Category Archives: Uncategorized

Where The World Ends

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In the summer of 1727, eight boys and three men are marooned on a remote rocky stac at the edge of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.  They were sent there to harvest birds for food, feathers, and oil.  No one returns to collect them. They survive for nine months through deadly storms, madness, and starvation.  Based on a true story, this is an unsettling and awe-inspiring novel.  The world-building is brilliant.  A map of St. Kilda, an afterword, black-and-white sketches of birds, and a glossary are included.  mjw

Title: Where The World Ends Author: Geraldine McCaughrean Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd. London Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-4749-2114-5 Hardcover pages: 336 Age range: 11 up Genre: Historical Fiction, based on a true story Book setting: Hirta, St. Kilda, Scotland Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Berkshire, England  Awards: 2018 CILIP Carnegie Medal Subjects: Birds, Cultures, Geography, Natural world, Survival, Western Islands (Scotland)

The Chameleon That Saved Noah’s Ark

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Noah and his multi-ethnic family can’t find the right food for the two picky eater chameleons on the ark. Noah’s wife is highlighted, but everyone is involved in trying to find food for the chameleons. The mystery continues until worms threaten the fruit bins and the chameleons solve both problems! Even worms are wonders…”and everything and everyone has a place under the sun.” Folk-art style, textured acrylic paintings are delightful in this extension of the well-known Bible story. mjw

Title: The Chameleon That Saved Noah’s Ark Author: Yael Molchadsky Illustrator: Orit Bergman Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, New York Copyright: 2016 Original Language: Hebrew Translator: Annette Appel Original Publisher: KInneret, Zmora-Bitan, Dvir Publishing House Ltd., Israel Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-101-99676-8 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Israeli Author’s residence: Israel Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Jerusalem Illustrator’s residence: Israel Subjects: Animals, Boats, Chameleons, Noah’s Ark, Noah (Biblical figure), Transportation

One Fun Day With Lewis Carroll: A Celebration Of Wordplay And A Girl Named Alice

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This wonderful picture book is part Lewis Carroll biography and part word game. Nonsense words and phrases take readers through Carroll’s fantasy world. Along the way readers learn about Carroll’s life as a mathematician and his friendship with the Liddell family and the real Alice. The frabjous illustrations breathe new life into the famous characters. A glossary explains the words and ideas invented by Carroll and reveals that nearly two hundred of them appear in the Oxford English Dictionary. A closing note gives more information about Carroll. mjw

Title: One Fun Day With Lewis Carroll: A Celebration Of Wordplay And A Girl Named Alice Author: Kathleen Krull Illustrator: Julia Sarda Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0544348233 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 6-9 Genre: Picture Book Biography Book setting: England Author’s ethnicity: U.S. Author’s residence: U.S. Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Spain  Subjects: Authors, Books, Charles Dodgson, Language, Literature, Imagination, Wordplay

La Frontera: El Viaje Con Papa, My Journey With Papa

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This bilingual book (Spanish and English) follows Alfredo and his father during the 1980s as they leave behind their home in Mexico for Texas.  The story is told through Alfredo’s eyes and is based on one of the author’s own experiences in crossing the border, la frontera.  It tells why they left Mexico, describes their difficult journey, and shows how courage and determination can lead to a better and more productive life. Colorful pictures prepared in graphite, acrylic, and digital collage complement the vivid narrative.  Back matter includes more on Alfredo’s story, information about borders and cultures, a map, notes about immigration, and photographs.  mjw

Title: La Frontera: El Viaje Con Papa, My Journey With Papa Author: Deborah Mills and Alfredo Alva Illustrator: Claudia Navarro Publisher: Barefoot Books. Cambridge, MA and London Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English and Spanish Translator: Maria A. Perez ISBN: 978-1-78285-388-6 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Mexico and Texas Author’s ethnicity: Mills – U.S.  Alva – Mexican Author’s residence: Mills – U.S.  Alva – Texas Illustrator’s ethnicity: Mexican Illustrator’s residence: Mexico Subjects: Central America, Emigrants and immigrants, Hispanic and Latino, Mexican Americans, Mexico, United States

The Wooden Camel

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Young Etabo dreams of becoming a camel racer and beating his older brother in a camel race.  But the family must sell their camels and find work for his siblings because of the rising cost of water.  Inspired by the Turkana people of northwest Kenya, this story of love and hope is beautifully illustrated with exaggerated animals and dreamy landscapes. mjw

Title: The Wooden Camel Author: Wanuri Hahiu Illustrator: Manuela Adreani Publisher: Lantana Publishing Ltd. London Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-1-911373-12-4 Hardcover pages: 32  Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Kenya Author’s ethnicity: Born in Nairobi, Kenya Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian Illustrator’s residence: Turin, Italy Awards: 2018 Children’s Africana Book Award Honor Book Subjects: Africa, Brothers and sisters, Camels, Camel racing, Imagination

Ahimsa

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In 1940s India, Anjali’s mother joins Gandhi’s freedom movement. Her family has to make many adjustments and use “ahimsa” – non-violent resistance to stand up to the British government. Ten-year-old Anjali learns that even she can contribute to the cause. The caste system, English colonialism, religious strife between Muslim and Hindu groups, and social justice are all important topics in Anjali’s story. The book was inspired by the author’s great grandmother’s experience working with Gandhi. An extensive author’s note about India’s history, suggestions for further reading, and a glossary are included. mjw

Title: Ahimsa Author: Supriya Kelkar Publisher: Lee & Low Books, Inc. New York Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1620-1435-68 Hardcover pages: 307 Age range: 8 up Genre: Historical fiction Book setting: India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: U.S. Subjects: British occupation, Dalit, Gandhi, Girls and women, India – history, Non-violence, Reformers, Social classes, Untouchables

The Baghdad Clock

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This story, narrated by a teenage Iraqi girl in the midst of the first Gulf War mixes dreams with real life and fantasies with reality.  She huddles in an air raid shelter with her friend Nadia and the two imagine a world not torn apart by war.  They share dreams, hopes, desires, and first loves.  As they grow older and the bombs continue to fall, their friends begin to flee the country.  The use of metaphor, dream interpretations, and soothsayers helps build the narrative and the sense of place and time.  mjw

Title: The Baghdad Clock Author: Shahad Al Rawi Publisher: Oneworld Publications, London Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Arabic Translator: Luke Leafgren Original Publisher: Dar al Hikma Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-1-78607-324-2 Hardcover pages: 288 Age range: 14 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Baghdad, Iraq Author’s ethnicity: Born in Baghdad Author’s residence: Dubai Awards: 2018 Shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction Subjects: Air raid shelters, Biography, Coming of age, Persian Gulf War – 1991, Teenage girls