Author Archives: omnilibros

About omnilibros

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

Thea’s Tree

A little girl named Thea lives in a city full of “houses, houses, and more houses” and longs for a tree to climb, to hide in, and to sit under and dream. A solitary, beautiful leaf floats past her window and Thea drifts off into a dream. She awakes with a seed in hand. She plants it and a tiny plant sprouts from the soil. Thea and the tree grow. Thea’s children play under the tree, and Thea’s grandchildren, too. The story’s setting is not specified, but Thea’s Papa tells about picking mangoes and guavas and neem leaves to eat. The tender, Chagall-like, ink, pastel, colored pencil, and collage illustrations are magical and portray the beauty in nature. The text is printed over delicate leaf prints. mjw

Title: Thea’s Tree
Author: Judith Clay
Illustrator: Judith Clay
Publisher: Karadi Tales Company Pvt.Ltd., Chennai, India
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-8-181-90297-9
Hardcover pages: 28
Age range: 4 up
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Asia
Author’s ethnicity: German
Author’s residence: Germany
Illustrator’s ethnicity: German
Illustrator’s residence: Germany
Awards: 2011 White Ravens List of the International Youth Library
Subjects: Environment, Natural world, Nature, People and places, Trees

Tiger Boy

Leave a reply

Set in the tidal mangrove forests of the Sunderbans of India and Bangladesh, this quiet, suspenseful story tells of young Neel and his efforts to track down a female tiger cub that has escaped from a local animal reserve and save it from greedy poachers. Neel is a good student and could qualify for a scholarship for a private boarding school in Kolkata. This would ensure him and his family a much better quality of life. But he loves his home, is reluctant to leave his familiar world, and therefore, only studies half-heartedly. Neel and his sister hatch out a courageous plan and succeed in rescuing the tiger. And Neel changes his mind about education. Global warming, gender discrimination, endangered animals, environmental protection, and class structure are some of the important issues in this fast-paced story, which is enhanced by dramatic black-and-white pastel illustrations. An Author’s Note, Information on Organizations Working with Bengal Tigers and Organizations Working to Improve Life in the Sunderbans, and a Glossary are provided. mjw

Title: Tiger Boy
Author: Mitali Perkins
Illustrator: Jamie Hogan
Publisher: Charlesbridge. Watertown, MA
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-58089-660-3
Hardcover pages: 144
Age range: 7-10
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Sunderbans, West Bengal, India
Author’s ethnicity: Born in Kolkata, India
Author’s residence: U.S. Has lived in Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Mexico, Thailand, Great Britain
Illustrator’s residence: U.S.
Subjects: Animal rescue, Community, Conflict, Economics, Nature, Teachers, Tigers

Tree Of Wonder: The Many Marvelous Lives Of A Rainforest Tree

Leave a reply

More than one thousand different organisms live in the almendro tree that grows deep in the rainforests of Latin America. Count great green macaws, keel-billed toucans, howler monkeys, fruit bats, blue morpho butterflies, poison dart frogs, and many more creatures, as they multiply again and again in this lush picture book about biodiversity. Bright, compelling images rendered in acrylic and pencil bring the rainforest to life. The book concludes with more information on the almendro tree and about environmental organizations that protect the trees. Rainforest math problems and suggested resources for learning even more are also provided. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book goes to support the work of the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC). mjw

Title: Tree Of Wonder: The Many Marvelous Lives Of A Rainforest Tree
Author: Kate Messner
Illustrator: Simona Mulazzani
Publisher: Chronicle Books, San Francisco
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-4521-1248-0
Hardcover pages: 36
Age range: 5-8
Genre: Information Book, Nonfiction, Picture Book
Book setting: Latin America
Author’s ethnicity: U.S.
Author’s residence: U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian
Illustrator’s residence: Italy
Awards: Illustrator has received a Silver Medal from the Society of Illustrators
Subjects: Biodiversity, Counting, Dipteryx oleifera, Ecology, Environment, Forests, Habitat, Nature, Rainforest ecology, Trees

Where The Streets Had A Name

Leave a reply

Thirteen-year-old Palestinian Hayaat and her family have been uprooted from their home and are living behind the Israeli-built Separation Wall in Bethlehem on the occupied West Bank. She and her soccer-loving, Christian friend Sami decide to journey across the wall to Jerusalem, with an empty hummus jar, to get a handful of soil from her ailing grandmother’s beloved ancestral home. It is only a few miles, but checkpoints, curfews, barriers, and the permit system make crossing the border dangerous. They encounter armed soldiers, an Israeli peace activist couple, fellow travelers, and a young boy who needs a friend. Humor and a loving family keep the story light despite the violence, anguish, and suspense in the realistic 2004 war zone setting. This fascinating and heart-breaking story does end on a hopeful note. A Glossary enhances the understanding of Arabic words used throughout the novel, which was written by the acclaimed author of the young adult novel Does My Head Look Big in This? mjw

Title: Where The Streets Had A Name
Author: Randa Abdel-Fattah
Publisher: Scholastic Press, New York
Copyright: 2010
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Pan Macmillan, Australia
Original Copyright: 2008
ISBN: 978-0-545-17292-9
Hardcover pages: 313
Age range: 10-13
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Jerusalem, Israel. Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine
Author’s ethnicity: Palestinian and Egyptian heritage
Author’s residence: Sydney, Australia
Awards: 2011 Middle East Outreach Council Youth Literature Award
Subjects: Arab-Israeli conflict, Grandmothers, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Palestinian Arabs

A Song For Ella Grey

Leave a reply

Set in modern Northumberland, this intriguing retelling of the tragic love story of Orpheus and Eurydice is told by teenager Claire, Ella’s (Eurydice’s) best friend. Orpheus, a beautiful young man with a lyre and dreamy haunting music, appears and charms everyone. He and Ella fall in love and get “married” on the beach, with their artsy friends and some poisonous adders in attendance. A dark passage with eerie visual poetry follows, where Orpheus desperately searches for Ella in the Underworld. The enchanting and romantic writing about love, loss, and destiny makes this old myth fresh. mjw

Title: A Song For Ella Grey
Author: David Almond
Publisher: Delacorte Press, and imprint of Random House Children’s Books
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books, London
Original Copyright: 2014
ISBN: 978-0-553-53359-0
Paperback pages: 272
Age range: 12 up
Genre: Fiction, Mythology
Book setting: Northern England
Author’s ethnicity: English
Author’s residence: England
Awards: 2015 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Medal, 2015 Shortlist Ireland YA Book Prize
Subjects: Death, Greek mythology, Love, Music, Poetry, Underworld

Tales From Nasreddin Hodja

Leave a reply

Nasreddin Hodja is Turkey’s best-known trickster. These 43 witty and silly short tales are based on the works of Nasreddin, who was born in the village of Horto in south-central Turkey in 1208. Hodja is a title meaning teacher or scholar. Hodja is a hard-working, honest, and beloved character whose advice is solicited by the local villagers. Absurd questions, practical jokes, and witty one-liners characterize the humorous anecdotes. Watercolor and ink drawings add to the fun. mjw

Title: Tales From Nasreddin Hodja
Author: Cengiz Demir
Illustrator: Oznur Kalender – Erdogan Ogultekin
Publisher: Tughra Books
Copyright: 2013
Original Language: Turkish
Translator: Serdar Aslar
Original Title: Nasrettin Hoca Serisi
Original Copyright: 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59784-285-3
Paperback pages: 143
Age range: 7-9
Genre: Fiction, Folktales
Book setting: Turkey
Author’s ethnicity: Turkish
Author’s residence: Istanbul, Turkey
Subjects: Central Asia, Folklore, Humor, Middle East, Tales, Wisdom

Same, Same But Different

Leave a reply

Elliot lives in America and Kailish lives in India. They exchange drawings and notes as part of a Picture Pals project in their schools. The boys compare families, pets, cities, alphabets, and art and yoga classes, and discover that they are best friends even though they live in two different worlds. Or do they? “Different, different but the same!” The colorful, detailed and vivid art, rendered in acrylic, crayon, pencil, collage, and tissue paper, illustrates the differences and similarities between the boys’ homes. Stamps on the endpapers are whimsical and fun. In this age of instant access through the Internet, students can see a different way to communicate. The author/illustrator traveled to Nepal and India where she learned the popular saying “same, same but different” that is used to compare cultures. mjw

Title: Same, Same But Different
Author: Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
Illustrator: Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, New York
Copyright: 2011
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-8050-8946-2
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-7
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: U.S. and India
Author’s ethnicity: U.S.
Author’s residence: U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity: U.S.
Illustrator’s residence: U.S.
Awards: 2012 South Asia Book Award, 2012 Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award
Subjects: Alphabet, Friendship, Pen pals

The Secret Sky: A Novel Of Forbidden Love In Afghanistan

Leave a reply

This modern Romeo and Juliet story of sorts, set in Afghanistan, is narrated by three of the main characters. Samiullah, a Pashtun boy, and Fatima, a Hazara girl, are two innocent teenagers who fall in love. Their ethnic groups differ and do not get along because of their historical backgrounds. Their desire to get married disgraces their families and sets a series of horrific events in motion. The third narrator is Samiullah’s cousin Rashid, the villain, who has fallen under the influence of the Taliban. He has seen Samiullah and Fatima together, assumes the worst, and turns them in to the local Taliban. Disturbing depictions of physical, emotional, and sexual violence against men, women, and children; amazing acts of kindness, bravery, and sacrifice; vivid imagery; complex characters; and a suspenseful ending make the book unputdownable. Though fictional, this powerful and hopeful love story paints a realistic picture of the conflicts and culture clashes in Afghanistan today. The author was a foreign news correspondent in Kabul for nearly five years. mjw

Title: The Secret Sky: A Novel of Forbidden Love In Afghanistan
Author: Atia Abawi
Publisher: Philomel Books, Penguin Young Readers Group
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-399-16078-3
Hardcover pages: 320
Age range: 14 up
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Afghanistan
Author’s ethnicity: Afghani
Author’s residence: Jerusalem
Awards: 2015 South Asia Book Award – Highly Commended, 2015 Amelia Bloomer List
Subjects: Conflict, Culture, Ethnic relations, Family relations, Hazaras, Love, Marriage, Pushtuns, Social justice, Talibans

Golden Domes And Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book Of Colors

Leave a reply

This informative color-concept book captures the vibrant world of Islam. A red prayer rug, a blue hijab, orange henna designs, and a green Quran are some of the elements that make up the world of the young female narrator’s faith. The short rhyming text is supplemented by beautiful illustrations that hint of fabric collage and photography, and are influenced by Islamic art. A Glossary with pronunciations completes this introduction to the culture and religion. mjw

Title: Golden Domes And Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book Of Colors
Author: Hena Khan
Illustrator: Mehrdokht Amini
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Copyright: 2012
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-8118-7905-7
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 3-6
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Pakistani-American
Author’s residence: U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Grew up in Iran
Illustrator’s residence: England
Awards: 2013 Middle East Outreach Council Book Award – Honorable Mention
Subjects: Colors, Hijab, Holidays, Islam customs and practices, Muslims, Stories in rhyme

Gorillas In Our Midst

Leave a reply

A young bespectacled boy warns that you should always carry a banana with you because you never know when there might be a gorilla around. Gorillas are masters of disguise and they are really good at hiding. They can be astronauts, scuba divers, surgeons, ninjas – even Gorilliam Shakespeare or Apebraham Lincoln. This humorous story with fanciful illustrations of gorillas everywhere ends with a surprising twist. Only grown-ups will get the pun in the title. (Dr. Dian Fossey’s classic nature memoir, Gorillas In The Mist.) The author and illustrator are known for their comic series about the superhero dinosaur, Blastosaurus. mjw

Title: Gorillas In Our Midst
Author: Richard Fairgray and Terry Jones
Illustrator: Richard Fairgray and Terry Jones. Coloring by Tara Black
Publisher: Sky Pony Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc, New York
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-63220-607-7
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 3-6
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Born and raised in New Zealand
Author’s residence: Auckland, New Zealand
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Welsh
Illustrator’s residence: Auckland, New Zealand
Subjects: Apes, Disguise, Gorillas, Humorous stories, Monkeys

The Three Musicians: A Children’s Book Inspired By Pablo Picasso

Leave a reply

The Kingdom of Mirador is terrified of a monstrous beast, Fire-Mouth. No one but the king has actually seen it. He constantly warns the villagers, making them fearful and gloomy. One April morning, three strange musicians – Pierrot, Capuchin, and Harlequin – and their dog appear in the kingdom. They entertain the people and encourage them to sing, to dance, and to confront their fears. The king is not pleased and plots to put everything back in order. But the people see his trick. Based on Pablo Picasso’s Three Musicians, brightly hued watercolors, bold lines, and Mediterranean colors hint at Picasso’s style and cubism. Included are a reproduction of Picasso’s original painting (1921); a lesson on the artist’s ideas, style, and life; and suggested museums throughout the world where Picasso’s art can be seen. The book is one of Prestel’s “Pictures That Tell Stories: Art for Children” series. mjw

Title: The Three Musicians: A Children’s Book Inspired By Pablo Picasso
Author: Veronique Massenot
Illustrator: Vanessa Hie
Publisher: Prestel, Verlag
Copyright: 2013
Original Language: French
Translator: Agathe Joly
Original Title: Les Trois Musiciens
Original Publisher: L’Elan vert, Paris
Original Copyright: 2012
ISBN: 978-3-7913-7151-1
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 6-8
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Mirador
Author’s ethnicity: French
Author’s residence: France
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French
Illustrator’s residence: France
Subjects: Art, Cubism, Dogs, Music, Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

Twenty-two Cents: Muhammad Yunus And The Village Bank

Leave a reply

Muhammad Yunis grew up in India in the 1940s in a family that cared for and wanted to help others. He witnessed extreme poverty. He studied economics in America, and when he returned to his homeland (which became Bangladesh), as an economics professor, he founded Grameen Bank where people could borrow small amounts of money to start a job, and then pay back the bank without unfairly high interest charges. Over the next years, he was responsible for loaning more than 10 billion U.S. dollars in micro-credit, and empowering the poor, especially women, to break the cycle of poverty. Yunus would become renowned as the Banker to the Poor. Accurate and authentic soft chalk pastels enhance this true story. Back matter includes an Afterword with information on poverty in America, an update on Yunus’s life, and photos of him as a young Boy Scout and as a Nobel Prize laureate in 2006. Author’s Sources are also provided. mjw

Title: Twenty-two Cents: Muhammad Yunus And The Village Bank
Author: Paula Yoo
Illustrator: Jamel Akib
Publisher: Lee & Low Books, New York
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-60060-658-8
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 6-11
Genre: Picture book, Biography
Book setting: India and Bangladesh
Author’s ethnicity: Korean-American
Author’s residence: U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English and Malaysian
Illustrator’s residence: England
Awards: 2015 South Asia Book Award, 2015 IRA Notable Books for a Global Society
Subjects: Bangladesh, Bankers, Economics, Economists, Generosity, Microcredit, Microfinance, Nobel Peace Prize 2006, Social activists, Social justice