Category Archives: Uncategorized

A Dog Like Sam

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Nine-year-old Kix and his younger sister Emilia discover a big white sheepdog in their front yard and want to adopt him. They name him Sam. The problem is that he belongs to loony Flint, their neighbor who is in a mental hospital following the failure of his farm. All is resolved in a dramatic scene where Kix states that Sam must decide where he wants to live. Lively pen and ink illustrations add to this moving and heartwarming tale. An author’s note gives background for the story. mjw

Title: A Dog Like Sam Author: Edward van de Vendel Illustrator: Philip Hopman Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young People Copyright: 2016 Original Language: Dutch Translator: David Colmer Original Title: Toen Kwam Sam Original Publisher: Em. Queridos Kinderboeken Uitgeverij Original Copyright: 2011 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5484-1 Hardcover pages: 111 Age range: 8-11 Genre: Fiction, illustrated novel Author’s ethnicity: Dutch Author’s residence: Netherlands Illustrator’s ethnicity: Dutch Illustrator’s residence: Netherlands Awards: 2011, 2012 Author was nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award Subjects: Dogs, Families, Pets

Karma

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Fifteen-year-old Maya is traveling with her Sikh father to bring her Hindu mother’s ashes to India. Arriving in 1984 on the eve of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination she is thrust into an India full of fear and chaos. She manages to escape the worst of the riots in Delhi but is separated from her father and must rely on others to help her navigate the dangers of India in 1984. Maya finds a companion in Sandeep a mysterious young man who helps her face an uncertain future. Written in verse, this fast paced historical fiction novel shows the harsh reality of Indian life in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination along with the troubles a young woman could have faced being alone in India. Ostlere shows the danger of the time but also honors the vibrancy of India through realistic details such as, warm chai being sold on the street, that will transport the reader directly into Indian culture. amo

Title: Karma Author: Cathy Ostlere Publisher: Razor Bill  Copyright: 2011 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-59514-384-6 Paperback pages: 534 Age range: 13 and up Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: Canada, India Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Calgary, Canada Awards: R. Ross Annett Children’s Award Subjects: Assassination, Family, India, Love, Riots

When The Rain Comes

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Malini, who lives in a village in Sri Lanka, is in charge of the oxcart that carries the rice seedlings for the new rice crop. The sky grows dark and monsoon rains cause a flash flood. Malini is separated from the cart and her family. She summons strength she didn’t know she had and saves the rice. The free verse text provides a suspenseful slice of South Asian life. Paint and pencil impressionistic illustrations depict the rain’s ferocity. Back matter gives additional information about Sri Lanka, its geography, and the importance of rice to the culture. mjw

Title: When The Rain Comes Author: Alma Fullerton Illustrator: Kim La Fave Publisher: Pajama Press, Toronto Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-1-77278-012-3 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Sri Lanka Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Canada Illustrator’s residence: Canada Subjects: Asia, Autonomy, Farm and ranch life, Monsoons, Rain, Rice planting, Self-esteem, Self-reliance, Self-respect, Weather

Under The Umbrella

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It’s raining and a grumpy man growls at the crowds and the clouds until a sudden gust takes his umbrella. In the distance is a colorful patisserie with a window full of cakes and creams and cookies. The umbrella lands at the feet of a little boy who is looking into the window. The man thanks the boy and offers him a rich, red rhubarb-raspberry tart. Then, the boy carefully breaks the tart in two, giving the man the larger part. Bold, fantastical illustrations that play with perspective, shape, and color accompany the rhyming text which is a delightful read-aloud. mjw

Title: Under The Umbrella Author: Catherine Buquet Illustrator: Marion Arbona Publisher: Pajama Press.  Toronto Copyright: 2017 Original Language: French Translator: Erin Woods Original Title: Sous le parapluie Original Publisher: Editions Les 400 coups Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-1-77278-016-1 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: Paris Subjects: Emotions and feelings, Friendship, Sharing, Stories in rhyme, Umbrellas

The Sleeper And The Spindle

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Snow White meets Sleeping Beauty in this dark and definitely different adaptation of several classic tales. On the eve of her wedding, a young queen sets out with three dwarf companions to rescue a princess. Also, there is a sleeping plague sweeping the land and the queen wants to get to the bottom of the magical curse. They encounter cobweb-covered sleepers on the way to the castle tower, where they find the sleeping princess, who has been there for 70 years, and an old woman. The queen’s kiss wakes the princess. Here, the story veers off course again to a nontraditional, but satisfying ending. Intricate ink drawings with touches of gold bring all the twists and turns in the mash-up fairy tale to life. mjw

Title: The Sleeper And The Spindle Author: Neil Gaiman Illustrator: Chris Riddell Publisher: Harper Collins Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Bloomsbury Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-0-06-239824-6 Hardcover pages: 64 Age range: 13 up Genre: Picture book, Fairy tale, Fantasy Author’s ethnicity: Originally from England Author’s residence: U.S. Illustrator’s ethnicity: British Illustrator’s residence: Brighton, England Awards: 2016 CLIP Kate Greenaway Medal Subjects: Adaptations, Fairy tales and folklore, Myths and legends, Princesses, Queens, Quests, Science fiction, Sleep

Yours Sincerely, Giraffe

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Giraffe is bored, so he writes a letter and asks Pelican to deliver it beyond the horizon. Penguin receives the letter and the two become pen pals. The two animals have no idea what each other looks like. After many hilarious questions and answers, Giraffe creates a picture of what he thinks Penguin looks like. Giraffe trying to dress like a penguin will certainly make readers laugh out loud. The story, which incorporates fun animal facts, is generously illustrated with simple ink drawings and the pair’s letters. mjw

Title: Yours Sincerely, Giraffe Author: Megumi Iwasa Illustrator: Jun Takabatake Publisher: Gecko Press.  New Zealand Copyright: 2017 Original Language: Japanese Translator: Cathy Hirano Original Title: Boku wa Africa ni Sumu Kirin to Iimasu Original Publisher: Kaisei-sha Publishing Co Ltd.  Tokyo Original Copyright: 2001 ISBN: 978-1-927271-88-9 Hardcover pages: 104 Age range: 6-9 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Africa and Antarctica Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Tokyo, Japan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: Japan Subjects: Birds, Friendship, Giraffes, Humor, Letter writing, Pelicans, Pen pals, Penguins, Whales

Tidy

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Pete the badger likes everything neat. He tidies the forest stick by stick and leaf by leaf. Unfortunately things start to get out of hand as leaves fall and he uproots trees. Pete begins to learn that tidiness is not always the best way to take care of the forest. Instead, he embraces the disorder and enjoys nature as it is. Pencil, watercolor, and wax crayon illustrations show the impact of tidying the bright forest into a gray, ordered land.  The bright colors return as Pete balances tidiness with natural disorder. amo

Title: Tidy Author: Emily Gravett Illustrator: Emily Gravett Publisher: Simon and Schuster Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-4814-8019-2 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Forest Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Brighton, England Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: Brighton, England Subjects: Badgers, Environment, Forests, Nature

The Strongest Man In The World: The Legend Of Louis Cyr

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Louis Cyr was born in 1863 in a small village in Quebec. He was a strong boy and he became stronger as he grew up. He traveled across North America showing off his extraordinary strength. He could lift a board holding fourteen large men. One of his most popular acts was his tug-of-war with two or four horses. Each horse weighed 1000 pounds. The horses could not move him. Large, cartoon-style illustrations show Louis Cyr’s incredible life from his childhood to his becoming the strongest man in the world. A poster with a timeline, photographs, and additional information is included. mjw

Title: The Strongest Man In The World: The Legend Of Louis Cyr Author: Lucie Papineau Illustrator: Caroline Hamel Publisher: Auzou Publishing. Paris, France Copyright: 2016 Original Language: French Translator: MaryChris Bradley ISBN: 978-2-7338-4614-8 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 8-10 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Canada Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Quebec Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Montreal Subjects: Strong men, Weightlifting

Wild Animals Of The North

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This stunning and fun information book looks at animals of North America, Europe, and Asia, from Kodiak bears and Texas rattlesnakes to European badgers and Japanese Macaques. Most of the wildlife images are accompanied by compelling and often humorous descriptive paragraphs. The highly stylized, geometric illustrations really make the book. A note touches on pollution, climate change, and global warming and the fact that a third of the animals in the book are endangered. Also included is an index of the 80 animals. Also available is Wild Animals of the South. mjw

Title: Wild Animals Of The North Author: Dieter Braun Illustrator: Dieter Braun Publisher: Flying Eye Books, an imprint of Nobrow Ltd.  London Copyright: 2016 Original Language: German Translator: Jen Calleja Original Title: Die Welt der wilden Tiere: Im Norden Original Publisher: von dem Knesebeck GmbH and Co.  Verlag KG, Munchen Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-909263-96-3 Hardcover pages: 144 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture book. Information book, Nonfiction Book setting: North America, Europe, Asia Author’s ethnicity: German Author’s residence: Hamburg, Germany Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Hamburg, Germany Subjects: Endangered animals, Northern hemisphere, Wild animals, Wilderness

Skye The Puffling

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Skye, a baby puffin, sneaks out of his parents’ burrow, falls off a cliff, and lands on the back of a gannet in flight. Skye’s adventure in Scotland’s Firth of Forth is written in rhyme and is illustrated with cute watercolor paintings. The sweet story is a sequel to the best-selling Harris the Hero by Lynne Rickards.  mjw

Title: Skye The Puffling Author: Lynne Rickards Illustrator: Jon Mitchell Publisher: Picture Kelpies, an imprint of Floris Books, Edinburgh Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-78250-255-5 Paperback pages: 32 Age range: 3-6 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Scotland Author’s ethnicity: Born in Canada Author’s residence: Scotland Illustrator’s ethnicity: British Illustrator’s residence: England Subjects: Birds, Puffins

My Beautiful Birds

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Sami, his family, and his neighbors are escaping the bombs that have destroyed their Syrian home. Sami is heartbroken because he had to leave behind his pet pigeons. Once they reach the refugee camp and safety, everyone settles in as best they can. But Sami is not interested in soccer or painting. His life seems pointless. He cannot forget his birds. When some birds – a canary, a dove, and a rose finch – fly into the camp, Sami feeds them and provides material for their nests. This helps him begin his long healing process. Rich, textured illustrations fashioned from Plasticene, polymer clay, and other mixed media complement this moving story of one young refugee’s experience in the Syrian civil war. An author’s note gives information about refugee camps and the Syrian conflict. mjw

Title: My Beautiful Birds Author: Suzanne Del Rizzo Illustrator: Suzanne Del Rizzo Publisher: Pajama Press.  Toronto Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77278-010-9 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 6-10 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Syria Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Canada Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Canada Subjects: Birds, Homelessness, Illness, Loss, Middle East, Poverty, Refugee camps, Refugees, Syria

Canada Year By Year

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This amazing history book features one milestone per year of Canada’s 150-year history. Ten chapters are filled with sidebars, biographies, quotations, trivia, and fascinating illustrations. In 1910, the first chocolate bar in North America was developed in New Brunswick as a quick snack for fishermen. In 1922, Joseph-Armand Bombardier attached a car motor and an airplane propeller to a sleigh to create a snowmobile. In 1932, 17-year-old Joe Shuster sketched the first Superman. And in 2009, more than one-fifth of all smartphones used around the world were made by a Canadian company called Blackberry. This is the story of the people, places, and events that have shaped Canada. Back matter includes an index and an illustrated list of great Canadians – artists, athletes, politicians, and more.mjw

Title: Canada Year By Year Author: Elizabeth MacLeod Illustrator: Sydney Smith Publisher: Kids Can Press. Toronto, Canada Copyright: 22016 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77138-397-4 Hardcover pages: 96 Age range: 9-12 Genre: Picture book, Information, Nonfiction Book setting: Canada Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Toronto Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Toronto Awards: Smith has won the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award Subjects: Canada, History, Reference