Category Archives: Uncategorized

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

Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story Of The Oldest Person To Ever Run A Marathon

This is the true story of Fauja Singh, the first one-hundred-year-old to run a marathon. He was born with legs that didn’t work in a Punjab village.  He could not play with his friends or walk to school, but that did not stop him. He worked on his family’s farm and grew stronger. Throughout his life he made his mind, body, and heart stronger. At age 81, he ran his first marathon. He has broken many records and became the first person over one hundred (centenarian) to complete a marathon. The beautiful and enlivening illustrations were created digitally using hand drawings and collage pieces. A forward written by Fauja Singh introduces the book.  Back matter includes a list of his world records and a photograph of him today. mjw
Title: Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story Of The Oldest Person To Ever Run A MarathonHannah’s Winter
Author: Simran Jeet Singh
Illustrator
: Baljinder Kaur
Publisher
: Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House. New York
Copyright
: 2020
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0-525555094
Hardcover pages
: 48
Age range
: 4-8
Genre
: Picture book, Biography
Book setting
: Punjab, India; England; New York City; Toronto
Author’s ethnicity
: Indian
Author’s residence
: New York
Illustrator’s residence
: England
Subjects
: Biography, Centenarians, Marathons, Punjabi, Running, Sikh, Track and field

The Story Of Baldomera

Baldomera

Baldomera the donkey became famous worldwide, when a video of her reunion with her owner, Ismael, after three months without seeing him due to COVID-19, went viral on YouTube. When they met, the little donkey burst into tears. This delightful picture book with its simple text and sweet, playful illustrations was inspired by the true story of the donkey and his owner. A Spanish edition is also available, La Burrita Baldomera. mjw

Title: The Story Of Baldomera
Author: Enrique G. Ballesteros and Ismael F. Arias
Illustrator
: Ayesha L. Rubio
Publisher
: NubeOcho
Copyright
: 2021
Original Language
: Spanish
Translator
: Laura Fielden
Original Title
: La Burrita Baldomera
Original Publisher
: NubeOcho
Original Copyright
: 2020
ISBN
: 978-84-18133-69-5
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 3-8
Genre
: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Information Book
Book setting
: Spain
Author’s ethnicity
: Spanish
Author’s residence
: Spain
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Spanish
Illustrator’s residence
: Spain
Subjects
: Donkeys, Emotions, Feelings, Farm animals, Friendship, Pandemic, Reunion, Separation

Beyond Me

This novel-in-verse examines the aftershocks of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan and damaged a nuclear power plant in March, 2011, through the eyes of eleven-year-old Maya.  Maya and her family were lucky. They didn’t lose their Tokyo home or the lives of family members, but Maya is still terrified. She feels helpless and hopeless. What can she do to help? She chronicles the 24 days after the quake, sometimes minute by minute. Maya and her friend Yuka fold paper cranes and ask for sunflower seeds to plant. She continues writing her journal for 113 days with interesting formatting and timelines. An author’s note tells more about the Great Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of March 11, 2011. mjw

Title: Beyond Me
Author: Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu
Publisher
: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Copyright
: 2020
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-48143-789-9
Hardcover pages
: 304
Age range
: 8-12
Genre
: Fiction, Verse
Book setting
: Japan
Author’s ethnicity
: U.S.
Author’s residence
: Tokyo, Japan
Subjects
: Earthquakes, Family life, Japan, Novels in verse, Paper cranes, Sunflowers, Survival, Tsunamis

Digging For Words: Jose Alberto Gutierrez And The Library He Built

This picture book is based on the true story of Jose Alberto Gutierrez, a Colombian garbageman, who rescues thrown-away books from the trash and has created a library in his home. Local children look forward to Saturdays when they can visit Jose’s Paradise Library and be transported by the magic of the stories. Spanish words are integrated smoothly into the text. The beautiful illustrations were rendered digitally. An author’s note supplies photographs and biographical information about Jose Albert Gutierrez. A section called Featured Books describes several references to books that have been showcased in the illustrations. A Spanish edition of the book is also available.. mjw
Title: Digging For Words: Jose Alberto Gutierrez And The Library He Built
Author: Angela Burke Kunkel
Illustrator
: Paola Escobar
Publisher
: Schwartz & Wade Books.  New York
Copyright
: 2020
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-9848-9263-8
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 4-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: Bogota, Colombia
Author’s ethnicity
: U.S.
Author’s residence
: U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Colombian
Illustrator’s residence
: Bogota, Colombia
Subjects
: Bogota, Colombia; Books and reading; Latin American history; Libraries, South America books

Little Wise Wolf

Little Wise Wolf lives far away on the other side of the mountains. He reads big books, knows a lot, and is very proud. When various animals come to him to get answers to their difficult questions, he has no time for them. One day a big black bird flies to Little Wise Wolf’s house to tell him that the king is ill and needs his help. Little Wise Wolf takes off, wearing his red boots, and riding on his bicycle to visit the king at the palace. He discovers along the way that he has much to learn from his friends about the real world. He gives the king some medicine and the king wants him to stay and be his royal doctor, but Little Wise Wolf decides that he needs to go back to his friends and his books. Enchanting illustrations of the little animals enhance this important book about friendship. mjw
Title: Little Wise Wolf
Author: Gijs van der Hammen
Illustrator
: Hanneke Siemensma
Publisher
: Kids Can Press
Copyright
: 22020
Original Language
: Dutch
Translator
: Laura Watkinson
Original Title
: Kleine wijze wolf
Original Publisher
: Uitgeverij Hoogland. Hoorn, The Netherlands
Original Copyright
: 2017
ISBN
: 978-1-525305498
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 4-8
Genre
: Picture book
Author’s ethnicity
: Dutch
Author’s residence
: The Netherlands
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Dutch
Illustrator’s residence
: The Netherlands
Awards
: Nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal
Subjects
: Books, Friendship, Kings, Reading, Wolves

Anita And The Dragons

Anita and the DragonsYoung Anita lives in a village in the Dominican Republic where she is a valiant princesa. She worries about boarding dragons (airplanes) that will take her to a new life in a new country. The vivid text describes her anxiety about what she will miss and what she will encounter in a new land. She becomes a brave princesa when she meets the dragon. “With one step I move away from the familiar. With another step, I walk into the unknown.” She becomes a “fearless dragon” of her own. The textured artwork was created using mixed media and finished digitally. mjw
Title: Anita And The Dragons
Author: Hannah Carmona
Illustrator
: Anna Cunha
Publisher
: Lantana Publishing Ltd.
Copyright
: 2021
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-911373-63-6
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 7-10
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: Dominican Republic
Author’s ethnicity
: U.S.
Author’s residence
: Tennessee
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Brazilian
Illustrator’s residence
: Brazil
Subjects
: Airplanes, Central America, Social situations

From My Window

A boy looks out the window and sees in his favela (his district in Rio de Janeiro), patched roofs, rainbows, and people everywhere. He talks to his friends and starts a telephone game. He sees children playing soccer and going to school and he hears Brazilian funk, also called favela funk. He sees his favela and asks, “What do you see from your window?” Colorful, extremely detailed illustrations prepared in acrylics and finished digitally celebrate the boy’s diverse urban community. Back matter explains favelas in Brazil. mjw
Title: From My Window
Author: Otavio Junior
Illustrator
: Vanina Starkoff
Publisher
: Barefoot Books. Cambridge, MA
Copyright
: 2020
Original Language
: Portuguese
Translator
: Beatriz C. Dias
Original Publisher
: Companhia das Letras. Sao Paulo
Original Copyright
: 2018
ISBN
: 978-1-78285-977-2
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 4-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: Brazil
Author’s ethnicity
: Brazilian
Author’s residence
: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Brazilian
Illustrator’s residence
: Brazil
Subjects
: Brazil, Cities, Favela, Soccer, South America, Urban community living