Tag Archives: Adventure

On A Magical Do-Nothing-Day

 

In this magical picture book, a young child is lured away from technology to find fun in the forest. He is playing a game on his device destroying Martians until his mother takes it away from him. She hides the game, but he finds it and goes outside in a neon orange raincoat. He drops his computer console in a pond and then becomes captivated by what he finds – snails, squishy mushrooms, seeds, mud, icy rainwater, stones as clear as glass, and more. Soaked, he returns home, wanting to tell his mother what he has seen, felt, and tasted outside in the world. But he doesn’t tell her. Together they sit in the kitchen breathing in the smell of their hot chocolate. That’s all they did “on the magical do-nothing day.” The artist used gouache, oil, collage, and wax pencils to create the texture and details of nature in this breathtaking book. mjw
Title: On A Magical Do-Nothing-Day
Author: Beatrice Alemagna
Illustrator
: Beatrice Alemagna
Publisher
: Harper Collins
Copyright
:  2017
Original Language
: French
Translator
: Jill Davis
Original Publisher
: Albin Michel
Original Copyright
: 2016
ISBN
: 978-0-06-275760-2
Hardcover pages
: 48
Age range
: 4-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Italian
Author’s residence
: Paris
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Italian
Illustrator’s residence
: Paris
Awards
: A New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book 2017
Subjects
: Forest, Imagination and play, Parents, Rain and rainfall, Technology, Video games

The Little Reindeer

On Christmas Eve, Ollie, who wears reindeer pajamas, has just gone to sleep when jingle bells wake her up. She grabs her sled and follows the sound. She finds a collar of bells on a tree branch and wonders who could it belong to. Next, she hears the crunch of a reindeer in the snow. Ollie fastens the collar on to the reindeer. Ollie and the reindeer go for a ride through the night sky. They have to stop because Ollie has to go back to bed and someone very special needs the reindeer that night. A double-page spread shows Santa and his reindeer flying through the night sky. This enchanting Christmas story has die cuts pages, silver foil, and splashes of red.. mjw
Title: The Little Reindeer
Author: Nicola Killen
Illustrator
: Nicola Killen
Publisher
: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Copyright
: 2017
Original Language
: English
Original title: Ollie’s Christmas Reindeer

ISBN
: 978-1-4814-8686-6
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 4-8
Genre
: Picture Book 
Author’s ethnicity
: English
Author’s residence
: Cambridge, England
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: English
Illustrator’s residence
: Cambridge
Subjects
: Adventure, Christmas, Fantasy and magic, Holidays and celebrations, Reindeer

The Wind In The Willows

Sebastian Meschenmoser’s expressive artwork brings a new look to Kenneth Grahame’s classic story about Rat, Mole, Toad, and Badger. More than one hundred watercolor vignettes and twelve full-page oil paintings bring life to the adventures of the lovable characters in pastoral Edwardian England. mjw
Title: The Wind In The Willows
Author: Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932)
Illustrator
: Sebastian Meschenmoser
Publisher
: North South
Copyright
: 2017
Original Language
: English
Original Publisher
: NordSud Verlag. Zürich, Switzerland
Original Copyright
: 2017 (1908)
ISBN
: 978-0-7358-4295-3
Hardcover pages
: 220
Age range
: 9 up
Genre
: Illustrated Fiction
Book setting
: England
Author’s ethnicity
: Scottish
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: German
Illustrator’s residence
: Germany
Subjects
: Automobiles, Badgers, Boats, Folktales, Moles, Rats, Toads

Jamal’s Journey

Jamal is a little camel that has to walk, walk, walk through the desert to keep up with his friend, the boy, and the other camels in the caravan. A sandstorm separates them. He meets different desert animals, but none can help him. A wise falcon reunites Jamal with his family. Eventually they reach Dubai and the colorful marketplace. Rich watercolor paintings show the sights of the desert and the city. An author’s note tells that the story was inspired by Foreman’s visit to Dubai and that the word jamal means beauty and camel. mjw
Title: Jamal’s Journey
Author: Michael Foreman
Illustrator
: Michael Foreman
Publisher
: Andersen Press.  USA
Copyright
: 2017
Original Language
: English
Original Publisher
: Andersen Press Ltd. London
Original Copyright
: 2017
ISBN
: 978-1-5124-3949-6
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 4-9
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: Dubai
Author’s ethnicity
: English
Author’s residence
: England
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: English
Illustrator’s residence
: England
Awards
: Author/illustrator has won the Kate Greenaway Medal twice
Subjects
: Adventure, Camels, Cities, Deserts, Friendship

Colette’s Lost Pet

Colette is new to the Mile End neighborhood of Montreal. She wants to make friends, but doesn’t know what to talk about. She invents a problem: she has lost her pet parakeet named Marie Antoinette. Her fib escalates a bit out of control and a neighborhood-wide search party is assembled. Do her new friends really believe her or is it just more fun to pretend? Artwork rendered in pencil, watercolor, and ink with digital coloration depicts Montreal’s urban setting. The text is hand-lettered. mjw
Title: Colette’s Lost Pet
Author: Isabelle Arsenault
Illustrator
: Isabelle Arsenault
Publisher
: Random House, New York
Copyright
: 2017
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0-553-53659-1
Hardcover pages
: 48
Age range
: 3-7
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: Montreal
Author’s ethnicity
: Canadian
Author’s residence
: Montreal
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Canadian
Illustrator’s residence
: Montreal
Awards
: Author/illustrator has won Canada’s Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature three times
Subjects
: Birds, New experiences, Pets

The Treasure Of Barracuda

the-treasure-of-barracudaEleven-year-old Sparks is a deck hand on the Southern Cross, a pirate ship led by Captain Barracuda. Sparks and the crew discover a book left by the infamous pirate, Phineas Johnson Krane, but they cannot read. The fifty-three zany pirates learn to read and decipher the book’s contents so they can go in search of Krane’s real hidden treasure. In this laugh-aloud story, the pirates learn that the most valuable treasures are reading, writing, and family. An extensive Barracuda’s Glossary is included. mjw
Title: The Treasure Of Barracuda
Author: Llanos Campos
Illustrator
: Julia Sarda
Publisher
: Little Pickle Press, Inc. California
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: Spanish
Translator
: Lawrence Schimel
Original Title
: El Tesoro de Barracuda
Original Publisher
: Ediciones SM
Original Copyright
: 2014
ISBN
: 978-1-939775-14-6
Hardcover pages
: 156
Age range
: 9-12
Genre
: Fiction
Book setting
: The Caribbean
Author’s ethnicity
: Spanish
Author’s residence
: Spain
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Spanish
Illustrator’s residence
: Spain
Awards
: 2014 Barco de Vapor Award for Children’s Literature in Spain
Subjects
: Books, Pirates, Reading

The Three Musketeers

This beautifully illustrated adaptation of the classic French novel by Alexandre Dumas will introduce young readers to Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and their friend D’Artagnan, whose dream is to become one of the king’s elite guardsmen the Musketeers. In seventeenth century France, they learn that loyalty and friendship are the most important values. “One for all and all for one!” Vibrant watercolor effects enhance this ambitious retelling. mjw
Title: The Three Musketeers
Author: Benedicte Riviere.  Adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas
Illustrator
: Camille Andre
Publisher
: Auzou Publishing. Paris, France
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: French
Original Title
: Les Tres Mousquetaires
Original Publisher
: Auzou Publishing. Paris, France
Original Copyright
: 2016
ISBN
: 978-2-7338-4326-0
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 8 up
Genre
: Picture Book, Historical Fiction
Book setting
: France
Author’s ethnicity
: French
Author’s residence
: France
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: French
Illustrator’s residence
: Paris, France
Subjects
: Action, Adventure, France, History, Louis xiii, Swordsmen

The Wonderful Adventures Of Nils

nilsNils teases an elf, is bewitched, and is turned into a thumb-size Thumbletot. He makes friends with a wise goose named Martin and together they travel all over the provinces of Sweden. The book was originally a commission from the Swedish National Teachers Association in 1902 to be a geography reader for the public schools. The story is still popular in Swedish culture. The text is simple and playful and the glorious illustrations incorporate intricate papercut pages. mjw
Title: The Wonderful Adventures Of Nils
Author: Selma Lagerlof (1858-1940), adapted y Kochka
Illustrator
: Olivier Latyk
Publisher
: Words and Pictures, an imprint of Quarto Publishing, CA
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: Swedish
Original Title
: Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige
Original Copyright
: 1906
ISBN
: 978-1-91027-719-5
Hardcover pages
: 64
Age range
: 8-12
Genre
: Fiction, Fantasy
Book setting
: Sweden
Author’s ethnicity
: Swedish
Adapter’s ethnicity:  born in Lebanon
Adapter’s residence:  France
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: French
Illustrator’s residence
: Strasbourg
Awards
: Selma Lagerlof was the first female to win the Nobel Prize in Literature
Subjects
: Ducks and other waterfowl, Europe, Geese, Fantasy, Sweden

Peter Pan

peter-panPeter Pan is a mischievous and free-spirited young boy who can fly and who never grows up. He kidnaps three ordinary children, Wendy Darling and her two brothers, and the adventures begin. They fly to Neverland and interact with the Lost Boys, fairies, pirates, mermaids, Indians, and Captain Hook. Enchanting, delicate paintings bring the classic story to life. mjw
Title: Peter Pan
Author: J.M. Barrie (1860-1937)
Illustrator
: Silke Leffler
Publisher
: NorthSouth Books
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: English
Original Title
: Peter Pan, Or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up
Original Copyright
: 1904
ISBN
: 978-0-7358-4259-5
Hardcover pages
: 176
Age range
: 9 up
Genre
: Fiction, Fantasy
Book setting
: England
Author’s ethnicity
: Scottish
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Born in Austria
Illustrator’s residence
: Lake Constance at the border of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
Subjects
: Fairies, Flying, Neverland, Pirates

Father’s Road

Wong Chung joins his father’s caravan on a journey on the Silk Road from China to Constantinople. The trip is full of dangers – rough terrain and weather and bandits. He learns to ration water, care for the camels, and endure a sandstorm. He even takes care of the bandit leader’s son. Sand colored illustrations vividly depict travel on the Silk Road. Included are a map of the long desert road, information about the Silk Road and global trade, a timeline, and a list of key terms and concepts. The book is part of the Tradewinds series that presents historical information in a fun, accessible way. mjw
Title: Father’s Road
Author: Ji-yun Jang
Illustrator
: Tan Jun
Publisher
: Eerdman’s Books for Young Readers.  Grand Rapids, Michigan
Copyright
: 2017
Original Language
: Korean
Editor
: Joy Cowley
Original Publisher
: Yeomon Media Co. Ltd.
Original Copyright
: 2014
ISBN
: 978-0-8028-5472-8
Paperback pages
: 36
Age range
: 6-10
Genre
: Picture Book, Historical Fiction
Book setting
: Asia
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Chinese
Subjects
: Asia, China, Commerce, Fathers and sons, Silk Road, Travel

The Little Black Fish

The Little Black FishAn old fish tells the story of Little Black Fish to her 12,000 children and grandchildren. Little Black Fish leaves the safety of his small stream to venture out and see the world. He meets many different creatures along the way, including the dreaded pelican and the helpful lizard. Little Black Fish has big questions and is determined to find answers. He makes it to the edge of the sea and finds his answers, though he does not survive. He learns about life, dangers, enemies, and friends. This famous Iranian children’s story is considered to be a political allegory and was banned in pre-revolutionary (1978) Iran. mjw
Title: The Little Black Fish
Author: Samad Behrangi (1939-1967)
Illustrator
: Farshid Mesghali
Publisher
: Tiny Owl Publishing Ltd.  London, England
Copyright
: 2015
Original Language
: Persian
Translator
: Azita Rassi
Original Publisher
: Kanoun Par Varesh Fekri.  Tehran, Iran
Original Copyright
: 1968
ISBN
: 978-1-910328-00-2
Hardcover pages
: 48
Age range
: 9 up
Genre
: Fiction, Allegory
Author’s ethnicity
: Iranian
Author’s residence
: Author lived in Iran
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Iranian
Illustrator’s residence
: U.S.
Awards
: Illustrator has won 1974 Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustration
Subjects
: Coming of age, Fishes, Freedom, Independence

Captain Jack And The Pirates

Captain Jack and the PiratesA family day at the beach turns into a make-believe swashbuckling adventure for pre-schoolers Jack, Zack, and Caspar. They build a ship out of sand, chase pirates, become marooned on an island, discover a treasure – delicious desserts, and get captured by friendly pirates (their parents). The artwork is a mix of lively brown-tone sketches and pale watercolor paintings of the chubby-cheeked children. The trip between the car and the beach is documented on the endpapers. Told in rhyme, this delightful story is a perfect read-aloud. mjw
Title: Captain Jack And The Pirates
Author: Peter Bently
Illustrator
: Helen Oxenbury
Publisher
: Dial Books for Young Readers, New York
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: English
Original Publisher
: Puffin Books, Great Britain
Original Copyright
: 2015
ISBN
: 978-0525-429500
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 3-5
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: English
Author’s residence
: Devon, England
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: English
Illustrator’s residence
: London, England
Awards
: Illustrator has won two Kate Greenaway medals, Shortlisted for the 2016 CLIP Kate Greenaway Medal
Subjects
: Adventure, Pirates, Sea stories, Stories in rhyme