Category Archives: Uncategorized

A Different Pond

 

This quiet story is about a young Vietnamese boy and his father who go fishing early in the morning in Minneapolis so that the family can have food to eat. They don’t fish for recreation. They bond as the father tells the boy about fishing in his homeland of Vietnam, as well as a bit about the war where he was a soldier. Beautifully illustrated in vividly colored, graphic novel panels, the book conveys a powerful message. Notes from both the poet-author and the illustrator are included. mjw
Title: A Different Pond
Author: Bao Phi
Illustrator
: Thi Bui
Publisher
: Capstone Young Readers. North Mankato, Minnesota
Copyright
: 2017
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1479597468
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 6-8
Genre
: Picture book
Book setting
: Minneapolis
Author’s ethnicity
: Vietnamese
Author’s residence
: Minneapolis, Minnesota 
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Vietnamese
Illustrator’s residence
: U.S.
Awards
: 2018 Caldecott Honor
Subjects
: Asian Americans, Fathers and sons, Fishing, Emigrants and immigrants, Poverty, Vietnam

The Murderer’s Ape

 

This thrilling mystery is narrated by a gorilla named Sally Jones who can read and type on a 1908 Underwood No. 5 typewriter. She is an engineer working for Chief Henry Koskela who is falsely accused of murder. Sally Jones embarks on a whirlwind journey from Lisbon, Portugal, to the Maharaja of Bhapur’s magnificent court in India to clear the chief’s name. This suspenseful adventure is accompanied by detailed black and white drawings. Maps of the voyage appear on the endpapers. mjw
Title: The Murderer’s Ape
Author: Jakob Wegelius
Illustrator
: Jakob Wegelius
Publisher
: Delacorte Press
Copyright
: 2017
Original Language
: Swedish
Translator
: Peter Graves
Original Title
: Mordarens Apa
Original Publisher
: Bonnier Carlsen
Original Copyright
: 2014
ISBN
: 978-1-101-93175-2
Hardcover pages
: 624
Age range
: 8-12
Genre
: Fiction, Mystery
Book setting
: Portugal, India
Author’s ethnicity
: Swedish
Author’s residence
: Sweden
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Swedish
Illustrator’s residence
: Sweden
Awards
: 2018 Batchelder Winner, International Youth Library White Raven Selection
Subjects
: Detective stories, Gorilla, Human-animal relationships, Music, Sailing

The Night Diary

 

It’s 1947, and India, newly independent from British rule, has been divided into two countries: Pakistan and India. Twelve-year-old Nisha, who is half Muslim and half Hindu, doesn’t know where she belongs. Her Muslim mother died when Nisha was a baby. Her Hindu father decides it is too dangerous to stay in what has become Pakistan. Nisha and her family become refugees. They travel by train and foot to reach their new home. Nisha is finally able to meet her mother’s brother and find where she really belongs. Nisha’s story is told through diary entries she writes nightly to her mother. Included in the back is a helpful glossary. The author uses her own father’s story as a basis for this compelling historical novel. mjw
Title: The Night Diary
Author: Veer Hiranandani
Publisher
: Dial Books
Copyright
: 2018
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0735-2285-11
Hardcover pages
: 272
Age range
: 8-12
Genre
: Historical Fiction
Book setting
: India, Pakistan
Author’s ethnicity
: Indian
Author’s residence
: U.S.
Subjects
: Diaries, Family life, Hindus, Muslims, Partition 1947, Refugees, Siblings

Imagine A City

imagine-a-cityImagine a world where rabbits and lions read books, trees grow out of pictures, and flying fish are buses. Bears ride bicycles, gargoyles sip tea, and pterodactyls soar through the sky. Two children and their mother go on a wonderful adventure to a city where anything is possible in this creative book. The simple rhyming text is accompanied by surreal black and white drawings filled to the brim with unusual fanciful details. mjw
Title: Imagine A City
Author: Elise Hurst
Illustrator
: Elise Hurst
Publisher
: Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: English
Original Publisher
: Omnibus Books, an imprint of Scholastic Australia
Original Copyright
: 2014
ISBN
: 978-1-101-93457-9
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 3-7
Genre
: Picture Book, Fantasy
Author’s ethnicity
: Australian
Author’s residence
: Australia
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Australian
Illustrator’s residence
: Australia
Subjects
: City life, Dreams, Fantasy, Imagination

Wilderness: An Interactive Atlas Of Animals

wilderness-an-interactive-atlas-of-animalsThis information book explores animals all over the world through the use of pop-ups and other movable pieces made of paper. The illustrations accurately depict animals through the use of digital illustrations. Moreover, the book features plenty of facts and explanations of animals from all over the globe. Content specific vocabulary within the text includes definitions and helpful examples. The maps, facts, and creative interactive pages make this book accessible for students doing a broad overview about animals in a research project. This atlas is truly a must have for those who are fans of all animals. ema

Title: Wilderness: An Interactive Atlas Of Animals
Author: Hannah Pang
Illustrator
: Jenny Wren
Publisher
: 360 Degrees; Ltf Pop edition
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: English
Original Publisher: 360 Degrees
Original Copyright: 2016
ISBN: 978-1944530037
Hardcover pages
: 16
Age range: 8-12
Genre
: Nonfiction Picture Book
Authors’ ethnicity: English
Authors’ residence: 
England
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: English 
Illustrator’s residence
: Birmingham, England
Subjects: Atlas, Creatures, Global, Maps

The Wild Book

 

Thirteen-year-old Juan is spending the summer with his strange Uncle Tito who has an enchanted library where books have supernatural powers. Uncle Tito tells Juan that he is a Princeps Reader, which means books respond magically to him and that he is the only one who can find the evasive Wild Book. Each chapter is accompanied by whimsical woodcut-style illustrations. More than one million copies have been sold in the Spanish edition. mjw
Title: The Wild Book
Author: Juan Villoro
Illustrator
: EKO
Publisher
: Yonder Books for Young Readers
Copyright
: 2017
Original Language
: Spanish
Translator
: Lawrence Schimel
Original Title
: El libro salvaje
Original Publisher
: Fondo de Cultura Economica, Mexico City
Original Copyright
: 2008
ISBN
: 978-1-63206-147-8
Hardcover pages
: 240
Age range
: 10-14
Genre
: Fiction, Fantasy
Author’s ethnicity
: Mexican
Author’s residence
: Mexico City 
Subjects
: Books, Magic, Reading, Science fiction, Supernatural, Uncles

Yokki And The Parno Gry

yokki-and-the-parno-gryThis traditional Traveler-family folktale tells of Yokki, a young boy who inspires his hard-working family with a tale of a magical white horse. His family experiences hard times and there is no work to be had. They travel from town to town looking for work mending household objects and trying to sell wooden spoons and beautiful paper flowers that they make. At night, they gather around a fire to tell stories they have heard on their travels. Yokki tells the best story about the Parno Gry, which is a horse that comes to take them to a new and better land. Colorful and gentle detailed mixed media illustrations bring Yokki’s family to life in this imaginative Romani folktale. An author’s note gives information about Romani and Traveling People. mjw
Title: Yokki And The Parno Gry
Author: Richard O’Neill and Katherine Quarmby
Illustrator
: Marieke Nelissen
Publisher
: Child’s Play Inc.
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-84643-927-8
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 4-7
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Romani (O’Neill)
Author’s residence
: England
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Dutch
Illustrator’s residence
: Netherlands
Subjects
: Fairytales, Folktales, Gypsies, Horses, Mythical animals, Romanis, Storytelling, Traveling people

Macy McMillan And The Rainbow Goddess

 

Sixth grader Macy McMillan, who is deaf, is facing big changes. Her house is for sale and her mother is about to remarry, adding a stepfather and six-year-old twin stepsisters. Macy’s mother has Macy go next door to help 86-year–old Iris Gillan pack, as Iris is moving into an assisted living facility. Iris doesn’t know sign language, but through notes, books, and cookies, Macy and Iris, the rainbow goddess, develop a beautiful friendship. This heartwarming story is written in free verse. There are many book references throughout, like The Tale of Despereaux, El Deafo, and Anne of Green Gables. mjw
Title: Macy McMillan And The Rainbow Goddess
Author: Shari Green
Publisher
: Pajama Press
Copyright
: 2017
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-77278-017-8
Paperback pages
: 240
Age range
: 8-12
Genre
: Fiction, Verse
Author’s ethnicity
: Canadian
Author’s residence
: British Columbia, Canada
Awards: 2018 Schneider Family Book Award
Subjects
: Deaf children, Intergenerational, Special needs, Step families, Stories in verse

Poles Apart

poles-apartPenguins are found at the South Pole – except when they get lost on their way to a picnic. When the Pilchard-Brown penguin family find themselves at the North Pole, they meet friendly Mr. White, the polar bear, who guides them back home. They follow him over land and sea to New York, England, Italy, India, Australia, and finally the South Pole and a surprise ending. Foreign words are sprinkled throughout this whimsical introduction to different cultures across the globe. Fun, digitally created illustrations show the travelers walking along Fifth Avenue, riding a double-decker bus in London, water skiing in the Sydney harbor, and more. mjw
Title: Poles Apart
Author: Jeanne Willis
Illustrator
: Peter Jarvis
Publisher
: Nosy Crow, an imprint of Candlewick
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: English
Original Publisher
: Nosy Crow, London
Original Copyright
: 2015
ISBN
: 978-0-7636-8944-5
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 4-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: North Pole, South Pole, U.S., England, Italy, India, Australia
Author’s ethnicity
: Born in the United Kingdom
Author’s residence
: London
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: English
Illustrator’s residence
: Manchester, England
Subjects
: Arctic Ocean, North Pole, Penguins, Polar bears, South Pole

Indian Tales: A Barefoot Collection

 

Eight traditional tales from all over the Indian Subcontinent are included in this colorful anthology. Each story is taken from a different region in India, from Punjab in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south. A “Welcome to India!” introduces the country and provides a map. Each tale is accompanied by two pages of information about the state – geography, history, food, dance, culture, traditions, and more. Bright, colorful folk style illustrations in gouache present story elements and frame the narratives. mjw
Title: Indian Tales: A Barefoot Collection
Author: Shenaaz Nanji
Illustrator
: Christopher Corr
Publisher
: Barefoot Books, Cambridge, MA
Copyright
: 2017
Original Language
: English 
Original Publisher
: Barefoot Books
Original Copyright
: 2007
ISBN
: 978-1-78285-357-2
Paperback pages
: 96
Age range
: 7-10
Genre
: Folktales, Fairytales
Book setting
: India
Author’s ethnicity
: Indian
Author’s residence
: Calgary, Canada
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: English
Illustrator’s residence
: London
Subjects
: Anthologies, Gods and goddesses, Myths

The Way Home In The Night

unknownA young bunny is carried home through the dark, quiet streets by her mother. She can see the lights on in her neighbors’ windows and she wonders what they might be doing. The bookshop is closing for the night. Someone is on the phone. Someone else is baking a pie. And there is a party going on next door. When they reach home, the father rabbit tucks the bunny into bed, but the bunny continues to wonder about her neighbors’ activities until she finally falls asleep. Charming, soft-focus, mostly black and white illustrations rendered in pencil, charcoal, and acrylic gouache enrich this perfect bedtime story. mjw
Title: The Way Home In The Night
Author: Akiko Miyakoshi
Illustrator
: Akiko Miyakoshi
Publisher
: Kids Can Press, Toronto
Copyright
: 2017
Original Language
: Japanese
Original Title
: Yoru no Kaerimichi
Original Publisher
: Kaisei – Sha Publishing Co. Lyd. Tokyo
Original Copyright
: 2015
ISBN
: 978-1-77138-663-0
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
: Author has won the Japan Picture Book Award Grand Prix
Subjects
: Bedtime, City life, Night, Rabbits, Sleep

Sam And The Construction Site

Sam and the Construction SiteBig boys dare Sam to enter the construction site when the workers go on break. He drives the steamroller and flattens a car, operates the cement truck and pours concrete on the road, and works the crane and hoists a police car up into the air. Hidden clues and details in the lively, soft-color drawings lead to a surprise ending where Sam saves the day. mjw
Title: Sam And The Construction Site
Author: Tjibbe Veldkamp
Illustrator
: Alice Hoogstad
Publisher
: Lemniscaat, USA, New York
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: Dutch
Translator
: Ineke Lenting
Original Title
: Kom uit die Kraan!!
Original Publisher
: Lemniscaat, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Original Copyright
: 2015
ISBN
: 978-1-935954-49-1
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 3-6
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Dutch
Author’s residence
: Groningen, The Netherlands
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Born in Rhoon, Zuid-Holland
Illustrator’s residence
: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Subjects
: Building sites, Construction equipment, Cranes