Category Archives: Uncategorized

Song Of The River

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Cam the mountain boy wishes he could go to the sea.  He follows the river from its source as a trickle of water running through pine trees all the way to the coast.  He follows it through the forest, farmlands, and towns.  Rich, detailed landscape illustrations explore the world of the river. mjw

Title: Song Of The River Author: Joy Cowley Illustrator: Kimberly Andrews Publisher: Gecko Press. New Zealand Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English  ISBN: 978-1-776572-53-3 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: North America Author’s ethnicity: New Zealander Author’s residence: Wellington, New Zealand Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: New Zealand Subjects: Grandfathers, Rivers, Sea, Stream

A Grain Of Rice

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Thirteen-year-old Yen and her family live in rural Vietnam. A flood destroys their village.  Famine and persecution because they are of Chinese ancestry lead the family to flee from their war-torn homeland after the fall of Saigon.  They become boat people and are eventually rescued by the Malaysian Coast Guard. There is a glossary of Vietnamese words. The story is based on events from the author’s childhood. mjw

Title: A Grain Of Rice Author: Nhung N. Tran-Davies Publisher: Tradewind Books. Vancouver Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-926890-25-8 Paperback pages: 154 Age range: 12 up Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: Vietnam Author’s ethnicity: Vietnamese Author’s residence: Edmonton, Alberta. Canada  Subjects: Famine Food, Persecution, Poverty, Prejudice, Refugees

The Rhythm Of The Rain

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Issac is playing with a jar of water in his favorite pool on the side of the mountain until it starts to rain. When the rain stops, he follows the streams of water down the mountainside, over a waterfall, and into deeper and wider rivers.  Through the countryside and through the city, Issac wonders where the water from his jar has gone.  Eventually it reaches the great ocean.  Storms occur and some of the water climbs, as mist, into the sky.  The mist cools and turns into a cloud that floats over a mountain in a country far away from Issac’s pool.  Rain falls and the cycle begins again as it has done for millions of years.  Digitally created full-bleed landscapes of blues and greens (with silver rain on the book jacket) show the story of the water cycle. mjw

Title: The Rhythm Of The Rain Author: Grahame Baker-Smith Illustrator: Grahame Baker-Smith Publisher: Templar Books, an imprint of Candlewick Press Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-5362-0575-6 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 4 up Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Bath, England Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: Bath, England Awards: 2011 Kate Greenaway Medal Subjects: Rain, Rivers, Water cycle, Weather

You’re Strong With Me

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A new baby giraffe bounds through the grasslands and her mother tells her not to wander off on her own. The mother explains the oxpecker bird, fire, baby fish in the creek, and always proclaims, “…you’re strong with me.” Shades of brown and gold and triangle and diamond shapes are reminiscent of African textiles.  The original artwork was created with ink on paper and completed digitally.  Companion books are You’re Safe With Me and You’re Snug With Me. mjw

Title: You’re Strong With Me Author: Chitra Soundar Illustrator: Poonam Mistry Publisher: Lantana Publishing Ltd.  London Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-911373-75-9 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book, Folklore Book setting: African Grasslands Author’s ethnicity: Indian born British Author’s residence: London Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: U.K. Awards: 2019 Kate Greenaway Shortlist Subjects: Baby animals, Giraffes, Grasslands, New experiences, Parents

Maison Rouge: Memories Of A Childhood In War

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Liliane Leila Juma was sixteen years old when her home in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was destroyed by rebel soldiers.  In her memoir, she tells about her life before and after her family was torn apart by militia invasions and civil war.  Through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Leila and her family were able to relocate to Canada.  An introduction gives facts about Congo.  A helpful map of the region is included. mjw

Title: Maison Rouge: Memories Of A Childhood In War Author: Liliane Leila Juma Publisher: Tradewind Books. Vancouver Copyright: 2020 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-926890-30-2 Paperback pages: 126 Age range: 12 up Genre: Nonfiction, Information Book, Biography Book setting: Congo Author’s ethnicity: Congolese Author’s residence: Vancouver, BC, Canada Subjects: Canada, Civil war, Congo (Democratic Republic), Invasion, Refugees, Social conditions, Survival

Cherry Blossom And Paper Planes

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Adin and Dina are best friends.   They live on a farm and share a love of cherries, climbing the trees to eat the fruit, and saving the pits to plant around the village.  When Adin moves to the city, Dina misses him and her summer becomes long and lonely.  Adin is lonely, too, in the city.  Dina’s father takes her to the city to visit Adin.  They climb to a balcony on Adin’s apartment building and fold paper airplanes that can hold the cherry pits.  They send the planes into the air.  After a long winter apart, spring arrives and the blossoming cherry trees seem to provide a trail between the two best friends.  The rich illustrations that are hand-drawn using gouache and pen gently depict the green and yellow village and the city Adin and his mother move to.  This is a sensitive story about the power of friendship. mjw

Title: Cherry Blossom And Paper Planes Author: Jef Aerts Illustrator: Sanne te Loo Publisher: Floris Books Copyright: 2020 Original Language: Dutch Translator: Polly Lawson Original Title: Kersenhemel Original Publisher: Em Querido’s Uitgeverij Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-178250-561-7 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Belgian Author’s residence: Belgium Illustrator’s ethnicity: Dutch Subjects: Cherry blossoms, Cities, Farms, Paper planes, Farms

Brave With Beauty: A Story Of Afghanistan

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This beautiful book is the extraordinary story of Queen Goharshad, a 15thcentury monarch. She was an Afghani woman who was the wife of Sha Rikh.  Together they ruled over the empire of Khorasan that stretched from Turkey to China. Goharshad loved all things of beauty, including art, poetry, music, architecture, calligraphy, and the sciences. She “didn’t care a fig for war.” She was a strong woman whose mission was to bring beauty into the world. Goharshad was instrumental in the construction of a mosque, a university, and a library.  The book is filled with elaborate period illustrations and poems.  There is a guide with pronunciations of some of the words used in the story, an author’s note, and a guide for parents and educators.  A downloadable Activity Guide is included on the Yali Books website. mjw

Title: Brave With Beauty: A Story Of Afghanistan Author: Maxine Rose Schur Illustrator: Patricia Grush, Robin Dewitt, Golsa Yaghoobi Publisher: Yali Books. New York Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-949528-97-8 Hardcover pages: 42 Age range: 7-9 Genre: Picture Book, Historical Fiction, Biography Book setting: Afghanistan Author’s ethnicity: U.S. Author’s residence: U.S. Illustrator’s ethnicity: U.S. Illustrator’s residence: U.S. Subjects: Architecture, Beauty, Biographies, History, Queens, Royalty

The Brave Princess And Me

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Young Tilde Cohen and her mother are Jews who are searching for a safe place to hide.  They go to Princess Alice’s residence unannounced, begging the princess to hide them.  Princess Alice of Greece was born deaf, but is proficient in lip-reading.  Her kindness is put to the test when two Gestapo agents come by and demand to search the house.  She uses her cleverness to outwit the men and keep Tilde and her mother safe. The illustrations depict emotions beautifully.  Also included are biographical facts and photographs of Princess Alice.  The book is based on a true story from World War II Greece.  Alice is the grandmother of England’s Prince Charles and the great-grandmother of Princes William and Harry. mjw

Title: The Brave Princess And Me Author: Kathy Kacer Illustrator: Juliana Kolesova Publisher: Second Story Press, Toronto, Canada Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-772601022 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 7-10 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Greece Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Toronto. Canada Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Toronto. Canada Subjects: Athens, Holocaust, Jewish, Nazis, World War II

The Jasmine Sneeze

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Haroun is a happy cat living in Damascus, Syria.  He loves lazing and sleeping on the marble floor next to the fountain in his favorite courtyard.  But Haroun has a problem.  The fragrance of the beautiful jasmine flowers causes him to sneeze.  He decides to eradicate the problem by putting old fish skeletons, chicken bones, and other stinky smells into the jasmine tree pots. However, the jasmine spirit is watching his every move.  She is not happy and so she counter attacks Haroun in a funny way.  Haroun learns his lesson and peace returns to Damascus.  The illustrations are bright and cheery.  An author’s note explains more about Damascus, the City of Jasmine.  mjw

Title: The Jasmine Sneeze Author: Nadine Kaadan Illustrator: Nadine Kaadan Publisher: Lantana Publishing, Ltd. Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Lantana Publishing Ltd. United Kingdom Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-1-911373-31-5 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Damascus, Syria Author’s ethnicity: Syrian Author’s residence: United Kingdom Illustrator’s ethnicity: Syrian Illustrator’s residence: United Kingdom Subjects: Cats, Flowers, Jasmine

Patience, Miyuki

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A young Japanese girl Miyuki anxiously awaits spring with her grandfather.  One sleepy flower doesn’t bloom and Miyuki goes in search of the finest water to awaken the precious and delicate flower.  Her grandfather suggests that she just sit in the sunshine with him and watch and wait.  The magical illustrations with bold origami floral patterns are rendered in watercolor and colored pencils.  They invite children to pay attention to the natural world. mjw

Title: Patience, Miyuki Author: Roxane Marie Galliez Illustrator: Seng Sound Ratanavanh Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press. New York Copyright: 2019 Original Language: French Original Title: Attends Miyuki Original Publisher: De La Martiniere Jeunesse. Paris Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-1-61689-843-4 Hardcover pages: 28 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Japan Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: Saint-Etienne, France Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: Paris, France Subjects: Flowers, Gardens, Grandfathers, Kindness, Patience, Spring, Water

Captain Rosalie

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Five-year-old Rosalie lives with her mother in a French village during World War I.  Her father is away at the front.  She keeps a secret notebook and is on a mission. She is Captain Rosalie, spying on the enemy.  Her mother reads aloud Father’s letters and they all look forward to the war’s end and Father’s return home.  One day, a letter arrives that Rosalie’s mother does not read.  Watercolor, pen, and ink illustrations in muted grays with soft spots of orange, pink, and blue contribute to this quiet, emotional story of hope and courage. mjw

Title: Captain Rosalie Author: Timothee De Fombelle Illustrator: Isabelle Arsenault Publisher: Candlewick Press Copyright: 2019 Original Language: French Translator: Sam Gordon Original Publisher: Walker Books Ltd. Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-1-5362-0520-6 Hardcover pages: 64  Age range: 8-12 Genre: Historical Fiction, Novella Book setting: France Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: Paris, France Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Quebec Subjects: Fathers and daughters, Letters, Loss, Military fiction, Reading, School issues, World War I

The Good Son: A Story From The First World War Told In Miniature

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It’s Christmas time 1914, and a French soldier named Pierre leaves his regiment to visit his family. When he returns, he is imprisoned and faces execution for desertion.  Did he leave without permission?  Did he return late?  Part of the story is told in a letter he writes to his mother.  This is a heartbreaking and sad story of a terrible war. It is based on true events and is played out in photographs of miniature scenes.  A map of the Western front and an author’s note are included.  The author explains his connection to the story and his interest in “little soldiers” and photography.  The illustrators’ process is similar to that used in filmmaking, but in miniature.  Fascinating pictures illustrate the process.  This book is a piece of art. mjw

Title: The Good Son: A Story From the First World War Told In Miniature Author: Pierre-Jacques Ober Illustrator: Jules Ober and Felicity Coonan Publisher: Candlewick Studio Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-5362-0482-7 Hardcover pages: 104 Age range: 14 up Genre: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Information Book Book setting: France Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: Australia Illustrator’s ethnicity: Australian Illustrator’s residence: Australia Subjects: Campaigns, Desertions, France, Military, Miniatures, Soldiers, Storytelling, Violence, Western front