Author Archives: omnilibros

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About omnilibros

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

The Breadwinner

 

Eleven-year-old Parvana lives with her family in one room of a bombed out apartment building in Kabul, Afghanistan.  Her father is a history teacher.  He is arrested by the Taliban for having a foreign education and put in prison. This leaves the family without anyone who can earn money and buy food, since according to Taliban rules, women cannot go out on their own.  Parvana cuts her hair and wears boys’ clothes so that she can become the family’s breadwinner.  This is the fifteenth anniversary edition of the four-volume story. It includes a new forward by the author, a new map, and a glossary.  There is also an animated, award-winning movie and a graphic novel based on this inspiring novel. mjw
Title: The Breadwinner
Author: Deborah Ellis
Publisher
: Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press. Toronto
Copyright
: 2015
Original Language
: English
Original Publisher
: Groundwood Books
Original Copyright
: 2000
ISBN
: 978-1-55498-767-8
Paperback pages
: 176
Age range
: 10-14
Genre
: Fiction
Book setting
: Afghanistan
Author’s ethnicity
: Canadian
Author’s residence
: Ontario
Awards: Middle East Book Award
Subjects
: Afghanistan, Girls and women, Taliban. Refugees

The Pruwahaha Monster

the-pruwahaha-monsterA five-year-old boy goes with his father to swing on a swing near a farmhouse. The little boy does not know that a huge monster that likes to eat children lurks near the farmhouse. When the monster wakes up, spies the little boy on the swing, and roars “prruwwwahhahahaha,” the little boy just laughs. Two-color playful illustrations with clues never really reveal who the “monster” is. Rhythmic language and monster sounds will delight young readers. mjw
Title: The Pruwahaha Monster
Author: Jean-Paul Mulders
Illustrator
: Jacques Maes and Lise Braekers
Publisher
: Kids Can Press
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: Dutch
Translator
: English version edited by Yvette Ghione
Original Title
: Het prullala monster
Original Publisher
: Abimo Uitgeverij, Belgium
Original Copyright
: 2014
ISBN
: 978-1-77138-566-4
Hardcover pages
: 26
Age range
: 5-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Flemish
Author’s residence
: Belgium
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Flemish
Illustrator’s residence
: Belgium
Subjects
: Fathers and sons, Monsters, Mystery, Seasons

The Fishing Lesson

 

A camera-wielding tourist wakes a fisherman who is napping in his boat.  He points out that if the fisherman went out more, he could catch more fish.  That would allow him to buy a proper motorboat.  He could then hire help, find the best fish, open a restaurant, and eventually relax in the harbor and nap in the sunshine.  The fisherman replies that is “exactly what he was doing just now.” He has his own ideas about what success looks like.  Funny, comic-like illustrations use panels in this adaptation of Boll’s fable about not letting work overtake one’s life. mjw
Title: The Fishing Lesson
AuthorHeinrich  Boll (1917-1985)
Illustrator
: Emile Bravo
Publisher
: Eerdmans Books For Young Readers
Copyright
: 2018
Original Language
: German
Translator
: Bernard Friot
Original Title
: Anekdote zur Senkung der Arbeitsmoral
Original Publisher
: Verlag Kiepenheur & Witsch GmBH & Co. KG. Cologne, Germany
Original Copyright
: 1963
ISBN
: 978-0-8028-5503-9
Hardcover pages
: 44
Age range
: 5 up
Genre
: Picture Book, Graphic Novel
Author’s ethnicity
: German
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: French
Illustrator’s residence
: France
Awards
: Author has won the 1972 Nobel Prize for Literature 
Subjects
: Contentment, Fishing

Boat Of Dreams

 

This enigmatic 80-page wordless story bridges picture book and graphic novel territory as it tells of the encounter between an old man in a rundown seaside cottage and a child in a far off city. The man discovers a note in a bottle, which inspires him to draw a fantastic flying machine. He sends his drawing back to the sea. In the city, the boy finds the drawing in an envelope outside his home. He draws himself and his cat into the picture and then dreams he is sailing on the ship to meet the man. They embrace, the boy hands the man the envelope, and he flies off. Sharp-angled Expressionist drawings in sepia and blue invite multiple interpretations of the imaginative tale.mjw
Title: Boat Of Dreams
Author: Rogerio Coelho
Illustrator
: Rogeriio Coelho
Publisher
: Tilbury House Publishers
Copyright
: 2017 
Original Publisher
: Editora Positivo Ltda, Brazil
Original Copyright
: 2015
ISBN
: 978-9-88448-528-5
Hardcover pages
: 80
Age range
: 7-10
Genre
: Picture Book, Graphic Novel
Author’s ethnicity
: Brazilian
Author’s residence
: Brazil
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Brazilian
Illustrator’s residence
: Brazil
Awards
: 2017 New York Public Library Best Books for Kids List.  Brazil’s 22015 Jabuti Award for Best Children’s Illustrations
Subjects
: Birds, Boats and boating, Boys, Dreams, Imagination, Magical realism, Ocean bottles, Older men, Steampunk, Stories without words, Voyages

Crescent Moons And Pointed Minarets: A Muslim Book Of Shapes

 

This informative shape-concept book captures the vibrant world of Islam. A rectangle is the mosque’s carved wooden door. A cube is the Kaaba where Muslims worship. A square is an orange garden. Many more shapes celebrate the traditions of the narrator’s faith. The short, rhyming text is supplemented by beautiful mixed media illustrations that are influenced by Islamic art. A glossary with pronunciations and an author’s note complete this introduction to the culture and religion. mjw
Title: Crescent Moons And Pointed Minarets: A Muslim Book Of Shapes
Author: Hena Khan
Illustrator
: Mehrdokht Amini
Publisher
: Chronicle Books, San Francisco
Copyright
: 2018
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1452155410
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 3-6
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: Muslim countries
Author’s ethnicity
: Pakistani-American
Author’s residence
: U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Grew up in Iran
Illustrator’s residence
: Surrey, England
Subjects
: Customs, Geography, Islam, Muslims, Shapes, Stories in rhyme

Amal Unbound

 

Twelve-year-old Amal lives in a poor Pakistani village and dreams of being a teacher. As the eldest daughter, she has to stay home from school to take care of her younger sisters while her mother is bedridden. After an accidental run-in with the son of the corrupt village landlord, she is taken from her home to the opulent Khan estate where she becomes an indentured servant. Her chances of returning home are slim as she learns just how powerful the Khan family is. Amal’s bravery and resilience help her to persevere. mjw
Title: Amal Unbound
Author: Aisha Saeed
Publisher
: Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group
Copyright
: 2018
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0399544682
Hardcover pages
: 240
Age range
: 10 up
Genre
: Fiction
Book setting
: Pakistan
Author’s ethnicity
: Pakistani-American
Author’s residence
: U.S.
Subjects
: Courage, Family life, Indentured servants, Middle East

Daytime Visions : An Alphabet

daytime visionsThis surrealistic alphabet book consists of letters, written in upper and lower case, manuscript, and cursive and a series of unconnected phrases. Some make sense (D shows a downpour and K is a kiwi), but many are obscure (X is for “XX chromosome and I am expanding” and R shows two birds – “never meant to be rude.”) This is not a book for teaching the alphabet, but one that tells stories for each letter. Square pages with mixed media collage illustrations of cut paper, charcoal sketches, and broad brushstrokes on thick paper provide the interpretations for the letters. The author/illustrator is also a well-known cartoonist, graphic artist, singer, and composer in Argentina. mjw
Title: Daytime Visions: An Alphabet
Author: Isol (Marisol Misenta)
Illustrator
: Isol (Marisol Misenta)
Publisher
: Enchanted Lion Books, New York
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: Spanish
Translator
: Isol and Elisa Amado
Original Title
: Abecedario a mano (Libros Para Ninos series)
Original Publisher
: Fondo de Cultura Economica
Original Copyright
: 2015
ISBN
: 978-1-59270-195-7
Hardcover pages
: 56
Age range
: 2-7
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Argentine
Author’s residence
: Buenos Aires
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Argentine
Illustrator’s residence
: Buenos Aires
Awards
: 2013 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, twice a finalist for the Hans Christian Andersen Award – 2006 and 2008
Subjects
: Alphabets, Animals

Escape From Aleppo

 

Fourteen-year-old Nadia is accidentally separated from her family while fleeing from war-torn Syria in 2013. She meets an elderly man who agrees to help her. She eventually makes it to Turkey. Inspired by current events this coming-of-age novel deals with the horrors of the war. In the first part of the book, Nadia flashes back to more pleasant times of her life. Senzai does a wonderful job of describing Aleppo before and during the war. This is an informative and exciting story. mjw
Title: Escape From Aleppo
Author: N.H. Senzai
Publisher
: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York
Copyright
: 2018
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-4814-7217-3
Hardcover pages
: 336
Age range
: 8-12
Genre
: Fiction
Book setting
: Syria
Author’s ethnicity
: Indian
Author’s residence
: U.S. 
Subjects
: Arab Spring, Middle East, Refugees, Secrecy, Syria-Civil War 2011, Wars

The Rabbit And The Shadow

 

The little white rabbit in this story meets many creatures along his journey growing up. An anxious stag, and angry soldier looking for peace, and a cat looking for his ball help each other confront their own fears. They grow up together and learn. This moving story has beautiful watercolor and ink vignettes. mjw
Title: The Rabbit And The Shadow
Author: Melanie Rutten
Illustrator
: Melanie Rutten
Publisher
: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Copyright
: 2018
Original Language
: French
Translator
: Sarah Ardizzone
Original Title
: L’ombre de chacun
Original Publisher
: Editions MeMo
Original Copyright
: 2013
ISBN
: 978-0-8028-5485-8
Hardcover pages
: 56
Age range
: 5-9
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Born in Belgium
Author’s residence
: Brussels
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Born in Belgium
Illustrator’s residence
: Brussels
Subjects
: Emotions and feelings, Fear, Growing up, Soldiers

A Different Pond

 

This quiet story is about a young Vietnamese boy and his father who go fishing early in the morning in Minneapolis so that the family can have food to eat. They don’t fish for recreation. They bond as the father tells the boy about fishing in his homeland of Vietnam, as well as a bit about the war where he was a soldier. Beautifully illustrated in vividly colored, graphic novel panels, the book conveys a powerful message. Notes from both the poet-author and the illustrator are included. mjw
Title: A Different Pond
Author: Bao Phi
Illustrator
: Thi Bui
Publisher
: Capstone Young Readers. North Mankato, Minnesota
Copyright
: 2017
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1479597468
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 6-8
Genre
: Picture book
Book setting
: Minneapolis
Author’s ethnicity
: Vietnamese
Author’s residence
: Minneapolis, Minnesota 
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Vietnamese
Illustrator’s residence
: U.S.
Awards
: 2018 Caldecott Honor
Subjects
: Asian Americans, Fathers and sons, Fishing, Emigrants and immigrants, Poverty, Vietnam

The Murderer’s Ape

 

This thrilling mystery is narrated by a gorilla named Sally Jones who can read and type on a 1908 Underwood No. 5 typewriter. She is an engineer working for Chief Henry Koskela who is falsely accused of murder. Sally Jones embarks on a whirlwind journey from Lisbon, Portugal, to the Maharaja of Bhapur’s magnificent court in India to clear the chief’s name. This suspenseful adventure is accompanied by detailed black and white drawings. Maps of the voyage appear on the endpapers. mjw
Title: The Murderer’s Ape
Author: Jakob Wegelius
Illustrator
: Jakob Wegelius
Publisher
: Delacorte Press
Copyright
: 2017
Original Language
: Swedish
Translator
: Peter Graves
Original Title
: Mordarens Apa
Original Publisher
: Bonnier Carlsen
Original Copyright
: 2014
ISBN
: 978-1-101-93175-2
Hardcover pages
: 624
Age range
: 8-12
Genre
: Fiction, Mystery
Book setting
: Portugal, India
Author’s ethnicity
: Swedish
Author’s residence
: Sweden
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Swedish
Illustrator’s residence
: Sweden
Awards
: 2018 Batchelder Winner, International Youth Library White Raven Selection
Subjects
: Detective stories, Gorilla, Human-animal relationships, Music, Sailing

The Night Diary

 

It’s 1947, and India, newly independent from British rule, has been divided into two countries: Pakistan and India. Twelve-year-old Nisha, who is half Muslim and half Hindu, doesn’t know where she belongs. Her Muslim mother died when Nisha was a baby. Her Hindu father decides it is too dangerous to stay in what has become Pakistan. Nisha and her family become refugees. They travel by train and foot to reach their new home. Nisha is finally able to meet her mother’s brother and find where she really belongs. Nisha’s story is told through diary entries she writes nightly to her mother. Included in the back is a helpful glossary. The author uses her own father’s story as a basis for this compelling historical novel. mjw
Title: The Night Diary
Author: Veer Hiranandani
Publisher
: Dial Books
Copyright
: 2018
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0735-2285-11
Hardcover pages
: 272
Age range
: 8-12
Genre
: Historical Fiction
Book setting
: India, Pakistan
Author’s ethnicity
: Indian
Author’s residence
: U.S.
Subjects
: Diaries, Family life, Hindus, Muslims, Partition 1947, Refugees, Siblings