Tag Archives: Arts

The Bear And The Piano

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The Bear And The PianoA curious bear cub finds a peculiar object in the forest. He discovers that he can make strange noises by pressing his paws on it. The bear continues to come back and play around with the object. He eventually is a master at making beautiful sounds. One day, as he plays for his bear friends, a group of humans ask him to come with them to their city to play the piano. The bear agrees and becomes famous. As time goes on, the bear feels homesick. He longs to see his friends again, but he worries they are angry that he left them. The book’s multilayered-mixed media illustrations of woods, bears, and cityscapes are absolutely beautiful. Everyone of all ages will enjoy the message of friendship and pursuing your dreams. ema

Title: The Bear And The Piano
Author: David Litchfield
Illustrator: David Litchfield
Publisher: Clarion Books
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-544-67454-7
Hardcover pages: 
Age range: 4-7
Genre: Picture Book
Authors’ ethnicity: British
Authors’ residence: United Kingdom
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Israelis
Illustrator’s residence: United Kingdom
Subjects: Bears, Famous, Forests, Music, Musician, Piano, Woods
Awards: 2016 Winner of Waterstones Children’s Book Prize:Best Illustrated Book, 2016 Nominated for ‘Read It Again’ Cambridgeshire Libraries Children’s Picture Book Award

 

Clap, Clap!

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clap clapEvery time you open and close this colorful book, something inside comes to life and makes a noise. “Doing” and cymbals crash. “Uh” and a boy does seven sit-ups. “Flap” and a butterfly flutters by. “Fzzz” and cheese and veggies are pressed in a panini. Bringing the book’s covers together creates many more actions and sounds in this fun, interactive counting book. Bold and bright geometric illustrations include pink, black, and white faces exploring the noises and sounds – no batteries are required! mjw
Title: Clap, Clap!
Author: Madalena Matoso
Illustrator: Madalena Matoso
Publisher: Flying Eye Books, an imprint of Nobrow Press
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: Portuguese
Original Title: Livro Clap
Original Publisher: Planeta Tangerina, Portugal
Original Copyright: 2016
ISBN: 978-1-909263-82-6
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 3-5
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Portuguese
Author’s residence: Portugal
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Portuguese
Illustrator’s residence: Portugal
Subjects: Counting, Movement, Percussion, Sound

Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved A Mystery That Baffled All Of France

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mesmerizedWhile Ben Franklin was in France raising money for the American Revolution, King Louis XVI asked Franklin to investigate mysterious Austrian Dr. Mesmer who claimed to cure illnesses by waving a wand around his patients while they listened to the music of a glass armonica. As Franklin debunks Mesmer’s magic, he explains the basic principles of the scientific method and the placebo effect. The lively and rhythmic text, which is excellent for reading aloud, and the humorous, digitally colored artwork, which is loaded with period detail, make this tale mesmerizing. A lengthy author’s note gives more fascinating information. mjw
Title: Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved A Mystery That Baffled All Of France
Author: Mara Rockliff
Illustrator: Iacopo Bruno
Publisher: Candlewick Press.  Somerville, Massachusetts
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6351-3
Hardcover pages: 48
Age range: 6-9
Genre: Picture Book, Historical Fiction
Book setting: Paris, France
Author’s ethnicity: American
Author’s residence: U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian
Illustrator’s residence: Italy
Awards: 2016 Orbis Pictus Honor
Subjects: Biography; Electricity; Franklin, Benjamin (1706-1790); History; Hypnosis; Mesmer, Franz Anton (1734-1815); Mesmerism; Music; Psychology experiments; Science methodology

Funny Bones Posada And His Day Of The Dead Calaveras

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Funny BonesNineteenth century Mexican artist and social commentator Jose Guadalupe Posada is well known for his satirical political cartoons and his calavera drawings. Calaveras are festive and fun bony skeletons riding bicycles, wearing fancy hats, playing guitars, and dancing. They have become associated with el Dia de Muertos – the Day of the Dead. The well-written text details Posada’s life in this thought-provoking picture book. Posada’s artistic techniques of lithography, engraving, and etching are clearly explained and reproductions of his calaveras will involve readers in answering questions about his intentions. Tonatiuh’s signature hand-drawn and digitally collaged illustrations with profile figures are inspired by ancient Mexican art. Back matter includes a lengthy author’s note, a glossary with pronunciations, a bibliography, art credits, an index, and a list of places where Posada’s work can be seen in the United States. mjw
Title: Funny Bones Posada And His Day Of The Dead Calaveras
Author: Duncan Tonatiuh
Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh
Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, New York
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-4197-1647-8
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 6-10
Genre: Picture Book Biography
Book setting: Mexico
Author’s ethnicity: Mexican
Author’s residence: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Mexican
Illustrator’s residence: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Awards: 2016 Pura Belpre Honor – Illustration, 2016 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal, 2016 Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
Subjects: Biography, Culture, Engravers, History, Holidays and celebrations, Human skeletons in art, Mexico

I Capture The Castle

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I Capture The CastleReaders follow seventeen-year-old Cassandra’s diary accounting her life with her extraordinary family in their crumbling castle. Her family slides into genteel poverty after her father falls into a long phase of writer’s block. Rose, Cassandra’s sister, is desperate to marry for riches as a way of supporting her family. The castle’s atmosphere changes when their new neighbors and landlords from America arrive. Rose and Cassandra discover that the heart cannot choose who it falls in love with no matter how hard the mind may try. Fans of Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte will be enchanted by this captivating and bittersweet read. The author, who is best known for her novel The Hundred And One Dalmatians, wrote I Capture The Castle during World War II when she moved to California. Cassandra’s story is inspired by the  author’s experiences in England during the 1930s. ema
Title: I Capture The Castle
Author: Dodie Smith (1896-1990)
Publisher: Vintage Classics
Copyright: 2012
Original Language: English
Original Title: I Capture The Castle
Original Publisher: William Heinemann
Original Copyright: 1949
ISBN: 978-0-099-57288-6
Paperback pages: 566
Age range: 14 up
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book setting: 1930s England
Author’s ethnicity: English
Subjects: Artists, Castles, Love, Poverty, Romance, Sisters, Writers

Boys Don’t Knit (In Public)

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Boys don't knitSeventeen-year-old Ben Fletcher tells his story in a witty and funny diary format. After an unfortunate incident with some stolen liquor and a crossing guard, he is put on probation and has to choose an evening course at the local college as part of his rehabilitation. He takes up knitting and discovers he’s really good at it, but he has to keep his knitting a secret from his friends and his sports-loving dad.   There is even more for him to worry about – his knitting teacher is the mom of the girl of his dreams and his friends are real troublemakers. Ben gains confidence, wins the All-United Kingdom Knitting Championship, and even gets the girl. He is quirky, perceptive, and adorable and his passion for knitting will encourage readers to take up knitting, regardless of gender stereotypes. Packed with pop culture references and jokes, the book is a laugh-aloud fast read. A sequel, An English Boy in New York (2014, Hot Key Books) follows Ben on his trip to New York for the U.S. National Knit Fair. mjw
Title: Boys Don’t Knit (In Public)
Author: T.S. Easton
Publisher: Fiewel and Friends, New York, an imprint of Macmillan
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Hot Key Books
Original Copyright: 2014
ISBN: 978-1-250-05331-2
Hardcover pages: 272
Age range: 12-16
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: England
Author’s ethnicity: English
Author’s residence: England
Awards: 2015 Carnegie Medal nomination
Subjects: Adolescence, Communities, Conduct of life, England, Family life, Fathers and sons, Humorous stories, Knitting, Social issues, Teenage boys, Women teachers

Timeline: A Visual History Of Our World

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TimelineThis oversize picture book is a perfect introduction to history for young and old. The journey begins with the Big Bang and ends with the terrorism, conflict, and eco-disasters of the 2010s and the dream of peace and prosperity for all. Scenes include dinosaurs, Vikings, Aztecs, Egyptians, kings, and knights. The timeline covers wars and disasters and introduces artists, explorers, and leaders. Dragons, mythical figures, TV characters, toys, and technology are also included. Readers will have fun spotting different people from history hidden in the playful cartoons, infographics, and mainly black on gray/sepia illustrations that are bursting with detail. Watch for Harry Potter, Mr. Potato Head, and Dorothy and her friends from Oz. This is a powerful classroom resource. mjw
Title: Timeline: A Visual History Of Our World
Author: Peter Goes and Sylvia Vanden Heede
Illustrator: Peter Goes
Publisher: Gecko Press, New Zealand
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: Dutch
Translator: Bill Nagelkerke
Original Title: Tijdlijn
Original Publisher: Uitgeverij  Lannoo nv., Belgium
Original Copyright: 2015
ISBN: 978-1-776570-69-0
Hardcover pages: 80
Age range: 4 up
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Dutch
Author’s residence: Belgium
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Dutch
Illustrator’s residence: Belgium
Subjects: Chronology, Civilization, Discoveries, History, Inventions, Pictorial works, World history

The Wolf Wilder

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the wolf wilderTwelve-year-old Feodora, Feo for short, lives in the snowy woods of Russia with her mother. They are wolf wilders. They take wolves that were bought as pups by St. Petersburg aristocrats and abandoned; teach the wolves to hunt, fight, and distrust humans; and then release them back into the wild. Feo’s house was burned and her mother was attacked and captured by the Russian Army. Accompanied by three loyal wolves, Ilya, a sensitive, lost young soldier who loves ballet, and Alexei, a 15-year-old agitator from a nearby village, Feo sets off into the ice and snow of the woods on a journey to rescue her mother. Set near the end of Tsar Nicholas II’s reign, the story combines history with fairytale, and suggests the hope of the Revolution. Feo is a feisty and beautiful heroine, who stands for everything that is right. This captivating book begins with a note on wolf wilders (which the author made up). mjw
Title: The Wolf Wilder
Author: Katherine Rundell
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York
Copyright: 2105
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, London
Original Copyright: 2015
ISBN: 978-1-4814-1942-0
Hardcover pages: 240
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book setting: Russia
Author’s Ethnicity: Grew up in Zimbabwe, Brussels, and London
Author’s residence: Oxford, England
Subjects: Ballet, Bravery, Fairytales, Fantasy, Mothers and daughters, Russia – history – Nicholas II, 1894-1917, Russian Revolution, Survival, Wolves

The Green Bicycle

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The Green bicycleOne of Saudi Arabia’s best-known and most controversial filmmakers has adapted her very successful film Wadjda for middle grade readers. Rebellious, 11-year-old Wadjda lives with her strict parents in modern day Riyadh and dreams of owning the green bicycle that she passes in a store everyday on her way to school.   She wants to race her friend Abdullah, but riding bikes is frowned upon for girls and Wadjda’s parents refuse to buy the bike for her. Wadjda tries to raise the money buy selling bracelets and mixtapes that she makes. Fiercely independent, she doesn’t fit in at school, gets into a lot of trouble, and risks expulsion. She eventually enters a Quran competition in order to win the prize money and purchase the bike. She wins, but the school chooses to donate the money to Palestine on her behalf. She returns home to find that her mother has bought the bike and Wadjda then wins the race against Abdullah. Explanations of various elements of Saudi culture and its patriarchal society are woven into the story and provide helpful background for readers unfamiliar with the region. The film Wadjda (2012) was the first full-length feature to be shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and through 2013, the only feature-length film made in Saudi Arabia by a female director. The film has won numerous awards around the world. mjw
Title: The Green Bicycle
Author: Haifaa Al Mansour
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0525-42806-0
Hardcover pages: 352
Age range: 8 up
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Author’s ethnicity: Saudi Arabian
Author’s residence: Bahrain
Awards: The film Wadjda (2012) won the 2013 Best International Feature Audience Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival
Subjects: Bicycles and bicycling, Coming of Age, Female empowerment, Gender roles, Girls and women, Koran, Middle East, Music, Muslims, Quran, Sex roles,

Swan: The Life And Dance of Anna Pavlova

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swanThis beautiful picture book celebrates the extraordinary life of one of the world’s prima ballerinas. Starting with her humble beginnings in 19th century tsarist Russia, the story unfolds to tell of her triumphs on the stage and her tragic end. The tender and graceful illustrations, which are done in ink, gouache, graphite, pencil, and crayon, and the text, which is light, vivid, and magical, make this masterpiece an excellent read-aloud. An Author’s Note provides more detailed information and a Bibliography and Quotation Sources suggest places for young readers to learn even more about the gifted dancer. mjw
Title: Swan: The Life And Dance Of Anna Pavlova
Author: Laurel Snyder
Illustrator: Julie Morstad
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-4521-1890-1
Hardcover pages: 52
Age range: 6-9
Genre: Picture Book Biography
Book setting: Russia
Author’s ethnicity: American
Author’s residence: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian
Illustrator’s residence: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Awards: 2016 NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book
Subjects: Ballerinas, Biographies, Dance, Performing arts, Russia (Federation), Women

The Pied Piper Of Hamelin: An Old Legend Collected By The Brothers Grimm

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Pied piper of hamelinIn the year 1284, the town of Hamelin was overrun by rats and the Mayor himself offered a good fee to the stranger, wearing a parti-colored or “pied” robe, who promised he would rid the town of the plague of rats. The rat-catcher played a tune on his pipe “that had never been heard before,’ which caused the rats to scurry to the River Weser, where they all drowned. But when the townspeople would not give him the gold he had earned, the Pied Piper left the town angry and later returned, dressed like a huntsman, playing another strange melody on his pipe. This time, the Hamelin children followed him and disappeared. This fine translation of the original strange and unsettling tale is adorned with dark and creepy, yet elegant watercolor painting by one of the world’s preeminent book artists. An afterword gives information about the legend and a list of other tales illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger. mjw
Title: The Pied Piper Of Hamelin: An Old Legend Collected By The Brothers Grimm
Author: Retold by Renate Raecke
Illustrator: Lisbeth Zwerger
Publisher: Michael Neugebauer Publishing Ltd.  A Minedition book
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: German
Translator: Anthea Bell
Original Title: Originally published in German Legends (1816/18) by Jacob Grimm (1785-1863) and Wilhelm Grimm (1786-1859)
Original Copyright: 1816-1818
ISBN: 978-988-8240-82-1
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 7-9
Genre: Picture Book, Fairy tale
Book setting: Hamelin, Germany
Author’s ethnicity: Renate Raecke – German
Author’s residence: Germany
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Austrian
Illustrator’s residence: Vienna
Awards: Illustrator has won Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1990
Subjects: Greed, Legendary characters, Legends, Folklore, Rat
 

Apple And Rain

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apple and rainThirteen-year-old Apollinia Apostolopoulou (Apple) has lived with her strict grandmother since her flighty mother went off to America to be a Broadway actress eleven years ago. Her grandmother makes her go to church on Sundays, won’t let her hang out with her girlfriends, and is too watchful. Apple craves the return of her mother and when she returns, Apple eagerly chooses to live with her. But things aren’t as Apple expects. Her mother does not have a job, is not responsible, and has another ten-year-old daughter, Rain, who has her own set of problems. Rain carries around a doll, which she believes is real and can’t take care of herself. Apple is reduced to being Rain’s babysitter and maid. Del, the boy next door, is a wonderful character who is sweet, smart, geeky, and adds humor to the book. Mr. Gaydon, Apple’s teacher, helps Apple by encouraging her to see poetry and writing as a creative outlet. This quick read about forgiveness, complicated relationships, and Apple’s growth and change is heartbreaking, emotionally intense, but honest. mjw
Title: Apple And Rain
Author: Sarah Crossan
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: English 
ISBN: 978-1-4088-5306-1
Hardcover pages: 332
Age range: 12 up
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Book setting: England
Author’s ethnicity: Grew up in Dublin and London
Author’s residence: Hertfordshire, England
Awards: 2015 Carnegie Medal Nominee
Subjects: Coming of age, Dysfunctional families, Family problems, Mothers and daughters, Poetry, Sisters