Tag Archives: Animals

Whisper Of The East: Tales From Arabia

1 Reply

This magical collection of six folk stories from the fascinating world of the East contains The Secret of the Black Dress from Arabia, Jamil and Jamila from Syria, The Fisherman and the Djinn adapted from A Thousand and One Nights, The Little Camel from Palestine, The Old Pair of Shoes from Arabia, and The Fisherman and the Mermaid from Arabia.  The illustrations in red and teal are reminiscent of screen-printing.  This interactive book concludes with a glossary, a map of the Middle East, suggestions for making your own fairytales, the Arabic script, and drawing and painting ideas.  The final endpapers represent a fairytale alphabet in English and Arabic. mjw

Title: Whisper Of The East: Tales From Arabia Author: Franziska Meiners Illustrator: Franziska Meiners Publisher: North South Books, Inc. New York Copyright: 2018 Original Language: German Translator: David Henry Wilson Original Title: Das Flustern des Orients Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG. Zurich, Switzerland Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-0-7358-4323-3 Hardcover pages: 112 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Fiction, Short Stories, Folktales Book setting: Arabia, Syria, Palestine Author’s ethnicity: German Author’s residence: Cologne Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Cologne Subjects: Fairytales and folklore, Middle East, Storytelling

How To Be A Lion

Leave a reply

Leonard, a gentle lion, and Marianne, a poetic duck, are best friends.  They are perfectly happy going for long walks and having philosophical talks.  One day, a pride of fierce lions comes prowling around and they question whether it’s right for a lion and a duck to be friends.  Leonard learns that there are many ways to be a lion and that it is not necessary to be fierce and chomp your friends!  This sweet and thoughtful story stresses the importance of being yourself and not backing down to criticism.  Simple, soothing drawings emphasize this exceptional friendship. mjw

Title: How To Be A Lion Author: Ed Vere Illustrator: Ed Vere Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-525-57806-2 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: London Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: London Subjects: Bullies, Ducks, Lions, Poetry

The Tiger’s Egg

Leave a reply

A grumpy tiger named Herman doesn’t like the noisy zoo.  One day, a blue egg rolls down between Herman’s paws.  He decides to look after it until someone comes. “Nobody will dare lay a claw on a tiger egg.”  He builds a nest for it and the egg  starts to crack.  Out comes a tiny, hungry, wet bird with enormous feet.  Herman brings food and teaches the tiny bird to ROAR, though it’s more of a TWEET. This tale of family, differences, and the power of love is enhanced with brightly colored illustrations. mjw

Title: The Tiger’s Egg Author: Nele Bronner Illustrator: Nele Bronner Publisher: NorthSouth Copyright: 2018 Original Language: German Translator: David Henry Wilson Original Title: Das Tigerei Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag  AG,CH. Zurich, Switzerland Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-0-7358-4319-6 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: German Author’s residence: Berlin Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Berlin Subjects: Eggs, Tigers, Zoo animals

The Goat

Leave a reply

 

Kid and her parents go from Toronto to New York City for six months of dog sitting and home schooling. There is a rumor that a goat lives on the roof of her apartment building, but that may not be the strangest thing about the building. The cast of eccentric characters makes this short book fascinating. mjw

Title: The Goat Author: Anne Fleming Publisher: Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press, Toronto Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English  ISBN: 978-1-55498-916-4 Hardcover pages: 168 Age range: 9-11 Genre: Fiction Book setting: New York City Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Vancouver Subjects: City life, Goats, Moving, Mystery

Where The World Ends

Leave a reply

In the summer of 1727, eight boys and three men are marooned on a remote rocky stac at the edge of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.  They were sent there to harvest birds for food, feathers, and oil.  No one returns to collect them. They survive for nine months through deadly storms, madness, and starvation.  Based on a true story, this is an unsettling and awe-inspiring novel.  The world-building is brilliant.  A map of St. Kilda, an afterword, black-and-white sketches of birds, and a glossary are included.  mjw

Title: Where The World Ends Author: Geraldine McCaughrean Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd. London Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-4749-2114-5 Hardcover pages: 336 Age range: 11 up Genre: Historical Fiction, based on a true story Book setting: Hirta, St. Kilda, Scotland Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Berkshire, England  Awards: 2018 CILIP Carnegie Medal Subjects: Birds, Cultures, Geography, Natural world, Survival, Western Islands (Scotland)

The Chameleon That Saved Noah’s Ark

Leave a reply

Noah and his multi-ethnic family can’t find the right food for the two picky eater chameleons on the ark. Noah’s wife is highlighted, but everyone is involved in trying to find food for the chameleons. The mystery continues until worms threaten the fruit bins and the chameleons solve both problems! Even worms are wonders…”and everything and everyone has a place under the sun.” Folk-art style, textured acrylic paintings are delightful in this extension of the well-known Bible story. mjw

Title: The Chameleon That Saved Noah’s Ark Author: Yael Molchadsky Illustrator: Orit Bergman Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, New York Copyright: 2016 Original Language: Hebrew Translator: Annette Appel Original Publisher: KInneret, Zmora-Bitan, Dvir Publishing House Ltd., Israel Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-101-99676-8 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Israeli Author’s residence: Israel Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Jerusalem Illustrator’s residence: Israel Subjects: Animals, Boats, Chameleons, Noah’s Ark, Noah (Biblical figure), Transportation

One Fun Day With Lewis Carroll: A Celebration Of Wordplay And A Girl Named Alice

Leave a reply

 

This wonderful picture book is part Lewis Carroll biography and part word game. Nonsense words and phrases take readers through Carroll’s fantasy world. Along the way readers learn about Carroll’s life as a mathematician and his friendship with the Liddell family and the real Alice. The frabjous illustrations breathe new life into the famous characters. A glossary explains the words and ideas invented by Carroll and reveals that nearly two hundred of them appear in the Oxford English Dictionary. A closing note gives more information about Carroll. mjw

Title: One Fun Day With Lewis Carroll: A Celebration Of Wordplay And A Girl Named Alice Author: Kathleen Krull Illustrator: Julia Sarda Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0544348233 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 6-9 Genre: Picture Book Biography Book setting: England Author’s ethnicity: U.S. Author’s residence: U.S. Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Spain  Subjects: Authors, Books, Charles Dodgson, Language, Literature, Imagination, Wordplay