Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Piano Recital

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It’s Momo’s first piano recital and she is terribly nervous.  She keeps telling herself, “I’ll be okay…” She hears a small voice saying, “I’ll be okay…” She looks down and sees a mouseling who is nervous about her first performance. Momo follows the mouseling backstage to discover a fantastic mouse circus and a mouse audience. Momo agrees to accompany the mouseling on the piano, but when she takes her bow, she realizes it isn’t a mouse audience after all.  This wonderful story about childhood anxiety and challenges is illustrated with beautifully detailed pencil, charcoal, and gouache artwork.  A Spanish edition is also available. mjw

Title: The Piano Recital Author: Akiko Miyakoshi Illustrator: Akiko Miyakoshi Publisher: Kids Can Press, Toronto, Canada Copyright: 2019 Original Language: Japanese: Original Title: Piano Happyoukai Original Publisher: Bronze Publishing, Inc Tokyo Original Copyright: 2012 ISBN: 978-1-5253-0257-2 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Japan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: Japan Awards: New York Public Library best illustrated Children’s Book Award and the Nissan Children’s Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix Subjects: Anxiety, Challenges, Character education. Courage, Imagination, Mice, Performing arts, Piano recital

Girl Under A Red Moon: Growing Up During China’s Cultural Revolution

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This powerful book is the story of Sisi and her younger brother Da whose lives are turned upside down under the rules and regulations of the Chinese Communist takeover.  Sisi had been a model student and was expected to be appointed to the Red Guard, but she was overlooked because her grandfather had been a landowner.  She and Da run away to another school where they have to work.  They find a place in their new school until their principal is also subjected to the cultural retraining.  This beautifully written story covers the struggles and social injustices during a difficult time in Chinese history. mjw

Title: Girl Under A Red Moon: Growing Up During China’s Cultural Revolution Author: Da Chen Publisher: Scholastic Focus, and imprint of Scholastic, Inc. Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-3382-6386-2 Hardcover pages: 208 Age range: 12 up Genre: Historical Fiction (Autobiographical) Book setting: China Author’s ethnicity: Chinese Author’s residence: California, U.S. Subjects: Brithers and sisters, Communism, Cultural Revolution, Families, Political persecution, Siblings

The Dot (The Dot That Couldn’t Sit Still)

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Once upon a time there was a dot in the big broad universe.  One day, it gets tired of sitting still and starts to move around. The dot meets other dots and together they make shapes – squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles.  The shapes realize they can make a house. They are amazed by what they can make if they work together – highrises, the sun, the moon, and even a boy, a girl, and a cat.  The brief text is accompanied by stark black and white drawings with bright red, yellow, and orange accents.  The book is a celebration of creativity. mjw

Title: The Dot Author: Gulnar Hajo Illustrator: Gulnar Hajo Publisher: Darf Children’s Books. London Copyright: 201 Original Language: Arabic Translator: Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp Original Title: Hekayat Nuqta’ala dafter abyadh Original Publisher: Bright Fingers Publishing House. Damascus, Syria Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-1-85077-329-0 Paperback pages: 20 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Syrian Author’s residence: Istanbul Illustrator’s ethnicity: Syrian Illustrator’s residence: Istanbul Subjects: Creativity, Shapes, Universe

The Forest

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This beautiful book is for those who are captivated by a walk in the forest.  The open-ended mystery of what lies beyond the forest is achieved through bold illustrations, embossing, die cuts, and gatefolds.  The elaborate embossed images show first a baby, then a young child, and on through to an old, wrinkled face.  New greenery grows from lines in the landscape.  This stunning work of art is about the adventure of life. mjw

Title: The Forest Author: Riccardo Bozzi Illustrator: Violeta Lopiz and Valerio Vidali Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books, New York Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Italian Translator: Debbie Vidali Original Title: La Foresta Original Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books, New York Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-59270-218-3 Paperback pages: 72 Age range: 10 up Genre: Picture Book, Information Book Author’s ethnicity: Italian Author’s residence: Italy Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish – Lopiz, Italian – Vidali Illustrator’s residence: Ibiza, Spain.  Berlin Awards: A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2018 Subjects: Allegory, Explorers, Forests and forestry, Metaphysical, Natural world, Paper engineering, Toy book

The Eleventh Hour

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Jules and Jim are childhood friends who were born on the same day in the same town in Canada.  Jim is always a little faster and a little stronger.  In 1914, when a war begins in Europe, Canada is at war with Germany.  Jules and Jim understand that their country needs them. So they enlist in the army and sail to Europe.  On the Front, conditions are muddy and barbaric.  Jules is always lagging two minutes behind Jim.  Jim gets a medal, while Jules gets stuck doing chores.  On November 11, 1918, at 11 o’ clock the fighting is supposed to stop.  But on the battlefields, not everyone gets the message.  Jules gets shot at 10:58, two minutes before the war ends.  He is the very last Canadian soldier to die in World War I.  Illustrated in a cartoon style and inspired by true events, this picture book is a thought-provoking parable. mjw

Title: The Eleventh Hour Author: Jacques Goldstyn Illustrator: Jacques Goldstyn Publisher: Owlkids Books. Toronto Copyright: 2018 Original Language: French Translator: Anne Louise Mahoney Original Title: Jules et Jim: freres d’armes Original Publisher: Bayard Canada Livres, Inc. Montreal Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-77147-348-4 Hardcover pages: 64 Age range: 7-10 Genre: Picture Book, Historical fiction Book setting: Canada, Germany Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Montreal Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Montreal Subjects: Armistice, Canadian history, Military fiction, World War I

Milky Way

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In the remote mountains of Ladakh in India, Tashi is worried about his friend the roly-poly moon.  The moon always gives him “a special smile-eyes closed and no teeth showing,” But every night, the moon gets smaller and smaller until it eventually disappears.  Tashi thinks this is because the moon doesn’t get enough milk to drink.  So Tashi leaves a tall glass of milk on the window sill every night for the moon, and little by little the moon gets its full round shape back with its special smile.  Tashi’s grandma explains the phases of the moon.  Bold, colorful illustrations enhance the fun story.  A glossary of Ladakhi words and a note about Ladakh is included.  A lesson plan can be downloaded from the Yali Books website. mjw

Title: Milky Way Author: Mamta Nainy Illustrator: Siddhartha Tripathi Publisher: Yali Books.  New York Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-9890615-6-8 Hardcover pages: 44 Age range: 4-6 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Ladakh, India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: New Delhi Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: Ahmedabad Subjects: Buddhism, Culture, Himalayas, Moon, Tibet

The Dog Who Lost His Bark

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Patrick has always wanted a dog and when his mother suggests getting one while they are vacationing at his grandfather’s, he is thrilled.  Oz the dog had been abused by his former owners and consequently lost his bark.  Patrick helps Oz to heal through the power of music.  Being rescued by his new forever family gives Patrick and Oz the chance to form a special bond and learn what true love is.  The realistic pencil drawings capture both human and dog emotions beautifully. mjw

Title: The Dog Who Lost His Bark Author: Eoin Colfer Illustrator: P. J. Lynch Publisher: Candlewick Press Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-5362-0442-1 Hardcover pages: 144 Age range: 7-10 Genre: Fiction Author’s ethnicity: Irish Author’s residence: Dublin, Ireland Illustrator’s ethnicity: Irish Illustrator’s residence: Dublin. Ireland Awards: Both author and illustrator are former Irish Children’s Laureates Subjects: Animal abuse, Children of separated parents,Dogs, Grandfathers, Human-animal relationships, Music, Pets, Rescue dogs, Violins

Painting Everything In The World

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The people from the Rathwa tribe in Gujarat, India, are preparing for the Holi festival. Everyone is busy and happy, cleaning and cooking for the night.  They feast and dance for the best Holi celebration the village has had, as long as people can remember.  But the next day, strange things happen.  Everything seems to be going wrong.  The Wise Man says that the villagers have forgotten to honor the gods with a Pithora painting.  The artists get to work.  They believe the painting will bring good fortune back to the village.  A beautiful Pithora painting folds out of this fascinating book. An extensive note provides much more information about Pithora painting. mjw

Title: Painting Everything In The World Author: Gita Wolf Illustrator: Harsingh Hamir Publisher: Tara Books Pvt. Ltd., India Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-93-83145-48-5 Hardcover pages: 28 Age range: 6-10 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Rathwa tribe in Gujarat, India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: India Illustrator’s ethnicity: Rathwa Illustrator’s residence: Gujarat, India Awards: The artist won the Nami Concours 2019 Purple Island Award for this book. Subjects: Art, Artists, Gods and goddesses, Holi festival, Pithora and Pithori

The Princess Dolls

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In 1942 Vancouver, nine-year-old best friends Esther and Michiko spot Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret dolls in their local toyshop.  They hope they can have the dolls as presents for their shared birthday. But when Esther receives a doll and Michiko doesn’t, their friendship begins to fall apart.  The story is set during a time of increasing hostility and attacks upon Japanese Canadians.  Michiko and her family are sent away to an internment camp.  Esther is Jewish and her family worries about the fate of relatives who remain in Europe.  The story does resolve in a heartwarming way.  Charming black and white drawings complement this gentle story about friendship. mjw

Title: The Princess Dolls Author: Ellen Schwartz Illustrator: Mariko Ando Publisher: Tradewind Books. Vancouver Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-926890-29-6 Paperback pages: 224 Age range: 8-11 Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: Vancouver, British Columbia Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Burnaby, British Columbia Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: Vancouver, British Columbia Subjects: Canadian history, Dolls, Injustice, Japanese internment, Racism, Toys, World War II

A Place To Belong

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World War II is over and Hanako and her family – her father, her mother, and little brother Akira – are moving to Japan.  They have been in an internment camp for Japanese-Americans in America.  They have renounced their citizenship so they can leave the camp and return to Japan to live with Hanako’s grandparents on a tenant farm outside of Hiroshima.  They barely survive.  Hanako struggles to fit in as an outsider in her new home.  This is a moving book interspersed with black and white drawings. mjw

Title: A Place To Belong Author: Cynthia Kadohata Illustrator: Julia Kuo Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English  ISBN: 978-1-481446648 Hardcover pages: 416 Age range: 10-14 Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: Hiroshima, Japan Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: California, U.S. Subjects: Emigration and immigration, Hiroshima, Multigenerational family life, Japan, Japan history 1945

The Elephant

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The illustrations of the elephants in this book are done in watercolor, acrylic, pencil, and crayon. They are accurate, strikingly detailed, and beautifully rendered.  They make the book!   Here, we join a young boy as he learns interesting facts about Asian and African elephants.  Elephants are intelligent and have amazing memories and excellent hearing.  They walk on their tip-toes and are either right-tusked or left-tusked.  Tusks can be as long as two seven-year-old children from toe to toe.  An introductory note describes modern threats to elephants and a map shows where these fascinating animals live today. mjw

Title: The Elephant Author: Jenni Desmond Illustrator: Jenni Desmond Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books.  New York Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-59270-264-0 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Nonfiction, Information book Author’s ethnicity: British Author’s residence: London Illustrator’s ethnicity: British Illustrator’s residence: London Subjects: Africa, African elephants, Asiatic elephants, India, Zoology

Old Man Of The Sea

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A young boy narrates this adventure tale about his grandpa’s travels all over the world – the story of his life.  He first tells about Europe with fairy tale castles and groves of olive trees.  The ocean calls and grandpa sails to Africa where he dances to the rhythm of drums.  He feels the pull of the ocean and ends up in Asia where he eats spices and visits ancient temples.  He returns to the sea and Oceania and finally ends up in America where he marries, works hard, has children, and makes a family.  For the first time in his life, he forgets to go back to the sea.  The digitally rendered watercolor paintings include maps of the continents. mjw

Title: Old Man Of The Sea Author: Stella Elia Illustrator: Weberson Santiago Publisher: Lantana Publishing. London Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-91137-354-4 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, America Author’s ethnicity: Brazilian Author’s residence: Brazil Illustrator’s ethnicity: Brazilian Illustrator’s residence: Brazil Awards: Illustrator has won the 2009 Trofeu HQ Mix Award for Best Illustrator in Brazil Subjects: Adventure, Boats, Continents, Maps, Multigenerational, Sailing, Sailors, Ships, Storytelling