 Zeraffa was a female giraffe who lived in the Jardin des Plantes in Paris for 18 years. She was a gift from Muhammad Ali of Egypt to King Charles X of France. Magical watercolor illustrations, with detailed decorative patterns bring exotic Zeraffa’s 2,000 mile journey down the Nile, three-week sail across the sea, and 550 mile walk across France to life. When she arrived in 1827, all of Paris fell in love with her. Bakers even baked giraffe biscuits. The beautiful, lush text creates a fairytale sense of wonder in this true story. An author’s note tells more about Zeraffa. mjw |
| Title: Zeraffa Giraffa Author: Dianne Hofmeyer Illustrator: Jane Ray Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books Copyright: 2014 Original language: English ISBN: 978-1847803443 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture book Book setting: France Author’s residence: England Illustrator’s residence: England Awards: Sunday Times Culture Magazine Children’s Book of the Week Subjects: Africa, Egypt, Europe, France, Giraffes, Human-animal relationships, Northern Africa, Paris, Sudan, Western Europe, Zoo animals |
Zeraffa Giraffa
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Orundellico, known as Jemmy Button, (c. 1815 – 1864) was a native from the islands around Tierra del Fuego, at the tip of South America. He was taken to England by Captain Robert FitzRoy on the HMS Beagle to be educated in the ways of Christian and Victorian upper-class customs. He was paid for with a mother of pearl button, hence his nickname. In London, he met King William IV and became quite a celebrity. One year later he was returned to his home where he shed his Victorian clothing, relearned his native language, and realized where he belonged. Bold, over-sized illustrations done in gouache, oil, and collage highlight this picture book inspired by a true story. mjw
Through unique, richly detailed pencil and digitally colorized artwork, we meet Benedict drinking her hot chocolate in Paris, Nadia watching construction of a new building in Dubai, Khanh napping in Hanoi, Sharon and Peter kissing goodbye in San Francisco, baby Diego being born in Lima, and Chloe tired from dancing all night on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean. We travel eastward from the Prime Meridian through 24 time zones to see what children around the world are doing at the same time. An author’s note tells more about early timekeeping, the invention of time zones, and even GPS. A fold-out world map that marks each child’s location is also included in this tall, thin book. mjw
Paul the goldfish swims in circles every day until Bernadette literally drops into his fish bowl. She shows Paul a whole new world beyond the curved glass of his bowl. A banana-shaped boat. A blue teapot mother elephant. A green alarm clock cactus. And a milk carton, orange juice bottle Milwaukee skyline. As Paul examines the intriguing world outside, he becomes equally captured by his new companion. Vibrant oil paintings bring this story about love, friendship, and an active imagination to life. mjw
Toda is forced to flee her village as war escalates in her unnamed country. When her father, a pastry chef, leaves to defend his country, she is sent to live with her mother across the border. Her journey is frightening and fascinating and filled with struggles, misunderstandings, and hope. Fear never overwhelms innocent and frank Toda as she tries to make sense of the war-torn world around her. The author uses Toda’s off-beat sense of humor to point out the absurdity of war. Gentle line drawings offer comic relief and further insight into what this young refugee goes through. mjw
Weasels do not eat nuts and berries or frolic in the leaves all day. What they really do is secretly plot to take over the world. The illustrations really make this book. Lively mixed-media cartoons fill each page with machines, maps, a vast high-tech laboratory, and hilarious, cute-faced weasels. Visual and verbal jokes about coffee obsessions, computer geeks, and bureaucracy jam-pack the pages and provide clues for solving the mystery of the computer malfunction. mjw
Peggy is a happy suburban hen. She eats breakfast, plays on her trampoline, and watches pigeons in her sunflower-filled yard until a gust of wind sends her to a bustling city far from home. She picks herself up, walks amid umbrella-holding pedestrians, and makes new discoveries in the city. However she becomes homesick when she sees a girl carrying a sunflower. She hopefully follows the girl onto a train, which does not get her home. She then spies some pigeons and follows them back home, where she eats her breakfast, plays on her trampoline, chats with the pigeons, and sometimes catches the train to the city. Clever ink, watercolor, and photo collage illustrations with detailed local Melbourne landmarks complement the quiet, delightful text. mjw
This beautifully illustrated picture book brings the lyrics of the 1969 Beatles song to life. Five children go on a magical journey through the playful octopus’s garden. They ride on the backs of turtles, play pirates in an undersea city, swim with a blue whale, and hide in giant whelk shells. The underwater action expresses the joy of discovery and the comfort of friendship. The book comes with a CD that features Ringo reading the story, a new recording of the song, and an instrumental version for children to sing along to. mjw
Parisian eight-year-old Ronnie, short for Myron, visits his grandparents and rowdy older cousins in England, while his parents move apartments. It is his first vacation away from his mama. There is a competition to see who can shower the least, a wild bike ride without helmets, the family tradition of jumping off the ten-foot diving board, and the shame of having his bathing suit slip off in the pool. This touching, funny story of Ronnie’s growth from timid mama’s boy to confidence and independence is written in journal format with energetic, expressive watercolor images. mjw
Eleven-year-old outspoken and likeable Billie Templar lives in a military town called Merchant Stanton. Her dad is serving with the army in Afghanistan and Billie desperately wants him home so they can defend their four-year record of winning the three-legged race at the school carnival. She plans to ask the Queen to give him permission to return home, but getting to see the Queen is tougher than she thinks. With the help of sweet, crazy friends and old age pensioners, she stages a military tattoo to get the Queen to visit during the Jubilee celebrations. The story is heart-wrenching, hilarious, and has a feel-good surprise ending.mjw
This narrative scrapbook, art journal, and mini graphic novel tells the story of a teenage girl from northern England. Three central themes in her life are illustrated with bits of old diaries, energetic and quirky doodles, witty pieces of wisdom, references to TV shows and music, photographs, and even ticket stubs. The themes/chapter headings are ME; FRIENDS, OTHERS, COLLEGE, AND ART; and LOVE. This portrait of teen life is solid, frank, and adorable. The author is 18 years-old. mjw
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