![]() Asiya loves visiting Nanu’s house. It is filled with all sorts of treasures, the best being the katha chest. This is an old trunk full of quilts made from the old saris of her grandma, aunts, and mother. Each quilt has a story to tell. The illustrations are inspired by the Bengali folk art called Pattachitra – cloth paintings with simple colors, bold lines, and intricate details. Author’s and illustrator’s notes are provided. mjw |
Title: The Katha Chest Author: Radhiah Chowdhury Illustrator: Lavanya Naidu Publisher: Salaam Reads, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Copyright: 2021 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1665903905 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture book Book setting: Bangladesh Author’s ethnicity: Bengali Author’s residence: Australia Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: Australia Subjects: Aunts, Grandmothers, Memories Mothers, Quilts, Saris |
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Girl On The Run
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Title: Girl On The Run Author: Nancy McDonald Publisher: Iguana Books. Toronto Copyright: 2021 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77180-517-9 Paperback pages: 174 Age range: 10 up Genre: Historical fiction, Novel Book setting: Berlin, Paris Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Stratford, Ontario Subjects: Coming of age, Germany, Holocaust, Jewish persecution, Nazis, Stepmothers, World War II |
Lands Of Belonging: A History of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Britain
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Title: Lands Of Belonging: A History Of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Britain Author: Donna and Vikesh Amey Bhatt Illustrator: Salini Perera Publisher: Nosy Crow, London Copyright: 2022 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-83994-468-0 Hardcover pages: 64 Age range: 7-12 Genre: Nonfiction, Information Book Book setting: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Britain Author’s ethnicity: East African (Vikesh) Author’s residence: London Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Sri Lanka Illustrator’s residence: Toronto Subjects: Ancient empires, East India Company, Festivals, Food, Games, Holidays, Independence, Partition, World War I, World War II |
Madani’s Best Game
![]() Madani is the neighborhood soccer star, who plays on his bare feet. Everyone watches when he plays and wonders what he could do if he only had a proper pair of cleats. Madani is saving money, but not for soccer shoes. Instead, he buys a new sewing machine for his mother. The story is narrated by one of Madani’s teammates. The author explains that the story was inspired by his work with immigrant families. The beautiful, smudgy illustrations, created with pencil, gouache, and colored pencil, capture the city neighborhood and the movement of the soccer games. mjw |
Title: Madani’s Best Game Author: Fran Pintadera Illustrator: Raquel Catalina Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2022 Original Language: Spanish Translator: Lawrence Schimel Original Title: La mejor jugada de Madani Original Publisher: Ediciones Ekare. Barcelona, Spain Original Copyright: 2021 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5597-8 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Picture book, Sports fiction Book setting: Spain Author’s ethnicity: Spanish Author’s residence: Spain Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Spain Subjects: Immigrant life, Love, Poverty, Sewing machines, Shoes, Soccer, Teamwork, Values |
It’s So Difficult
![]() A child leaves the house and everything is so difficult. The school day is overwhelming. Counting things or calculating relaxes him. His mother tells him not to rush, that someday words will happen. But the noise makes everything so difficult. The book was inspired by the author’s experiences as a secondary school teacher in Spain. Interesting line illustrations created with collage, pencil, gouache, and digital media enrich this look at anxiety and overstimulation. mjw |
Title: It’s So Difficult Author: Raul Nieto Guridi Illustrator: Raul Nieto Guridi Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. Grand Rapids, Michigan Copyright: 2022 Original Language: Spanish Translator: Lawrence Schimel Original Title: Lo Dificil Original Publisher: Tres Tigres Tristes Original Copyright: 2020 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5584-8 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Spanish Author’s residence: Spain Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Spain Subjects: Anxiety, Math, Overstimulation, Special needs |
My Name Is Bana
![]() Seven-year-old Bana, a Syrian girl from Aleppo, took to Twitter to describe her war-torn home. In this picture book memoir, she offers her perspective on the war and being a refugee. She explains the origin of her name. Bana is a tall bushy tree that grows in Syria. Her father and mother wanted her to be strong just like the tree – being kind to others, standing up against injustice, and being brave in the face of fear. She also shows her strength by bringing joy to her brothers amidst bombings, starting over in a new country, and speaking to world leaders on behalf of Syrian refugee children. The illustrations rendered in acrylic paint and finished in procreate are emotional and bright. Arabic words are smoothly integrated into the text. An author’s note tells that the book is based on a true story. mjw |
Title: My Name Is Bana Author: Bana Alabed Illustrator: Nez Riaz Publisher: Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2021 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1534412484 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture book, Autobiography Book setting: Syria and Turkey Author’s ethnicity: Syrian Author’s residence: Turkey Illustrator’s ethnicity: Pakistani Illustrator’s residence: Boston, MA Awards: 2022 NCSS Notable Books Subjects: Autobiography, Biography, Children’s writings, Human rights, Refugee children, Syria – Civil War, Trees |
It’s Up To Us: Building A Brighter Future For Nature, People, and Planet
![]() This beautifully illustrated book is introduced by King Charles. His call to action for our planet is divided into four sections –Nature, People, Planet, and Terra Carta. The Terra Carta is a plan of action for the Earth created by HRH the Prince of Wales, now King Charles. The text is included in the book. Thirty-three award-winning artists from around the world have contributed wonderful artwork. Profiles of the illustrators are included as back-matter. The story tells how Nature operates and how People have damaged it. Information about the Prince’s Foundation and an index/glossary are also provided. mjw |
Title: It’s Up To Us: Building A Brighter Future For Nature, People, and Planet Author: Christopher Lloyd Illustrator: 33 artists from around the world Publisher: What On Earth Books Copyright: 2022 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-9137505-6-5 Hardcover pages: 64 Age range: 6-10 Genre: Picture book, Information book, Nonfiction Author’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s ethnicity: 33 illustrators from around the world Subjects: Climate change, Conservation, Earth, Environment, Global community, Green living, Prince of Wales, Recycling, Sustainability. Terra Carta, Values |
Fly
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Title: Fly Author: Alison Hughes Publisher: Kids Can Press Ltd., Toronto Copyright: 2022 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1525-305-832 Hardcover pages: 197 Age range: 10-14 Genre: Fiction, Novel in verse Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Edmonton, Alberta Subjects: Cerebral palsy, Courage, Don Quixote, Free verse, Poetry, Wheelchairs |
The Mountain
![]() The bear claims that a mountain is a forest full of trees and green things. The sheep says that a mountain is a meadow with flowers, herbs, fresh smells, and buzzing bees. All the animals have their own opinions in this clever story about different perspectives. The detailed artwork is very appealing and magnificent. mjw |
Title: The Mountain Author: Rebecca Gugger Illustrator: Simon Rothlisberger Publisher: NorthSouth Books, New York Copyright: 2021 Original Language: German Translator: Marshall Yarbrough Original Title: Der Berg Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG. Zurich, Switzerland Original Copyright: 2021 ISBN:978-0-7358-4457-5 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Swiss Author’s residence: Switzerland Illustrator’s ethnicity: Swiss Illustrator’s residence: Switzerland Subjects: Ants, Bears, Chamois. Forests, Octopi, Perspectives, Poin of view, Sheep, Snow hare, Tolerance |
Leilong’s Too Long!
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Title: Leilong’s Too Long Author: Julia Liu Illustrator: Bei Lynn Publisher: Gecko Press. New Zealand Copyright: 2022 Original Language: Chinese Translator: Helen Wang Original Title: Riding A Brontosaurus To School Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-1-77657-433-9 Hardcover pages: 28 Age range: 2-5 Genre: Picture book Author’s ethnicity: Taiwanese Author’s residence: Taiwan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Taiwanese Illustrator’s residence: Taiwan Subjects: Brontosaurus, Bus, Dinosaurs, Imagination, School bus, Transportation |
Bandoola: The Great Elephant Rescue
![]() The colored pencil drawings are stunningly beautiful in this incredible true story about war veteran James Howard Williams; Bandoola, a working elephant; and Po Toke, the elephant’s keeper. They work together on a teak plantation in Myanmar (Burma), a country in Southeast Asia that was a colony of the British Empire. When World War II forces them to evacuate their home in the jungle, they lead a group of over 200 refugees and over 50 elephants across mountainous terrain to safety in Assam, India. A table of contents, a map, a wonderfully illustrated glossary, suggestions for further reading, and an author’s note add to this highly educational masterpiece. mjw |
Title: Bandoola: The Great Elephant Rescue Author: William Grill Illustrator: William Grill Publisher: Flying Eye Books, an imprint of Nobrow Ltd. London Copyright: 2021 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-83874-123-8 Hardcover pages: 88 Age range: 8-14 Genre: Picture Book, Information Book, Nonfiction Book setting: Myanmar and India Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: London Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: London Awards: Author /Illustrator has won the 2015 Kate Greenaway Medal Subjects: Asian history, Burma, Deforestation, Elephants, Green living, Jungle, Logging industry, Monsoons, Mountains, Rainforests, Timber, Timber elephants, World War II |
Last Witnesses (Adapted for Young Adults)
![]() A very helpful Historical Context sets the scene for 65 short personal narratives told by those who were Russian children during World War II and survived terrifying war-time experiences. Nobel Prize-winning Svetlana Alexievich discloses the traumatic memories of children who were separated from their parents, most of them never to be reunited. This is the young adult adaptation of her masterpiece, Last Witness: An Oral History of the Children of WWII. The Russian perspective stories are fascinating as they portray terror, survival, and hope. The book also features a useful glossary. mjw |
Title: Last Witnesses (Adapted for Young Adults) Author: Svetlana Alexievich Publisher: Penguin Random House LLC Copyright: 2021 Original Language: Russian Translator: Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky Original Title: Last Witnesses: An Oral History Of The Children Of WWII Original Publisher: Molodaya Gvardiya, Moscow Original Copyright: 1985 ISBN: 978-0-593-30853-0 Hardcover pages: 288 Age range: 12-17 Genre: Information book, Nonfiction, Oral history Book setting: Russia Author’s ethnicity: Ukrainian Author’s residence: Soviet Union, Belarus, Western Europe Awards: Author has won the 2015 Nobel Prize for Literature. 2022 NCSS Notable Books Subjects: Childhood, Death, Historical biographies, Hope, Military history, Oral history, Resilience, Survival, Terror, WWII, Young adult |