Category Archives: Uncategorized

Summoning The Phoenix

Summoning The Phoenix Book CoverChildren will be able to explore traditional Chinese instruments and relate to the challenges and rewards of learning to play a musical instrument as they follow twelve children who practice their instruments in preparation for a concert as all musician do. Lively poems convey each child’s unique experience learning to play their chosen traditional Chinese musical instrument. Sidebars featured with each poem give a more in-depth description of how the instrument sounds, how it is made, and how it feels to play. This musical journey is accompanied with vivid, warm pencil and digital illustrations all the way to the grand finale. An author’s note about Chinese music and the recent introduction of the Chinese orchestra follows the text. cc
Title: Summoning The Phoenix: Poems And Prose About Chinese Musical Instruments
Author: Emily Jiang
Illustrator
: April Chu
Publisher
: Shen’s Books, an imprint of Lee & Low Books, Inc., New York
Copyright
: 2013
Original language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-885008-50-3
Hardcover pages
: 454
Age range
: 6-12
Genre
: Poetry
Author’s ethnicity
: Chinese
Author’s residence
: United States
Illustrator’s residence
: United States
Subjects
: China, Eastern Asia, Musical instruments

A Tale Of Two Parrots

Two Parrots Book CoverThis delightful tale about the importance of love and freedom was inspired by a story by Rumi, a 13th century Persian poet. A wealthy mustachioed merchant, elaborately dressed in traditional wide-legged silk pants, flowing robe, and tall black hat keeps a beautiful parrot in a shiny golden cage. But the parrot is sad. When the merchant travels to India to bring a message to the parrot’s friend, the friend drops dead. The merchant returns home, tells the parrot the sad news, and his parrot also drops dead. He removes the bird from the cage and it flies out into the garden. The parrot tricked the merchant. The wise merchant learned a valuable lesson and became friends with the parrot, who now lives freely in the garden. Hidden in the whimsical, mostly green and red, acrylic paintings is a Farsi narrative written on an envelope that further explains the Persian concept of gifts and the parrot’s message to his friend. There is an accompanying animation on North South Book’s YouTube channel. mjw
Title: A Tale Of Two Parrots
Author: Rashin Kheiriyeh
Illustrator
: Rashin Kheiriyeh
Publisher
: North South Books Inc., New York
Copyright
: 2014
Original language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0-7358-4171-0
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 5-8
Genre
: Picture book
Book setting
: Iran/Persia, India
Author’s ethnicity
: Iranian
Author’s residence
: United States
Subjects
: Friends, India, Iran, Merchants, Parrots, Persia, Southern Asia

Abby Spencer Goes To Bollywood

Abby Spencer Goes to Bollywood Book CoverThirteen-year-old biracial Abby Spencer, who lives in Houston, discovers that her long lost father is Bollywood’s biggest movie star. She is spunky and adventurous. She thinks in rhyme and has an imaginary string quartet in her head. Her journey to Mumbai to meet her father is entertaining and also an eye-opening experience about modern Indian culture. Smoothly integrated into this fun story are descriptions of India- colors, sounds, dress, foods; Hindi phrases; Indian history; and the contrast between the extreme poverty in India and the glamorous life of a Bollywood superstar. She connects with her wonderful father and even meets a cute boy. This sweet, quick read mixes literature, geography, cultural diversity, and reveals Abby’s zest for life. mjw
Title: Abby Spencer Goes To Bollywood
Author: Varsha Bajaj
Publisher
: Albert Whitman & Company
Copyright
: 2014
Original language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0-8075-6363-2
Hardcover pages
: 256
Age range
: 9-13
Genre
: Contemporary realistic fiction
Book setting
: Mumbai, India
Author’s ethnicity
: Indian
Author’s residence
: United States
Subjects
: Bollywood, Fathers and daughters, India, Motion picture actors and actresses, South Central Asia

The Big Woods Orchestra

The Big Woods Orchestra Book CoverThe big woods orchestra’s birds welcome a new spring day. The thrush sings a cheerful song, the woodpecker taps away, the wood pigeon practices coo-cooing, and the robin warms up his vocal chords. Others join the beautiful concert and greet rabbits and more forest animals in a bright gatefold finale. This simple story is beautifully illustrated with realistic bird paintings and individually colored and sized bird calls. mjw
Title: The Big Woods Orchestra
Author: Guido Van Genechten
Illustrator
: Guido Van Genechten
Publisher
: New York: Clavis Publishing Company
Copyright
: 2012
Original language
: Dutch
Original title
: Het Grote bosorkest
Original publisher
: Clavis Uitgeverij, Haselt- Amsterdam
Original copyright
: 2010
ISBN
: 978-1-60537-113-9
Hardcover pages
: 24
Age range
: 3-5
Genre
: Picture book
Author’s ethnicity
: Belgian
Author’s residence
: Belgium
Subjects
: Animals, Birds, Birdsongs, Nature, Western Europe

Pomelo’s Big Adventure

Pomelo's Big Adventure Book CoverPomelo, the petite pink pachyderm, packs his knapsack with his toothbrush, pumpkin seeds, a world map, a good book, his courage, and other useful and silly necessities for the road. He ties a ribbon to a stone and tosses it to determine the direction he will travel. He passes through mythic landscapes, gets swindled by a fast-talking rat, shares a sausage with Papamelo, builds a boat, and sails to a land where he befriends a starfish. Bright, lively, oversized cartoon artwork depicts the surreal landscapes in Pomelo’s big, wide world. This story about Pomelo’s curiosity, courage, and fortitude is number four in the “Pomelo the Garden Elephant” series. mjw
Title: Pomelo’s Big Adventure
Author: Ramona Badescu
Illustrator
: Benjamin Chaud
Publisher
: Enchanted Lion Books
Copyright
: 2014
Original language
: French
Translator
: Claudia Bedrick
Original title
: Pomelo et la grande aventure
Original publisher
: Albin Michel Jeunesse
Original copyright
: 2012
ISBN
: 978-1-59270-158-2
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 4-8
Genre
: Picture book
Author’s ethnicity
: Romanian
Author’s residence
: France
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: French
Illustrator’s residence
: France
Subjects
: Animals, Adventure, Elephants, France, Self-reliance, Western Europe

The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly

The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly Book CoverSprout is a feisty, philosophical egg-laying hen who escapes from her cage and dreams of raising her own chick. She is shunned by all the other farm animals except for an outcast mallard duck named Straggler. Straggler protects her while she hatches an egg she found in a briar patch. At first she is unaware that her offspring is a duckling, not a chick. Sprout is brave, strong and heroic in her struggle to overcome violent and harsh conditions. This unforgettable fable is about life, death, a mother’s unconditional love, survival, and freedom. Spare line drawings enhance the story, which is part of the school curriculum for fifth graders in Korea and has been made into a record-breaking film. mjw
Title: The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly
Author: Sun-Mi Hwang
Illustrator
: Nomoco
Publisher
: Penguin Books
Copyright
: 2013
Original language
: Korean
Translator
: Chi-Young Kim
Original title
: Madangeul maon amtak
Original publisher
: Sakyejul Publishing Ltd, Seoul
Original copyright
: 2000
ISBN
: 978-0-14-312320-0
Paperback pages
: 134
Age range
: 10 up
Genre
: Novel
Author’s ethnicity
: Korean
Author’s residence
: Seoul, South Korea
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Japanese
Illustrator’s residence
: London, England
Awards
: 2013 Amazon Best Book of the Month (November), 2013 Sejong Children’s Literature Prize, 2012 Best Book of the Year in Poland
Subjects
: Animals, Chickens, Eastern Asia, Individuality, Korea, Mother and child

Through The Woods

Through the Woods Book CoverFive dark, mysterious stories are told in this visual anthology. An introduction sets the creepy scene. If you travel to “Our Neighbor’s House,” coming back could be a problem. The young bride in “A Lady’s Hands Are Cold,” meets a ghost in the mansion. Two brothers go into the woods to kill a monster in “His Face All Red.” An Internet webcomic of this tale is available on the author’s website. “My Friend Janna” is about two friends and ghosts and is chilling. “The Nesting Place,” starring Bell’s brother’s monster- fiancee may be the scariest story of all, with its horrific art. The conclusion sums up the macabre feeling of the book. The gruesome, ink and graphite digitally colored illustrations are mostly black with pops of color. They are beautiful and frightening and they perfectly capture each tale. The text is sparse, yet poetic. mjw
Title: Through The Woods
Author: Emily Carroll
Illustrator
: Emily Carroll
Publisher
: Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
Copyright
: 2014
Original language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-4424-6595-4
Hardcover pages
: 20
Age range
: 14 up
Genre
: Graphic novel
Author’s ethnicity
: Canadian
Author’s residence
: Canada
Subjects
: Canada, Horror tales, North America, Short stories

If You Can…We Can!

If You Can We Can Book CoverTwo rabbits, one big and one little, decide to be friends forever in this touching tale with a very positive message regarding friendship.  They giggle, sing songs, tell stories, and run around.  All of these activities are enjoyed together.  The simple, heart-warming text compliments fun, lively illustrations.  Every reader will enjoy this story that exemplifies what friends are, what they do, and how friends make us feel. cc
Title: If You Can…We Can!
Author: Beth Shoshan
Illustrator
: Petra Brown
Publisher
: Sandy Creek, an imprint of Sterling Publishing, New York
Copyright
: 2013
Original language
: English
Original publisher
: Meadowside Children’s Books
Original copyright
: 2008
ISBN
: 978-1-4351-4800-0
Hardcover pages
: 24
Age range
: 3-6
Genre
: Picture book
Author’s residence
: England
Illustrator’s residence
: England
Subjects
: England, Friendship, Western Europe

Community Soup

Community Soup Book Cover Kioni is busy rounding up her mischievous goats who have roamed away from home and broken into the garden of a Kenyan schoolhouse on soup day. Meanwhile, her friends are gathering ingredients for soup. Just as the goats begin wreaking havoc on the garden, Kioni and her friends problem solve and find a way to make the soup even more delicious.  They add goat milk. Striking 3D artwork combining paper sculpture and mixed-media collage illustrate the Kenyan community. A recipe for pumpkin vegetable soup that can be made by children and adults accompanies the story. cc
Title: Community Soup
Author: Alma Fullerton
Illustrator
: Alma Fullerton
Publisher
: Pajama Press, Ontario, Canada
Copyright
: 2013
Original language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-927485-27-9
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 4-7
Genre
: Picture book
Book setting
: Kenya
Author’s residence
: Canada
Subjects
: Community gardens, Community kitchens, Eastern Africa, Goats, Kenya, Social life and customs

Moon At Nine

MoonAtNine_C_Oct5.inddFarrin, a fifteen-year-old Tehran resident, is the daughter of a wealthy mother and father.  She attends a school for gifted girls and her life changes the day she meets Sadira. Sadira is witty and wise and the two become inseparable.  When Farrin and Sadira’s friendship shifts from friendship to romance, they are desperate to keep their love secret. It is 1988 and the conservative government of Iran considers homosexuality an abhorrent crime. One day the girls are discovered, thrown in jail, separated, and are left to await their execution.  Farrin is hopeful her family will find a way to free her from jail and hopes they will aid her love as well. This riveting, heart wrenching story is based on real-life events. cc
Title: Moon At Nine
Author: Deborah Ellis
Publisher
: Pajama Press Inc., Ontario, Canada
Copyright
: 2014
Original language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-927485-57-6
Hardcover pages
: 224
Age range
: 14 up
Genre
: Fiction
Book setting
: Iran
Author’s residence
: Canada
Subjects
: Iran, Lesbians, LGBTQ, Tehran, Western Asia

A Bear In War

A Bear in War Book Cover In 1915, ten-year-old Aileen Rogers’ father, Lawrence Browning Rogers, enlisted in the Fifth Canadian Mounted Rifles.  Aileen, left in Quebec with her mother and younger brother, sent her precious stuffed Teddy bear to the front lines in Europe to protect him.  Teddy came home to the Rogers farm.  Lieutenant Rogers did not.  He was killed at the battle of Passchendaele in Belgium.  In 2002, Lawrence’s granddaughter found Teddy, letter, and war memorabilia in a family briefcase.  This moving story, narrated by Teddy, is accompanied by family photographs, newspaper cuttings, and warm oil paintings.  Today Teddy lives in a glass display in the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Canada. mjw
Title: A Bear In War
Author: Stephanie Innes and Harry Endrulat
Illustrator
: Brian Deines
Publisher
: Pajama Press, reprint edition
Copyright
: 2013
Original language
: English
Original publisher
: Key Porter Books Limited, Canada
Original copyright
: 2008
ISBN
: 978-1-927485-12-5
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 6-9
Genre
: Picture book
Book setting
: Canada
Author’s residence
: United States, Canada
Illustrator’s residence
: Canada
Awards
: Silver Birch Award Shortlist, 2009 Vancouver Children’s Literature Roundtable Information Book Finalist
Subjects
: Canada, Father and child, North America, Soldiers, Teddy Bears, World War I

Brush Of The Gods

Brush of the Gods Book CoverAs a boy, Wu Daozi (689-759), often considered to be China’s greatest painter, was taught calligraphy, but his brush did  not cooperate.  Instead he painted squiggles, twists, and dots that became butterflies, horses, flowers, and clouds that came to life. People traveled from all over to admire his work.  One day, the emperor asked him to paint a mural on the walls of the palace.  This masterpiece took years to finish and revolutionized Chinese painting.  Ink, watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil illustrations capture the beauty of Chinese art and culture.  An author’s note provides background information on Wu Daozi’s life and artistic techniques. mjw
Title: Brush Of The Gods
Author: Lenore Look
Illustrator
: Meilo So
Publisher
: Schwartz and Wade Books, an imprint of Random House, New York
Copyright
: 2013
Original language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0-87001-9
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 4-8
Genre
: Picture book biography
Book setting
: China
Author’s residence
: United States
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Chinese
Illustrator’s residence
: Scotland
Awards
: Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year, Booklist Books for Youth Editor’s Choice
Subjects
: Artists, China-history-Tang dynasty, Daozi Wu, Eastern Asia, Legends, Myths and fables, Painting