Tag Archives: Animals

The Bernadette Watts Collection: Stories And Fairy Tales

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Bernadette Watts CollectionWatts’s works “display warm and pleasing colors that bathe each image in an almost theatre-like setting” -Eric Carle.

Bernadette Watts is an iconic English children’s book author and illustrator who has illustrated several fairy tales and fables. This huge collection of fairy tales features some stories written by world renowned storytellers and Watts herself. The gorgeous impressionistic illustrations of animals, creatures, people, and nature complement the wondrous stories. This collection is excellent for introducing readers to popular tales, such as Cinderella, Rapunzel, The Ugly Duckling, Sleeping Beauty, and The Snow Queen, as well as some unfamiliar works. ema
Title: The Bernadette Watts Collection: Stories And Fairy Tales
Author: Short stories by Bernadette Watts, Jacob (1785-1863) and Wilhelm Grimm (1786-1859), Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875), Aesop (620-560 BC), Gerda Marie Scheidl (1913-2005), Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910), and more
Illustrator: Bernadette Watts
Publisher: North-South 
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: German
Translator: North-South Books
Original Title: Bernadette
Original Publisher: NordSüd
Original Copyright: 2014
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4242-0
Hardcover pages: 317
Age range: 4 up
Genre: Fables, Fairy Tales, Picture Books
Author’s ethnicity: Watts: English, Grimm Brothers: German, Andersen: Danish, Aesop: Greek, Scheidl: German, Tolstoy: Russian
Author’s residence: Watts: England
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English
Illustrator’s residence:  England
Subjects: Fables, Fairy tales, Fairy tale reimaginings/ retellings, Folktales, Illustrated children’s books, Short stories

The Velveteen Rabbit

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velveteen rabbitMargery Williams wrote this classic in 1922 about a young boy and his soft stuffed rabbit. The oldest and wisest toy in the nursery, the Skin Horse, assures the rabbit that toys are made real by children’s love. The rabbit becomes the boy’s most beloved companion. When the boy falls ill, the rabbit stays by his side. As the boy recovers, the doctor advises the boy’s mother to burn all of his belongings, even the shabby rabbit because they may have become infected. In the magical ending, the beautiful nursery fairy transforms the rabbit into a “real to everyone” rabbit.  Sakai’s text is simpler than the original, allowing the richly textured, gorgeous and luminous acrylic and oil pencil paintings to tell the gentle story. mjw
Title: The Velveteen Rabbit
Author: Komako Sakai, based on the story by Margery Williams (1881-1944)
Illustrator: Komako Sakai
Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books, New York
Copyright: 2012
Original Language: Japanese
Translator: Yuki Kaneko
Original Title: Biroudo no Usagi
Original Publisher: Bronze Publishing Inc,, Tokyo
Original Copyright: 2007.  1922, Margery Williams for the original text, published as The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real
ISBN: 978-1-59270-128-5
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Japanese.  Margery Williams – English
Author’s residence: Japan
Translator’s ethnicity: Japanese
Translator’s residence: Brooklyn, U.S.
Subjects: Friendship, Imagination, Rabbits, Toys

Pinocchio By Pinocchio

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pinocchioThis reworking of the classic story by the author of War Horse (the West End and Broadway play and blockbuster film) tells the full story of Pinocchio from Pinocchio’s point of view. He starts out as a tiny cherry pip, which grows into a cherry tree, eventually becomes the wooden puppet, and finally, the boy. His curious spirit leads him into many exciting adventures. The captivating full-color illustrations make this famous and much-loved puppet come alive. The original story, The Adventures of Pinocchio, was written by the Italian author, Carlo Collodi, in 1883, and made into the fantastic film by Walt Disney in 1940. mjw
Title: Pinocchio By Pinocchio
Author: Michael Morpurgo
Illustrator: Emma Chichester Clark
Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books
Copyright: 2013
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-00-733962-4
Paperback pages: 272
Age range: 6-11
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy
Book setting: Italy
Author’s ethnicity: English
Author’s residence: England
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English
Illustrator’s residence: London
Awards: Author is a former Children’s Laureate – Britain
Subjects: Fairytales, Marionettes, Puppets

Brother Hugo And The Bear

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Brother Hugo And The BearBrother Hugo is unable to return his library book because it was consumed by a bear. The Abbot of Hugo’s monastery was very disappointed because he lost their only copy of St. Augustine’s letters. It is now Hugo’s responsibility to travel to a neighboring monastery to retrieve a copy of the cherished text, craft a new book, and return his library book on time without it becoming bear food again. These beautifully detailed illustrations resembling monks’ manuscripts were created using ink and watercolor. Brother Hugo And The Bear is loosely based on a true twelfth-century story  where the monk, Abbot Peter the Venerable, asked the neighboring monastery to send him St. Augustine’s letters because their volume was eaten by a bear. The book also features a historical note, a glossary of terms and people, an author’s note, and an illustrator’s note. ema
Title: Brother Hugo And The Bear
Author: Katy Beebe
Illustrator: S.D. Schindler
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5407-0
Hardcover pages: 34
Age range: 5-9
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Middle Ages France
Author’s ethnicity: American
Author’s residence: Texas
Illustrator’s ethnicity: American
Illustrator’s residence: Pennsylvania
Awards: 2014 American Booksellers Association Best Books for Children Catalog, 2014 Society of Illustrators “The Original Art” annual exhibition, 2014  Kirkus Best of the Year, 2014 School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, 2014 Huffington Post Best Picture Books of the Year: Honorable Mention, A 2015 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, A 2015 Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year
Subjects:  Bears, Books, Manuscripts, Middle Ages, Monks, Reading

Peter Pan

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Peter PanJames Matthew Barrie’s classic tale of Peter Pan, a mischievous boy who can fly, and his adventures in Neverland with Wendy, Michael, and Peter Darling, is reimagined in this stunning unabridged volume. All new full-color illustrations and interactive 3-D inserts, such as a foldout map of Neverland, Peter’s shadow, Tinkerbell’s fairy wing, and a crocodile clock that tells time, bring to life the story of the boy who never grows up. The artwork is astounding. MinaLima is the London-based, award-winning graphic design studio best known for its involvement in the Harry Potter film franchise. mjw
Title: Peter Pan 
Author: J. M. Barrie (1860-1937)
Illustrator: Mina Lima Design – Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima
Publisher: Harper Design, New York
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
Original Title: Peter Pan, Or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up
Original Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton
Original Copyright: 1904
ISBN: 978-0-06-236222-3
Hardcover pages: 256
Age range: 12-18
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy
Book setting: London, England
Author’s ethnicity: Scottish
Illustrator’s residence: London, England
Subjects: Brothers and sisters, Captain Hook, Coming of age, Dogs, Imaginary places, Motherhood, Pirates

Slovenly Peter: Freely Translated Into English By Mark Twain

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Slovenly PeterStruwwelpeter (translated as “slovenly” or “shock-headed” Peter) is one of the most popular and influential children’s books ever written. It is the most widely published German book.  It has been translated into over 35 languages. Rhyming couplets and grotesque pictures portray the often gruesome consequences that befall children who misbehave. A boy who doesn’t groom himself is unpopular. A girl plays with matches and burns to death. A child, who won’t stop sucking his thumb, has both thumbs cut off. A boy, who refuses to eat his soup, wastes away and dies. Today’s children will distinguish these tales from reality and will probably even giggle. Also included are a Foreword by Mark Twain’s daughter (1934), an Introduction with information on how the book came to be written, and a note by Mark Twain (1891). Maurice Sendak said that Struwwelpeter is “graphically one of the most beautiful books in the world.” And Slovenly Peter’s influence is evident in Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands. mjw
Title: Slovenly Peter: Freely Translated Into English By Mark Twain
Author: Heinrich Hoffmann (1809-1894)
Illustrator: Fritz Kredel (1900-1973)
Publisher: Calla Editions, an imprint of Dover Publications, Inc.   Mineola, New York
Copyright: 2013
Original Language: German
Translator: Mark Twain (1835-1910)
Original Title: Der Struwwelpeter (or Shockheaded Peter)
Original Publisher: Marchbanks Press, New York
Original Copyright: 1935, 1845
ISBN: 978-1-60660-048-1
Hardcover pages: 34
Age range: 8-14
Genre: Poetry, Rhymed stories
Author’s ethnicity: German
Translator’s ethnicity: U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity: German
Subjects: Boys, Conduct of life, Exaggeration, Girls, Misbehavior, Morality tales, Morals, Nursery rhymes

Dog Loves Books

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Dog Loves Books CoverA small, expressive white dog loves books so much, he decides to open up his own bookstore in order to share this passion with others. At first, Dog feels melancholy when business is slow, so he occupies his time engaging in his favorite activity: reading. While engrossed in his imaginary adventures, Dog’s first customer enters the store and he recommends the perfect book. Charming soft pencil and watercolor drawings feature friendly dinosaurs and aliens Dog encounters while reading. This picture book is a treat for dog lovers and bibliophiles young and old. cc
Title: Dog Loves Books
Author: Louise Yates
Illustrator: Louise Yates
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Copyright: 2010
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Jonathan Cape
Original Copyright: 2010
ISBN: 978-0-375-96449-7
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture book
Author’s ethnicity: British
Author’s residence: United Kingdom
Illustrator’s ethnicity: British
Illustrator’s residence: United Kingdom
Subjects: Books, Bookstores, Dogs, Imagination, Reading

 

The Lion And The Bird

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The Lion And The Bird A heartwarming friendship builds between a lion and a bird after the bird’s wing is injured. The lion generously offers to care for the bird during the winter. Eventually, the bird’s flock returns signaling their parting. One autumn day the pair are reunited and “stay warm again this winter”. Impressive use of splendid illustrations, created using muted washes of brown, blue, and green colored pencil, conveys the changing of seasons and characters’ emotions. Everyone will be delighted along with the lion when  he hears one single note. ema
Title: The Lion And The Bird
Author: Marianne Dubuc
Illustrator: Marianne Dubuc
Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: French
Translator: Claudia Z. Bedrick
Original Title: Les éditions de la Pastèque
Original Publisher: Le lion et l’oiseau
Original Copyright: 2013
ISBN: 978-1-59270-151-3
Hardcover pages: 64
Age range: 4 up
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: French Canadian
Author’s residence: France
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Canadian
Illustrator’s residence: France
Awards: 2014 Governor General’s Literacy Award for Illustrations 
Subjects: Birds, Helping Others,  Lions, Loneliness,  Nature, Unexpected Friendships, Seasons

Moletown

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MoletownReminiscent of the author’s phenomenal debut, Lindbergh: The Tale of a Flying Mouse, this tale about moles creating their own underground city will enthrall readers. Moletown started when one mole moved under a lush green meadow. He eventually finds other moles underground, and they become the founders of Moletown. Their town grows rapidly, but there are some consequences to urbanizing. This picture book with few words utilizes awe striking rustic, industrial, and mechanical style illustrations, created using pens, watercolor, acrylics, oil paints, and digital programs, to speak volumes about pollution. The end pages are newspaper headlines which show the history of Moletown. This great book will generate a discussion about environmental concerns. ema
Title: Moletown
Author: Torben Kuhlmann
Illustrator: Torben Kuhlmann
Publisher: North-South Books
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: German
Translator: Andrew Rushton
Original Title: Maulwurfstadt
Original Publisher: NordSüd Verlag AG
Original Copyright: 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4208-3
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4 up
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: German
Author’s residence: Hamburg
Illustrator’s ethnicity: German
Illustrator’s residence: Hamburg
Subjects:  Buildings, Cities, Construction, Pollution, Underground

Tiger Boy

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Tiger BoySet in the tidal mangrove forests of the Sunderbans of India and Bangladesh, this quiet, suspenseful story tells of young Neel and his efforts to track down a female tiger cub that has escaped from a local animal reserve and save it from greedy poachers. Neel is a good student and could qualify for a scholarship for a private boarding school in Kolkata. This would ensure him and his family a much better quality of life. But he loves his home, is reluctant to leave his familiar world, and therefore, only studies half-heartedly. Neel and his sister hatch out a courageous plan and succeed in rescuing the tiger. And Neel changes his mind about education. Global warming, gender discrimination, endangered animals, environmental protection, and class structure are some of the important issues in this fast-paced story, which is enhanced by dramatic black-and-white pastel illustrations. An Author’s Note, Information on Organizations Working with Bengal Tigers and Organizations Working to Improve Life in the Sunderbans, and a Glossary are provided. mjw
Title: Tiger Boy
Author: Mitali Perkins
Illustrator: Jamie Hogan
Publisher: Charlesbridge.  Watertown, MA
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-58089-660-3
Hardcover pages: 144
Age range: 7-10
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Sunderbans, West Bengal, India
Author’s ethnicity: Born in Kolkata, India
Author’s residence: U.S.  Has lived in Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Mexico, Thailand, Great Britain
Illustrator’s residence: U.S.
Subjects: Animal rescue, Community, Conflict, Economics, Nature, Teachers, Tigers

Cartwheeling In Thunderstorms

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Cartwheeling in ThunderstormsEight-year-old Will enjoys her adventurous life in Zimbabwe. She enjoys living on an African farm with her best friend Simon and loving father. But when her father passes away, her new guardians send her off to an all-girls’ boarding school in London to learn proper manners and get her “savage” streak out of her. Will has to deal with the challenges of living on her own in a new country where no one seems to understand her. Rundell’s novel illustrates the importance of accepting your differences and finding unforeseen friendships. ema
Title: Cartwheeling In Thunderstorms
Author: Katherine Rundell
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: English
Original Title: The Savage Girl
Original Publisher: Faber and Faber Limited 
Original Copyright: 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4424-9061-1
Hardcover pages: 248
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Zimbabwe and London
Author’s ethnicity: grew up in Zimbabwe, Brussels, and London
Author’s residence: London
Awards: 2014 SLJ Best Books for Middle Grade, 2015 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People for Third to Fifth Grade, 2015 Boston Globe/Horn Book Fiction Award Winner
Subjects: Africa, Boarding schools, Death, London, Orphans, Zimbabwe

Tree Of Wonder: The Many Marvelous Lives Of A Rainforest Tree

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Tree of WonderMore than one thousand different organisms live in the almendro tree that grows deep in the rainforests of Latin America. Count great green macaws, keel-billed toucans, howler monkeys, fruit bats, blue morpho butterflies, poison dart frogs, and many more creatures, as they multiply again and again in this lush picture book about biodiversity. Bright, compelling images rendered in acrylic and pencil bring the rainforest to life. The book concludes with more information on the almendro tree and about environmental organizations that protect the trees. Rainforest math problems and suggested resources for learning even more are also provided. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book goes to support the work of the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC).  mjw
Title: Tree Of Wonder: The Many Marvelous Lives Of A Rainforest Tree
Author: Kate Messner
Illustrator: Simona Mulazzani
Publisher: Chronicle Books, San Francisco
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-4521-1248-0
Hardcover pages: 36
Age range: 5-8
Genre: Information Book, Nonfiction, Picture Book
Book setting: Latin America
Author’s ethnicity: U.S.
Author’s residence: U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian
Illustrator’s residence: Italy
Awards: Illustrator has received a Silver Medal from the Society of Illustrators
Subjects: Biodiversity, Counting, Dipteryx oleifera, Ecology, Environment, Forests, Habitat, Nature, Rainforest ecology, Trees