Tag Archives: Classics

Over The Hills And Far Away: A Treasury Of Nursery Rhymes

Leave a reply

This collection of 150 culturally diverse nursery rhymes  is illustrated  by a fantastic team of 77 well-known and emerging artists  from various countries. The collection combines familiar and unfamiliar nursery rhymes on the same page to complement each other and create new and refreshing interpretations. Both younger and older readers will swoon over the pictures and laugh aloud when reading these rhymes. A book perfect for reading aloud. ema

Title: Over The Hills And Far Away: A Treasury Of Nursery Rhymes Author: Collected by Elizabeth Hammill Illustrator: Various Publisher: Seven Stories Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English Original Title: Over The Hills And Far Away: A Treasury Of Nursery Rhymes Original Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-1-84780-406-8 Hardcover pages: 160 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Nursery Rhyme Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Newcastle upon Tyne Illustrator’s ethnicity: Various Illustrator’s residence: Various Subjects: African American, Akan, American, Anglo American, Art, Australian, Caribbean, Chinese American, Chippewa, Classics, English, Diversity, Inuit,  Jamaican, Language, Latino, Maori, Mother Goose Rhymes, Nursery Rhymes, Oral reading, Poetry, Punjabi, Scottish, South African, Tohono O’odham, Trinidadian, Tsimshian, Wintu, Yiddish

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

Leave a reply

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the story of “crackpot” Commander Caractacus Pot, his wife Mimsie, their twins Jeremy and Jemima, and their magical flying car. A first drive in their new car, with license plates Gen II (genii), takes them to Dover Beach for a picnic, Goodwin Sands in the English Channel, and eventually Calais on the French coast. There, they explore a deep cave, which turns out to be an ammunition dump used by Joe the Monster and his criminal gang. Jeremy and Jemima get kidnapped and a famous Paris chocolate shop is almost robbed, but all turns out well. And a recipe for Monsieur Bon Bon’s Secret Fooj (fudge) is included. Filled with humor, hi-jinks, and even some scientific information, the action-packed fantasy is complete with the original Burningham artwork, which is a beautiful combination of photography and illustration. This timeless story has been reinvented as a musical (2002), a film with a screenplay co-written by Roald Dahl (1968), and has inspired three sequels written by Frank Cottrell Boyce. This is the 50th anniversary full-color gift edition.mjw

Title: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Author: Ian Fleming (1908-1964) Illustrator: John Burningham Publisher: Candlewick Press, Somerville, Massachusetts Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English Original Copyright: 1964 ISBN: 978-0-7636-6678-1 Hardcover pages: 176 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction, Fantasy Book setting: England, France Author’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: North London Awards: Illustrator has won the Kate Greenaway Medal, 1963,1970: UK Nominee for Hans Christian Andersen Award, 1980,1986 Subjects: Action. Adventure, Gangsters, Humor, Magic, Transportation

This Is The World: A Global Treasury

Leave a reply

Collected for the first time in one volume, this compilation of abridged versions of Sasek’s popular children’s travel books will take young readers on a breezy tour to New York, Paris, Greece, London, Australia, Texas, Munich, Rome, Britain, Hong Kong, Israel, San Francisco, Edinburgh, Venice, Washington DC, and Ireland. Art, architecture, food, music, and traditions of the world’s greatest destinations are explored through whimsical watercolor paintings and concise playful text. The first This Is . . . book, This Is Paris, was published in 1958 and launched the series of now-classic geographical picture books. A page of updated facts is included. mjw

Title: This Is The World: A Global Treasury  Author: Miroslav Sasek (1916-1980) Illustrator: Miroslav Sasek Publisher: Universe Publishing, a division of Rizzoli International, New York Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English Original Publisher: W.H. Allen in the UK, Macmillan, and Simon and Schuster Original Copyright: 1959, 1960,1961,1962,1964,1965,1966,1969,1970,1974 ISBN: 978-0-8478-4396-1 Hardcover pages: 234 Age range: 10 up Genre: Picture book Book setting: New York, Ireland, Britain, London, Edinburgh, Paris, Munich, Rome, Venice, Greece, Israel, Hong Kong, Australia, San Francisco, Texas, Washington DC Author’s ethnicity: Czech Illustrator’s ethnicity: Czech Subjects: Capitals, Cities, Countries, International, States, Travelogue, World

Alice In Wonderland

Leave a reply

Tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice and enter her dream world of Wonderland, where fantasy reigns and the rules of reality disappear. The unforgettable cast of characters – the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, the Queen of Hearts, and the Caterpillar – are gloriously brought to life. Originally released in 1865, Alice has become a timeless classic. This oversized edition features bold text and explosive illustrations that dramatically capture Lewis Carroll’s magic and poetry. The artist, Manuela Adreani, has also illustrated Snow White, The Wizard of Oz, and Pinocchio. mjw

Title: Alice In Wonderland Author: Lewis Carroll ( 1832-1898)  Text adapted by Giada Francia. Illustrator: Manuela Adreani Publisher: White Star Publishers Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English Original Copyright: 1865 ISBN: 978-88-544-0820-3 Hardcover pages: 80 Age range: 6 up Genre: Fantasy, Illustrated book Author’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian Illustrator’s residence: Italy Subjects: Adventure, Fantasy, Nonsense

Madeline’s 75th Anniversary Edition

Leave a reply

“In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines, lived twelve little girls in two straight lines…the smallest one was Madeline.” Madeline is also the feistiest and the only redhead. She isn’t afraid of mice, she scoffs at the tiger in the zoo, and she flaunts her appendix scar. Bemelmans’ watercolor and ink illustrations of the Paris Opera, Notre Dame in the rain, and the Tuileries Gardens have become famous. The cheerful humor, charming art, and melodic text have made Madeline a favorite for generations of children. This 75th Anniversary Edition is slip cased and includes a full-color panoramic pop-up spread of Paris. Madeline inspired many sequels, as well as television, movies, and toys. mjw

Title: Madeline’s 75th Anniversary Edition Author: Ludwig Bemelmans (1898-1962) Illustrator: Ludwig Bemelmans Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers, New York Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Simon and Schuster Original Copyright: 1939 ISBN: 978-0-670-78540-7 Hardcover pages: 56 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture book Book setting: Paris Author’s ethnicity: Austria-Hungary born Author’s residence: New York and Paris Illustrator’s ethnicity: Austria-Hungary born Illustrator’s residence: New York and Paris Awards: 1940 Caldecott Honor Subjects: France, Girls, Paris, Rhyme, Sick

The Cat Who Came in Off the Roof

Leave a reply

Minou is a cat that is transformed into a young woman who befriends Tibble, a shy and bumbling reporter for the Killenthorn Courier. Tibble loves cats and all of his stories involve cats, but his editor wants real news. Minou is still recognized as a cat by the neighborhood cats despite her new human appearance. She still purrs, enjoys a saucer of milk, climbs trees, and delights in other catlike pursuits. Minou organizes her feline friends into a news gathering service and turns Tibble into the best, bravest journalist in town. A super array of loveable cat characters includes the hilarious School Cat whose “news” is from a textbook and a hundred years out-of-date, the stray Tatter Cat who has children and grandchildren all over town, and the Council Cat who always sits in on the closed council meetings in the Town Hall. This is a humorous and charming translation of Schmidt’s 1970 cattish classic. The magical cat story, written by the Queen of Dutch Children’s Literature, can be enjoyed by cat-lovers of any age. mjw

Title: The Cat Who Came in Off the Roof Author: Annie M.G. Schmidt (1911-1995) Illustrator: Nathan Burton Publisher: Pushkin Children’s Books. London Copyright: 2014 Original Language: Dutch Translator: David Colmer Original Title: Minoes Original Publisher: Estate of Annie M.G. Schmidt.  Amsterdam, Em. Querido’s Uitgevrij B.V. Original Copyright: 1970 ISBN: 978-178269-036-8 Paperback pages: 158 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction, Fantasy Author’s ethnicity: Dutch Author’s residence: Author lived in the Netherlands Illustrator’s residence: England Awards: 1988 Hans Christian Andersen Award Subjects: Cats, Humor, Reporters, Reporting

Emil and the Detectives

Leave a reply

Young schoolboy, Emil Tischbein (Tabletoe in this translation) is excited about his first train ride alone. Pinned into his pocket is the money that he is taking to his grandmother. While Emil is asleep on the train, a mysterious man in a bowler hat steals the money and disappears. With the help of a local boy named Gustav (Gus) and a gang of young detectives, Emil tracks the clever thief through Berlin. The robber is finally arrested and Emil receives a reward of 100 marks. When asked what the moral of the story is, Emil’s grandmother replies “Don’t send cash – use traveler’s checks!” Eighteen delightful black-and-white illustrations make this tale of loyalty, courage, and teamwork come alive. This is Kastner’s best-known work and it is the only one of his pre-1945 books to escape Nazi burning. It has been translated into 59 languages. This edition, the third English translation, provides modernized, colloquial American slang. The story has been filmed several times, including a 1964 Disney adaptation. mjw

Title: Emil and the Detectives: A Novel for Children Author: Erich Kastner  Illustrator: Walter Trier Introduction: Maurice Sendak Publisher: The Overlook Press, Peter Mayer Publishers, New York Copyright: 2014 Original Language: German Translator: W. Martin Original Title: Emil und die Detektive Original Publisher: Williams and Co. Verlag, Berlin Original Copyright: 1929 ISBN: 978-1-4683-0829-7 Paperback pages: 159 Age range: 8 up Genre: Fiction, Mystery Book setting: Berlin Author’s ethnicity: German Author’s residence: Germany Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Germany Translator’s residence: Chicago and Berlin Awards: 1960 Hans Christian Andersen Award, 1968 Mildred L. Batchelder Award Subjects: Berlin, Boys, Detectives, Germany, Mothers and sons, Mysteries, Robbers