Tag Archives: Environment

Canada Year By Year

CanadaThis amazing history book features one milestone per year of Canada’s 150-year history. Ten chapters are filled with sidebars, biographies, quotations, trivia, and fascinating illustrations. In 1910, the first chocolate bar in North America was developed in New Brunswick as a quick snack for fishermen. In 1922, Joseph-Armand Bombardier attached a car motor and an airplane propeller to a sleigh to create a snowmobile. In 1932, 17-year-old Joe Shuster sketched the first Superman. And in 2009, more than one-fifth of all smartphones used around the world were made by a Canadian company called Blackberry. This is the story of the people, places, and events that have shaped Canada. Back matter includes an index and an illustrated list of great Canadians – artists, athletes, politicians, and more.mjw
Title: Canada Year By Year
Author: Elizabeth MacLeod
Illustrator
: Sydney Smith
Publisher
: Kids Can Press. Toronto, Canada
Copyright
: 22016
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-77138-397-4
Hardcover pages
: 96
Age range
: 9-12
Genre
: Picture book, Information, Nonfiction
Book setting
: Canada
Author’s ethnicity
: Canadian
Author’s residence
: Toronto
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Canadian
Illustrator’s residence
: Toronto
Awards: Smith has won the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award
Subjects
: Canada, History, Reference

French Toast

french-toastPhoebe, who is half Jamaican and half French-Canadian, hates when her classmates call her “French Toast.” Her grandmother, who is blind, asks Phoebe to explain her nickname. She uses descriptions of favorite foods to portray skin colors. Her white mother is like stirred peach yogurt and her Jamaican father is like warm banana bread. Her grandmother Nan-ma is like maple syrup poured over French toast. Phoebe describes herself as tea, after you’ve added the milk. The imaginative artwork blends traditional drawing and painting with digital imagery using collage, acrylic, watercolor, and computer manipulation. mjw
Title: French Toast
Author: Kari-Lynn Winters
Illustrator
: Francois Thisdale
Publisher
: Pajama Press, Toronto
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-77278-006-2
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 4-7
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Canadian
Author’s residence
: Ontario
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Canadian
Illustrator’s residence
: Quebec
Subjects
: Blind, Grandmothers, Identity, Multigenerational, Racially mixed people, Self-esteem and self-reliance

A Year In Our New Garden

a year in our new gardenAnna and Benjamin’s family has moved into a new house in the city and they have big plans for their garden. They draw maps of their garden plots, gather their garden tools, and get straight to work, digging and planting. They plant flowers and vegetables, and learn about birds and insects. They make lemonade and leaf and acorn jewelry and toys. A recipe and directions are included. Also provided are gardening tips. Benjamin even writes a poem. This seasonal story is accompanied by beautifully detailed watercolor and ink illustrations. Young readers will be inspired to explore their own gardens. mjw
Title: A Year In Our New Garden
Author: Gerda Muller
Illustrator
: Gerda Muller
Publisher
: Floris Books, Edinburgh
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: German
Original Title
: Ein Garten fur Kinder in der Stadt
Original Copyright
: 1988
ISBN
: 978-1-78250-259-3
Hardcover pages
: 36
Age range
: 4-7
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Dutch
Author’s residence
: Paris
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Dutch
Illustrator’s residence
: Paris
Awards: 2017 USBBY Outstanding International Books List
Subjects
: Birds, Gardens, Seasons, Wildlife

Blue Penguin

blue-penguin“Far away, near the South Pole, a blue penguin was born.” The other penguins don’t know what to make of him because he is not like them. They leave him all alone. He dreams of a beautiful white whale that rescues him and he sings a song about it. Another little penguin hears his song and they become friends. Blue Penguin’s song is so magical that all the penguins want to learn it. Vibrant mixed media illustrations in this heart-warming story will remind readers of Eric Carle. mjw
Title: Blue Penguin
Author: Petr Horacek
Illustrator
: Petr Horacek
Publisher
: Candlewick Press
Copyright
: 2015
Original Language
: English 
ISBN
: 978-0-7636-9251-3
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 4-7
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: Antarctica
Author’s ethnicity
: Grew up in Prague
Author’s residence
: England
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Grew up in Prague
Illustrator’s residence
: England
Awards
: 2012 shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal
Subjects
: Belonging, Difference, Penguins, Songs, South Pole, Whales

First Snow

first-snowOne night a young imaginative Korean child is awakened by the “pit, pit, pit” sound of something hitting against their bedroom window. The first snow has fallen. The child bundles up to go outside to create a snowman. Readers will enjoy the delightful use of onomatopoeias and simple adjectives to describe the protagonist’s adventures in their backyard, hometown, and a dazzling place with several children making snowmen. This picture book’s stark black, white, and red palette and textured canvas artwork are simplistically beautiful. The book’s illustrations, text, and main character’s pure childlike awe of snow are absolutely heartwarming. ema

Title: First Snow
Author: Bomi Park
Illustrator
: Bomi Park
Publisher
: Chronicle Books
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: Korean 
Translator
: Chronicle Books
Original Copyright: 
2012
ISBN: 978-1-4521-5472-5
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range: 2-5
Genre
: Picture Book
Authors’ ethnicity: South Korean
Authors’ residence
: Seoul, South Korea
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: South Korean
Illustrator’s residence
: Seoul, South Korea
Subjects: Landscapes, Snow, Snowmen, Winter

Outside: A Guide to Discovering Nature

51XTOEicVsL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_In this non-fiction picture book, readers will learn about a large variety of subjects that all encourage outdoor exploration. Throughout the book there are many questions for young scientists to ask followed by their answers. There are also experiments that readers can attempt. The book is mainly illustrated in black and white with pops of orange and blue but there are a few pages in the center of the book with full color illustrations of interesting animals. The back matter is filled with educational materials as well, such as a glossary, a timeline of important dates, and websites to learn more about the different topics. This book is sure to help young explorers expand their love of nature.  amo
Title: Outside: A Guide to Discovering Nature
Authors: Maria Ana Peixe Dias and Inês Teixeira do Rosário
Illustrator
: Bernardo P. Carvalho
Publisher
: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: Portuguese
Translator
: Lucy Greaves
Original Title
: Lá fora
Original Publisher
: Planeta Tangerina
Original Copyright
: 2014
ISBN
: 978-1-8478-0769-4
Hardcover pages
: 368
Age range
: 8-12
Genre
: Non-Fiction, Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Both Portuguese 
Author’s residence
: Portugal
Illustrator’s ethnicity
:Portuguese
Illustrator’s residence
: Portugal
Awards: Winner – “Opera Prima” Award 2105, Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2015
Subjects
: Amphibians, Astronomy, Birds, Bugs, Clouds, Flowers, Geology, Mammals, Oceans, Rain, Reptiles, Tide Pools, Trees, Wind

Dragonfly Kites/Pimithaagansa

Dragonfly KitesTwo young Cree brothers, Joe and Cody, are spending the summer with their made-up toys, like stick friends and stone children. They find a wild baby Arctic tern, squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks, and they make up names for everything, even the ants. Their favorite activity is flying dragonfly kites. They make them by catching dragonflies and tying thread around the middle of each dragonfly before letting it go. They then chase their dragonfly kites. At night, when they go to bed, they dream of the dragonflies. The creative, clear, and delicate collage illustrations are influenced by Cree artists. The book is written in English and Cree and is the second book in the Magical Songs of the North Wind trilogy. mjw
Title: Dragonfly Kites/Pimithaagansa
Author: Tomson Highway
Illustrator
: Julie Flett
Publisher
: Fifth House Publishers, Canada
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: English/Cree
Translator
: Tomson Highway
Original publisher:  Harper Collins
Original Copyright
: 2002
ISBN
: 978-1-897252-63-5
Hardcover pages
: 32
Age range
: 6-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: Manitoba
Author’s ethnicity
: Born in Manitoba, Canadian, Aboriginal
Author’s residence
: Ontario
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Cree-Metis ancestry
Illustrator’s residence
: Vancouver, BC
Awards
: Illustrator has won the first PMC Aboriginal Literature Award in 2014
Subjects
: Bilingual books, Canada, Cree children, Dragonflies, Dreams, Kites, Siblings, Sleep

Are You An Echo? The Lost Poetry Of Misuzu Kaneko

are-you-an-echoMisuzu was born in a Japanese fishing village in 1903. She loved school and books and, unlike most girls, got to stay in school until she was seventeen. Her mother managed a bookstore, where Misuzu spent many hours. Young Misuzu wrote poetry and quickly became a successful children’s writer. She wrote about stars, snow, fish, silkworms on mulberry leaves, dandelions, and all the world. An author’s note and a translator’s note provide more information and tell that her work was nearly forgotten. This meticulously researched picture book, with lovely paintings of early 20th century Japanese life, features Misuzu’s heart-breaking story and a collection of her poetry in English and the original Japanese. mjw
Title: Are You An Echo?  The Lost Poetry Of Misuzu Kaneko
Author: Misuzu Kaneko (1903-1930), David Jacobson
Illustrator
: Toshikado Hajiri
Publisher
: Chin Music Press,  Seattle, Washington
Copyright
: 20116
Original Language
: Japanese
Translator
: Sally Ito and Michiko Tsuboi
Original Copyright
: 1923-1928
ISBN
: 978-1-634059626
Hardcover pages
: 64
Age range
: 9-14
Genre
: Poetry, Picture Book Biography
Book setting
: Japan
Author’s ethnicity
: Japanese
Author’s residence
: Kaneko lived in Japan
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Japanese
Illustrator’s residence
: Japan
Subjects
: Authors, Fishes, Haiku, Japanese Poets

Chirri And Chirra

Chirri and ChirraTwo young identical twin girls go on a bicycle ride through the natural world. They stop at the forest café for acorn coffee and clover blossom tea. Their next stop is the forest bakery, where they meet a bear and a rabbit, and have mulberry and strawberry jam sandwiches on honey bread and walnut bread. After lunch, they play in a nearby pond and nap under a big tree. Then, they move on to the forest hotel, where there is a concert with all the animals singing. “What a wonderful night in the forest!” Lively, adorable, and sweet colored pencil, pastel, and crayon illustrations look like mid-20th century lithographs. mjw
Title: Chirri And Chirra
Author: Kaya Doi
Illustrator
: Kaya Doi
Publisher
: Enchanted Lion Books, New York
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: Japanese
Translator
: Yuki Kaneko
Original Publisher
: Arranged with Alice-Kan, Inc.
ISBN
: 978-1-59270-199-5
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 3-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: Japanese
Author’s residence
: Japan
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Japanese
Illustrator’s residence
: Japan
Subjects
: Bicycle rides, Forest, Music

The World In A Second

The world in a secondInspired by the question – “What are they doing on the other side of the world right now?” – this wondrous, work-of-art picture book focuses on the natural and cultural events happening at the same moment in time in twenty-three different locations. A volcano rumbles in Papua-New Guinea, at 10:32 pm. A girl hurries home from school in Seydisfjordur, Iceland, at 12:32 pm. A ripe orange falls in an orchard in Mertola, Portugal, at 1:32 pm. The art is bold and graphic, with varying perspectives. A world map at the back of the book indicates where and when each moment took place and will get readers to think globally. mjw
Title: The World In A Second
Author: Isabel Minhos Martins
Illustrator
: Bernardo P. Carvalho
Publisher
: Enchanted Lion Book, New York
Copyright
: 2015
Original Language
: Portuguese
Translator
: Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Original Title
: O mundo num segundo
Original Publisher
: Planeta Tangerina, Portugal
Original Copyright
: 2008
ISBN
: 978-1-59270-157-5
Hardcover pages
: 56
Age range
: 4-8
Genre
: Pictire Book
Book setting
: 23 locations, including Angola, Argentina, Australia, Azores, Baltic Sea, Brazil, Hungary, Iceland, Indian Ocean, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Papua-New Guinea, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Turkey, Venezuela,and USA
Author’s ethnicity
: Portuguese
Author’s residence
: Portugal
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Portuguese
Illustrator’s residence
: Portugal
Awards
: 2011 Banco del Libro de Venezuela Best of the Year
Subjects
: Culture, Diveristy, Geography, Time World

The Wolves Of Currumpaw

The wolves of CThis beautifully illustrated tale follows the 19th century true story of Ernest Thompson Seton and Lobo, king wolf of the Currumpaw Valley in New Mexico. Seton set out to hunt and trap Lobo, but was torn between his love of nature and his hunting ability. The death of Lobo was a turning point for Seton. He then devoted his life to protecting the wolf species and to the conservation of American wildlife. Grill’s stunning colored pencil drawings enhance and extend his modern retelling of Seton’s drama, Lobo, the King of Currumpaw, originally published in 1898. Seton went on to found the Boy Scouts of America. Back matter includes an illustrated glossary and an appendix, which includes an author’s note and lists of books, websites, and places where readers can learn more. mjw
Title: The Wolves Of Currumpaw
Author: William Grill
Illustrator
: William Grill
Publisher
: Flying Eye Books, an imprint of Nobrow Ltd.  London
Copyright
: 2016
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-1-909263-83-3
Hardcover pages
: 80
Age range
: 7-14
Genre
: Picture book, Information book, Nonfiction
Book setting
: New Mexico, U.S.
Author’s ethnicity
: English
Author’s residence
: London
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: English
Illustrator’s residence
: London
Awards
: Author/illustrator has won the 2015 CLIP Kate Greenaway Medal
Subjects
: Foxes and wolves, Exploration and discoveries, Old West, Wildlife conservation

Bronze and Sunflower

Bronze and SunflowerSet during the Chinese Cultural Revolution (late 1960s and early 1970s), Sunflower, a young girl and her artist father are banished to do hard labor in the countryside at a cadre school. It’s a difficult life for her and she is lonely. She meets Bronze, the mute son of poor villagers, who is bullied by the other village boys. After Sunflower’s father dies, Bronze’s family takes her in despite facing extreme hardship, and Sunflower finally finds happiness. This engrossing, beautifully written novel, with luminous imagery, will broaden readers’ horizons. Notes in the back of the book provide historical background and information about Cao’s inspiration for the book. mjw
Title: Bronze and Sunflower
Author: Cao Wenxuan
Illustrator
: Meilo So
Publisher
: Walker Books Ltd. London
Copyright
: 2015
Original Language
: Chinese
Translator
: Helen Wang
Original Copyright
: 2005
ISBN
: 978-1-4063-4846-0
Paperback pages
: 400
Age range
: 9 up
Genre
: Fiction
Book setting
: Damaidi, China
Author’s ethnicity
: Chinese
Author’s residence
: China
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Chinese
Illustrator’s residence
: England
Awards
: 2016 Hans Christian Andersen Author Medal, 2019 Global Literature in Libraries Initiative Shortlist
Subjects
: China, Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), Friendship, Poverty, Survival