Tag Archives: Animals

My Granny Went to Market: A Round-the-World Counting Rhyme

In this brightly colored counting book, Granny travels around the world picking up exciting objects from all corners of the globe.Illustrations in gouache on Fabriano paper show Granny flying on her magic carpet from Istanbul to Peru. She picks up increasing amounts of items such as two temple cats from Thailand and then three masks in Mexico continuing up to 10 llamas. Young readers will enjoy seeing sites from 10 different countries while Granny picks up souvenirs for the narrator who is met at the end of the story. amo

Title: My Granny Went to Market: A Round-the-World Counting Rhyme
Author: Stella Blackstone
Illustrator: Christopher Corr
Publisher: Barefoot Books
Copyright: 2006
Original Language: English
Original Copyright: 1995
ISBN: 978-1-90523-662-6
Paperback pages: 22
Age range: 5-8
Genre: Counting Picture Book
Book setting: Around the World
Author’s ethnicity: English
Author’s residence: Somerset, United Kingdom
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English
Illustrator’s residence: London, England
Subjects: Boomerangs, Cats, Countries, Cowbells, Dolls, Drums, Kites, Lanterns, Llamas Magic carpet, Masks

Bruno: Some Of The More Interesting Days In My Life So Far

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Bruno, the cat with the checkered cap, takes his life as it comes. Six interconnected funny stories each tell about a day in Bruno’s life. On a rainy day, he rustles up a breakfast picnic. On a day when the power goes out, he lights candles. When he meets a red fish swimming in the air, he follows it. The colorful cartoon illustrations add humor to these silly stories. mjw

Title: Bruno: Some Of The More Interesting Days In My Life So Far
Author: Catharina Valckx
Illustrator: Nicolas Hubesch
Publisher: Gecko Press. New Zealand
Copyright: 2017
Original Language: French
Translator: Antony Shugaar
Original Title: Bruno: Quelques jour de ma vie très interessante
Original Publisher: L’ecole de Loisirs. Paris
Original Copyright: 2015
ISBN: 978-1-77657-124-6
Hardcover pages: 96
Age range: 6-10
Genre: Fiction, Graphic Novel
Author’s ethnicity: Dutch
Author’s residence: Amsterdam
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French
Illustrator’s residence: Paris
Awards: Author has been nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
Subjects: Birds, Cats, Fish, Horses, Humor, Short stories

Wild Animals Of The South

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This gorgeous information book looks at animals of South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica, from flamingoes and okapis to two-toed sloths and Indian peafowl. Most of the wildlife images are accompanied by compelling and often humorous descriptive paragraphs. The accurate representations of the animals from the southern hemisphere really make the book. A note providing more information and an index are included. A companion books is Wild Animals of the North. mjw

Title: Wild Animals Of The South
Author: Dieter Braun
Illustrator: Dieter Braun
Publisher: Flying Eye, an imprint of Nobrow Inc, London, New York
Copyright: 2017
Original Language: German
Translator: Jen Calleja
Original Title: Die Welt der wilden tiere: Im Suden
Original Publisher: Knesebeck GmbH and Co. Verlag KG. Munchen
Original Copyright: 2014
ISBN: 978-1-909263-97-0
Hardcover pages: 152
Age range: 5-8
Genre: Picture Book, Information Book, Nonfiction
Book setting: South America, Asia, Africa, Australia, Antarctica
Author’s ethnicity: German
Author’s residence: Hamburg, Germany
Illustrator’s ethnicity: German
Illustrator’s residence: Hamburg, Germany
Subjects: Endangered animals, Southern hemisphere, Wild animals, Wilderness

Stop Feedin’ Da Boids!

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When Swanda and her dog Waldo move from the countryside to Brooklyn, Swanda misses the wildlife she left behind . . . but not for long. She discovers pigeons and decides to give them a bird feeder all their own. But more and more pigeons come until the situation really gets out of hand. Swanda asks various people for help – the Pest Control Officer, the Zookeeper, and an Exotic Bird Fancier from Peru. They cannot help. At this point her neighbors step in and offer their Brooklynese solution: “Swanda, You Gotta Stop Feedin’ Da Boids!” Swanda is not happy without animals and then she sees a fish in a pet shop window. Vibrant pencil and digitally illustrated artwork add to this amusing tribute to multicultural New York. mjw

Title: Stop Feedin’ Da Boids!
Author: James Sage
Illustrator: Pierre Pratt
Publisher: Kids Can Press, Toronto
Copyright: 2017
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-77138-613-5
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Brooklyn, New York
Author’s ethnicity: English
Author’s residence: England
Illustrator’s residence: Lisbon, Portugal and Montreal, Canada
Subjects: Birds, City life, Fish, Pigeons

How To Be Famous

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Everyone takes a trip to the zoo to see the exotic pigeons- right? At least that is what this boastful main character believes. The confident pigeon comes from generations of fame from his grandpa the sculptor to his mother the gardener. And he, the family model, is the most famous of them all. For, every time he takes a trip to the zoo, onlookers want pictures and autographs, they even show their appreciation by bowing and showering him with food. This grandiose life can not be beat, even by the King of the the Jungle… js

Title: How To Be Famous
Author: Michal Shalev
Illustrator: Michal Shalev
Publisher: Gecko Press. Wellington, New Zealand
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: English
ISBN: 9-781776-570300
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 5-9
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Israeli
Author’s residence: Israel
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Israeli
Illustrator’s residence: Israel
Subjects: Fame, Pigeon, Vanity, Zoos

A Dog Like Sam

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Nine-year-old Kix and his younger sister Emilia discover a big white sheepdog in their front yard and want to adopt him. They name him Sam. The problem is that he belongs to loony Flint, their neighbor who is in a mental hospital following the failure of his farm. All is resolved in a dramatic scene where Kix states that Sam must decide where he wants to live. Lively pen and ink illustrations add to this moving and heartwarming tale. An author’s note gives background for the story. mjw

Title: A Dog Like Sam
Author: Edward van de Vendel
Illustrator: Philip Hopman
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young People
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: Dutch
Translator: David Colmer
Original Title: Toen Kwam Sam
Original Publisher: Em. Queridos Kinderboeken Uitgeverij
Original Copyright: 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5484-1
Hardcover pages: 111
Age range: 8-11
Genre: Fiction, illustrated novel
Author’s ethnicity: Dutch
Author’s residence: Netherlands
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Dutch
Illustrator’s residence: Netherlands
Awards: 2011, 2012 Author was nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
Subjects: Dogs, Families, Pets

When The Rain Comes

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Malini, who lives in a village in Sri Lanka, is in charge of the oxcart that carries the rice seedlings for the new rice crop. The sky grows dark and monsoon rains cause a flash flood. Malini is separated from the cart and her family. She summons strength she didn’t know she had and saves the rice. The free verse text provides a suspenseful slice of South Asian life. Paint and pencil impressionistic illustrations depict the rain’s ferocity. Back matter gives additional information about Sri Lanka, its geography, and the importance of rice to the culture. mjw

Title: When The Rain Comes
Author: Alma Fullerton
Illustrator: Kim La Fave
Publisher: Pajama Press, Toronto
Copyright: 2017
Original Language: English
Original Copyright: 2016
ISBN: 978-1-77278-012-3
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Sri Lanka
Author’s ethnicity: Canadian
Author’s residence: Canada
Illustrator’s residence: Canada
Subjects: Asia, Autonomy, Farm and ranch life, Monsoons, Rain, Rice planting, Self-esteem, Self-reliance, Self-respect, Weather

Yours Sincerely, Giraffe

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Giraffe is bored, so he writes a letter and asks Pelican to deliver it beyond the horizon. Penguin receives the letter and the two become pen pals. The two animals have no idea what each other looks like. After many hilarious questions and answers, Giraffe creates a picture of what he thinks Penguin looks like. Giraffe trying to dress like a penguin will certainly make readers laugh out loud. The story, which incorporates fun animal facts, is generously illustrated with simple ink drawings and the pair’s letters. mjw

Title: Yours Sincerely, Giraffe
Author: Megumi Iwasa
Illustrator: Jun Takabatake
Publisher: Gecko Press. New Zealand
Copyright: 2017
Original Language: Japanese
Translator: Cathy Hirano
Original Title: Boku wa Africa ni Sumu Kirin to Iimasu
Original Publisher: Kaisei-sha Publishing Co Ltd. Tokyo
Original Copyright: 2001
ISBN: 978-1-927271-88-9
Hardcover pages: 104
Age range: 6-9
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Africa and Antarctica
Author’s ethnicity: Japanese
Author’s residence: Tokyo, Japan
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese
Illustrator’s residence: Japan
Subjects: Birds, Friendship, Giraffes, Humor, Letter writing, Pelicans, Pen pals, Penguins, Whales

Tidy

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Pete the badger likes everything neat. He tidies the forest stick by stick and leaf by leaf. Unfortunately things start to get out of hand as leaves fall and he uproots trees. Pete begins to learn that tidiness is not always the best way to take care of the forest. Instead, he embraces the disorder and enjoys nature as it is. Pencil, watercolor, and wax crayon illustrations show the impact of tidying the bright forest into a gray, ordered land. The bright colors return as Pete balances tidiness with natural disorder. amo

Title: Tidy
Author: Emily Gravett
Illustrator: Emily Gravett
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-4814-8019-2
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Forest
Author’s ethnicity: English
Author’s residence: Brighton, England
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English
Illustrator’s residence: Brighton, England
Subjects: Badgers, Environment, Forests, Nature

Wild Animals Of The North

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This stunning and fun information book looks at animals of North America, Europe, and Asia, from Kodiak bears and Texas rattlesnakes to European badgers and Japanese Macaques. Most of the wildlife images are accompanied by compelling and often humorous descriptive paragraphs. The highly stylized, geometric illustrations really make the book. A note touches on pollution, climate change, and global warming and the fact that a third of the animals in the book are endangered. Also included is an index of the 80 animals. Also available is Wild Animals of the South. mjw

Title: Wild Animals Of The North
Author: Dieter Braun
Illustrator: Dieter Braun
Publisher: Flying Eye Books, an imprint of Nobrow Ltd. London
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: German
Translator: Jen Calleja
Original Title: Die Welt der wilden Tiere: Im Norden
Original Publisher: von dem Knesebeck GmbH and Co. Verlag KG, Munchen
Original Copyright: 2015
ISBN: 978-1-909263-96-3
Hardcover pages: 144
Age range: 5-8
Genre: Picture book. Information book, Nonfiction
Book setting: North America, Europe, Asia
Author’s ethnicity: German
Author’s residence: Hamburg, Germany
Illustrator’s ethnicity: German
Illustrator’s residence: Hamburg, Germany
Subjects: Endangered animals, Northern hemisphere, Wild animals, Wilderness

Skye The Puffling

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Skye, a baby puffin, sneaks out of his parents’ burrow, falls off a cliff, and lands on the back of a gannet in flight. Skye’s adventure in Scotland’s Firth of Forth is written in rhyme and is illustrated with cute watercolor paintings. The sweet story is a sequel to the best-selling Harris the Hero by Lynne Rickards. mjw

Title: Skye The Puffling
Author: Lynne Rickards
Illustrator: Jon Mitchell
Publisher: Picture Kelpies, an imprint of Floris Books, Edinburgh
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-78250-255-5
Paperback pages: 32
Age range: 3-6
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Scotland
Author’s ethnicity: Born in Canada
Author’s residence: Scotland
Illustrator’s ethnicity: British
Illustrator’s residence: England
Subjects: Birds, Puffins

My Beautiful Birds

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Sami, his family, and his neighbors are escaping the bombs that have destroyed their Syrian home. Sami is heartbroken because he had to leave behind his pet pigeons. Once they reach the refugee camp and safety, everyone settles in as best they can. But Sami is not interested in soccer or painting. His life seems pointless. He cannot forget his birds. When some birds – a canary, a dove, and a rose finch – fly into the camp, Sami feeds them and provides material for their nests. This helps him begin his long healing process. Rich, textured illustrations fashioned from Plasticene, polymer clay, and other mixed media complement this moving story of one young refugee’s experience in the Syrian civil war. An author’s note gives information about refugee camps and the Syrian conflict. mjw

Title: My Beautiful Birds
Author: Suzanne Del Rizzo
Illustrator: Suzanne Del Rizzo
Publisher: Pajama Press. Toronto
Copyright: 2017
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-77278-010-9
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 6-10
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Syria
Author’s ethnicity: Canadian
Author’s residence: Canada
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian
Illustrator’s residence: Canada
Subjects: Birds, Homelessness, Illness, Loss, Middle East, Poverty, Refugee camps, Refugees, Syria