Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Speckled Feather

The speckled FeatherjpegThree birds named Ade, Emem, and Nuru live on the back of an elephant in the savanna. They are friends until one day a beautiful speckled feather blows into their midst. Ade grabs the feather and claims it as his. The birds fight over the feather. The elephant stamps his foot and says, “Enough!” But the birds keep quarreling into the night. Suddenly, a wild dog attacks the birds and the elephant swings his trunk to bang on the dog’s chest and hurls the dog away. The birds thank the elephant and promise, “No more quarreling” and “No more speckled feathers.” The colorful illustrations appear to be hand-drawn and are stunning. mjw
Title: The Speckled Feather
Author: Johanna Ries
Illustrator
: Johanna Ries
Publisher
: NorthSouth Books, Inc. New York
Copyright
: 2020
Original Language
: German
Translator
: David Henry Wilson
Original Title
: Die Fleckenfeder
Original Publisher
: NordSud Verlag AG, Zurich
Original Copyright
: 2020
ISBN
: 978-0-7358-4447-6
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 40
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: African savanna
Author’s ethnicity
: German
Author’s residence
: Germany
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: German
Illustrator’s residence
: Germany
Subjects
: Birds, Elephants, Greed, Loyalty, Savanna, Theft, Vanity, Wild dogs

Ninos: Poems For The Lost Children Of Chile

On September 11, 1973, a military coup in Chile led to a 17-year dictatorship. An Introduction to the book explains that 3197 people were killed and 34 were children under the age of 14. Thirty-four poems provide an homage to these children. The titles of the poems are the names of the children who were killed during General Pinochet’s regime. Four-year-old Soledad liked the sound of raindrops. Elizabeth wanted to be a teacher. Raul liked his mother calling him “little bird.” Many of the poems are about the natural world. This beautiful, heartfelt collection of poems is a touching memorial to the lost children of Chile. Backmatter includes every child’s full name and age. The soft, pastel-toned illustrations were created with watercolor, graphite pencil, charcoal, and colored pencils. mjw
Title: Ninos: Poems For The Lost Children Of Chile
Author: Maria Jose Ferrada
Illustrator
: Maria Elena Valdez
Publisher
: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.
Copyright
: 2021
Original Language
: Spanish
Translator
: Lawrnece Schimel
Original Title
: Ninos
Original Publisher
: Alboroto ediciones, Mexico
Original Copyright
: 2019
ISBN
: 978-0-8028-5567-1
Hardcover pages
: 76
Age range
: 7 up
Genre
: Picture Book, Poetry
Book setting
: Chile
Author’s ethnicity
: Chilean
Author’s residence
: Chile
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Studied art in Caracas, Venezuela
Illustrator’s residence
: Barcelona, Spain
Subjects
: Democracy, Dictatorships, Nattural world, Poetry, Political violence

Sleep Like Me

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A little boy goes for a walk because he cannot go to sleep. He asks ten different animals for advice. The giraffe suggests resting his head on his back, but that doesn’t work. A bird offers, “Tuck your head under your wing,” but that doesn’t work either. A sloth, otters, sperm whales, a horse, koalas, bats, some ducks, and an albatross all give their ideas for falling asleep. Meanwhile the boy is feeling tired. He goes to bed and falls asleep. This delightful bedtime story is whimsically illustrated with acrylic and digital materials. mjw

Title: Sleep Like Me
Author: Tatia Nadareishvili
Illustrator
: Tatia Nadareishvili
Publisher
: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Copyright
: 2021
Original Language
: German
Original Title
: Schlaf gut
Original Publisher
: Baobab Books, Basel, Switzerland
Original Copyright
: 2017
ISBN
: 978-0-8028-5566-4
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 3-7
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Georgian
Author’s residence
: Tbilisi, Georgia in Eastern Europe
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Georgian
Illustrator’s residence
: Tbilisi, Georgia
Subjects
: Animals, Bedtime story, Dreams, Sleep

Now That Night Is Near

Now that Night is Near

It’s bedtime and everyone is settling down to sleep. Little children are tucked into bed. The cows and calves are sleeping in the fields. The foals, piglets, rabbits, lambs, and birds are going to sleep, too. A cat wanders through the fields. He is not ready for bed until the last page of the book, where he finally curls up on the child’s bed. The hand-painted gouache, ink, watercolor pencil, pastel, and acrylic illustrations are beautiful and filled with secret animals curled up in their beds. mjw

Title: Now That Night Is Near
Author: Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002)
Illustrator
: Marit Tornqvist
Publisher
: Floris Books
Copyright
: 2020
Original Language
: Swedish
Translator
: Polly Lawson
Original Title
: Alla Ska Sova
Original Publisher
: Raben & Sjogren
Original Copyright
: 2019
ISBN
: 978-178250-675-1
Hardcover pages
: 24
Age range
: 3-6
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: Sweden
Author’s ethnicity
: Swedish
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Swedish
Illustrator’s residence
: Sweden
Subjects
: Bedtime story, Cats, Earth, Nature, Sleep

Castle In The Clouds

Castle in the CloudsSeventeen-year-old Sophie Spark works as an intern and babysitter in an old grand hotel known as Castle in the Clouds in the Swiss Mountains. Many interesting international guests arrive for the Christmas holidays. There are missing diamonds, possible kidnappers, spies, a famous author, a bodyguard, and two handsome boys who all liven up Sophie’s life. She plunges into a Nancy Drew type of investigation that makes her stay at the hotel everything, but boring. mjw
Title: Castle In The Clouds
Author: Kerstin Gier
Publisher
: Henry Holt and Company. New York
Copyright
: 2020
Original Language
: German
Translator
: Romy Fursland
Original Copyright
: 2017
ISBN
: 978-1-250-30019-5
Hardcover pages
: 336
Age range
: 12 up
Genre
: Fiction. Mystery
Book setting
: Switzerland
Author’s ethnicity
: German
Author’s residence
: Germany
Subjects
: Hotels, Kidnapping, Mystery, Resorts, Romance, Theft, Thriller, Young Adult

Walking For Water: How One Boy Stood Up For Gender Equality

Walking for WaterVictor and his twin sister Linesi have turned eight years old and now Linesi no longer goes to school with Victor. Linesi, like other girls in her village, has to make the five daily walks to the river to collect water so that their mother has more time for farming. Victor has begun learning about equality in school and sees that boys and girls are not treated equally. So Victor comes up with a plan to help. Based on a true story, this important book shows how one person can make a big difference in the lives of others. An Author’s Note tells about water availability in Malawi and provides resources where readers can learn more about water scarcity and gender equality in Malawi and other countries. Also included is a glossary of Chichewa words. Chichewa is one of the many languages spoken in Malawi. The attractive artwork was rendered in Photoshop and Procreate. mjw
Title: Walking For Water: How One Boy Stood Up For Gender Equality
Author: Susan Hughes
Illustrator
: Nicole Miles
Publisher
: Citizen Kid – Kids Can Press. Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Copyright
: 2021
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1525302-497
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 7-10
Genre
: Picture Book, inspired by a real event
Book setting
: Malawi
Author’s ethnicity
: Canadian
Author’s residence
: Toronto, Ontario
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Originally from the Bahamas
Illustrator’s residence
: West Yorkshire, U.K.
Subjects
: Activism, Africa, Education, Gender equality, Girls and women, Schools, Siblings, Twins, Water scarcity

Hello Earth! Poems To Our Planet

Hello Earth Poems. . .

This beautiful, over-sized poetry book is a love letter to the Earth. There are poems about volcanoes, earthquakes, continental drift, the moon, jungles, mountains, deserts, ocean currents, rainbows, and more. The stunning paintings were created with watercolor and acrylic. They are packed with incredible detail. Included are six pages of additional information about all the topics covered in the poems, resources about climate change, ways kids can help, science projects, and a list of books for further reading. mjw

Title: Hello Earth! Poems To Our Planet
Author: Joyce Sidman
Illustrator
: Miren Asiain Lora
Publisher
: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Copyright
: 2021
Original Language
: Spanish
Original Title
: Versos de la Tierra
Original Publisher
: Ediciones SM, Madrid
Original Copyright
: 2016
ISBN
: 978-0802855282
Hardcover pages
: 68
Age range
: 5-9
Genre
: Picture Book, Poetry
Author’s ethnicity
: U.S.
Author’s residence
: Minnesota, U.S.A.
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Spanish
Illustrator’s residence
: Spain
Awards
: Author has won the American Library Association Newbery Medal
Subjects
: Earth, Earth Science, Ecology, Ecosystems, Human impact, Jungles, Oceans, Plate tectonics, Water cycles

Atlas Of Dogs

Atlas of DogsThis amazing collection of over 200 breeds of dogs is loaded with fun facts and playful illustrations. The dog breeds are grouped by category: sighthounds, scent hounds, pointers & setters, terriers, sheepdogs & cattle dogs, retrievers & water dogs, spitz & primitive breeds, dachshunds, pinschers, schnauzers, molosser breeds & Swiss mountain dogs, and companion dogs. Included are Dog Record Holders, How to Take Care of Dogs, and A Dictionary of Dog Speech. Also provided are historical stories from the Dogs’ Post Daily Newspaper. Some of these are about the hound Donnchadh who saved the King of Scotland in 1613, the dog movie hit 101 Dalmations, Nipper the RCA dog, Greyfriar’s Bobby of Edinburgh, Toto of OZ, Rin Tin Tin, Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Corgies, Husky Balto, and even composer Richard Wagner’s King Charles Spaniel named Peps. This book is so fun and engaging. mjw
Title: Atlas Of Dogs
Author: Ester Dobiasova, Stepanka Sekaninova, Jana Sedlackova
Illustrator
: Marcel Kralik
Publisher
: Albatross Media Group. Prague, Czech Republic
Copyright
: 2021
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-80-00-05935-8
Hardcover pages
: 104
Age range
: 6-10
Genre
: PIcture Book, Nonfiction, Information Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Czech
Author’s residence
: Czech Republic
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Czech
Illustrator’s residence
: Czech Republic
Subjects
: Dogs, Dog breeds, Encyclopedia

Kisses And Croissants

Kisses and CroissantsSixteen-year-old Mia Jenrow is a talented ballerina whose dream is to dance with American Ballet Theatre. She has just arrived in Paris for a competitive summer dance program. While in Paris, she searches for the history behind a family legend that states that a distant relative danced for the Paris Opera and was painted by Edgar Degas. She is so passionate for ballet and she trains for a part in Swan Lake and a very important audition. And, she falls for Louis, an endearing and cute French boy who happens to be the son of her strict ballet master. They hop on his Vespa and discover the truth about her family legend. The book provides a beautiful look at Paris – museums, gardens, bakeries, art, love, and much more. mjw
Title: Kisses And Croissants
Author: Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau
Publisher
: Delacorte Press
Copyright
: 2021
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0-593-17357-2
Hardcover pages
: 320
Age range
: 12 up
Genre
: Fiction, Young Adult
Book setting
: Paris
Author’s ethnicity
: French
Author’s residence
: New York City
Subjects
: Ballet, Ballet dancers, Coming of age, Edgar Degas, Friendship, Paris, Romance

Meet Me By The Sea

Meet Me By the Sea

A little girl feels overlooked by her busy parents, so she packs up and goes to her favorite place by the sea. On the way, she goes through a forest and meets a friendly fox. At the end of the book, her family comes to join her. Delicate pastel illustrations complement the simple text. mjw

Title: Meet Me By The Sea
Author: Taltal Levi
Illustrator
: Taltal Levi
Publisher
: NorthSouth Books
Copyright
: 2020
Original Language
: German
Original Title
: Wo ihr mich findet
Original Publisher
: NordSud Verlag AG
Original Copyright
: 2020
ISBN
: 978-0-7358-4432-2
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 5-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Born in Galilee, Israel
Author’s residence
: Basel , Switzerland
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Born in Galilee, Israel
Illustrator’s residence
: Basel, Switzerland
Subjects
: Forest animals, Foxes, Girls, Parents and child, Running away, Sea

The Night Walk

The Night WalkTwo young children and their parents go for a summer nighttime walk through the darkness. The world is quiet and shadowy. They walk out of their village and through the forest until they come to a lake where they stop to play with the moon. They lie down in the grass to watch the glittering sky. Finally, they climb a hillside just in time to see the dawn of a new day. The rich illustrations were hand-drawn using graphite pencils and watercolors and finished digitally. The only lights in the evocative darkness are lamps, porch lights, lights in windows, a flashlight, and the moon, until the sun rises on a double-page spread of the sun and its bright yellow light. mjw
Title: The Night Walk
Author: Marie Dorleans
Illustrator
: Marie Dorleans
Publisher
: Floris Books
Copyright: 2020
Original Language
: French
Translator
: Polly Lawson
Original Title
: Nous Avons Rendez-Vous
Original Publisher
: Editions du Seuil
Original Copyright
: 2018
ISBN
: 978-178250-639-3
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 4-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: French
Author’s residence
: France
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: French
Illustrator’s residence
: France
Awards
: Prix Landerneau
Subjects
: Forest, Natural world, Night, Lakes, Moon, Sunrise, Village

Peace

Peace

This rhyming concept book explores peace for children. “Peace is a smile, a hug. Peace can be bold or quiet and snug.” At the end of the book, fold-out pages reveal children in delightful, peaceful interactions. The children in the colorful illustrations are diverse in skin color and abilities. Many of the animals in the book are cultural symbols of peace from nations around the world. The endpapers depict a tree, with the leaves showing the word for peace in many different languages. An author’s note tells how peace affects all inhabitants of our planet. A Spanish edition is also available. 978-0-7358-4455-1. mjw

Title: Peace
Author: Baptiste Paul and Miranda Paul
Illustrator
: Esteli Meza
Publisher
: NorthSouth Books Inc. New York
Copyright
: 2021
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0-7358-4449-0
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 4-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Baptiste- grew up in Saint Lucia
Author’s residence
: Baptiste and Miranda – Wisconsin, U.S.A.
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Mexican
Illustrator’s residence
: Mexico City
Awards
: Illustrator has won A la Orilla del Viento in Mexico
Subjects
: Friendship, Interpersonal relations, Peace, Stories in rhyme