Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Christmas Feast

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The wolf, the fox, and the weasel decide to treat themselves to a Christmas feast. Fox steals the turkey, but the turkey has other ideas. First, she wants the animals to clean their messy den. Turkey supervises the work. Next, Turkey asks what is for dinner and she scolds them when they say they have no intention of cooking. So Turkey prepares the meal.  The friends have a great evening enjoying the meal and playing cards. The next day, Turkey is very demanding about all the decorating for Christmas. On Christmas Eve, Turkey asks how they plan to cook her. They have no idea. Turkey’s solution is to wait until next year so that they will have time to fatten her up. Everyone agrees and Turkey cooks the Christmas feast herself. The playful illustrations enhance this fun holiday story. mjw

Title: The Christmas Feast Author: Nathalie Dargent Illustrator: Magali Le Huche Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2020 Original Language: French Original Title: Le Festin de Noel Original Publisher: Editions Glenat Original Copyright: 2008 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5537-4 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: Paris, France Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: Paris, France Subjects: Christmas, Fox, Humorous stories, Meals, Turkeys, Weasels, Wolves

Brother’s Keeper

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Twelve-year-old Sora and her family live in Communist North Korea in 1950. War is coming and they need to escape.  The family plans to walk the 300 miles from their village to the South Korean city of Busan.  There is a bombing and Sora and her eight-year-old brother Youngsoo are left to get there on their own. It’s winter, and they have to face enemy soldiers, starvation, frostbite, deprivation, and other hardships as they struggle to complete their journey.  This highly engrossing story is loosely based on the author’s mother’s experiences. An author’s note, photographs of the author’s family, a glossary of Korean words, a timeline of the Korean War, and a map of Sora’s journey are included. mjw

Title: Brother’s Keeper Author: Julie Lee Publisher: Holiday House. New York Copyright: 2020 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0823444946 Hardcover pages: 320 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: Korea Author’s ethnicity: Korean Author’s residence: U.S. Subjects: Asia, Communism, History, Korean War, Military action, North Korea, Refugees,  Siblings, South Korea, War zone, Winter

One World Many Colors

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“We share one world. We share many colors.” This beautiful book explores the world and its vibrant colors. White shines and sparkles in the deserts of Oman, in icy Antarctica, and in sunny Australia. Pink blooms and brightens in the blossoms of Japan, in a Paris bakery, and in the flamingos in Kenya. Other colors can be found all over the world. A map of the journey is included that highlights all the locations and objects seen. Color words are given in seven different languages. The vivid illustrations are loaded with small details that are fun to find. A note from the author explains about colors and that we all share the same world – a world we should cherish. mjw

Title: One World Many Colors Author: Ben Lerwill Illustrator: Alette Straathof Publisher: Quarto Publishing, plc Copyright: 2020 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-7112-4983-7 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-7 Genre: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Information Book Book setting: The world Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Oxfordshire, England Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: Paris, France Subjects: Cities, Colors, Cultures, Fauna, Flora, Nature, Rural, Travel books, World

Ida And The World Beyond Mount Kaiserzipf

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As a young girl in Vienna in 1802, Ida’s head is full of adventures.  She dreams of being a research scientist and going to the jungle to study unknown species of butterflies. Her mother thinks that this isn’t proper for girls. Ida should stay home and become a perfect young lady. Time passes and she marries and has children, but never loses sight of her dream.  After her children grow up, she packs her suitcase and journeys for months all over the world. She lands on an island that is full of mysteries.  She publishes a book about her travels and becomes the first woman to travel around the world alone and without financial support. Illustrations of bold colors and shapes enhance Ida’s story. Back matter gives more information about Ida Pfeiffer. mjw

Title: Ida And The World Beyond Mount Kaiserzipf Author: Linda Schwalbe Illustrator: Linda Schwalbe Publisher: NorthSouth Books, Inc., New York Copyright: 2020 Original Language: German Translator: David Henry Wilson Original Title: Ida und die Welt hinterm Kaiserzipf Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG. Zurich Original Copyright: 2020 ISBN: 978-0-7358-4420-9 Hardcover pages: 64 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Biography Book setting: Vienna and around the world Author’s ethnicity: German Author’s residence: Leipzig Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Leipzig Subjects: Explorers, Vienna, World

My Bison

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A little girl becomes friends with a bison. She brings it food that she makes. She misses it when it has to move away from the warm weather. She knows that it will return when the snow comes again.  They settle by the fire and she tells it stories as they drink cocoa. She loves it completely.  Year after year, the bison returns. They both grow older until one winter, the bison doesn’t come back. The girl, now grown up, knows that the bison will always be with her. Charcoal and ink illustrations, enriched with blue watercolor, enhance this gentle story. mjw

Title: My Bison Author: Gaya Wisniewski Illustrator: Gaya Wisniewski Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press. Hudson, New York Copyright: 2020 Original Language: French Original Title: Mon Bison Original Publisher: Editions MeMo Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-61689-886-1 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Belgian Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: Belgian Illustrator’s residence: France Subjects: Bison, Healing, Loss, Love, Passage of time

Welcome To Nowhere

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Twelve-year-old Omar lives in Bosra, Syria with his family.  He dreams of being a businessman and his sister wants to be a teacher. Their hopes are shattered when  war breaks out. The family is forced to flee Syria by foot to get to Jordan. This is a moving and sensitive novel with lovable characters. A Letter from the Author provides more information about the war in Syria. Also included is a section What Can You DoTo Help? that tells about the Hope School in Jordan. mjw

Title: Welcome To Nowhere Author: Elizabeth Laird Illustrator: Lucy Eldridge Publisher: Macmillan Children’s Books Copyright: 22017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-5098-44047-2 Paperback pages: 329 Age range: 9-11 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Syria, Jordan Author’s ethnicity: Born in new Zealand of Scottish parents Author’s residence: Britain Awards: Winner of the UKLA Book Award Subjects: Cerebral Palsy, Homelessness, Middle East, Poverty, Refugees, Syria

We Kiss Them With Rain

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Fourteen-year-old, pregnant by rape, Mvelo lives with abuse, poverty, and disease in South Africa, and her mother has died of HIV/AIDS. She finds resources and hope in unlikely benefactors. Wonderful characters make Mvelo’s story a joy to read. An Afterword tells of the inspiration for the novel. A Q&A with the author section offers more insight and a list of Discussion Questions would make this a thought-provoking read for high school students. mjw

Title: We Kiss Them With Rain Author: Futhi Ntshingila Publisher: Catalyst Press. Livermore, California Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-946395-04-7 Paperback pages: 160 Age range: 14 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Durban, South Africa Author’s ethnicity: Born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Author’s residence: Pretoria, South Africa Subjects: Africa, AIDS, Coming of age, Generations, Poverty, Sexual abuse, Women’s sagas

The Pencil

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Based on the author’s childhood memories of growing up in an iglu, this story is about being responsible for belongings and community.  Susan, her sister Rebecca, and brother Peter are home with their father in their iglu. Mother has gone to help a neighbor.  The children get tired of playing games. Father brings out a pencil from the box where they keep special things. All of the children begin drawing and drawing until they start to worry about what Mother will say when she gets home. They are supposed to use things wisely. Mother just reminds them that they shouldn’t waste things because they are hard to get. They only have one pencil. But she is glad that drawing brought them such joy. The illustrations have a sketch-like quality and are done in pencil. mjw

Title: The Pencil Author: Susan Avingaq and Maren Vsetula Illustrator: Charlene Chua Publisher: Inhabit Media Inc. Iqaluit, Nunavut Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77227-216-1 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 5-7 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Nunavut, Canada Author’s ethnicity: Avinngaq born in Nunavut Author’s residence: Both authors – Nunavut Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Hamilton, Ontario Subjects: Canada, Community, Drawing, Iglu, Inaktitut, Polar regions, Thrift, Writing

Letters From Bear

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Bird migrates south for the winter and Bear takes a long journey to find her. Bear writes letters to record her adventures. The letters recount a trip into the scary woods, being rescued by a mermaid, escaping a battle between two human armies, a squirrel’s birthday party, and much more.  Bear finally reaches her destination only to find that Bird never received the letters.  Bird didn’t want to be separated from Bear, so she headed back north.  Bird’s friends devise a plan for the friends to be reunited. Rich paintings illustrate Bear’s adventure. mjw

Title: Letters from Bear Author: Gauthier David Illustrator: Marie Caudry Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2020 Original Language: French Translator: Sarah Ardizzone Original Title: Les lettres de L’ourse Original Publisher: Autrement, Belgium Original Copyright: 2012 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5536-7 Hardcover pages: 56 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: Drome, France Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: Drome, France Subjects: Birds, Bears, Desert, Forest, Letter writing, Mountains, Oceans, Seas, Seasons, Volcanoes

I Dream Of A Journey

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The hotel keeper tells about the people (animal characters) from all over the world who come to stay in his small, but cozy hotel. They tell stories of places he has never seen.  He goes to bed at night and dreams of far, far away places.  He sets off on his dream journey with a big suitcase, boards a plane, and roams freely wherever he wants. Morning comes and he is still in his little hotel waiting for new guests to arrive.  One day, he just might set off on a journey of his own.  The artwork is rendered in muted color pastels and soft focus. This is a beautiful, quiet book about being curious about the world. mjw

Title: I Dream Of A Journey Author: Akiko Miyakoshi Illustrator: Akiko Miyakoshi Publisher: Kids Can Press Copyright: 2020 Original Language: Japanese Translator: Cathy Hirano Original Title: Boku no Tabi Original Publisher: Bronze Publishing, Inc. Tokyo Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-525304-78-1 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Tokyo Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: Tokyo Subjects: Animal characters, Dreams, Hotels, Journeys, New experiences, Postcards, Wanderlust

A Good Day

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The cat and the tiger are best of friends.  Every day the cat visits the tiger in the zoo.  He is very punctual.  They spend a great deal of time together and they talk about everything.  The tiger wishes he could be free to go back home to the jungle.  They devise a plan for the tiger to escape from the zoo.  The intricately detailed illustrations depict the zoo perfectly. mjw

Title: A Good Day Author: Daniel Nesquens Illustrator: Miren Asiain Lora Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2019 Original Language: Spanish Original Title: Un Buen Dia Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5530-5 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s residence: Spain Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Buenos Aire , Argentina Subjects: Cats, Freedom, Tigers, Zoos

The Village By The Sea

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Thirteen-year-old Lila and her twelve-year-old brother Hari live in a small village called Thul in western India.  They also have two younger sisters.  They live with their mother, who is ill and bed-ridden.  Lila and Hari manage the family because their father is an alcoholic. Their life is hard.  Hari decides he has had enough and leaves for Bombay to find work.  He gets a job in a restaurant and befriends Mr. Panwallah, the watch repairer.  Back home in Thul, a rich family offers to help them and their mother is taken to a hospital for treatment.  And their father turns over a new leaf.  Hari returns to the village with plans to open a repair shop. Together, the whole family starts a small chicken farm. A helpful list of Indian words is included. mjw

Title: The Village By The Sea Author: Anita Desai Publisher: New York Review of Books Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Heinemann. London Original Copyright: 1982 ISBN: 978-1-68137-351-5 Paperback pages: 263 Age range: 12 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Thul and Bombay, India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: U.S.A. Awards: 1983 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize Subjects: Asia, Brothers and sisters, Family life, Family problems, Poverty, Rural life, Siblings