, Tashi is worried about his friend the roly-poly moon.  The moon always gives him “a special smile-eyes closed and no teeth showing,” But every night, the moon gets smaller and smaller until it eventually disappears.  Tashi thinks this is because the moon doesn’t get enough milk to drink.  So Tashi leaves a tall glass of milk on the window sill every night for the moon, and little by little the moon gets its full round shape back with its special smile.  Tashi’s grandma explains the phases of the moon.  Bold, colorful illustrations enhance the fun story.  A glossary of Ladakhi words and a note about Ladakh is included.  A lesson plan can be downloaded from the Yali Books website. mjw

Title: Milky Way Author: Mamta Nainy Illustrator: Siddhartha Tripathi Publisher: Yali Books.  New York Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-9890615-6-8 Hardcover pages: 44 Age range: 4-6 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Ladakh, India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: New Delhi Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: Ahmedabad Subjects: Buddhism, Culture, Himalayas, Moon, Tibet