Tag Archives: Environment

Elephant Secret

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Fishing With Grandma

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Grandma and her two grandchildren go out on the lake for a fishing trip. She teaches them everything they need to know for a day of jigging in the ice for fish. They learn what to wear, what tools are needed, and how to use them. At the end of the day, they have caught enough Arctic char for a delicious dinner. Illustrations show Inuit fishing tools and a glossary with pronunciations explains Inuit terms. mjw

Title: Fishing With Grandma Author: Susan Avingaq and Maren Vsetula Illustrator: Charlene Chua Publisher: Inhabit Media Inc.  Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77227-084-6 Paperback pages: 32 Age range: 5-7 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Canada Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Nunavut Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Toronto Subjects: Canada, Grandchildren, Grandmothers, Ice fishing, Multigenerational, Polar regions

The Pruwahaha Monster

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A five-year-old boy goes with his father to swing on a swing near a farmhouse. The little boy does not know that a huge monster that likes to eat children lurks near the farmhouse. When the monster wakes up, spies the little boy on the swing, and roars “prruwwwahhahahaha,” the little boy just laughs. Two-color playful illustrations with clues never really reveal who the “monster” is. Rhythmic language and monster sounds will delight young readers. mjw

Title: The Pruwahaha Monster Author: Jean-Paul Mulders Illustrator: Jacques Maes and Lise Braekers Publisher: Kids Can Press Copyright: 2016 Original Language: Dutch Translator: English version edited by Yvette Ghione Original Title: Het prullala monster Original Publisher: Abimo Uitgeverij, Belgium Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-1-77138-566-4 Hardcover pages: 26 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Flemish Author’s residence: Belgium Illustrator’s ethnicity: Flemish Illustrator’s residence: Belgium Subjects: Fathers and sons, Monsters, Mystery, Seasons

Alive Again

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A boy wonders if the blossoms that fall from trees will ever return. When there is no rain, will it rain again? If no wheat grows, will it grow again? And if no one goes on a journey, will there be new journeys? When spring comes, the boy’s father points out new blossoms, fresh rain, and born-again wheat. And tomorrow will be a day for a new journey. Striking collage artwork enhances this simple story about trust and understanding that will leave readers asking similar questions. mjw

Title: Alive Again Author: Ahmadreza Ahmadi Illustrator: Nahid Kazemi Publisher: Tiny Owl Publishing Ltd.  England Copyright: 2015 Original Language: Persian Translator: Azita Rassi Original Publisher: Salis Publisher. Tehran, Iran Original Copyright: 2013 ISBN: 978-1-910328-05-7 Hardcover pages: 24 Age range: 4-9 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Iranian Author’s residence: Iran Illustrator’s ethnicity: Iranian Illustrator’s residence: Montreal, Canada Awards: Author was shortlisted for the 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Award Subjects: Blossoms, Flowers, Journeys, Questions, Rain, Trust, Understanding, Wheat

Poles Apart

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Penguins are found at the South Pole – except when they get lost on their way to a picnic. When the Pilchard-Brown penguin family find themselves at the North Pole, they meet friendly Mr. White, the polar bear, who guides them back home. They follow him over land and sea to New York, England, Italy, India, Australia, and finally the South Pole and a surprise ending. Foreign words are sprinkled throughout this whimsical introduction to different cultures across the globe. Fun, digitally created illustrations show the travelers walking along Fifth Avenue, riding a double-decker bus in London, water skiing in the Sydney harbor, and more. mjw

Title: Poles Apart Author: Jeanne Willis Illustrator: Peter Jarvis Publisher: Nosy Crow, an imprint of Candlewick Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Nosy Crow, London Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-0-7636-8944-5 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: North Pole, South Pole, U.S., England, Italy, India, Australia Author’s ethnicity: Born in the United Kingdom Author’s residence: London Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: Manchester, England Subjects: Arctic Ocean, North Pole, Penguins, Polar bears, South Pole

In Focus: Cities

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Ten different illustrators explore ten cities in this large-size, gate-folded-page book. Cultural, social, and historical information is packed onto each page. The cities are New York, Tokyo, Paris, Rome, Moscow, Istanbul, Sydney, Cairo, Rio de Janeiro, and London. Each artist’s distinct color palette represents each city. mjw

Title: In Focus: Cities Author: Libby Walden Illustrator: 10 illustrators Publisher: 360 Degrees, an imprint of Tiger Tales Copyright: 2017 Original Publisher: Little Tiger Press, Great Britain Original Language: English Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-1-944530-08-2 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Information Book, Nonfiction Book setting: New York, Tokyo, Paris, Rome, Moscow, Istanbul, Sydney, Cairo, Rio de Janiero, London Author’s ethnicity: U.S. Author’s residence: U.S. Subjects: Atlas, Cities and towns