Author Archives: omnilibros

The Girl With A Brave Heart: A Tale From Tehran

Leave a reply

Shiraz drops her stepmother’s ball of red yarn from her balcony into the neighbor’s garden. Bravely, she knocks on the door of the house and is greeted by a wild old lady who will give back the yarn if Shiraz completes three chores. First, she is to smash everything in the kitchen. Next, she is to cut down all the plants in the overgrown garden. Finally, she is to cut the old lady’s dirty long hair. She sees the truth behind the lady’s words and instead, she cleans the kitchen and the garden and braids the old lady’s hair. Her yarn is returned and she receives the gift of beauty. Shiraz’s spoiled and impatient stepsister goes through the same routine, but does exactly what the old lady says and does not receive the gift of beauty. Richly colored illustrations in gouache brighten this tale’s message of the importance of listening to people’s hearts. mjw

Title: The Girl With A Brave Heart: A Tale From Tehran Author: Rita Jahanforuz Illustrator: Vali Mintzi Publisher: Barefoot Books. Cambridge, MA Copyright: 2013 Original Language: Hebrew  Original Publisher: Kinneret Zmora – Bitan Publishing Original Copyright: 2010 ISBN: 978-1-84686-931-0 Paperback pages: 40 Age range: 6-9 Genre: Picture book Book setting: Tehran Author’s ethnicity: Born in Tehran Author’s residence: Israel Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Romania Illustrator’s residence: Israel Subjects: Courage, Iran, Fairytales, Folktales, Kindness, Persia

The Rumor

Leave a reply

Pandurang, a fruit seller in the village of Baddbaddpur, is an ill-tempered, grumpy man who never smiles. One day he coughs up a feather. The story of Panduang’s feather is passed on from one person to another until it is barely recognized. All the villagers come to see the forest, tigers, and birds that supposedly come out of his mouth. Pandurang listens to them and his frown grows lighter and lighter until he finally smiles. Funny, brilliant illustrations complement this version of “broken telephone” by the Indian Dr. Seuss. mjw

Title: The Rumor Author: Anushka Ravishankar Illustrator: Kanyika Kini Publisher: Tundra Books. Toronto, Canada Copyright: 2012 Original Title: The Rumour Original Publisher: Karadi Tales Company Pvt. Ltd. India Original Copyright: 2009 ISBN: 978-1-77049-280-6 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: India Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: Munich Awards: 2013 South Asia Book Award Subjects: Fairytales, Folktales, Myths

The Little Reindeer

Leave a reply

On Christmas Eve, Ollie, who wears reindeer pajamas, has just gone to sleep when jingle bells wake her up. She grabs her sled and follows the sound. She finds a collar of bells on a tree branch and wonders who could it belong to. Next, she hears the crunch of a reindeer in the snow. Ollie fastens the collar on to the reindeer. Ollie and the reindeer go for a ride through the night sky. They have to stop because Ollie has to go back to bed and someone very special needs the reindeer that night. A double-page spread shows Santa and his reindeer flying through the night sky. This enchanting Christmas story has die cuts pages, silver foil, and splashes of red.. mjw

Title: The Little Reindeer Author: Nicola Killen Illustrator: Nicola Killen Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English Original title: Ollie’s Christmas Reindeer ISBN: 978-1-4814-8686-6 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book  Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Cambridge, England Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: Cambridge Subjects: Adventure, Christmas, Fantasy and magic, Holidays and celebrations, Reindeer

The Wind In The Willows

Leave a reply

Sebastian Meschenmoser’s expressive artwork brings a new look to Kenneth Grahame’s classic story about Rat, Mole, Toad, and Badger. More than one hundred watercolor vignettes and twelve full-page oil paintings bring life to the adventures of the lovable characters in pastoral Edwardian England. mjw

Title: The Wind In The Willows Author: Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932) Illustrator: Sebastian Meschenmoser Publisher: North South Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag. Zürich, Switzerland Original Copyright: 2017 (1908) ISBN: 978-0-7358-4295-3 Hardcover pages: 220 Age range: 9 up Genre: Illustrated Fiction Book setting: England Author’s ethnicity: Scottish Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Germany Subjects: Automobiles, Badgers, Boats, Folktales, Moles, Rats, Toads

Jamal’s Journey

Leave a reply

Jamal is a little camel that has to walk, walk, walk through the desert to keep up with his friend, the boy, and the other camels in the caravan. A sandstorm separates them. He meets different desert animals, but none can help him. A wise falcon reunites Jamal with his family. Eventually they reach Dubai and the colorful marketplace. Rich watercolor paintings show the sights of the desert and the city. An author’s note tells that the story was inspired by Foreman’s visit to Dubai and that the word jamal means beauty and camel. mjw

Title: Jamal’s Journey Author: Michael Foreman Illustrator: Michael Foreman Publisher: Andersen Press.  USA Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Andersen Press Ltd. London Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-1-5124-3949-6 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-9 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Dubai Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: England Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: England Awards: Author/illustrator has won the Kate Greenaway Medal twice Subjects: Adventure, Camels, Cities, Deserts, Friendship

Grandfather Whisker’s Table

Leave a reply

Young Enzo lives in Siena, Italy, during the Renaissance. He and his father attend the festival for the Palio di Siena horse race, where Enzo buys a toy woodpecker for his little brother. The piazza is so crowded that Enzo is afraid he will lose the toy. An old man named Grandfather Whiskers who loans and exchanges money at the festival agrees to keep the toy safe. He gives Enzo a receipt that Enzo must be careful not to lose. Stylized artwork enhances the story set in this period in the history of economy and culture. This installment in the Trade Winds series offers readers historical information about the first known bank. Back matter provides further information about the first banks, the city of Siena, and different currencies. A map, key terms and concepts, and a timeline are also included.  mjw

Title: Grandfather Whisker’s Table Author: Eun-jeong Jo Illustrator: Bimba Landmann Publisher: Eerdman”s Publishing Co.  Grand Rapids, MI Copyright: 2017 Original Language: Korean Editor:  Joy Cowley Original Publisher: Yeowon Media Co. Ltd. Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5474-2 Paperback pages: 36 Age range: 6-10 Genre: Picture book, Historical fiction Book setting: Siena, Italy Author’s ethnicity: Korean Author’s residence: South Korea Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian Illustrator’s residence: Milan, Italy Subjects: Banks and banking, History 15th century, Lost and found, Possessions

Imagine

Leave a reply

One little pigeon sets out on a journey to spread the message of peace to other birds of all shapes and sizes. John Lennon’s song is illustrated with brush and ink drawings colored digitally. The book has a foreword by Yoko Ono Lennon and an afterword by Amnesty International. All royalties from sales of the book go directly to the charity. mjw

Title: Imagine Author: John Lennon 1940-1980), with a foreword by Yoko Ono Lennon Illustrator: Jean Jullien Publisher: Clarion Books Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-328-80865-3 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: London and Los Angeles Subjects: Birds, Peace, Pigeons, Song lyrics, Tolerance

Colette’s Lost Pet

Leave a reply

Colette is new to the Mile End neighborhood of Montreal. She wants to make friends, but doesn’t know what to talk about. She invents a problem: she has lost her pet parakeet named Marie Antoinette. Her fib escalates a bit out of control and a neighborhood-wide search party is assembled. Do her new friends really believe her or is it just more fun to pretend? Artwork rendered in pencil, watercolor, and ink with digital coloration depicts Montreal’s urban setting. The text is hand-lettered. mjw

Title: Colette’s Lost Pet Author: Isabelle Arsenault Illustrator: Isabelle Arsenault Publisher: Random House, New York Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-553-53659-1 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Montreal Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Montreal Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Montreal Awards: Author/illustrator has won Canada’s Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature three times Subjects: Birds, New experiences, Pets

The Life And Times Of Martin Luther

Leave a reply

This informative biography begins with Luther’s birth, and moves through his youth, his decision to enter the priesthood, and his disenchantment with the church. The book focuses on the impact that Luther had on his times, including his translation of the Bible into German. Some of his 95 theses are explained. The detailed, historically accurate illustrations have a key at the end of the book providing more information. This book commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. mjw

Title: The Life And Times Of Martin Luther Author: Meike Roth-Beck Illustrator: Klaus Ensikat Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2017 Original Language: German Translator: Laura Watkinson Original Title: Von Martins Luthers Wittenberger Thesen Original Publisher: Kindermann Verlag. Berlin Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5495-7 Hardcover pages: 44 Age range: 7 up Genre: Information Book, Biography, Picture Book, Nonfiction Book setting: Europe Author’s ethnicity: German Author’s residence: Germany Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Germany Awards: Illustrator has won the Hans Christian Andersen Award 1996 Subjects: Christian Europe, History, Religion, Religious

The Treasure Of Barracuda

Leave a reply

Eleven-year-old Sparks is a deck hand on the Southern Cross, a pirate ship led by Captain Barracuda. Sparks and the crew discover a book left by the infamous pirate, Phineas Johnson Krane, but they cannot read. The fifty-three zany pirates learn to read and decipher the book’s contents so they can go in search of Krane’s real hidden treasure. In this laugh-aloud story, the pirates learn that the most valuable treasures are reading, writing, and family. An extensive Barracuda’s Glossary is included. mjw

Title: The Treasure Of Barracuda Author: Llanos Campos Illustrator: Julia Sarda Publisher: Little Pickle Press, Inc. California Copyright: 2016 Original Language: Spanish Translator: Lawrence Schimel Original Title: El Tesoro de Barracuda Original Publisher: Ediciones SM Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-1-939775-14-6 Hardcover pages: 156 Age range: 9-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: The Caribbean Author’s ethnicity: Spanish Author’s residence: Spain Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Spain Awards: 2014 Barco de Vapor Award for Children’s Literature in Spain Subjects: Books, Pirates, Reading

A Well-Mannered Young Wolf

Leave a reply

A young wolf, whose parents taught him good manners, goes on his first hunting trip in search of his next meal. He offers his prey their last wishes. As he tries to fulfill each wish, his meals escape. The poor wolf finds himself very hungry. The surprise ending will delight young readers. Cartoon style illustrations in earth tones add visual humor. mjw

Title: A Well-Mannered Young Wolf Author: Jean Leroy Illustrator: Matthieu Maudet Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2016 Original Language: French Original Title: Un jeune loup bien eduque Original Publisher: L’ecole des loisirs Original Copyright: 2013 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5479-7 Hardcover pages: 30 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: France Subjects: Chickens, Humor, Manners, Rabbits, Wolves

The Three Musketeers

Leave a reply

This beautifully illustrated adaptation of the classic French novel by Alexandre Dumas will introduce young readers to Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and their friend D’Artagnan, whose dream is to become one of the king’s elite guardsmen the Musketeers. In seventeenth century France, they learn that loyalty and friendship are the most important values. “One for all and all for one!” Vibrant watercolor effects enhance this ambitious retelling. mjw

Title: The Three Musketeers Author: Benedicte Riviere.  Adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas Illustrator: Camille Andre Publisher: Auzou Publishing. Paris, France Copyright: 2016 Original Language: French Original Title: Les Tres Mousquetaires Original Publisher: Auzou Publishing. Paris, France Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-2-7338-4326-0 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 8 up Genre: Picture Book, Historical Fiction Book setting: France Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: Paris, France Subjects: Action, Adventure, France, History, Louis xiii, Swordsmen