Category Archives: Hans Christian Andersen

The New Teacher

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Miss Charlotte, the new teacher, is not like the others. She talks to a rock, has the class measure the room with cooked spaghetti, and tells captivating stories about a gorilla. Her students are convinced that she is crazy, but she makes learning fun and inspires them to think. However, not everyone approves of her methods. This modern-day Mary Poppins story is illustrated with quirky line drawings by Tony Ross. This is the first book in the Mademoiselle Charlotte series, which recounts the misadventures of the eccentric Mademoiselle in a variety of professions. mjw

Title: The New Teacher Author: Dominique Demers Illustrator: Tony Ross Publisher: Alma Books, Ltd. Copyright: 2016 Original Language: French Translator: Sander Berg Original Title: La Nouvelle Maitress Original Publisher: Editiones Quebec Amérique Original Copyright: 1994 ISBN: 978-1-84688-399-6 Paperback pages: 78 Age range: 7-9 Genre: Fiction Author’s ethnicity: French Canadian Author’s residence: Montreal Illustrator’s ethnicity: British Illustrator’s residence: England Awards: Illustrator was a 2004 Hans Christian Andersen nominee, 1968 Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis Subjects: Schools, Teachers

Bronze and Sunflower

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Set during the Chinese Cultural Revolution (late 1960s and early 1970s), Sunflower, a young girl and her artist father are banished to do hard labor in the countryside at a cadre school. It’s a difficult life for her and she is lonely. She meets Bronze, the mute son of poor villagers, who is bullied by the other village boys. After Sunflower’s father dies, Bronze’s family takes her in despite facing extreme hardship, and Sunflower finally finds happiness. This engrossing, beautifully written novel, with luminous imagery, will broaden readers’ horizons. Notes in the back of the book provide historical background and information about Cao’s inspiration for the book. mjw

Title: Bronze and Sunflower Author: Cao Wenxuan Illustrator: Meilo So Publisher: Walker Books Ltd. London Copyright: 2015 Original Language: Chinese Translator: Helen Wang Original Copyright: 2005 ISBN: 978-1-4063-4846-0 Paperback pages: 400 Age range: 9 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Damaidi, China Author’s ethnicity: Chinese Author’s residence: China Illustrator’s ethnicity: Chinese Illustrator’s residence: England Awards: 2016 Hans Christian Andersen Author Medal, 2019 Global Literature in Libraries Initiative Shortlist Subjects: China, Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), Friendship, Poverty, Survival

Hound And Hare

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Hounds and hares don’t get along in the town of Great Bone because of an old feud. Teens Hugo Hound and Harley Hare both want to participate in the Big Race, but their parents don’t approve. They do enter the race and are both in the lead when a terrible thunderstorm breaks out. Hugo is terrified of the storm and Harley panics when he discovers that they are lost. By working together, they find their way home, share the first prize, and become the heroes of the day. Funny, colored pencil and ink cartoon style drawings complement the lively text in this picture book/early chapter book. The endpapers feature a map of the town. mjw

Title: Hound And Hare Author: Rotraut Susanne Berner Illustrator: Rotraut Susanne Berner Publisher: Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press Copyright: 2011 Original Language: German Translator: Shelley Tanaka Original Title: Hund & Hase Original Publisher: Jacoby and Stuart Original Copyright: 22009 ISBN: 978-0-88899-987-0 Hardcover pages: 80 Age range: 6-9 Genre: Picture Book/ Early Chapter Book Author’s ethnicity: German Author’s residence: Germany Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Germany Awards: 2016 Hans Christian Andersen Award, 2006 German Youth Literature Prize for her work as a whole Subjects: Community, Conflict resolution, Cooperation, Dogs, Hares, Hounds, Rabbits, Running races, Racing, Thunderstorms

My Bedtime Monster

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Rikki asks her parents for a pet that is cuddly and fierce, can be big or little, and can swim or fly, Rikki’s parents tell her that no animal like that exists. Through her imagination, she creates such a creature. The duo embarks on a journey where the creature changes its shape, size, and attitude on Rikki’s command. The Hans Christian Andersen illustrator uses modern style illustrations to manifest the spirited Rikki’s nighttime adventure with her monster. ema

Title: My Bedtime Monster Author: Annelies Schwarz Illustrator: Květa Pacovská Publisher: Michael Neugebauer Publishing Copyright: 2014 Original Language: German Translator: Michael Neugebauer Publishing Original Title: DasTier mit den Funkelaugen Original Publisher: Beltz Verlag, Weinheim und Basel Original Copyright: 1990 ISBN: 978-988-8240-47-0 Hardcover pages: 24 pages Age range: 3-6 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Czech Author’s residence: lives on the coast of the North Sea Illustrator’s ethnicity: Czech Illustrator’s residence: Prague Awards: Recipient of Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2015, Picture Books, illustrator is recipient of the 1992 Hans Christian Andersen Medal, and Author is the winner of the 2001 Culture Prize of the Sudeten German Literature Subjects: Creatures, Imaginary friends, Imagination, Monsters, Pets,

Harry Miller’s Run

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Eleven-year-old Liam is an enthusiastic runner who, with his mates, has entered his first Junior Great North Run. He visits an elderly neighbor, Harry Miller, who is about to move into a nursing home and who his mum helps to look after. Harry tells that he ran the thirteen-mile race from Newcastle to the sea at South Shields when he was a lad in 1938. This touching and uplifting story about friendship is illustrated with detailed black and white drawings. The Great North Run is an actual English athletic event. mjw

Title: Harry Miller’s Run Author: David Almond Illustrator: Salvatore Rubbino Publisher: Walker Books Ltd., London Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English Original copyright: 2008 ISBN: 978-1-4063-6224-4 Hardcover pages: 64 Age range: 7 up Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: England Author’s ethnicity: British Author’s residence: Northumberland, England Illustrator’s residence: London Awards: Author has won 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Medal Subjects: Friendship, Marathon running, Reminiscing in old age, Running

The Pied Piper Of Hamelin: An Old Legend Collected By The Brothers Grimm

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In the year 1284, the town of Hamelin was overrun by rats and the Mayor himself offered a good fee to the stranger, wearing a parti-colored or “pied” robe, who promised he would rid the town of the plague of rats. The rat-catcher played a tune on his pipe “that had never been heard before,’ which caused the rats to scurry to the River Weser, where they all drowned. But when the townspeople would not give him the gold he had earned, the Pied Piper left the town angry and later returned, dressed like a huntsman, playing another strange melody on his pipe. This time, the Hamelin children followed him and disappeared. This fine translation of the original strange and unsettling tale is adorned with dark and creepy, yet elegant watercolor painting by one of the world’s preeminent book artists. An afterword gives information about the legend and a list of other tales illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger. mjw Title: The Pied Piper Of Hamelin: An Old Legend Collected By The Brothers Grimm Author: Retold by Renate Raecke Illustrator: Lisbeth Zwerger Publisher: Michael Neugebauer Publishing Ltd.  A Minedition book Copyright: 2014 Original Language: German Translator: Anthea Bell Original Title: Originally published in German Legends (1816/18) by Jacob Grimm (1785-1863) and Wilhelm Grimm (1786-1859) Original Copyright: 1816-1818 ISBN: 978-988-8240-82-1 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 7-9 Genre: Picture Book, Fairy tale Book setting: Hamelin, Germany Author’s ethnicity: Renate Raecke – German Author’s residence: Germany Illustrator’s ethnicity: Austrian Illustrator’s residence: Vienna Awards: Illustrator has won Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1990 Subjects: Greed, Legendary characters, Legends, Folklore, Rat

The King And The Sea

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A small king made of paper collage with a crayoned face and gold crown is the subject of 21 extremely short stories. In The King and the Bee, the queen bee stings the king’s nose. In The King and the Sky, the king gazes in wonder at the glittering snow blanket around him and simply says “Thank you.” In each quiet story, the king interacts with some creature or part of his kingdom, sees that his power has limits, and finds his place in his little world. The sparse text and striking mixed media illustrations convey the wisdom and humor of the stories.mjw

Title: The King And The Sea Author: Heinz Janisch Illustrator: Wolf Erlbruch Publisher: Gecko Press.  Wellington, New Zealand Copyright: 2015 Original Language: German Translator: Sally-Ann Spencer Original Title: Der König und das Meer Original Publisher: Sanssouci im Carl Hanser.  Verlag Munchen Original Copyright: 2008 ISBN: 978-1-877579-94-3 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 4 up Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Austrian Author’s residence: Vienna, Austria Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Germany Awards: Illustrator has won 2006 Hans Christian Andersen Award and the 2017 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Janisch  has won the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award Subjects: Kings, Royalty, Short stories

A Song For Ella Grey

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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

Moribito: Guardian Of The Spirit

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Balsa is a formidable warrior. After she saves the Second Prince of New Yogo, Chagum, from an attempt on his life, the Second Queen hires Balsa to protect her son. The eleven year old second prince is the guardian of the water spirit, the Moribito. The Moribito is chosen every hundred years to deliver the egg of the water spirit to its home. Although Balsa realises taking the assignment puts herself in danger, Balsa’s heart empathizes with the innocent Chagum, and she vows to protect his life. This thrilling fantasy story based on Japan during the Middle Ages told in third person narrative from multiple viewpoints will captivate readers. Uehashi’s writing demonstrates that characters’  motives, desires, and actions do not always align. Moreover, this book illustrates  how differences in politics, traditions, histories, ethnicities and beliefs can impact people’s thoughts and actions.This English translated edition also features black and white action packed illustrations at the beginning of each part of the book, a glossary of character names, a list of places and terms, and a note from the author. Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit is the first book in a ten book fantasy series. There is also a manga series, and a subtitled and dubbed anime series in English based on the book series.      ema

Title: Moribito: Guardian Of The Spirit Author: Nahoko Uehashi Illustrator: Yuko Shimizu Publisher: Scholastic Copyright: 2009 Original Language: Japanese Translator: Cathy Hirano Original Title: Seirei no Moribito Original Publisher: Kaisei-sha Original Copyright: 1996 ISBN: 978-0545005432 Paperback pages:  288 Age range: 12 up Genre: Fantasy Book setting: Middle Ages Japan Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Japan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: New York Awards: 1997 Sankei Children’s Book Award, 2009 Batchelder Award, 2009 Beacon Award, 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing  Subjects: Displaced indigenous people, Family, Fantasy, Fathers, Fiction, Friends, Japan,  Middle Ages, Monsters, Mothers, Princes, Religious tolerance, Spirits,Traditions, Water Spirits

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the story of “crackpot” Commander Caractacus Pot, his wife Mimsie, their twins Jeremy and Jemima, and their magical flying car. A first drive in their new car, with license plates Gen II (genii), takes them to Dover Beach for a picnic, Goodwin Sands in the English Channel, and eventually Calais on the French coast. There, they explore a deep cave, which turns out to be an ammunition dump used by Joe the Monster and his criminal gang. Jeremy and Jemima get kidnapped and a famous Paris chocolate shop is almost robbed, but all turns out well. And a recipe for Monsieur Bon Bon’s Secret Fooj (fudge) is included. Filled with humor, hi-jinks, and even some scientific information, the action-packed fantasy is complete with the original Burningham artwork, which is a beautiful combination of photography and illustration. This timeless story has been reinvented as a musical (2002), a film with a screenplay co-written by Roald Dahl (1968), and has inspired three sequels written by Frank Cottrell Boyce. This is the 50th anniversary full-color gift edition.mjw

Title: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Author: Ian Fleming (1908-1964) Illustrator: John Burningham Publisher: Candlewick Press, Somerville, Massachusetts Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English Original Copyright: 1964 ISBN: 978-0-7636-6678-1 Hardcover pages: 176 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction, Fantasy Book setting: England, France Author’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: North London Awards: Illustrator has won the Kate Greenaway Medal, 1963,1970: UK Nominee for Hans Christian Andersen Award, 1980,1986 Subjects: Action. Adventure, Gangsters, Humor, Magic, Transportation

Sidewalk Flowers

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A young girl, dressed in a red hoodie, and her father walk home from the grocery store through the busy city streets of their black-and-white world in this tender wordless picture book. The digitally edited pen-and-ink and watercolor graphic novel style panels show what the girl sees – colorful weeds and wildflowers sprouting through the cracks in the sidewalks. She gathers these sidewalk flowers. Her father talks on his cellphone and doesn’t even notice. She silently gives dandelions and daffodils to a dead bird lying on the walk, lilacs to a man asleep on a bench, and at home, daisies to her mother and her two younger siblings. Slowly, her world blooms and becomes bright with color. Varying perspectives in the illustrations call attention to the child’s sense of wonder, the power of observation, and the appreciation of natural things that often go unnoticed in our busy world. mjw

Title: Sidewalk Flowers Author: JonArno Lawson Illustrator: Sydney Smith Publisher: Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Books.  Toronto Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-55498-4312 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Wordless picture book Book setting: Toronto Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Toronto, Canada Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Toronto, Canada Awards: Author is a four-time winner of The Lion and The Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Children’s Poetry. Smith has won the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award. Subjects: Cities, Fathers, Flowers, Kindness, Environment, Natural world, Parents, Stories without words, Urban

The Tightrope Walkers

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This moving and powerful coming-of-age novel set in the 1960s in downtrodden Tyneside in northern England tells the story of Dominic and Holly from ages five to seventeen. Dom comes from a long line of shipyard workers and is destined to work at the yard if he does not succeed in school. Lovely Holly, the eccentric artist next door, is the daughter of a draughtsman at the yard. Dom is creative, good with words, and has the potential to go to college and escape from a dangerous, dead-end job building ships, but he is tempted away from Holly and school by the wild and wreckless local bad-boy Vincent. As Holly and Dom grow, they walk a homemade tightrope, literally and figuratively, trying to find their balance. Together, they break the bonds that have held their previous generations hostage and find peace and love. Spare poetry, lush descriptions, and Geordie dialect enrich the text. The book was published in the UK as an adult title, but the strong characters, themes, and sense of place will appeal to teens. mjw

Title: The Tightrope Walkers Author: David Almond Publisher: Candlewick Press.  Somerville, Massachusetts Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Viking, published for adults Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-0-7636-7310-9 Hardcover pages: 336 Age range: 14 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Newcastle, England Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: England  Awards: 2013 Eleanor Farjeon Award, 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Award Subjects: Coming-of-age, Dreams, England, Life choices, Love, Manhood, Shipbuilding, Tyneside, Young men, Violence