Tag Archives: Animals

Daytime Visions : An Alphabet

This surrealistic alphabet book consists of letters, written in upper and lower case, manuscript, and cursive and a series of unconnected phrases. Some make sense (D shows a downpour and K is a kiwi), but many are obscure (X is for “XX chromosome and I am expanding” and R shows two birds – “never meant to be rude.”) This is not a book for teaching the alphabet, but one that tells stories for each letter. Square pages with mixed media collage illustrations of cut paper, charcoal sketches, and broad brushstrokes on thick paper provide the interpretations for the letters. The author/illustrator is also a well-known cartoonist, graphic artist, singer, and composer in Argentina. mjw

Title: Daytime Visions: An Alphabet
Author: Isol (Marisol Misenta)
Illustrator: Isol (Marisol Misenta)
Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books, New York
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: Spanish
Translator: Isol and Elisa Amado
Original Title: Abecedario a mano (Libros Para Ninos series)
Original Publisher: Fondo de Cultura Economica
Original Copyright: 2015
ISBN: 978-1-59270-195-7
Hardcover pages: 56
Age range: 2-7
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Argentine
Author’s residence: Buenos Aires
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Argentine
Illustrator’s residence: Buenos Aires
Awards: 2013 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, twice a finalist for the Hans Christian Andersen Award – 2006 and 2008
Subjects: Alphabets, Animals

The Rabbit And The Shadow

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The little white rabbit in this story meets many creatures along his journey growing up. An anxious stag, and angry soldier looking for peace, and a cat looking for his ball help each other confront their own fears. They grow up together and learn. This moving story has beautiful watercolor and ink vignettes. mjw

Title: The Rabbit And The Shadow
Author: Melanie Rutten
Illustrator: Melanie Rutten
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Copyright: 2018
Original Language: French
Translator: Sarah Ardizzone
Original Title: L’ombre de chacun
Original Publisher: Editions MeMo
Original Copyright: 2013
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5485-8
Hardcover pages: 56
Age range: 5-9
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Born in Belgium
Author’s residence: Brussels
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Belgium
Illustrator’s residence: Brussels
Subjects: Emotions and feelings, Fear, Growing up, Soldiers

The Murderer’s Ape

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This thrilling mystery is narrated by a gorilla named Sally Jones who can read and type on a 1908 Underwood No. 5 typewriter. She is an engineer working for Chief Henry Koskela who is falsely accused of murder. Sally Jones embarks on a whirlwind journey from Lisbon, Portugal, to the Maharaja of Bhapur’s magnificent court in India to clear the chief’s name. This suspenseful adventure is accompanied by detailed black and white drawings. Maps of the voyage appear on the endpapers. mjw

Title: The Murderer’s Ape
Author: Jakob Wegelius
Illustrator: Jakob Wegelius
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Copyright: 2017
Original Language: Swedish
Translator: Peter Graves
Original Title: Mordarens Apa
Original Publisher: Bonnier Carlsen
Original Copyright: 2014
ISBN: 978-1-101-93175-2
Hardcover pages: 624
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Book setting: Portugal, India
Author’s ethnicity: Swedish
Author’s residence: Sweden
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Swedish
Illustrator’s residence: Sweden
Awards: 2018 Batchelder Winner, International Youth Library White Raven Selection
Subjects: Detective stories, Gorilla, Human-animal relationships, Music, Sailing

Imagine A City

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Imagine a world where rabbits and lions read books, trees grow out of pictures, and flying fish are buses. Bears ride bicycles, gargoyles sip tea, and pterodactyls soar through the sky. Two children and their mother go on a wonderful adventure to a city where anything is possible in this creative book. The simple rhyming text is accompanied by surreal black and white drawings filled to the brim with unusual fanciful details. mjw

Title: Imagine A City
Author: Elise Hurst
Illustrator: Elise Hurst
Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Omnibus Books, an imprint of Scholastic Australia
Original Copyright: 2014
ISBN: 978-1-101-93457-9
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book, Fantasy
Author’s ethnicity: Australian
Author’s residence: Australia
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Australian
Illustrator’s residence: Australia
Subjects: City life, Dreams, Fantasy, Imagination

Bicycling To The Moon

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Purdy the cat and Barker the dog live in a sky blue house on top of a hill. Purdy dreams big. He wants to bicycle to the moon, win the singing contest, fly south with the migrating birds, be Supercat, and search for treasure. Barker is Purdy’s good friend, who likes to garden and take care of the house. The twenty short stories take place over a year and are accompanied by clever, quirky cartoon-style illustrations rendered in oil pastels, crayon, and watercolor. This laugh out-loud chapter book about two very opposite friends was written by Finland’s top children’s writer. mjw

Title: Bicycling To The Moon
Author: Timo Parvela
Illustrator: Virpi Talvite
Publisher: Gecko Press. Wellington, New Zealand
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: Finnish
Translator: Rith Urbom
Original Title: Maukka ja Vaykka
Original Publisher: Werner Soderstrom Ltd. Finland
Original Copyright: 2009
ISBN: 978-1-776570=32-4
Paperback pages: 128
Age range: 7-9
Genre: Fiction
Author’s ethnicity: Finnish
Author’s residence: Finland
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Finnish
Illustrator’s residence: Finland
Awards: Author has been shortlisted for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Illustrator has been nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award and was awarded the Finlandia Junior Prize in 2006
Subjects: Cats, Dogs, Fishing, Gardening, Honesty, Loyalty, Short stories, Weather

Wilderness: An Interactive Atlas Of Animals

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wilderness-an-interactive-atlas-of-animals This information book explores animals all over the world through the use of pop-ups and other movable pieces made of paper. The illustrations accurately depict animals through the use of digital illustrations. Moreover, the book features plenty of facts and explanations of animals from all over the globe. Content specific vocabulary within the text includes definitions and helpful examples. The maps, facts, and creative interactive pages make this book accessible for students doing a broad overview about animals in a research project. This atlas is truly a must have for those who are fans of all animals. ema

Title: Wilderness: An Interactive Atlas Of Animals
Author: Hannah Pang
Illustrator: Jenny Wren
Publisher: 360 Degrees; Ltf Pop edition
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: 360 Degrees
Original Copyright: 2016
ISBN: 978-1944530037
Hardcover pages: 16
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Nonfiction Picture Book
Authors’ ethnicity: English
Authors’ residence: England
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English
Illustrator’s residence: Birmingham, England
Subjects: Atlas, Creatures, Global, Maps

Yokki And The Parno Gry

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This traditional Traveler-family folktale tells of Yokki, a young boy who inspires his hard-working family with a tale of a magical white horse. His family experiences hard times and there is no work to be had. They travel from town to town looking for work mending household objects and trying to sell wooden spoons and beautiful paper flowers that they make. At night, they gather around a fire to tell stories they have heard on their travels. Yokki tells the best story about the Parno Gry, which is a horse that comes to take them to a new and better land. Colorful and gentle detailed mixed media illustrations bring Yokki’s family to life in this imaginative Romani folktale. An author’s note gives information about Romani and Traveling People. mjw

Title: Yokki And The Parno Gry
Author: Richard O’Neill and Katherine Quarmby
Illustrator: Marieke Nelissen
Publisher: Child’s Play Inc.
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-84643-927-8
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-7
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Romani (O’Neill)
Author’s residence: England
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Dutch
Illustrator’s residence: Netherlands
Subjects: Fairytales, Folktales, Gypsies, Horses, Mythical animals, Romanis, Storytelling, Traveling people

Poles Apart

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Penguins are found at the South Pole – except when they get lost on their way to a picnic. When the Pilchard-Brown penguin family find themselves at the North Pole, they meet friendly Mr. White, the polar bear, who guides them back home. They follow him over land and sea to New York, England, Italy, India, Australia, and finally the South Pole and a surprise ending. Foreign words are sprinkled throughout this whimsical introduction to different cultures across the globe. Fun, digitally created illustrations show the travelers walking along Fifth Avenue, riding a double-decker bus in London, water skiing in the Sydney harbor, and more. mjw

Title: Poles Apart
Author: Jeanne Willis
Illustrator: Peter Jarvis
Publisher: Nosy Crow, an imprint of Candlewick
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Nosy Crow, London
Original Copyright: 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7636-8944-5
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: North Pole, South Pole, U.S., England, Italy, India, Australia
Author’s ethnicity: Born in the United Kingdom
Author’s residence: London
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English
Illustrator’s residence: Manchester, England
Subjects: Arctic Ocean, North Pole, Penguins, Polar bears, South Pole

Indian Tales: A Barefoot Collection

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Eight traditional tales from all over the Indian Subcontinent are included in this colorful anthology. Each story is taken from a different region in India, from Punjab in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south. A “Welcome to India!” introduces the country and provides a map. Each tale is accompanied by two pages of information about the state – geography, history, food, dance, culture, traditions, and more. Bright, colorful folk style illustrations in gouache present story elements and frame the narratives. mjw

Title: Indian Tales: A Barefoot Collection
Author: Shenaaz Nanji
Illustrator: Christopher Corr
Publisher: Barefoot Books, Cambridge, MA
Copyright: 2017
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Barefoot Books
Original Copyright: 2007
ISBN: 978-1-78285-357-2
Paperback pages: 96
Age range: 7-10
Genre: Folktales, Fairytales
Book setting: India
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: Calgary, Canada
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English
Illustrator’s residence: London
Subjects: Anthologies, Gods and goddesses, Myths

The Way Home In The Night

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A young bunny is carried home through the dark, quiet streets by her mother. She can see the lights on in her neighbors’ windows and she wonders what they might be doing. The bookshop is closing for the night. Someone is on the phone. Someone else is baking a pie. And there is a party going on next door. When they reach home, the father rabbit tucks the bunny into bed, but the bunny continues to wonder about her neighbors’ activities until she finally falls asleep. Charming, soft-focus, mostly black and white illustrations rendered in pencil, charcoal, and acrylic gouache enrich this perfect bedtime story. mjw

Title: The Way Home In The Night
Author: Akiko Miyakoshi
Illustrator: Akiko Miyakoshi
Publisher: Kids Can Press, Toronto
Copyright: 2017
Original Language: Japanese
Original Title: Yoru no Kaerimichi
Original Publisher: Kaisei – Sha Publishing Co. Lyd. Tokyo
Original Copyright: 2015
ISBN: 978-1-77138-663-0
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Japanese
Author’s residence: Japan
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese
Illustrator’s residence: Japan
Awards: Author has won the Japan Picture Book Award Grand Prix
Subjects: Bedtime, City life, Night, Rabbits, Sleep

Sputnik’s Guide To Life On Earth

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Prez lives with a foster family out in the country in Scotland. One day he answers the door to meet Sputnik. Sputnik is a strange kid wearing aviator goggles, a kilt, and a backpack. Everyone, but Prez, sees Sputnik as a dog. Prez hears English when everyone else hears barking. Sputnik claims to be from outer space on a mission to help save the world from destruction. He can manipulate the laws of space and time. Together they come up with ten reasons why the planet should be saved. This is a touching tale that is out of this world funny. mjw

Title: Sputnik’s Guide To Life On Earth
Author: Frank Cottrell Boyce
Publisher: Walden Pond Press, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers
Copyright: 2017
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Macmillan
Original Copyright: 2016
ISBN: 978-0-06-264362-9
Hardcover pages: 336
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Scotland
Author’s ethnicity: English
Author’s residence: England
Awards: Shortlisted for the 2017 Carnegie Medal
Subjects: Dogs, Fantasy, Foster homes, Grandfathers, Orphans, Science Fiction

Little Polar Bear: Where Are You Going Lars?

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Lars, the little polar bear, is so tired after going with his father on his first hunting trip. He falls asleep on the ice and sleeps so soundly that he doesn’t hear the ice crack. His ice bed breaks off, he drifts south, and he wakes up in the middle of the sea, where it is getting warmer and warmer. This is where his adventures begin. He makes new friends, including Henry the hippopotamus. Lars gets homesick and wants to find his way back home. He gets help from Marcus the eagle and Samson the whale. Lars is finally reunited with his father, who catches Samson a big fish to thank him. The soft-colored illustrations have been refreshed in this Little Polar Bear 30^th Anniversary Edition. mjw

Title: Little Polar Bear: Where Are You Going Lars?
Author: Hans de Beer
Illustrator: Hans de Beer
Publisher: NorthSouth Books, Inc.
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: German
Original Title: Kleiner Eisbar – Wohin fahrst du, Lars?
Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG, Switzerland
Original Copyright: 1987
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4052-2
Paperback pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: North Pole, Tropics
Author’s ethnicity: Dutch
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Dutch
Subjects: Bears, North Pole, Polar bears