Tag Archives: Animals

The Night Walk

Two young children and their parents go for a summer nighttime walk through the darkness. The world is quiet and shadowy. They walk out of their village and through the forest until they come to a lake where they stop to play with the moon. They lie down in the grass to watch the glittering sky. Finally, they climb a hillside just in time to see the dawn of a new day. The rich illustrations were hand-drawn using graphite pencils and watercolors and finished digitally. The only lights in the evocative darkness are lamps, porch lights, lights in windows, a flashlight, and the moon, until the sun rises on a double-page spread of the sun and its bright yellow light. mjw

Title: The Night Walk
Author: Marie Dorleans
Illustrator: Marie Dorleans
Publisher: Floris Books
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: French
Translator: Polly Lawson
Original Title: Nous Avons Rendez-Vous
Original Publisher: Editions du Seuil
Original Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 978-178250-639-3
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: French
Author’s residence: France
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French
Illustrator’s residence: France
Awards: Prix Landerneau
Subjects: Forest, Natural world, Night, Lakes, Moon, Sunrise, Village

Peace

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This rhyming concept book explores peace for children. “Peace is a smile, a hug. Peace can be bold or quiet and snug.” At the end of the book, fold-out pages reveal children in delightful, peaceful interactions. The children in the colorful illustrations are diverse in skin color and abilities. Many of the animals in the book are cultural symbols of peace from nations around the world. The endpapers depict a tree, with the leaves showing the word for peace in many different languages. An author’s note tells how peace affects all inhabitants of our planet. A Spanish edition is also available. 978-0-7358-4455-1. mjw

Title: Peace
Author: Baptiste Paul and Miranda Paul
Illustrator: Esteli Meza
Publisher: NorthSouth Books Inc. New York
Copyright: 2021
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4449-0
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Baptiste- grew up in Saint Lucia
Author’s residence: Baptiste and Miranda – Wisconsin, U.S.A.
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Mexican
Illustrator’s residence: Mexico City
Awards: Illustrator has won A la Orilla del Viento in Mexico
Subjects: Friendship, Interpersonal relations, Peace, Stories in rhyme

The Elevator

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A girl and her dog Roco want to go on their afternoon walk. They get on the elevator on Floor 4 and the girl pushes the down button, but the elevator goes up. It stops at Floor 7 and Ms. Paula gets on. She is afraid of dogs. She presses the down button, but the elevator goes up again. On Floor 8, old Mr. Miguel gets on with his walker. He presses the down button and the elevator stops on Floor7 and Cora and the twins in their stroller get on. After pressing the button again, the elevator stops between Floor 5 and Floor 4. Then Ms. Paula opens the box that she is carrying and gives everyone a slice of birthday cake that she was planning to give to her friend. Next, Mr. Miguel tells a story called Who Cares? about a bear that always said he didn’t care when he really did. All of a sudden the elevator starts to move, though no one pushed the button. It stops at Floor 4 and everyone gets off and has tea at the girl’s apartment. At the end of the book, in a real envelope, there is a surprise mini-book titled Who Cares? The playful black, white and red illustrations were created with drawing, collage, and photography all assembled digitally. The tall and slender format of the book resembles an elevator. mjw

Title: The Elevator
Author: Yael Frankel
Illustrator: Yael Frankel
Publisher: Tapioca Stories. Huntington, New York.
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: Spanish
Translator: Kit Maude
Original Title: El ascensor
Original Publisher: Limonero, Argentina
Original Copyright: 2019
ISBN: 978-1-7347839-0-2
Hardcover pages: 44
Age range: 5-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Argentinian
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Argentinian
Awards: 2021 Outstanding International Books USBBY, 2020 White Raven Award
Subjects: Apartment buildings, Dogs, Elevators, Pets, Twin

The Story Of Baldomera

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Baldomera the donkey became famous worldwide, when a video of her reunion with her owner, Ismael, after three months without seeing him due to COVID-19, went viral on YouTube. When they met, the little donkey burst into tears. This delightful picture book with its simple text and sweet, playful illustrations was inspired by the true story of the donkey and his owner. A Spanish edition is also available, La Burrita Baldomera. mjw

Title: The Story Of Baldomera
Author: Enrique G. Ballesteros and Ismael F. Arias
Illustrator: Ayesha L. Rubio
Publisher: NubeOcho
Copyright: 2021
Original Language: Spanish
Translator: Laura Fielden
Original Title: La Burrita Baldomera
Original Publisher: NubeOcho
Original Copyright: 2020
ISBN: 978-84-18133-69-5
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 3-8
Genre: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Information Book
Book setting: Spain
Author’s ethnicity: Spanish
Author’s residence: Spain
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish
Illustrator’s residence: Spain
Subjects: Donkeys, Emotions, Feelings, Farm animals, Friendship, Pandemic, Reunion, Separation

Little Wise Wolf

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Little Wise Wolf lives far away on the other side of the mountains. He reads big books, knows a lot, and is very proud. When various animals come to him to get answers to their difficult questions, he has no time for them. One day a big black bird flies to Little Wise Wolf’s house to tell him that the king is ill and needs his help. Little Wise Wolf takes off, wearing his red boots, and riding on his bicycle to visit the king at the palace. He discovers along the way that he has much to learn from his friends about the real world. He gives the king some medicine and the king wants him to stay and be his royal doctor, but Little Wise Wolf decides that he needs to go back to his friends and his books. Enchanting illustrations of the little animals enhance this important book about friendship. mjw

Title: Little Wise Wolf
Author: Gijs van der Hammen
Illustrator: Hanneke Siemensma
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Copyright: 22020
Original Language: Dutch
Translator: Laura Watkinson
Original Title: Kleine wijze wolf
Original Publisher: Uitgeverij Hoogland. Hoorn, The Netherlands
Original Copyright: 2017
ISBN: 978-1-525305498
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture book
Author’s ethnicity: Dutch
Author’s residence: The Netherlands
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Dutch
Illustrator’s residence: The Netherlands
Awards: Nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal
Subjects: Books, Friendship, Kings, Reading, Wolves

The Last Tiger

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Deep in the jungle, no other animal is as strong and powerful as the tiger. Hunters come to the jungle, overpower the tiger, and capture him. He is taken to the zoo in the city so that everyone can see him. He longs for his freedom and grows smaller every day until he squeezes through the bars of his cage. He returns to the jungle where he becomes big and strong again. He never forgets that his most treasured possession is his freedom. The boldly colored illustrations in this fable are rendered in mixed media. mjw

Title: The Last Tiger
Author: Petr Horacek
Illustrator: Petr Horacek
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: English
Original publisher: Otter-Barry Books, Great Britain
Original Copyright: 2019
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5552-7
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 5-7
Genre: Picture book
Author’s ethnicity: Czech
Author’s residence: England
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Czech
Illustrator’s residence: England
Subjects: Fables, freedom, Hunters, Jungle, Zoos

Plasticus Maritimus: An Invasive Species

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This imaginative guide to ocean plastics pollution was inspired by biologist Ana Pego’s life’s work. She collected and studied plastics along rivers, lakes, and oceans since she was a young girl. She even gave it a Latin name – Plasticus Maritimus – to warn people of the dangers to the earth. Today she is a marine biologist and award- winning artist who leads environmental education projects that combine science and art. This field guide helps readers identify and understand this new invasive species. A Table of Contents starts with the Importance of the Oceans, covers Common Plastics and Exotic Ocean Plastics, and concludes with What We Can Do and Recycling. Helpful Resources are also provided. Colorful photographs and drawings enhance this important book. mjw

Title: Plasticus Maritimus: An Invasive Species
Author: Ana Pego and Isabel Minhos Martins
Illustrator: Bernardo P. Carvalho
Publisher: Greystone Books Ltd.
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: Portuguese
Translator: Jane Springer
Original Title: Plasticus Maritimus: Uma expecie invasora
Original Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 978-1-77164-643-7
Board book pages: 176
Age range: 10-16
Genre: Nonfiction, Information Book
Author’s ethnicity: Pego – Portuguese, Martins – Portuguese
Author’s residence: Lisbon, Portugal
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Portuguese
Illustrator’s residence: Lisbon, Portugal
Subjects: Ecology, Environment, Oceanography, Oceans, Plastics, Pollution, Water

Doctor Mouse

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Every morning in the forest, Doctor Mouse opens the old barn door and hangs up his sign: Consultations from Sunrise to Sunset. He straightens up the six chairs in his office and puts on his white coat backwards. First to arrive is Ms. Chicken who needs to keep calm, but consultations cannot begin until all six chairs are occupied. The second patient is Mr. Dog, followed by Mr. Bear, a rabbit, and Ms. Owl. The sixth chair remains empty. It is eventually filled by Mr. Fox. The patients charmingly help each other. It becomes a kind of group therapy session and all the patients leave Doctor Mouse’s office happy. The hand-crafted illustrations in this sweet story are filled with fun details. mjw

Title: Doctor Mouse
Author: Christa Kempter
Illustrator: Amelie Jackowski
Publisher: North South Books, Inc.
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: German
Translator: David Henry Wilson
Original Title: Doktor Maus
Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG
Original Copyright: 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4410-0
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: German
Author’s residence: Germany
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French
Illustrator’s residence: France
Subjects: Bears, Chickens, Cooperation, Doctors, Dogs, Fox, Humor. Mice, Owls, Rabbits

Lemon Butterfly

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This abstract and artsy picture book is an amazing picture book because both the author and the illustrator have won the Hans Christian Andersen Award. A lemon butterfly searches for a field of flowers. To a butterfly, a field of flowers is the most beautiful thing in the world. The butterfly searches through real and imagined landscapes until it finally finds the water where it becomes a lemon butterfly fish. There are many lessons along the way. Most of the illustrations are rendered in vivid colors, with a few being only black and white graphic forms. mjw

Title: Lemon Butterfly
Author: Cao Wenxuan
Illustrator: Roger Mello
Publisher: Reycraft Books. New York
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: Chinese
Original Publisher: China Children’s Press and Publication Group. China
Original Copyright: 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4788-6975-7
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-7
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Chinese
Author’s residence: China
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Brazilian
Illustrator’s residence: Brazil
Awards: Both author and illustrator have won the Hans Christian Andersen Award
Subjects: Butterflies, Fish, Flowers, Horses, Insects, Mountains, Rivers

The Bear And The Duck

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It’s the end of winter, and when Duck plans to fly off, he crashes into a jumble of branches. The noise wakes Bear, who grumbles and emerges from his den. Duck is not afraid of Bear because Bear is old and he doesn’t have many teeth left. Bear takes care of Duck and they become friends. They swim and explore, and Duck tells stories. Duck is finally well enough to fly away and Bear misses him. Winter comes and Bear goes back to his den, thinking that he may never see Duck again. After the long winter, it’s spring and Bear wakes up to find that Duck has returned. Woodcut engravings enhance this sweet story of friendship and the seasons. mjw

Title: The Bear And The Duck
Author: May Angeli
Illustrator: May Angeli
Publisher: Eerdmans Books For Young Readers
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: French
Original Publisher: Les Editions des Elephants, France
Original Copyright: 2019
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5555-8
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: French
Author’s residence: Paris
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French
Illustrator’s residence: Paris
Subjects: Bears, Birds, Ducks, Seasons

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Bear And Fred: A World War II Story

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This is a touching true story of a Jewish boy hiding during World War II, as told by his teddy bear. He is Fred’s bear and he is very happy. He and Fred do everything together. But one night there is a soft knock at the door. It is a warning that they would be forced to leave their home. They flee to Amsterdam where Fred goes into hiding, apart from the rest of his family. After the war, Fred and his family are reunited and they move to the United States. An author’s note tells how the bear ended up in the Yad Vashem Museum – the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Israel. A photo of the real bear is included. This endearing story is illustrated digitally with beautiful drawings. mjw

Title: Bear And Fred
Author: Iris Argaman
Illustrator: Avi Ofer
Publisher: Amazon Crossing Kids, New York
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: Hebrew
Translator: Annette Appel
Original Title: Ha Doobi Shel Fred
Original Publisher: Hakibbutz Hameucchad. Israel
Original Copyright: 2016
ISBN: 978-1-542018234
Hardcover pages: 48
Age range: 6-9
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Holland and U.S.
Author’s ethnicity: Israeli
Author’s residence: Israel
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Israeli
Illustrator’s residence: Spain
Awards: Vad Vashem Prize in Israel, Giovanni Arpino Proze for Children’s Literature in Italy.
Subjects: Holocaust, Jewish people, Nazi party, Prejudice and racism, Teddy bear

Festivals And Traditions In Switzerland

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This fascinating book takes you on a journey through a year in Switzerland. Starting with the New Year’s Mummers Procession in Appenzel Ausserrhoden with the Uglies, Pretties, and Pretty-Uglies costumes, which are made only of material from nature and ending with Christmas traditions like Yule log cakes, bell-ringing, giant top hats, frankincense, and Christmas decorations. This amazing book thoroughly describes the many celebrations that occur throughout the year. On the journey, you’ll encounter brass bands, terrifying masks, shepherds, men dressed as trees, fast pigs, bareback riders, and much, much more. The illustrations are colorful, detailed, and entertaining. An Afterword explains even more. A section of Information and Tips provides dates and even times for travelers going to Switzerland. Also included is a list of customs and celebrations according to cantons, or states. mjw

Title: Festivals And Traditions In Switzerland
Author: Barbara Piatti
Illustrator: Yvonne Rogenmoser
Publisher: NorthSouth
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: German
Translator: Mary Carozza
Original Title: Feste & Brauche in der Schweiz
Original Publisher: Nordsud Verlag
Original Copyright: 2019
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4416-2
Hardcover pages: 96
Age range: 4-12
Genre: Information book, Nonfiction, Picture book
Book setting: Switzerland
Author’s residence: Basel, Switzerland
Illustrator’s residence: Zurich, Switzerland
Subjects: Celebrations, Holidays, Switzerland