 This wordless book is the story of a boy wandering down dark Grimm Street past interesting street and window scenes. When he gets to #34 Andersen Street, he sees a cat in an open doorway. He follows the cat up a stairway where there are discarded drawings on the floor, which he collects. The sepia-toned watercolor paintings are full of enticing details. The two mice on each page are especially fun. The boy journeys through the house, drawn forever forward until he reaches a lovely surprise. Each page in the book is more amazing than the last. mjw |
| Title: A Boy And A House Author: Maja Kastelic Illustrator: Maja Kastelic Publisher: Annick Press Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Slovenian Original Title: Decek in Hisa Original Publisher: Mladinska Knjiga Zalozba Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-77321-055-1 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Wordless Picture Book Book setting: Slovenian townhouse Author’s ethnicity: Slovenian Author’s residence: Slovenia Illustrator’s ethnicity: Slovenian Illustrator’s residence: Slovenia Awards: White Ravens List Subjects: Cats, Companionship, Discovery, Houses, Stories without words, Surprises |
A Boy And A House
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This happy book celebrates the first ferris wheel ride of a young brother and sister. The brilliant, imaginative illustrations are filled with scenes of cotton candy trees, whirling ferris wheel cars, jelly bean people, and dot-to-dots with stars. Rhymed and unrhymed poetry dances on the pages. mjw
Kato, a young Ugandan boy, carries two jerrry cans of water every day from the village well to his family. He passes cattle fields, soldiers standing guard, and an aid worker’s truck that is filled with colorful shoes. He finds a white poppy in the field and trades it for brand new shoes. The poppy is a symbol of peace and goodwill. Bright, geometric digital collage pictures provide a snapshot of Kato’s war-torn village life. mjw
Parisian eight-year-old Ronnie, short for Myron, visits his grandparents and rowdy older cousins in England, while his parents move apartments. It is his first vacation away from his mama. There is a competition to see who can shower the least, a wild bike ride without helmets, the family tradition of jumping off the ten-foot diving board, and the shame of having his bathing suit slip off in the pool. This touching, funny story of Ronnie’s growth from timid mama’s boy to confidence and independence is written in journal format with energetic, expressive watercolor images. mjw
Twenty-two nursery rhymes from around the globe are presented in English, the original language, and the original alphabet when appropriate. New Zealand, China, Australia, Norway, Ireland, Tonga, Jamaica, Japan, Zimbabwe, Fiji, Indonesia, Denmark, Iran, Germany, Samoa, Switzerland, Russia, Brazil, France, Holland, Iceland, and India are illustrated in bright collage and mixed-media artwork. Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen introduces the collection. Source notes are provided, but the name of the original language is not always given. mjw