Tag Archives: Arts

Inkling

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Ethan’s dad is a comic artist with writer’s block and Ethan has a graphic novel project at school that is giving him trouble.  When an ink blot from his dad’s sketchbook comes to life, it makes quite an impact on Ethan’s family and friends.  This is a funny and interesting story.  How can an ink blot be such a lovable character? mjw

Title: Inkling Author: Kenneth Oppel Illustrator: Sydney Smith Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-5247-7282-6 Hardcover pages: 256 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Toronto Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Toronto Awards: Both author and illustrator have won the Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature. The illustrator has won the Kate Greenaway Award. Subjects: Books, Creativity, Drawing, Humor

Feather

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Paulina lives with her dad and her three rough and clumsy, older brothers. She plays the piano and they call her Feather, but she is tough and tenacious. She takes up boxing so that she can stand up to her brothers. When she proves her point, she goes back to her beloved piano. Gorgeous poster-like illustrations show Feather’s home life and training. mjw

Title: Feather Author: Remi Courgeon Illustrator: Remi Courgeon Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books, New York Copyright: 20117 Original Language: French Translator: Claudia Zoe Bedrick Original Title: Brindille Original Publisher: Editions Milan Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-1-59270-210-7 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 6-9 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: France Awards: A New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of 2017 Subjects: Boxing, Housework, Music, Piano, Self-esteem, Siblings, Sports

One Fun Day With Lewis Carroll: A Celebration Of Wordplay And A Girl Named Alice

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This wonderful picture book is part Lewis Carroll biography and part word game. Nonsense words and phrases take readers through Carroll’s fantasy world. Along the way readers learn about Carroll’s life as a mathematician and his friendship with the Liddell family and the real Alice. The frabjous illustrations breathe new life into the famous characters. A glossary explains the words and ideas invented by Carroll and reveals that nearly two hundred of them appear in the Oxford English Dictionary. A closing note gives more information about Carroll. mjw

Title: One Fun Day With Lewis Carroll: A Celebration Of Wordplay And A Girl Named Alice Author: Kathleen Krull Illustrator: Julia Sarda Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0544348233 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 6-9 Genre: Picture Book Biography Book setting: England Author’s ethnicity: U.S. Author’s residence: U.S. Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Spain  Subjects: Authors, Books, Charles Dodgson, Language, Literature, Imagination, Wordplay

Old Hat

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Harbet’s favorite hat is the colorful one with pompoms and earflaps that his nana knit for him when he was a puppy. Unfortunately, his friends wear Carmen Miranda fruit bowl hats and mock him, “OLD HAT!” He tries a new hat like theirs, but it is already outdated. They cry, “OLD HAT!” He tries a traffic cone, a saucepan, a pink work boot and many more, but he cannot win. Finally Harbet takes off his hat to reveal a surprise and his friends are filled with envy. Harbet discovers how much more fun it is to stop following others and to think for yourself. The pencil, watercolor, and acrylic ink illustrations of the hats are cheerful and hilarious. mjw

Title: Old Hat Author: Emily Gravett Illustrator: Emily Gravett Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English  Original Publisher: Original Copyright: Macmillan Children’s Books. Great Britain ISBN: 978-1-5344-0917-0 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Brighton, England Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: Brighton, England Subjects: Fashion, Hats, Peer pressure, Self esteem, Self respect, Teasing

Crescent Moons And Pointed Minarets: A Muslim Book Of Shapes

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This informative shape-concept book captures the vibrant world of Islam. A rectangle is the mosque’s carved wooden door. A cube is the Kaaba where Muslims worship. A square is an orange garden. Many more shapes celebrate the traditions of the narrator’s faith. The short, rhyming text is supplemented by beautiful mixed media illustrations that are influenced by Islamic art. A glossary with pronunciations and an author’s note complete this introduction to the culture and religion. mjw

Title: Crescent Moons And Pointed Minarets: A Muslim Book Of Shapes Author: Hena Khan Illustrator: Mehrdokht Amini Publisher: Chronicle Books, San Francisco Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1452155410 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-6 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Muslim countries Author’s ethnicity: Pakistani-American Author’s residence: U.S. Illustrator’s ethnicity: Grew up in Iran Illustrator’s residence: Surrey, England Subjects: Customs, Geography, Islam, Muslims, Shapes, Stories in rhyme

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

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