Tag Archives: Environment

Toshi’s Little Treasures

Leave a reply

In this search-and–find information book, young Toshi and his grandmother explore six of their favorite places – the riverbank, the city, the forest, the country, the park, and the beach. Toshi finds treasures to add to his growing collection in his new backpack. He finds a pussy willow branch, a dog whistle, a partridge feather, a glittery rock, a coin, and much more. Each scene is featured in a double-page spread, followed by matching activity pages where readers can identify Toshi’s treasures and match them to related items. Answers at the back of the book give additional interesting facts. The animals they find are also presented. Charming, delicate watercolor art adds to the fun. mjw

Title: Toshi’s Little Treasures Author: Nadine Robert Illustrator: Aki Publisher: Kids Can Press Copyright: 2016 Original Language: French Translator: Yvette Ghione Original Title: Le grand livre des petits trésors Original Publisher: Comme des Geants, Inc. Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-77138-573-2 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book, Information Book Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Montreal, Quebec Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: Paris, France Subjects: Grandmothers, Habitats, Nature, Natural history

Snow

Leave a reply

Walter de la Mare’s gentle poem has illustrations of a family preparing for Christmas, done in screen prints with a limited, muted palette.  The family decorates their home, goes to bed, and waits for Santa Claus to arrive.  The children wake up to presents, going sledding, and making a snowman.  The text is perfect for the illustrations.  The book makes a beautiful winter bedtime story. mjw

Title: Snow Author: Walter de la Mare (1873-1956) Illustrator: Carolina Rabei Publisher: Faber & Faber Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Faber & Faber, Bloomsbury House. London Original Copyright: 2014.  The poem “Snow” was first published in Peacock and Pie in 1924 ISBN: 978-0-571-31219-1 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5 up Genre: Poetry Author’s ethnicity: British Illustrator’s ethnicity: Moldova Illustrator’s residence: England Subjects: Christmas, Santa Claus, Snow, Weather

Astrid The Unstoppable

Leave a reply

Nicknamed “the little thunderbolt,” ten-year-old Astrid likes to spend her days skiing, sledding, singing, and drinking hot chocolate with her grumpy best friend and godfather, Gunnvald.  She is the only child living in the village of Glimmerdal and she wishes there were other children in the town.  When two children unexpectedly show up, and then another strange woman appears, Astrid’s life suddenly gets very exciting.  This hilarious book will charm fans of Pippi Longstocking and Heidi. A map of Glimmerdal sets the scene. mjw

Title: Astrid The Unstoppable Author: Maria Parr Illustrator: Katie Harnett Publisher: Candlewick Press Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Norwegian Translator: Guy Puzey Original Title: Tonje Glimmerdal Original Publisher: Det Norske Samlaget. Oslo Original Copyright: 2009 ISBN: 978-1-5362-0017-1 Hardcover pages: 320 Age range: 9-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Norway Author’s ethnicity: Norwegian Author’s residence: Norway Translator’s ethnicity: Grew up in Scotland Translator’s residence: Scotland Subjects: Girls, Humor, Norway, Rural children, Songs

Rivers: A Visual History From River To Sea

Leave a reply

This oversized encyclopedic book takes readers on a journey along the most important rivers in the world. “Understanding rivers helps us to understand history and the people who have lived alongside them for centuries.” Each detailed illustration includes major events, historical figures, and favorite stories connected with the river. A table of contents guides readers along the journey. mjw

Title: Rivers: A Visual History From River To Sea Author: Peter Goes Illustrator: Peter Goes Publisher: Gecko Press Ltd. New Zealand Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Dutch Translator: Bill Nagelkerke Original Title: Rivieren Original Publisher: Lannoo Publishers Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-776572-16-8 Hardcover pages: 80 Age range: 7-12 Genre: Nonfiction, Information Book Book setting: World Author’s ethnicity: Belgian Author’s residence: Belgium Illustrator’s ethnicity: Belgian Illustrator’s residence: Belgium Subjects: Continents, Exploration, Oceans, Rivers, Sea life, Seas, Water

Dear Professor Whale

Leave a reply

In nine short, charming chapters, Professor Whale plans another Whale Point Olympics.  Penguins, whales, and seals come together in the follow-up to Yours Sincerely, Giraffe.  Takabatake’s simple black and white drawings capture the essence of the animals. mjw

Title: Dear Professor Whale Author: Megumi Iwasa Illustrator: Jun Takabatake Publisher: Gecko Press, New Zealand Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Japanese Translator: Cathy Hirano Original Publisher: Kaiser-sha Publishing Co. Original Copyright: 2003 ISBN: 978-1-776572-06-9 Hardcover pages: 104 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Fiction, chapter book Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Tokyo, Japan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: Japan  Subjects: Humor, Marine life, Penguins, Seals, Whales

Elephant Secret

Leave a reply

Thirteen-year-old Samantha Gray lives with her dad on an elephant sanctuary with eleven elephants. She understands the elephants’ behavior and has a special relationship with each one.  When one of the elephants, named Daisy Mae, dies while giving birth to a very unusual baby, Sam’s world is turned upside down.  She names the baby elephant Woolly and she becomes the mother, feeding her bottles of formula and protecting her.  Sam meets the billionaire genius who funded the impregnated elephant and he explains that the birth was a cloning experiment and that Woolly is a woolly mammoth.  This is a captivating family story of love and our responsibility to all living things on earth. mjw

Title: Elephant Secret Author:  Eric Walters Publisher: Clarion Books, New York Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-328796172 Hardcover pages: 352 Age range: 10-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: North America Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Ontario, Canada Awards: Author has won the Children’s Africana Book Award Subjects: Animal sanctuaries, Cloning, Elephants, Human/animal relationships, Orphaned animals, Woolly mammoths

Felix

Leave a reply

Felix is a fine cat with a lot of friends.  He goes on whirlwind tours to visit his family all over the world. He goes to India with its golden temples, meets tigers,  and has prawns and scrambled eggs. He travels to China to visit his mysterious cousins, the snow leopards.  They offer him tea and herrings.  Next, he stops in the Russian steppes to visit his cousin Mr. Lynx and is offered  blinis and caviar..  The next stop is the United States where pumas give him steak.  Next is the rainforest of Brazil to visit panthers who give him kebabs. His last stop is the African savannah where lions give him an acacia branch.  Felix finally goes home to his food bowl, his balcony, and his cozy pillow. Rich, colorful artwork accompanies Felix on his travels. mjw

Title: Felix Author: Giovanna Zoboli Illustrator: Simona Mulazzani Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Italian Translator: Laura Watkinson Original Title: Gatto Felice Original Publisher: Topipittoti, Milan Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5506-0 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: India, China, Russia, United States, Brazil, Africa Author’s ethnicity: Italian Author’s residence: Milan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian Subjects: Cats, Travel

Lucy And The Dragonfly

Leave a reply

Lucy lives in the yellow house on the hill, at the end of the lane, in a village filled with lakes and forests, on a big continent, on a blue planet.  When Lucy smiles, the sun smiles.  She can feel the Earth’s heart beating, inside her heart.  The wind tells her all the bad things that humans are doing to the planet.  When the planet gets sick, Lucy’s tears travel from the wings of a dragonfly all across the planet to a boy named Tama who also knows how to listen to the whispers of the wind.  Lucy’s story spreads across the globe, everyone does their part to heal the Earth, and hope is born.  Soft illustrations complement the story about climate change.  mjw

Title: Lucy And The Dragonfly Author: Lucie Papineau Illustrator: Caroline Hamel Publisher: Auzou Publishing. Paris, France Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-2-7338-5620-8 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Quebec Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Montreal Subjects: Climate Change, Green living, Recycling

Town Is By The Sea

Leave a reply

This first-person narrative portrays a day in the life of a young boy and his family in a seaside-mining town.  He describes his morning – seagulls, a dog barking, and lupines and Queen Anne’s lace along the road.  He acknowledges that at the same time his father is already “deep down under the sea, digging for coal.”  He then describes more of what he sees throughout the rest of his day and his father is still “deep down under the sea, digging for coal.”  At suppertime, his father comes home.  They talk as the sun sets “deep down under the sea where his father digs for coal.” The boy falls asleep thinking that one day, it will be his turn – he is a miner’s son.  The ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations are exquisite.  An author’s note is included.  mjw

Title: Town Is By The Sea Author: Joanne Schwartz Illustrator: Sydney Smith Publisher: Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press. Toronto Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English  ISBN: 978-1-55498-871-6 Hardcover pages: 52 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Toronto Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Toronto Awards: 2018 Kate Greenaway Award. Smith has won the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award Subjects: Canada, City and town life, Coal miners, Country life, Fathers and sons, Sea stories

Where The World Ends

Leave a reply

In the summer of 1727, eight boys and three men are marooned on a remote rocky stac at the edge of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.  They were sent there to harvest birds for food, feathers, and oil.  No one returns to collect them. They survive for nine months through deadly storms, madness, and starvation.  Based on a true story, this is an unsettling and awe-inspiring novel.  The world-building is brilliant.  A map of St. Kilda, an afterword, black-and-white sketches of birds, and a glossary are included.  mjw

Title: Where The World Ends Author: Geraldine McCaughrean Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd. London Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-4749-2114-5 Hardcover pages: 336 Age range: 11 up Genre: Historical Fiction, based on a true story Book setting: Hirta, St. Kilda, Scotland Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Berkshire, England  Awards: 2018 CILIP Carnegie Medal, 2020 ALA Printz Honor Subjects: Birds, Cultures, Geography, Natural world, Survival, Western Islands (Scotland)

La Frontera: El Viaje Con Papa, My Journey With Papa

Leave a reply

This bilingual book (Spanish and English) follows Alfredo and his father during the 1980s as they leave behind their home in Mexico for Texas.  The story is told through Alfredo’s eyes and is based on one of the author’s own experiences in crossing the border, la frontera.  It tells why they left Mexico, describes their difficult journey, and shows how courage and determination can lead to a better and more productive life. Colorful pictures prepared in graphite, acrylic, and digital collage complement the vivid narrative.  Back matter includes more on Alfredo’s story, information about borders and cultures, a map, notes about immigration, and photographs.  mjw

Title: La Frontera: El Viaje Con Papa, My Journey With Papa Author: Deborah Mills and Alfredo Alva Illustrator: Claudia Navarro Publisher: Barefoot Books. Cambridge, MA and London Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English and Spanish Translator: Maria A. Perez ISBN: 978-1-78285-388-6 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Mexico and Texas Author’s ethnicity: Mills – U.S.  Alva – Mexican Author’s residence: Mills – U.S.  Alva – Texas Illustrator’s ethnicity: Mexican Illustrator’s residence: Mexico Subjects: Central America, Emigrants and immigrants, Hispanic and Latino, Mexican Americans, Mexico, United States

Bambi: A Life In The Woods

Leave a reply

 

This is an exquisite new collectible edition of the classic story.  Bambi lives in a woodland thicket.  He and his family and friends discover the wonders and the dangers of the woods.  Superb oil paintings feature gold foiling.  The story inspired the beloved 1942 Disney film. mjw

Title: Bambi: A Life In The Woods Author: Felix Salten (1869-1945) Illustrator: Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2014 Original Language: German Translator: Whittaker Chambers Original Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc. Original Copyright: 1928 ISBN: 978-1442-9345-2 Hardcover pages: 192 Age range: 10 up Genre: Fiction Author’s ethnicity: Austrian Illustrator’s ethnicity: U.S. Illustrator’s residence: San Francisco, U.S. Subjects: Deer, Forest