Tag Archives: Animals

Peter And The Wolf

peter-and-the-wolfPeter goes into the meadow with his friend the bird, when a duck waddles in and argues with the bird. Next, a fierce cat tries to catch the bird. Grandfather warns Peter about the wolf that may be in the meadow and Peter watches the wolf appear and eat the duck. Quick-witted Peter devises a plan to capture the wolf and help the hunters take the wolf to the zoo. This favorite Russian tale that children know because of Prokofiev’s music is stunningly illustrated with eccentric geometric shapes, vibrant colors, and innovative die cuts. mjw
Title: Peter And The Wolf
Author: Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953), Martin West (English text)
Illustrator
: Kveta Pacovska
Publisher
: Mineditions, Michael Neugebauer Publishing, Ltd.
Copyright
: 2013
Original Language
: German
Original Title
: Peter und der Wolf
Original Publisher
: Michael Neugebauer Publishing, Ltd.
Original Copyright
: 2013
ISBN
: 978-988-15955-6-0
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 5-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Russian – Prokofiev
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Czech
Illustrator’s residence
: Prague, Czech Republic (Czechia)
Awards
: 1992 Hans Christian Andersen Medal
Subjects
: Grandfathers, Music, Wolves

Outside: A Guide to Discovering Nature

51XTOEicVsL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_In this non-fiction picture book, readers will learn about a large variety of subjects that all encourage outdoor exploration. Throughout the book there are many questions for young scientists to ask followed by their answers. There are also experiments that readers can attempt. The book is mainly illustrated in black and white with pops of orange and blue but there are a few pages in the center of the book with full color illustrations of interesting animals. The back matter is filled with educational materials as well, such as a glossary, a timeline of important dates, and websites to learn more about the different topics. This book is sure to help young explorers expand their love of nature.  amo
Title: Outside: A Guide to Discovering Nature
Authors: Maria Ana Peixe Dias and Inês Teixeira do Rosário
Illustrator
: Bernardo P. Carvalho
Publisher
: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: Portuguese
Translator
: Lucy Greaves
Original Title
: Lá fora
Original Publisher
: Planeta Tangerina
Original Copyright
: 2014
ISBN
: 978-1-8478-0769-4
Hardcover pages
: 368
Age range
: 8-12
Genre
: Non-Fiction, Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Both Portuguese 
Author’s residence
: Portugal
Illustrator’s ethnicity
:Portuguese
Illustrator’s residence
: Portugal
Awards: Winner – “Opera Prima” Award 2105, Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2015
Subjects
: Amphibians, Astronomy, Birds, Bugs, Clouds, Flowers, Geology, Mammals, Oceans, Rain, Reptiles, Tide Pools, Trees, Wind

Dragonfly Kites/Pimithaagansa

Dragonfly KitesTwo young Cree brothers, Joe and Cody, are spending the summer with their made-up toys, like stick friends and stone children. They find a wild baby Arctic tern, squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks, and they make up names for everything, even the ants. Their favorite activity is flying dragonfly kites. They make them by catching dragonflies and tying thread around the middle of each dragonfly before letting it go. They then chase their dragonfly kites. At night, when they go to bed, they dream of the dragonflies. The creative, clear, and delicate collage illustrations are influenced by Cree artists. The book is written in English and Cree and is the second book in the Magical Songs of the North Wind trilogy. mjw
Title: Dragonfly Kites/Pimithaagansa
Author: Tomson Highway
Illustrator
: Julie Flett
Publisher
: Fifth House Publishers, Canada
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: English/Cree
Translator
: Tomson Highway
Original publisher:  Harper Collins
Original Copyright
: 2002
ISBN
: 978-1-897252-63-5
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 6-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: Manitoba
Author’s ethnicity
: Born in Manitoba, Canadian, Aboriginal
Author’s residence
: Ontario
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Cree-Metis ancestry
Illustrator’s residence
: Vancouver, BC
Awards
: Illustrator has won the first PMC Aboriginal Literature Award in 2014
Subjects
: Bilingual books, Canada, Cree children, Dragonflies, Dreams, Kites, Siblings, Sleep

Lasso The Wind: Aurèlia’s Verses And Other Poems

Lasso-the-Wind-jacket-FINAL-copy-270x300Poet Laureate of Toronto George Elliott Clarke’s collection of lyrical poetry will captivate readers of all ages. His poetry touches a variety of subjects, such as animals, school, exploration, poverty, and nature. The poems also describe the joy he has for his smiling daughter, Aurèlia. The colorfully captivating illustrations pair perfectly with the poems. Though some of the poems cover adult concepts  that may be difficult for young readers to grasp, this collection is still great for emerging and early poets.   ema

 

Title: Lasso The Wind: Aurèlia’s Verses And Other Poems
Author: George Elliott Clarke
Illustrator
: Susan Tooke
Publisher
: Nimbus
Copyright
: 2013
Original Language
: English 
ISBN: 978-1-77108-050-7
Hardcover pages
: 64
Age range: 7-12
Genre
: Picture Book, Poetry Collection
Authors’ ethnicity: Canadian
Authors’ residence
: Toronto
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Canadian
Illustrator’s residence
: Canada
Subjects: Insects, Music, Nature, Poetry, Poor,

The Bear Who Wasn’t There: And The Fabulous Forest

the-bear-who-wasnt-thereA very positive bear, who is nice and handsome, too, sets out on a journey to find himself. With the help of Turtle Taxi, he travels through the Fabulous Forest that has eight directions – north, south, east, west, breakfast, lunch, right, and wrong. He meets Convenience Cow, Lazy Lizard, and Penultimate Penguin. In the end, he finds that he himself is just what he has been looking for all along. The musical wordplay and unusual illustrations in this absurd, clever, and philosophical story will remind readers of Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, and The Wizard of Oz. mjw
Title: The Bear Who Wasn’t There: And The Fabulous Forest
Author: Oren Lavie
Illustrator
: Wolf Erlbruch
Publisher
: Black Sheep/Akashic Books
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: German
Original Title
: Der Bar Der Nicht da War
Original Publisher
: Verlag Antje Kunstmann GmbH
Original Copyright
: 2014
ISBN
: 978-1-61775-490-6
Hardcover pages
: 48
Age range
: 4-10
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Born in Tel Aviv
Author’s residence
: Tel Aviv
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: German
Illustrator’s residence
: Germany
Awards
: Illustrator has won the German Children’s Book Prize,  the Hans Christian Andersen Medal, and the 2017 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
Subjects
: Bears, Identity, Nature

Are You An Echo? The Lost Poetry Of Misuzu Kaneko

are-you-an-echoMisuzu was born in a Japanese fishing village in 1903. She loved school and books and, unlike most girls, got to stay in school until she was seventeen. Her mother managed a bookstore, where Misuzu spent many hours. Young Misuzu wrote poetry and quickly became a successful children’s writer. She wrote about stars, snow, fish, silkworms on mulberry leaves, dandelions, and all the world. An author’s note and a translator’s note provide more information and tell that her work was nearly forgotten. This meticulously researched picture book, with lovely paintings of early 20th century Japanese life, features Misuzu’s heart-breaking story and a collection of her poetry in English and the original Japanese. mjw
Title: Are You An Echo?  The Lost Poetry Of Misuzu Kaneko
Author: Misuzu Kaneko (1903-1930), David Jacobson
Illustrator
: Toshikado Hajiri
Publisher
: Chin Music Press,  Seattle, Washington
Copyright
: 20116
Original Language
: Japanese
Translator
: Sally Ito and Michiko Tsuboi
Original Copyright
: 1923-1928
ISBN
: 978-1-634059626
Hardcover pages
: 64
Age range
: 9-14
Genre
: Poetry, Picture Book Biography
Book setting
: Japan
Author’s ethnicity
: Japanese
Author’s residence
: Kaneko lived in Japan
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Japanese
Illustrator’s residence
: Japan
Subjects
: Authors, Fishes, Haiku, Japanese Poets

Written And Drawn By Henrietta

Written and Drawn by HenriettaHenrietta receives a box of colored pencils from her mom and decides to write and illustrate a book, entitled “The Monster with Three Heads and Two Hats.” Her cat, Fellini, often inspires her. She thinks aloud, deals with writer’s block, creates her finished product, and sets off to find a publisher. The playful cartoon drawings are rendered in ink, watercolor, and colored pencil. This celebration of the creative process will inspire kids to draw their own comics. mjw
Title: Written And Drawn By Henrietta
Author: Liniers (Ricardo Liniers)
Illustrator
: Liniers (Ricardo Liniers)
Publisher
: Toon Books, an imprint of RAW, Junior LLC
Copyright
: 2015
Original Language
: Spanish
Translator
: Liniers
Original Title
: Escrito y Dibujado por Enriqueta
Original Publisher
: Toon Books
Original Copyright
: 2015
ISBN
: 978-1-935179-90-0
Hardcover pages
: 64
Age range
: 5-8
Genre
: Picture Book, Graphic Novel
Author’s ethnicity
: Argentine
Author’s residence
: Argentina
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Argentine
Illustrator’s residence
: Argentina
Awards
: 2016 Batchelder Honor
Subjects
: Art, Books, Comic strips, Creativity, Determination, Imagination, Reading

A World Of Your Own

A World Of Your OwnWhat is the world you envision? This is the question that the author invites her readers to ask in this creative picture book. The author uses several artistic mediums, such as photographs, illustrations,  and sculptures to share her world with her readers. The language in this brilliant book describes and encourages readers to take the world they see and draw the world that they would like to be in. Educators will enjoy using the book in their classroom because it teaches drawing techniques that help students grow their artistic side. ema

Title: A World Of Your Own
Author: Laura Carlin
Illustrator
: Laura Carlin
Publisher
: Phaidon Press Limited
Copyright
: 2014
Original Language
: English
ISBN: 978-0-7148-6362-7
Hardcover pages
: 48
Age range: 4-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Authors’ ethnicity: English
Authors’ residence
: London
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: English
Illustrator’s residence
: London
Subjects: Artists, Artwork, Creativity, Drawing, Homes, Imagination, Neighborhoods, World

Sea Change

Sea ChangeTwelve-year-old Eliot Dionisi’s parents send him to Point Aconi in Nova Scotia for the summer. He is not looking forward to spending time with his wrinkly old relatives who smell like fish. At first, it is not easy for him to fit in. He is pushed out of his comfort zone. But as the summer wears on, Eliot learns to fish, swim, and eat lobster. He discovers his great grandmother’s library, picks blueberries, enjoys a clambake, and even has his first kiss. He makes friends, deals with the local bully, and helps Mary Beth, his crush, with a secret. This warm and funny coming-of-age story is illustrated with artwork drawn in pencil and India ink and colored digitally. Some of the text is also transformed into unconventional illustrations. mjw
Title: Sea Change
Author: Frank Viva
Illustrator
: Frank Viva
Publisher
: Tundra Books, a division of Random House of Canada
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-101-91852-4
Hardcover pages
: 120
Age range
: 8-12
Genre
: Fiction, Graphic Novel
Book setting
: Point Aconi, Nova Scotia
Author’s ethnicity
: Canadian
Author’s residence
: Toronto
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Canadian
Illustrator’s residence
: Toronto
Subjects
: Abuse, Canada, Coming of age, Fishing, Growing up, Multigenerational, Nova Scotia, Summer

Chirri And Chirra

Chirri and ChirraTwo young identical twin girls go on a bicycle ride through the natural world. They stop at the forest café for acorn coffee and clover blossom tea. Their next stop is the forest bakery, where they meet a bear and a rabbit, and have mulberry and strawberry jam sandwiches on honey bread and walnut bread. After lunch, they play in a nearby pond and nap under a big tree. Then, they move on to the forest hotel, where there is a concert with all the animals singing. “What a wonderful night in the forest!” Lively, adorable, and sweet colored pencil, pastel, and crayon illustrations look like mid-20th century lithographs. mjw
Title: Chirri And Chirra
Author: Kaya Doi
Illustrator
: Kaya Doi
Publisher
: Enchanted Lion Books, New York
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: Japanese
Translator
: Yuki Kaneko
Original Publisher
: Arranged with Alice-Kan, Inc.
ISBN
: 978-1-59270-199-5
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 3-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Japanese
Author’s residence
: Japan
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Japanese
Illustrator’s residence
: Japan
Subjects
: Bicycle rides, Forest, Music

The Emergency Zoo

The Emergency ZooIt is the week before World War II in 1939 in England, and twelve-year-olds Rosy and Tilly try to outwit their families and the authorities by hiding their pets in a run-down hut in the woods. Other children bring their pets – rabbits, guinea pigs, cats, dogs, and more, and the emergency zoo grows to be a real challenge for the girls. An added problem is that all the children are about to be evacuated to the countryside for safety. The story is inspired by the unspeakable and little known episode in British history when pets were to be destroyed because it was believed that the animals could not cope with bombs and gas and that, with rationing, there would not be enough food for them. Told from the viewpoint of children, this is a moving novel about courage, resourcefulness, and animal welfare. An author’s note gives historical background and explains that organizations such as the Dumb Animal League tried to save as many pets as possible. It is estimated that around 750,000 pets were destroyed in Britain. mjw
Title: The Emergency Zoo
Author: Miriam Halahmy
Publisher
: Alma Books.  Surry, U.K.
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-84688-397-2
Paperback pages
: 254
Age range
: 12 up
Genre
: Historical fiction
Book setting
: England
Author’s residence
: London, England
Subjects
: England, Evacuation, Pets, World War II, Zoo animals

Teacup

teacupThis picture book is a simplistically beautiful tale about a boy who journeys to find a new home on a boat with a teacup that is filled with dirt. The gorgeous illustrations effectively reflect the various colors, light, and perspectives of the environments. Every page includes lovely views of the sky, water, ocean, and the various creatures that inhabit them. The book is a wonderful story about a voyage full of personal growth, perseverance, hope, and the promise of a friendship. Readers of all ages and backgrounds will find this story resonating. ema

 

 

Title: Teacup
Author: Rebecca Young
Illustrator
: Matt Ottley
Publisher
: Dial Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: English
Original Publisher: Scholastic Australia
Original Copyright: 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7352-2777-4
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre
: Fiction Picture Book
Authors’ ethnicity: Australian
Authors’ residence
: Australia
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Australian
Illustrator’s residence
: New South Wales, Australia
Awards: 2016 Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children’s Literature, and the 2016 NSW Premier’s Literary Award
Subjects: Journeys, Oceans, Sailing, Trees