Category Archives: Uncategorized
The Paper Bridge
Finding The Way To Faraway Valley
A little polar bear and his bespectacled grandfather decide to take the long, difficult journey north to Faraway Valley. It’s “a special place, a wild place …” where great elks, tawny foxes, and mountain goats live, and “the air smells of warm pine needles.” Before they depart, they must learn how to pitch a tent, study maps, and read about the creatures of the North and safety on ships. They travel far to discover the importance of protecting the special place and leaving it, taking only their learning and memories away. The rich illustrations were created using watercolors, gouache, pastels, and digital methods in this inspiring and moving book with an environmental theme. A star chart is included as back matter. mjw |
| Title: Finding The Way To Faraway Valley Author: Cecilia Heikkila Illustrator: Cecilia Heikkila Publisher: Floris Books, Edinburgh Copyright: 2024 Original Language: Swedish Translator: Polly Lawson Original Title: Den sista utposten Original Publisher: Bonnier Carlsen Bokfortag, Stockholm Original Copyright: 2021 ISBN: 978-178250-854-0 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Swedish Author’s residence: Dalarna, Sweden Illustrator’s ethnicity: Swedish Illustrator’s residence: Dalarna, Sweden Awards: Selma Lagerlof Society Prize, 2024 Subjects: Conservation, Dreams, Grandchildren, Grandfathers, Intergenerational, Maps, Polar Bears, Wilderness Appreciation |
Music Of The Mountains: A Story In Pakistan
Ajay And The Mumbai Sun
Slow Adventures: Every Moment: 40 Real-Life Journeys By Boat, Bike, Foot, And Train
![]() This gorgeous travel guide for kids encourages them to travel slowly and experience the world in all its richness and wonder. “When you slow down and take your time, you notice the details that make each place unique. You meet people and learn about their histories and cultures. You discover new sounds, aromas, and flavors.” Four slower modes of transport: train, boat, bicycle, and your own two feet are featured in the book. A Table of Contents lists twelve journeys on foot, ten journeys by bike, ten journeys by boat, and eight journeys by train. Maps for all the journeys enrich the trips. Discover more about the world as you: slow down with the sloths in Costa Rica, trek the Inca Trail in Peru, bike through the Angkor Wat in Cambodia, discover the riches of Rajasthan in India, take a Mississippi steamboat, and more. A list of ways to travel slowly and suggestions for further reading round out this impressive work. The illustrated journeys were created in pencil and colored digitally. mjw |
| Title: Slow Adventures: Every Moment: 40 Real-Life Journeys By Boat, Bike, Foot, And Train Author: Carl Honore Illustrator: Kevin and Krista Howdeshell Publisher: Magic Cat Publishing. UK. An imprint of Harry N. Abrams, New York Copyright: 2024 Original Language: English Original Title: It’s The Journey Not The Destination Original Publisher: Magic Cat Publishing, Ltd. Original Copyright: 2022 ISBN: 978-1-4197-7132-3 Hardcover pages: 96 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Information Book, Nonfiction, Picture Book, Travel Guide Book setting: The World Author’s residence: London Illustrator’s residence: London Subjects: Boats, Bicycles, Cities, Culture, Hiking, Journeys, Mindfulness, People, Trains, Transportation, Travel Guides, World |
The Cities Of The Future
This exciting book tells the story of how cities around the world are becoming greener, more innovative, and people-friendly spaces while continuing to evolve. Captivating, intricately detailed illustrations showcase pioneering cities, like London, Berlin, Chandigarh, Amsterdam, New York, and more. The book offers a glimpse into the future of urban environments and inspires readers to take action. |
| Title: The Cities Of The Future Author: Didier Cornille Illustrator: Didier Cornille Publisher: Post Wave Publishing UK Ltd. Copyright: 2025 Original Language: French Translator: Charis Ainslie Original Title: La Ville Quoi De Neuf Actes Original Publisher: Helium/Actes Sud Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 979-8-89509-014-5 Hardcover pages: 88 Age range:7-9 Genre: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Information Book Book setting: World cities Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: Paris Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: Paris Subjects: Architecture, Cities, Communities, Design, Ecology, Energy, Factories, Future, Gardens, Global awareness, Green, Homes, Museums, Parks, Pollution, Population, Railway stations, Renewable energy, Sustainability, Transportation, |
The Carpet: An Afghan Family Story
Inspired by the author’s own life as an Afghani refugee, this impactful story expresses the importance of the family carpet. The carpet is the centerpiece of life – sipping tea and talking together, helping, sharing, caring, playing, learning, listening, remembering, and dreaming. The carpet is a piece of home. The bold-colored illustrations were made with ink drawings on paper and digital coloring. An author’s note tells the author’s backstory. mjw
| Title: The Carpet: An Afghan Family Story Author: Dezh Azaad Illustrator: Nan Cao Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers.New York Copyright: 2023 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-4197-6361-8 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Afghani Author’s residence: Germany Illustrator’s ethnicity: Chinese Illustrator’s residence: New York City Awards: 2024 South Asia Book Award Subjects: Cuisine, Culture, Cooking, Games, Folklore, Home, Refugees, Stories, Traditions |
Pavlo Gets The Grumps
![]() Pavlo is a cat with the grumps. His mother suggests going to the park, but Pavlo says the swings are too swingy and the slide is too slidey. How about swimming? says Mama, but the water is too wet and the fishes will nibble Pavlo’s toes. Going to the movies isn’t right either for Pavlo. Finally, Pavlo hears his friend Mila calling him. She knows just what to do to get rid of Pavlo’s grumps. The simple comforting text is printed in an extra-large font, making sharing easy, especially for children who have difficulty reading regular-sized print. The brilliantly created illustrations have a soft, fuzzy quality, were rendered in acrylic paint and watercolor pencil, and were finished digitally. mjw |
| Title: Pavlo Gets The Grumps Author: Natalia Shaloshvili Illustrator: Natalia Shaloshvili Publisher: Candlewick Press Copyright: 2024 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Walker Books Ltd. UK Original Copyright: 2024 ISBN: 978-1-5362-3554-8 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Ukrainian Author’s residence: UK Illustrator’s ethnicity: Ukrainian Illustrator’s residence: UK Subjects: Anger, Cats, Feelings, Love, Sadness |
A Map For Falasteen: A Palestinian Child’s Search For Home
At school, a young Palestinian girl named Falasteen struggles to find her homeland on a map. She is troubled, confused, and curious when her teacher tells her she “thinks there’s no such place.” Falasteen asks her grandfather why Palestine isn’t on the map, and he draws her a colorful outline map showing various Palestinian cities and villages that she can take to school to show her teachers and classmates. She also asks her grandma, who is working in the kitchen. Grandma tells her of when soldiers, tanks, and guns forced her family from their home. Finally, Falesteen asks her mother why Palestine isn’t on the map. Mama replies that there are places you don’t need a map to find – their favorite trail, the bird’s nest in the chimney, their music and food, their names and language, and things that they haven’t seen with their own eyes. She says, “Palestine lives in you and me.” Beautiful, inspiring illustrations and thorough back matter round out this important and timely book. mjw
Title: A Map For Falasteen
Author: Maysa Odeh
Illustrator: Aliaa Betawi
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company. New York
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-250-89670-4
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Palestinian
Author’s residence: California, USA
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Palestinian
Illustrator’s residence: Alexandria, Egypt
Awards: 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award. Elementary Honor
Subjects: Arabs, Family life, Homes, Israel, Maps, Middle East, Multigenerational, Palestine, Refugees
The Color Of Your Skin
Vega and her friend Alex are drawing pictures at an art table at school. Alex asks for the skin-colored pencil. Vega asks if he means the color of her skin or the color of his. Maybe he means the beautiful caramel brown skin color of his neighbor Vincent or the light apple shade of the new girl. With curiosity and creativity, they explore the diversity of skin colors of the people around them. They discover that skin color has many shades and that colors are like hugs: the more the better. The illustrations are brightly colored and rich. The book is printed on “stone paper,” a special paper made of limestone. The paper doesn’t come from cutting down trees, doesn’t use water, and doesn’t need chemical products. mjw |
| Title: The Color Of Your Skin Author: Desiree Acevedo Illustrator: Silvia Alvarez Publisher: Cuento De Luz. Madrid, Spain Copyright: 2021 Original Language: Spanish Translator: Jon Brokenbrow Original Title: El color de tu piel ISBN: 978-84-19464-43-9 Paperback pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Spanish Author’s residence: Huelva, Spain Illustrator’s ethnicity: Honduran and Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Seville, Spain Subjects: Colors, Crayons, Diversity, Multi-colored, Multiculturalism, Paints, Pencils, Skin color, Uniqueness |
SOS Water
Lalo, a sailor, encounters a talking goldfish in a fishbowl on a pile of trash. Her name is Rosa, and she longs to have a better life. Lalo takes Rosa to a pond, a mountaintop, the Arctic, the jungle, the desert, the beach, and the River Seine. But everywhere is polluted with empty plastic water bottles. Lalo dreams that he has magical powers to clean the world. Several spreads show different animals cleaning up the ubiquitous water bottles. They come to a community garden and meet Bibo, a gentle little garden gnome, who suggests the perfect place for Rosa – a magic pond next to his house. The final page shows Lalo drinking a big glass of refreshing tap water. Whimsical line drawings saturated with water bottles further distinguish this important environmental lesson. A Spanish-language edition is also available. mjw |
| Title: SOS Water Author: Yayo Illustrator: Yayo Publisher: Tradewinds Books. Vancouver, Canada Copyright: 2024 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-990598-23-4 Hardcover pages: 56 Age range: 6-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Colombian Author’s residence: Montreal, Quebec Illustrator’s ethnicity: Colombian Illustrator’s residence: Montreal, Quebec Subjects: Goldfish, Plastic water bottles, Pollution, Sailors, Water, Water pollution |











