Tag Archives: Animals

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 30th 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

The Day I Became A Bird

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A young boy narrates the story about how, on the first day of school, he fell in love with Sylvia. Sylvia is a bird lover. She observes them, cares for them, and even wears bird barrettes in her hair. Her voice sounds like a birdsong to the boy. To get her attention, he creates a bird costume, which he wears to school, even though climbing trees and playing soccer are difficult for him in the costume. When he and Sylvia finally meet face to face, she puts her arms around him and the boy feels like he is flying. Black line drawings tenderly illustrate this love story. mjw

Title: The Day I Became A Bird Author: Ingrid Chabbert Illustrator: Guridi (Raul Nieto Guridi) Publisher: Kids Can Press Copyright: 2016 Original Language: Spanish Original Title: El dia en que me converti en un pajaro Original Publisher: Editiones TTT Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-77138-621-0 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Spain Subjects: Birds, Costumes, Friendship, Love

The Rumor

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Pandurang, a fruit seller in the village of Baddbaddpur, is an ill-tempered, grumpy man who never smiles. One day he coughs up a feather. The story of Panduang’s feather is passed on from one person to another until it is barely recognized. All the villagers come to see the forest, tigers, and birds that supposedly come out of his mouth. Pandurang listens to them and his frown grows lighter and lighter until he finally smiles. Funny, brilliant illustrations complement this version of “broken telephone” by the Indian Dr. Seuss. mjw

Title: The Rumor Author: Anushka Ravishankar Illustrator: Kanyika Kini Publisher: Tundra Books. Toronto, Canada Copyright: 2012 Original Title: The Rumour Original Publisher: Karadi Tales Company Pvt. Ltd. India Original Copyright: 2009 ISBN: 978-1-77049-280-6 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: India Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: Munich Awards: 2013 South Asia Book Award Subjects: Fairytales, Folktales, Myths

The Little Reindeer

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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

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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

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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

Imagine

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One little pigeon sets out on a journey to spread the message of peace to other birds of all shapes and sizes. John Lennon’s song is illustrated with brush and ink drawings colored digitally. The book has a foreword by Yoko Ono Lennon and an afterword by Amnesty International. All royalties from sales of the book go directly to the charity. mjw

Title: Imagine Author: John Lennon 1940-1980), with a foreword by Yoko Ono Lennon Illustrator: Jean Jullien Publisher: Clarion Books Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-328-80865-3 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: London and Los Angeles Subjects: Birds, Peace, Pigeons, Song lyrics, Tolerance

Colette’s Lost Pet

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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

A Well-Mannered Young Wolf

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A young wolf, whose parents taught him good manners, goes on his first hunting trip in search of his next meal. He offers his prey their last wishes. As he tries to fulfill each wish, his meals escape. The poor wolf finds himself very hungry. The surprise ending will delight young readers. Cartoon style illustrations in earth tones add visual humor. mjw

Title: A Well-Mannered Young Wolf Author: Jean Leroy Illustrator: Matthieu Maudet Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2016 Original Language: French Original Title: Un jeune loup bien eduque Original Publisher: L’ecole des loisirs Original Copyright: 2013 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5479-7 Hardcover pages: 30 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: France Subjects: Chickens, Humor, Manners, Rabbits, Wolves

The Wonderful Adventures Of Nils

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Nils 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

The Warli People

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The Warli people lived in ancient India around 2500 BCE. They hunted, fished, and harvested salt from the sea. The women were artists who painted scenes of day-to-day activities on the walls of their mud-brick houses. The artwork in the book , in the Warli style, depicts seasons, the forest, animals, trees, food, a festival, and a wedding day. It is interesting that no mythological characters or deities are shown. The Warli people celebrated life’s joyous moments. Back matter includes a note on the people and their artwork, a timeline of events, key terms and concepts, and information on the rise of civilization. mjw

Title: The Warli People Author: Hye-eun Shin Illustrator: Su-bi Jeong Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. Grand Rapids, MI Copyright: 2017 Original Language: Korean Editor: Joy Cowley Original Publisher: Yeowon Media Co. Ltd. Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5476-6 Paperback pages: 36 Age range: 6-10 Genre: Picture Book, Information Book Book setting: India Author’s ethnicity: Korean Illustrator’s ethnicity: Korean Subjects: Agriculture, Community, Harvest, Indic people, Monsoon, Wedding