Category Archives: Batchelder

Just A Girl: A True Story Of World War II

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This powerful autobiographical story of a Jewish family in Italy during World War II is narrated by six-year-old Lia. She and her family attempt to avoid Nazi deportation, and she ends up in a Catholic convent because it is too dangerous for the family to stay together. Lia’s descriptions of her different schools, new friends, and war conditions are sensitive and perceptive. Horrific details are left out. The book includes inserts, side notes, and letters that speak directly to the reader. Cute black-and-white illustrations enhance Lia’s memories of her survival. Back matter includes a letter from the author and images from Lia Levi’s photo album. The story is a young readers’ adaptation of the author’s award-winning WWII memoir. mjw

Title: Just A Girl: A True Story Of World War II Author: Lia Levi Illustrator: Jess Mason Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers, LLC. Copyright: 2022 Original Language: Italian Translator: Sylvia Adrian Notini Original Title: Una bambina e basta Original Copyright: 2020 ISBN: 978-0-06-306508-6 Hardcover pages: 144 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Historical biography, Novel, Autobiography Book setting: Italy Author’s ethnicity: Italian Author’s residence: Rome, Italy Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: England Awards: 2023 Batchelder Winner Subjects: Boarding schools, Convents, Discrimination, Holocaust, Italy, Jewish, Memoirs, Survival, WWII

Different: A Story Of The Spanish Civil War

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Siblings, seven-year-old Socorro and nine-year-old Paco tell their story of Spain during the turbulent Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939. Fascist dictator Francisco Franco persecuted everyone who opposed him, and consequently, the children’s father had to flee Spain because of his political beliefs. The children and their mother remain in Spain and have to keep their secret. A letter arrives from their father in Venezuela that results in the family being reunited in Caracas, where they are still different but safe. Oil-pastel illustrations portray the worlds of the family. Based on the author’s family history, this middle-grade novel is supplemented with more information about Spain and the war, wartime refugees, a new life beyond Spain, and the lives of refugees today. A glossary of Spanish words and resources for children, young adults, and older readers are also included. mjw

Title: Different: A Story Of The Spanish Civil War Author: Monica Montanes Illustrator: Evan Sanchez Gomez Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2022 Original Language: Spanish Translator: Lawrence Schimel Original Title: Los distintos Original Publisher: Ediciones Ekare. Barcelona, Spain Original Copyright: 2020 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5598-5 Hardcover pages: 88 Age range: 9-14 Genre: Historical fiction Book setting: Spain, Venezuela Author’s ethnicity: Venezuelan Author’s residence: Madrid Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Spain Awards: 2021 White Raven, 2023 Batchelder Award Subjects: Brothers and sisters, Caribbean and Latin America, Emigration and immigration, Military and wars, Refugees, Spain Civil War 1936-1939, Survival, Venezuela

Temple Alley Summer

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While watching a ghost story on TV one night, fifth-grader Kazuhiro Sada sees a pale figure in a white kimono sneaking out of his house. He sees the same figure in school the next day. She is Akari, a girl his classmates insist he has known since kindergarten. Then he finds out that his house sits on the exact location of an ancient temple called Kimyo. Legend has is that the name Kimyo implies the dead coming back to life. Kazu befriends Akari and they spend the summer trying to make sense of the mystery. This thrilling adventure filled with the living dead, a story-within-a-story, a meddling neighbor, and a black cat is illustrated with manga-like drawings. mjw

Title: Temple Alley Summer Author: Sachiko Kashiwaba Illustrator: Miho Satake Publisher: Restless Books, Inc. New York Copyright: 2021 Original Language: Japanese Translator: Avery Fischer Udagawa Original Title: Kimyoji Yokocho no Natsu Original Publisher: Kodansha Ltd. Tokyo Original Copyright: 2011 ISBN: 978-1-6320-6303-8 Hardcover pages: 240 Age range: 8-13 Genre: Fiction, Novel Book setting: Japan Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Iwate Prefecture, Jan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: Japan Awards: 2022 Mildred L. Batchelder Award Subjects: Cats, Fairytales, Fantasy, Ghosts, Magic, Mystery, Paranormal, Supernatural, Suspense, Temple

Catherine’s War

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This teen Jewish French girl’s historical graphic novel is inspired by a true survival story. Rachel Cohen, whose passion is photography, lives at the Sevres Children’s Home outside Paris. As Hitler’s war escalates, she must go into hiding. She has to leave her friends, but she takes her camera as she is forced to move from location to location. The ink and watercolor illustrations capture beautifully the detail of the French setting. A map of Catherine’s journey through France is included, as well as photographs of the real Catherine, and an interview with the author. mjw

Title: Catherine’s War Author: Julia Billet Illustrator: Claire Fauvel Publisher: Harper Alley, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers Copyright: 2020 Original Language: French Translator: Ivanka Hahnenberger Original Title: La Guerre de Catherine Original Publisher: Rue de Sevres, Paris Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-0-06-291559-7 Paperback pages: 176 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Historical Fiction, Graphic Novel Book setting: France Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: France Awards: 2021 ALA Batchelder Honor Award Subjects: Cameras, Coming of age, Holocaust, Nazis, Paris, Photographs, World War II

Brown

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Three bullies – Anton, Ruben, and the minister’s son – destroy the fort that young Rusty and his friend Jack have constructed from scrap.  Dressed in a brown cape and mask, Rusty, as super hero “Brown”, sneaks out at night to paint Ruben’s bicycle brown. Jack becomes “Black” who paints Anton’s bike black. Another friend Lou, as “Blue” joins them, only to discover that most of their stash of blue paint has disappeared. They still manage to paint all three bikes blue. Rusty feels guilty, but does not get into trouble because the three bullies have written rude words in blue on the church’s spire. This is the first book to be translated from the award-winning trilogy My Alter Ego Is A Superhero series from Norway.  It has been translated into more than thirty languages. Fine-lined ink drawings with washes of color add humor to this fun story. mjw

Title: Brown Author: Hakon Ovreas Illustrator: Oyvind Torseter Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books, New York Copyright: 2019 Original Language: Norwegian Translator: Kari Dickson Original Title: Brune Original Publisher: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag AS Original Copyright: 2013 ISBN: 978-1-59270-212-1 Hardcover pages: 136 Age range: 6-10 Genre: Fiction Author’s ethnicity: Norwegian Author’s residence: Norway Illustrator’s ethnicity: Norwegian Illustrator’s residence: Norway Awards: 2020 ALA Mildred Batchelder Award, Norwegian Ministry of Culture’s Literature Prize Subjects: Grandfathers, Superheroes

When Spring Comes To The DMZ

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The beautiful paintings in this book show the changing seasons and the variety of wildlife that live peacefully in the Demilitarized Zone of Korea. Readers can also see the ever-present fences and soldiers. Salmon swim bravely upstream and mountain goats jump after their mother.  Grandfather goes to the DMZ every season and dreams of flinging the gates wide open and walking inside and looking up into the blue sky. The book is part of the Peace Picture Book Project by illustrators from Korea, China, and Japan. A map of Korea and historical facts are included as back matter and the endpapers provide a world map. mjw

Title: When Spring Comes To The DMZ Author: Uk-Bae Lee Illustrator: Uk-Bae Lee Publisher: Plough Publishing House. New York Copyright: 2019 Original Language: Korean Translator: Aileen Won Original Title: Bimujang chidae e bom i omyon Original Publisher: Sakyejul Publishing Ltd. Paju, Korea Original Copyright: 2010 ISBN: 978-0-87486-972-9 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book, Historical Fiction Book setting: Korea Author’s ethnicity: Korean Author’s residence: Korea Illustrator’s ethnicity: Korean Illustrator’s residence: Korea Awards: 2020 ALA Mildred Batchelder Honor Award Subjects: Grandfathers, Korean Demilitarized Zone, Seasons, Soldiers

The Distance Between Me And The Cherry Tree

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Ten-year-old Mafalda has Stargardt Disease, which causes progressive vision loss and eventual blindness. She has six months of sight left and she hides this fact from her family and friends. She keeps a list of all the things she cares about, like climbing the cherry tree near her school and counting stars. She makes a plan for when she can’t see and runs away to live in her favorite cherry tree.  This is a powerful, thought-provoking story of a young girl’s fears. mjw

Title: The Distance Between Me And The Cherry Tree Author: Paola Peretti Illustrator: Carolina Rabei Publisher: Hot Key Books, London Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Italian Translator: Denise Muir Original Publisher: Rizzoli Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-4714-0755-0 Paperback pages: 195 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Italy Author’s ethnicity: Italian Author’s residence: Verona, Italy Translator’s residence: Edinburgh and Abruzzo, Italy Awards: 2020 ALA Mildred Batchelder Honor Award, 2020 IBBY Honor List Subjects: Blindness, Cats, Emotions and feelings, Sight, Special needs, Stargardt disease, Trees

The Fox On The Swing

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Paul lives with his family in a tree house in a big city. On his way home from the bakery, where everyday he gets three fresh rolls, Paul befriends a wise, friendly, orange fox. Being friends with the fox is a magical and challenging experience for Paul.  He has to deal with an unexpected move; friendship; appreciating the little things in life, like carrot cake and marmalade; and the nature of happiness. Brightly colored digital collages portray people, very detailed buildings, vehicles, and animals in this unpredictable, quirky story. mjw

Title: The Fox On The Swing Author: Evelina Daciute Illustrator: Ausra Kiudulaite Publisher: Thames & Hudson, U.K. Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Lithuanian Translator: The Translation Bureau Original Title: Laime Yra Lape Original Publisher: Tikra Knyga. Vilnius. Lithuania Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-0-500-651-8 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Lithuanian Author’s residence: Lithuania Illustrator’s ethnicity: Lithuanian Illustrator’s residence: Lithuania Awards: 2019 Batchelder Award Subjects: Emotions, Fox and wolf, Happiness, Loneliness

When A Wolf Is Hungry

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Edmond Bigsnout is a lone wolf living in the woods who has a hankering for some rabbit – a city bunny. Wearing a tuxedo and carrying a knife, he hops on his bike and heads for the city. He stops at a tall apartment building where a miniature rabbit lives on the fifth floor. The residents in the elevator mistake him for a friendly new neighbor. He has to return to the woods several times to get new weapons because the residents find innocent uses for them. He finally gets to the roof of the building and is invited to the party all the animal residents are having. The rabbit says, “Please join us! We won’t eat you!” Vegetarianism wins out and the ending is happy for everyone. Clever illustrations add to this big bad wolf with a twist. mjw

Title: When A Wolf Is Hungry Author: Christine Naumann-Villemin Illustrator: Kris Di Giacomo Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.  Grand Rapids, Michigan Copyright: 2017 Original Language: French Original Title: Quand le Loup a Faim Original Publisher: Editions Kaleidoscope Original Copyright: 2011 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5482-7 Hardcover pages: 34 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: U.S. Illustrator’s residence: Paris Awards: 2018 Batchelder Honor Subjects: Apartment houses, City life, Humor, Neighborliness, Rabbits, Wolves

You Can’t Be Too Careful

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Follow the white rose and the gardener along alternative space-time paths in this study of causality, consequence, and the interconnectedness of life. More than a dozen eccentric characters are introduced – a circus monkey, a fake doctor who wants to play the bagpipes, Rajah the Malodorous, and more. The book expresses serious questions about the dangers of greed and the importance of kindness. Complex colored pencil drawings and torn paper illustrations will make you want to look again at this paradoxical story. mjw

Title: You Can’t Be Too Careful Author: Roger Mello Illustrator: Roger Mello Publisher: Elsewhere Editions.   Brooklyn, NY Copyright: 2017 Original Language: Portuguese Translator: Daniel Hahn Original Title: Todo Cuidado e pouco! Original Publisher: Companhia das Letras, Sao Paolo Original Copyright: 1999 ISBN: 978-0-914671-64-0 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Brazilian Author’s residence: Brazil Illustrator’s ethnicity: Brazilian Illustrator’s residence: Brazil Awards: 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Award, 2018 Batchelder Honor Award Subjects: Action, Avarice, Kindness, Greed, Roses

The Ballad Of A Broken Nose

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Thirteen-year-old Bart Norum has had a hard life. He lives in public housing with his alcoholic mother, his neighbors are drug addicts, and he doesn’t know who is father is. He takes up boxing so that he can protect himself, but his real love is opera. His friend Ada, who cannot keep a secret, lets his classmates and teacher know about his passion and they want him to sing in the class talent show. But Bart suffers from paralyzing stage fright. Bart is an optimist and he tells his story about bravery, fear, sports, and music in a funny and matter-of-fact style. An interesting note is that Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel is Bart’s idol. mjw

Title: The Ballad Of A Broken Nose Author: Arne Svingen Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, New York Copyright: 2016 Original Language: Norwegian Translator: Kari Dickson Original Title: Sangen om en Brukkt Nese Original Publisher: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag Original Copyright: 2012 ISBN: 978-1-4814-1542-2 Hardcover pages: 224 Age range: 10-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Norway Author’s ethnicity: Norwegian Author’s residence: Norway Awards: 2017 Mildred L. Batchelder Award, Norwegian Ministry of Culture’s Best Young Adult Literature Prize Subjects: Boxing, Bullies, Drugs, Friendship, Music, Opera, Talent shows

Cry Heart, But Never Break

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Four clever siblings attempt to distract Death to keep him from taking their ailing grandmother away. He inevitably arrives and tells the children a story about how he is natural and necessary. He pairs day with night, grief with delight, and joy with sorrow in this contemplative picture book. His beautiful story helps children realize the value of life and the importance of saying goodbye. Expressive and peaceful pencil and watercolor paintings handle the subject well. mjw

Title: Cry Heart, But Never Break Author: Glenn Ringtved Illustrator: Charlotte Pardi Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books.  New York Copyright: 2016 Original Language: Danish Translator: Robert Moulthrop Original Title: Graed blot hjerte Original Copyright: 2001 ISBN: 978-1-59270-187-2 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Danish Author’s residence: Denmark Illustrator’s ethnicity: Danish Illustrator’s residence: Denmark Awards: 2017 Batchelder Award Subjects: Children and death, Death and dying, Grief, Multigenerational