Tag Archives: Environment

What Elephants Know

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Young Nandu was abandoned in the Nepalese Borderlands and raised by a pack of dhole, Asiatic wild dogs, much like Mowgli in The Jungle Book, until he was brought to the king’s elephant stable. There, Subba-sahib, the stable head, and Devi Kali, a protective female elephant become his new “parents.” Nandu wants to be a mahout, an elephant driver. He goes to boarding school where his teacher, Father Autry, becomes his mentor. When the elephant stable is to be closed, Nandu works to save it. This beautiful coming-of-age story includes rich detail about the culture of Nepal and a wealth of knowledge about the natural world. A glossary helps with the Nepalese words and common elephant commands. Maps adorn the endpapers. The book “dedicated to elephant lovers everywhere” was written by a world-class scientist specializing in the ecology of the Himalayan region. mjw

Title: What Elephants Know Author: Eric Dinerstein Publisher: Disney Hyperion Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1484728543 Hardcover pages: 288 Age range: 9-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Nepal Author’s ethnicity: U.S. Author’s residence: U.S. Awards: 2017 South Asia Book Award Subjects: Elephants, India, Jungles, Nepal history 20th century, Orphans

Story Worlds Nature

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Every picture tells a story. What do you think it is? Observe, inquire and wonder to discover the answers. Throughout this picture book, wordless images tell true stories of nature. The readers get to guess each story while looking at the minimalist animal illustrations showing scenes from around the globe. From puffins, to giraffes, to the simple tree frog, each animal is painted in its natural environment. At the end of the picture book, the story of each picture is explained with a short sentence describing what the animal is doing or experiencing. amo

Title: Story Worlds Nature Author: Thomas Hegbrook Illustrator: Thomas Hegbrook Publisher: 360 Degrees; Tiger Tales Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-1-944530-01-3 Hardcover pages: 64 Age range: 7-10 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Around the World Subjects: Animals, Nature

The Last Tree

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A small boy lives in a concrete city without grass or trees. One day, he and a friend discover a tiny sapling growing behind a wall. He dreams about the tree growing huge and majestic. But the next day, the front page of the newspaper reads “247-Floor Luxury Condo! Construction to start this week.” He and his friend know they have to dig up the sapling and replant it in a safe place to make sure the last tree survives. This powerful environmental message is further conveyed by artwork rendered in charcoal, gravure ink, gouache, pencil, and digitally. mjw

Title: The Last Tree Author: Ingrid Chabbert Illustrator: Guridi Publisher: Kids Can Press. Toronto Copyright: 2017 Original Language: French Original Title: Le dernier arbre Original Publisher: Editions Fri Mousse Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-77138-728-6 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Spain Subjects: City life, Environment, Trees

Ada’s Violin: The Story Of The Recycled Orchestra Of Paraguay

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Eleven-year-old Ada Rios lives with her family in a landfill in Cateura in Paraguay’s capital city of Asuncion. It is one of the poorest slums in all of South America. Favio Chavez, an environmental engineer sent to Cateura to teach safety practices to the gancheros (recyclers) working in the dangerous heaps of trash, worried about the children and decided to offer them music lessons. Since they could not afford instruments, they created cellos, flutes, guitars, violins, and more out of garbage. In time, Chavez’s music class became the Recycled Orchestra. Now, the orchestra plays around the world, spreading their message of hope and inspiration. They even opened for a Metallica concert. This true story is illustrated with mixed media collages. Spanish words are smoothly integrated into the text. An author’s note; websites, videos, and sources; and a photo of string instruments made from oil drums, paint cans, and pieces of wooden crates are included. The book is also available in a Spanish edition, El Violin de Ada: La historia de la Orquesta de Intrumentos Reciciados del Paraguay. mjw

Title: Ada’s Violin: The Story Of The Recycled Orchestra Of Paraguay Author: Susan Hood Illustrator: Sally Wern Comport Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-4814-3096-8 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Paraguay Author’s ethnicity: U.S. Author’s residence: Connecticut, U.S. Illustrator’s ethnicity: U.S. Illustrator’s residence: Maryland, U.S. Subjects: Classical music, instruments, Music, Musicians, orchestra, Recycling, Spanish

Wild Animals Of The South

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This gorgeous information book looks at animals of South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica, from flamingoes and okapis to two-toed sloths and Indian peafowl. Most of the wildlife images are accompanied by compelling and often humorous descriptive paragraphs. The accurate representations of the animals from the southern hemisphere really make the book. A note providing more information and an index are included. A companion books is Wild Animals of the North. mjw

Title: Wild Animals Of The South Author: Dieter Braun Illustrator: Dieter Braun Publisher: Flying Eye, an imprint of Nobrow Inc, London, New York Copyright: 2017 Original Language: German Translator: Jen Calleja Original Title: Die Welt der wilden tiere: Im Suden Original Publisher: Knesebeck GmbH and Co. Verlag KG. Munchen Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-1-909263-97-0 Hardcover pages: 152 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book, Information Book, Nonfiction Book setting: South America, Asia, Africa, Australia, Antarctica Author’s ethnicity: German Author’s residence: Hamburg, Germany Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Hamburg, Germany Subjects: Endangered animals, Southern hemisphere, Wild animals, Wilderness

Stop Feedin’ Da Boids!

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When Swanda and her dog Waldo move from the countryside to Brooklyn, Swanda misses the wildlife she left behind . . . but not for long. She discovers pigeons and decides to give them a bird feeder all their own. But more and more pigeons come until the situation really gets out of hand. Swanda asks various people for help – the Pest Control Officer, the Zookeeper, and an Exotic Bird Fancier from Peru. They cannot help. At this point her neighbors step in and offer their Brooklynese solution: “Swanda, You Gotta Stop Feedin’ Da Boids!” Swanda is not happy without animals and then she sees a fish in a pet shop window. Vibrant pencil and digitally illustrated artwork add to this amusing tribute to multicultural New York. mjw

Title: Stop Feedin’ Da Boids! Author: James Sage Illustrator: Pierre Pratt Publisher: Kids Can Press, Toronto Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77138-613-5 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Brooklyn, New York Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: England Illustrator’s residence: Lisbon, Portugal and Montreal, Canada Subjects: Birds, City life, Fish, Pigeons

When The Rain Comes

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Malini, who lives in a village in Sri Lanka, is in charge of the oxcart that carries the rice seedlings for the new rice crop. The sky grows dark and monsoon rains cause a flash flood. Malini is separated from the cart and her family. She summons strength she didn’t know she had and saves the rice. The free verse text provides a suspenseful slice of South Asian life. Paint and pencil impressionistic illustrations depict the rain’s ferocity. Back matter gives additional information about Sri Lanka, its geography, and the importance of rice to the culture. mjw

Title: When The Rain Comes Author: Alma Fullerton Illustrator: Kim La Fave Publisher: Pajama Press, Toronto Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-1-77278-012-3 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Sri Lanka Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Canada Illustrator’s residence: Canada Subjects: Asia, Autonomy, Farm and ranch life, Monsoons, Rain, Rice planting, Self-esteem, Self-reliance, Self-respect, Weather

Under The Umbrella

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It’s raining and a grumpy man growls at the crowds and the clouds until a sudden gust takes his umbrella. In the distance is a colorful patisserie with a window full of cakes and creams and cookies. The umbrella lands at the feet of a little boy who is looking into the window. The man thanks the boy and offers him a rich, red rhubarb-raspberry tart. Then, the boy carefully breaks the tart in two, giving the man the larger part. Bold, fantastical illustrations that play with perspective, shape, and color accompany the rhyming text which is a delightful read-aloud. mjw

Title: Under The Umbrella Author: Catherine Buquet Illustrator: Marion Arbona Publisher: Pajama Press.  Toronto Copyright: 2017 Original Language: French Translator: Erin Woods Original Title: Sous le parapluie Original Publisher: Editions Les 400 coups Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-1-77278-016-1 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: Paris Subjects: Emotions and feelings, Friendship, Sharing, Stories in rhyme, Umbrellas

Yours Sincerely, Giraffe

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Giraffe is bored, so he writes a letter and asks Pelican to deliver it beyond the horizon. Penguin receives the letter and the two become pen pals. The two animals have no idea what each other looks like. After many hilarious questions and answers, Giraffe creates a picture of what he thinks Penguin looks like. Giraffe trying to dress like a penguin will certainly make readers laugh out loud. The story, which incorporates fun animal facts, is generously illustrated with simple ink drawings and the pair’s letters. mjw

Title: Yours Sincerely, Giraffe Author: Megumi Iwasa Illustrator: Jun Takabatake Publisher: Gecko Press.  New Zealand Copyright: 2017 Original Language: Japanese Translator: Cathy Hirano Original Title: Boku wa Africa ni Sumu Kirin to Iimasu Original Publisher: Kaisei-sha Publishing Co Ltd.  Tokyo Original Copyright: 2001 ISBN: 978-1-927271-88-9 Hardcover pages: 104 Age range: 6-9 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Africa and Antarctica Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Tokyo, Japan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: Japan Subjects: Birds, Friendship, Giraffes, Humor, Letter writing, Pelicans, Pen pals, Penguins, Whales

Tidy

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Pete the badger likes everything neat. He tidies the forest stick by stick and leaf by leaf. Unfortunately things start to get out of hand as leaves fall and he uproots trees. Pete begins to learn that tidiness is not always the best way to take care of the forest. Instead, he embraces the disorder and enjoys nature as it is. Pencil, watercolor, and wax crayon illustrations show the impact of tidying the bright forest into a gray, ordered land.  The bright colors return as Pete balances tidiness with natural disorder. amo

Title: Tidy Author: Emily Gravett Illustrator: Emily Gravett Publisher: Simon and Schuster Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-4814-8019-2 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Forest Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Brighton, England Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: Brighton, England Subjects: Badgers, Environment, Forests, Nature

Wild Animals Of The North

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This stunning and fun information book looks at animals of North America, Europe, and Asia, from Kodiak bears and Texas rattlesnakes to European badgers and Japanese Macaques. Most of the wildlife images are accompanied by compelling and often humorous descriptive paragraphs. The highly stylized, geometric illustrations really make the book. A note touches on pollution, climate change, and global warming and the fact that a third of the animals in the book are endangered. Also included is an index of the 80 animals. Also available is Wild Animals of the South. mjw

Title: Wild Animals Of The North Author: Dieter Braun Illustrator: Dieter Braun Publisher: Flying Eye Books, an imprint of Nobrow Ltd.  London Copyright: 2016 Original Language: German Translator: Jen Calleja Original Title: Die Welt der wilden Tiere: Im Norden Original Publisher: von dem Knesebeck GmbH and Co.  Verlag KG, Munchen Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-909263-96-3 Hardcover pages: 144 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture book. Information book, Nonfiction Book setting: North America, Europe, Asia Author’s ethnicity: German Author’s residence: Hamburg, Germany Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Hamburg, Germany Subjects: Endangered animals, Northern hemisphere, Wild animals, Wilderness

Skye The Puffling

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Skye, a baby puffin, sneaks out of his parents’ burrow, falls off a cliff, and lands on the back of a gannet in flight. Skye’s adventure in Scotland’s Firth of Forth is written in rhyme and is illustrated with cute watercolor paintings. The sweet story is a sequel to the best-selling Harris the Hero by Lynne Rickards.  mjw

Title: Skye The Puffling Author: Lynne Rickards Illustrator: Jon Mitchell Publisher: Picture Kelpies, an imprint of Floris Books, Edinburgh Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-78250-255-5 Paperback pages: 32 Age range: 3-6 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Scotland Author’s ethnicity: Born in Canada Author’s residence: Scotland Illustrator’s ethnicity: British Illustrator’s residence: England Subjects: Birds, Puffins