Tag Archives: Animals

Rain

Leave a reply

Haiku verses accompany 12 scenes of rain in a variety of natural settings.  Each double-page spread features one haiku and one engaging, detailed illustration, such as mountain goats on hills, puffins flying near a lighthouse, and Japanese girls walking amid falling cherry blossoms. Each scene takes place in a different kind of rain.  The book will inspire readers to write their own haiku. mjw

Title: Rain Author: Anders Holmer Illustrator: Max Klein Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Swedish Original Title: Regn Original Publisher: Natur and Kultur. Stockholm, Sweden Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-0802855077 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Poetry, Picture Book Book setting: Scenes from all over the globe Author’s ethnicity: Swedish Author’s residence: Sweden Illustrator’s ethnicity: Swedish Illustrator’s residence: Sweden Subjects: Haiku, Poetry, Rain

The Moose Of Ewenki

Leave a reply

The Ewenki people live in the forest of Greater Khingan, in northern China, and they live on hunting and raising reindeer. The old hunter Gree Shek hunts a mother moose by mistake. She leaves a young moose.  He feels terrible because Ewenki hunters would never hunt a female moose that was raising a baby.  The motherless baby follows Gree Shek back to the campsite where Gree Shek feeds the hungry moose.  He names it Little Moose. The moose and the man form a bond and go on adventures together.  As Little Moose grows older and bigger, Gree Shek knows he must return the moose to the forest.  Beautifully detailed paintings complement this touching story, which highlights the traditional and vanishing way of life of the Ewenki people. mjw

Title: The Moose Of Ewenki Author: Gerelchimeg Blackcrane Illustrator: Jui Er Publisher: Greystone Kids Books Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77164-538-6 Hardcover pages: 68 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Inner Mongolia Author’s ethnicity: Chinese Author’s residence: Hulunbuir Grassland in Mongolia Illustrator’s ethnicity: Chinese Illustrator’s residence: Beijing, China Subjects: Asia, Caribou, Deer, Global studies, Moose, People and places, Reindeer

The Fox On The Swing

Leave a reply

Paul lives with his family in a tree house in a big city. On his way home from the bakery, where everyday he gets three fresh rolls, Paul befriends a wise, friendly, orange fox. Being friends with the fox is a magical and challenging experience for Paul.  He has to deal with an unexpected move; friendship; appreciating the little things in life, like carrot cake and marmalade; and the nature of happiness. Brightly colored digital collages portray people, very detailed buildings, vehicles, and animals in this unpredictable, quirky story. mjw

Title: The Fox On The Swing Author: Evelina Daciute Illustrator: Ausra Kiudulaite Publisher: Thames & Hudson, U.K. Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Lithuanian Translator: The Translation Bureau Original Title: Laime Yra Lape Original Publisher: Tikra Knyga. Vilnius. Lithuania Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-0-500-651-8 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Lithuanian Author’s residence: Lithuania Illustrator’s ethnicity: Lithuanian Illustrator’s residence: Lithuania Awards: 2019 Batchelder Award Subjects: Emotions, Fox and wolf, Happiness, Loneliness

The Hen Who Sailed Around The World: A True Story

Leave a reply

For the last two years, 24-year-old French sailor Guirec Soudee has been sailing the world with his red hen Monique.  Monique never suffers from seasickness.  She keeps him company and provides him with a constant source of food – eggs.  Over the course of the adventure she laid 1,040 eggs! They are currently crossing the Pacific Ocean.  Guirec has documented their journeys with his remarkable and comical photographs and you can follow him online at guirecsoudee.com.  His first book The Transatlantic Voyage Of Monique was released in France.  A map of the voyages is included.  mjw

Title: The Hen Who Sailed Around The World: A True Story Author: Guirec Soudee Illustrator: Guirec Soudee Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-316-44884-0 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Nonfiction, Information book, Travel literature Book setting: Around the world Author’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Subjects: Chickens, Human-animal relationships, Northwest Passage, Photographs, Sailing, Survival

Why The Elephant Has Tiny Eyes

Leave a reply

Told in verse, this folktale from the Tai Phake people of India’s northeast tells why the elephant has tiny eyes.  The first elephant (chaang) had large eyes. Along came a wagtail bird that made the elephant laugh so hard that his eyes crinkled small.  An unusually limited palette recreates the region’s landscape. mjw

Title: Why The Elephant Has Tiny Eyes Author: Pow Aim Hailowng Illustrator: Priya Kuriyan Publisher: Tulika Publishers.  Chennai, India Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-93-86667-71-7 Paperback pages: 26 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture book, Folktale Book setting: India, Tai Phake people of northeast India Author’s ethnicity: Tai Phake Indian Author’s residence: India Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: Kochi, India Subjects: Birds, Bridges, Elephants, Fables, Myths

Hello, Horse

Leave a reply

When the little boy’s friend Catherine asks him to come meet her horse named Shannon, he replies that he’s not so sure he likes horses.  Shannon is very big, but Catherine says she’s very kind.  Catherine teaches the boy to talk quietly to the horse, how to feed her carrots, how to lead her across a field, and even how to blow at her softly to show that he likes her.  Catherine helps him up onto the horse for his first ride.  Facts about horses are sprinkled throughout this gentle story. The book ends with an author’s note that tells that Shannon is the illustrator’s horse.  An index and more information are also included.  The beautiful illustrations were done in mixed media. mjw

Title: Hello, Horse Author: Vivian French Illustrator: Catherine Rayner Publisher: Candlewick Press.  Somerville, MA Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-5362-0167-3 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Scotland Author’s ethnicity: British Author’s residence: Scotland Subjects: Farm animals, Horses, New experiences

The Fox Girl And The White Gazelle

Leave a reply

Twelve-year-old Reema is a Syrian refugee trying to find her place in Glasgow.  She struggles with a new language and culture and misses her older brother who got left behind in Aleppo.  Caylin feels completely alone.  She has to look after her alcoholic mother.  She bullies the other kids and steals from them so that she can eat. Reema and Caylin become friends when they discover an injured fox and her babies. The girls also discover that they both like to run. Told in alternating perspectives, this is a great story of friendship. mjw

Title: The Fox Girl And The White Gazelle Author: Victoria Williamson Publisher: Kelpies, an imprint of Floris Books. Edinburgh, Scotland Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English  ISBN: 978-178250-490-0 Paperback pages: 272 Age range: 10-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Scotland Author’s ethnicity: Scottish Author’s residence: U.K. Subjects: Foxes, Glasgow, Poetry, Prejudice and racism, Refugees, Running, Syria