Author Archives: omnilibros

About omnilibros

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

A Map For Falasteen: A Palestinian Child’s Search For Home

At school, a young Palestinian girl named Falasteen struggles to find her homeland on a map. She is troubled, confused, and curious when her teacher tells her she “thinks there’s no such place.” Falasteen asks her grandfather why Palestine isn’t on the map, and he draws her a colorful outline map showing various Palestinian cities and villages that she can take to school to show her teachers and classmates. She also asks her grandma, who is working in the kitchen. Grandma tells her of when soldiers, tanks, and guns forced her family from their home. Finally, Falesteen asks her mother why Palestine isn’t on the map. Mama replies that there are places you don’t need a map to find – their favorite trail, the bird’s nest in the chimney, their music and food, their names and language, and things that they haven’t seen with their own eyes. She says, “Palestine lives in you and me.” Beautiful, inspiring illustrations and thorough back matter round out this important and timely book. mjw

Title: A Map For Falasteen
Author: Maysa Odeh
Illustrator: Aliaa Betawi
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company. New York
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-250-89670-4
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Palestinian
Author’s residence: California, USA
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Palestinian
Illustrator’s residence: Alexandria, Egypt
Awards: 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award. Elementary Honor
Subjects: Arabs, Family life, Homes, Israel, Maps, Middle East, Multigenerational, Palestine, Refugees

The Color Of Your Skin

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Vega and her friend Alex are drawing pictures at an art table at school. Alex asks for the skin-colored pencil. Vega asks if he means the color of her skin or the color of his. Maybe he means the beautiful caramel brown skin color of his neighbor Vincent or the light apple shade of the new girl. With curiosity and creativity, they explore the diversity of skin colors of the people around them. They discover that skin color has many shades and that colors are like hugs: the more the better. The illustrations are brightly colored and rich. The book is printed on “stone paper,” a special paper made of limestone. The paper doesn’t come from cutting down trees, doesn’t use water, and doesn’t need chemical products. mjw

Title: The Color Of Your Skin
Author: Desiree Acevedo
Illustrator: Silvia Alvarez
Publisher: Cuento De Luz. Madrid, Spain
Copyright: 2021
Original Language: Spanish
Translator: Jon Brokenbrow
Original Title: El color de tu piel
ISBN: 978-84-19464-43-9
Paperback pages: 32
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Spanish
Author’s residence: Huelva, Spain
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Honduran and Spanish
Illustrator’s residence: Seville, Spain
Subjects: Colors, Crayons, Diversity, Multi-colored, Multiculturalism, Paints, Pencils, Skin color, Uniqueness

The Gray City

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Robin has moved to a new city where everything is gray – buildings, traffic, people, streets, her school, and even all the paint in a paint shop. She sets out in search of color. At school, she meets Alani, who hates “all this gray business.” Together, they use their detective skills to discover that the faceless Gray Works is responsible for the lack of color in the city. She and Alani sneak into the building and adjust the company’s controls to colorful. The Gray City’s colors had been hidden. Now it’s full of color. This imaginative story has eleven chapters with quite a bit of text for a picture book. The illustrations are masterful in this introduction to color theory, which is explained in the back matter. mjw

Title: The Gray City
Author: Torben Kuhlmann
Illustrator: Torben Kuhlmann
Publisher: NorthSouth Books, Inc., New York
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: German
Translator: David Henry Wilson
Original Title: Die graue Stadt
Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG, Zurich, Switzerland
Original Copyright: 2023
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4554-1
Hardcover pages: 64
Age range: 6-10
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: German
Author’s residence: Hamburg
Illustrator’s ethnicity: German
Illustrator’s residence: Hamburg
Awards: 2019 Batchelder for Edison
Subjects: Cities, Color, Color Theory, Discovery, Imagination, Libraries, Mystery, Science

Thirst

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Twelve-year-old Minni and her older brother Sanjay live in a poor neighborhood in Mumbai, India. Their only access to clean water happens at a set time of the day when members of the community stand in line to fill their containers. One night, Sanjay and his friends witness the “water mafia” stealing water from a tanker truck. To be safe, Sanjay and his friend have to leave town. Minni’s ill mother has to move to the countryside to recover and Minni takes over her mother’s maid job until her she can return. On top of all of this, Minni has to balance school and an extra computer class she is enrolled in. Minni’s introspective narration and occasional poetry instill hope in her environment which is especially hard on women and children. Minni is a smart, strong, and optimistic girl. The book is a look at the importance of free water and how the unfairness surrounding its distribution impacts poor communities in India. It also reveals class differences that still exist today. An author’s note provides more information about the water crisis in India. mjw

Title: Thirst
Author: Varsha Bajaj
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. New York
Copyright: 2022
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0593-3544-14
Paperback pages: 192
Age range: 10-12
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Mumbai, India
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: Houston, Texas
Awards: 2023 South Asia Book Award
Subjects: Education, Environment, Injustice, Justice, Poetry, Water, Water crisis, Water security

SOS Water

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Lalo, a sailor, encounters a talking goldfish in a fishbowl on a pile of trash. Her name is Rosa, and she longs to have a better life. Lalo takes Rosa to a pond, a mountaintop, the Arctic, the jungle, the desert, the beach, and the River Seine. But everywhere is polluted with empty plastic water bottles. Lalo dreams that he has magical powers to clean the world. Several spreads show different animals cleaning up the ubiquitous water bottles. They come to a community garden and meet Bibo, a gentle little garden gnome, who suggests the perfect place for Rosa – a magic pond next to his house. The final page shows Lalo drinking a big glass of refreshing tap water. Whimsical line drawings saturated with water bottles further distinguish this important environmental lesson. A Spanish-language edition is also available. mjw

Title: SOS Water
Author: Yayo
Illustrator: Yayo
Publisher: Tradewinds Books. Vancouver, Canada
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-990598-23-4
Hardcover pages: 56
Age range: 6-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Colombian
Author’s residence: Montreal, Quebec
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Colombian
Illustrator’s residence: Montreal, Quebec
Subjects: Goldfish, Plastic water bottles, Pollution, Sailors, Water, Water pollution

Caterpillar Chryzzle

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Worm and caterpillar are best friends, They go for crawls and they love to sit and talk. One day caterpillar starts describing a strange and quite bewildering feeling – he is chryzzaling. He fixes himself to a stalk and wonders about life’s secrets and surprises and the deeper meaning of it all. Worm only giggles, shakes his head, and crawls away. He therefore misses when a butterfly emerges from the chrysalis and soars up into the sky. The clear, delicate-style watercolor paintings, filled with amazing details, combine realism and fantasy to round out this beautiful work. The author is one of the most successful children’s songwriters and musicians in Switzerland, Many of his songs have become true classics. He gives over 100 concerts each year in Switzerland. A QR code in the book leads to his song “Caterpillar Chryzzle.” . mjw

Title: Caterpillar Chryzzle
Author: Andrew Bond
Illustrator: Julie Volk
Publisher: NorthSouth Books, Inc. New York
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: German
Original Title: Die Raupe spinnt
Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG. Zurich, Switzerland
Original Copyright: 2024
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4559-6
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: The author grew up in DR Congo, UL, and Switzerland
Author’s residence: Wadenswil, Switzerland
Illustrator’s residence: Vienna, Austria
Awards: IBBY Honor Illustrator
Subjects: Butterflies, Caterpillars, Chrysalis, Metamorphosis, New experiences, Worms

Peter Pan

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This beloved children’s classic is retold in rollicking rhyme accompanied by new art. The fantastic adventure features Tinkerbell, the Lost Boys, the Darling family, Nana, and the villainous Captain Hook. When Peter Pan flies into the Darling children’s bedroom, he convinces Wendy and her brothers to come with him to the magical Neverland, where children never grow old. The gorgeous illustrations are rendered in muted blues. A favorite is the magnificent map of Neverland, with pirates, mermaids, and the relentless ticking crocodile. This fabulous introduction to Peter Pan has a silver-embossed cover and a ribbon bookmark. Based on the original story by J.M. Barrie, a percentage of the profits from this book go to the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. mjw

Title: Peter Pan
Author: J.M. Barrie (1860 – 1937). Caryl Hart
Illustrator: Sarah Warburton
Publisher: Nosy Crow Ltd.
Copyright: 2018 – Verse adaptation
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Original Copyright: 1911
ISBN: 978-1-78800-007-9
Hardcover pages: 72
Age range: 4 up
Genre: Fantasy Fiction. Picture Book
Book setting: London and Neverland
Author’s ethnicity: English
Author’s residence: Sheffield, England (Hart)
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English
Illustrator’s residence: Bristol, England
Subjects: Crocodiles, Fairies, Fantasy, London, Magic, Neverland, Pirates, Rhyme, Rhythm

I Kick And I Fly

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Fourteen-year-old Heera lives near the Red Light District in Behar, India. Soon her father will sell her into the sex trade to help feed the family and pay off his debts. The owner of a local hostel for at-risk girls offers to repay her family’s debt and teach Heera kung fu with the other girls in the hostel. Heera learns that her body isn’t an object to be sold, but an instrument through which she can protect herself and other girls. She also discovers the whereabouts of her missing friend, Rosy, through a king fu pen pal in the U.S. She launches into a dangerous rescue mission to New York to save her. This is an unforgettable, and captivating story of overcoming hardship by an activist/author who has dedicated her life to creating a world where no child is bought or sold. She is the founder of Apne Aap, an NGO working to end sex trafficking. A letter from the author captures her journey. Additional information and resources are also provided. mjw

Title: I Kick And I Fly
Author: Ruchira Gupta
Publisher: Scholastic Press. New York
Copyright: 2023
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-338-82509-1
Hardcover pages: 352
Age range: 12 up
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Nepal, India, USA
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: New York and Delhi
Awards: 2024 South Asia Book Award
Subjects: Activism, Caste system, Hostels, Kidnapping, Kung fu, Martial arts, Poverty, Prostitution, Sex trafficking, Social issues, Social justice, Women’s empowerment

Hiro, Winter, And Marshmallows

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Hiro is a bear too curious to sleep all winter long. Her stomach rumbles, and her heart longs for adventure. She packs her things into her backpack and slips away from her sleeping family. She discovers winter and snow and smells the odor of burning wood and sweet, gooey toasted marshmallows. She finds a bonfire party, but scares everyone away except for Emile. He is a little boy hiding behind a tree. He whispers to Hiro that the marshmallows are done. He knows because he is a marshmallow expert. Hiro doesn’t want to scare Emile. Slowly, they begin to converse. “What’s it like being a bear?” And “What’s it like being an Emile?” They share stories and have fun together until Emile hears his mom calling for him. They both return to their homes. Hiro’s mom completes this quirky story with, “Goodness, it smells like marshmallows in here!” The delightful artwork in this dreamy fairytale is rendered in colored pencils, watercolors, acrylic paints, and markers. mjw

Title: Hiro, Winter, And Marshmallows
Author: Marine Schneider
Illustrator: Marine Schneider
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: French
Translator: Vineet Lal
Original Title: Hiro, hiver et marshmallows
Original Publisher: Versant Sud
Original Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5632-6
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Belgian
Author’s residence: Brussels, Belgium
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Belgian
Illustrator’s residence: Brussels, Belgium
Subjects: Bears, Bonfires, Hibernation, Marshmallows, Parties, Snow, Winter

Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life In The Mountains

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This inspiring picture book biography about Junko Tabei, the first woman to climb Mt. Everest, is the perfect introduction to this trailblazer. As a young girl, Junko dreamed of a life climbing mountains, but most mountaineering clubs said “No women allowed,” and they wouldn’t sponsor her. She even had to sew her own gloves because all gloves were designed for men – way too big for her small hands. But Junko was eager and unstoppable. She planned, trained, and dreamed beyond the horizon. She put together an expedition to summit Mt.Everest with an all-women team. After years of preparation, Junko and her fellow climbers traveled to Nepal. They established camps beyond the moving ice and deep crevasses. They encountered an avalanche, but finally, Junko and her guide made it to the top – where Earth met the sky. After her success, she took on new challenges. She climbed the highest mountains in more than 70 countries and campaigned for sustainable mountaineering to protect the wild spaces she loved for future generations. The illustrator used a Japanese calligraphy brush and India ink to make drawings on watercolor paper, and then she colored the drawings digitally using Adobe Photoshop. The illustrator is the Japanese designer who created Hello Kitty. The language is poetic and lovely. Backmatter includes an author’s note, a timeline, a glossary, and a bibliography. mjw

Title: Up, Up, Ever Up! Junko Tabei: A Life In The Mountains
Author: Anita Yasuda
Illustrator: Yuko Shimizu
Publisher: Clarion Books, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-06-324241-8
Hardcover pages: 48
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Information Book, Nonfiction, Picture Book Biography
Book setting: Nepal. Japan
Author’s ethnicity: Japanese
Author’s residence: Ontario, Canada
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese
Illustrator’s residence: New York City
Awards: 2025 Caldecott Honor,
Subjects: Gender stereotypes, Himalayas, Mountain climbing, Mountains, Mt. Everest, Sherpas, Sustainable mountaineering, Trailblazing, Yaks

John The Skeleton

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John is a newly retired skeleton. He was a classroom teaching aid in a South Estonian school. Gramps and Grams bring John to their outdoor summer kitchen on their farm deep in the woods. Every day is exciting for John. He rides in a car, meets the farm animals, scares some crooks in the village, visits with the grandchildren, takes a bath and makes a snow angel. He even becomes part of an art exhibit at the city museum. Short chapters and folk art pencil illustrations in black and white with pops of beet red present a view of Estonian culture with saunas, pixies, and linden-blossom tea. The text is also medically accurate. This quirky, affectionate story portrays what it means to care for one another, grow old together, and appreciate the little things. mjw

Title: John The Skeleton
Author: Triini Laam
Illustrator: Marja-Liisa Plats
Publisher: Yonder, an imprint of Restless Books
Copyright:2024
Original Language: Estonian
Translator: Adam Cullen
Original Title: Luukere Juhani juhtumised
Original Publisher: Paike ja Pilve, Saue, Estonia
Original Copyright: 2020
ISBN: 978-1632063700
Hardcover pages: 64
Age range: 6-12
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: South Estonia
Author’s ethnicity: Estonian
Author’s residence: Estonia
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Estonian
Illustrator’s residence: Estonia
Awards:2025 Batchelder Award, soo5 ISBBY Outstanding International Books, 20221 White Raven Catalog
Subjects: Aging, Death, Farms, Grandchildren, Grandparents, Retirement, Skeletons

Honk Honk Beep Beep Putter Putt!

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Baba takes his son Ibraheem and the cat Mitu in his rickshaw on a trip through the big city. They encounter all kinds of vehicles and discover that each one has its own language. The rickshaw’s motor says Putter Putt. The car says Honk Honk. The bus tries to barge in with a Toot Toot and the mighty truck joins with a Rumble Rumble. The vehicles screech to a stop when there is a toad in the road saying Burp! Everyone safely shares the road. The bright, playful illustrations that convey each vehicle’s personality were digitally drawn. An author’s note describes her experiences with big city traffic around the world. mjw

Title: Honk Honk Beep Beep Putter Putt!
Author: Rukhsana Khan
Illustrator: Chaaya Prabhat
Publisher: Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House of Canada, Ltd.
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-774882-658
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Pakistan
Author’s ethnicity: Pakistani
Author’s residence: Canada
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: Goa, India
Subjects: Buses, Cars, Cities, City life, Horns, Rickshaws, Sharing, Toads, Traffic, Trucks, Vehicles