Tag Archives: Environment

Greenling

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Mr. Barleycorn finds what looks like a giant artichoke under a railroad trestle near his remote Australian farmhouse and comes home with a bright green baby. His wife is wary, but Barleycorn takes it in, nurtures it, and it becomes part of its natural world until fall when it disappears. Melons twine through the kitchen, apples grow in the living room, and grass sprouts from the phone. Nature runs wild – the greenling is nature’s bounty personified. A haunting final double-page spread shows wind turbines instead of power lines and grass and flowers growing, but no humans. The intricately detailed, surreal watercolor and gouache paintings include Australian animals and the rhyming text will certainly invite discussion. mjw

Title: Greenling Author: Levi Pinfold Illustrator: Levi Pinfold Publisher: Templar Books, and imprint of Candlewick Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-0-7636-7598-1 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 9 up Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Australia Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Cornwall, England Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: Cornwall, England Awards: Author/illustrator has won 2013 Kate Greenaway Medal Subjects: Ecology, Fable, Fantasy, Fruit, Nature stories, New baby, Science, Vegetables, Vegetation

Timeline: A Visual History Of Our World

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This oversize picture book is a perfect introduction to history for young and old. The journey begins with the Big Bang and ends with the terrorism, conflict, and eco-disasters of the 2010s and the dream of peace and prosperity for all. Scenes include dinosaurs, Vikings, Aztecs, Egyptians, kings, and knights. The timeline covers wars and disasters and introduces artists, explorers, and leaders. Dragons, mythical figures, TV characters, toys, and technology are also included. Readers will have fun spotting different people from history hidden in the playful cartoons, infographics, and mainly black on gray/sepia illustrations that are bursting with detail. Watch for Harry Potter, Mr. Potato Head, and Dorothy and her friends from Oz. This is a powerful classroom resource. mjw

Title: Timeline: A Visual History Of Our World Author: Peter Goes and Sylvia Vanden Heede Illustrator: Peter Goes Publisher: Gecko Press, New Zealand Copyright: 2015 Original Language: Dutch Translator: Bill Nagelkerke Original Title: Tijdlijn Original Publisher: Uitgeverij  Lannoo nv., Belgium Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-776570-69-0 Hardcover pages: 80 Age range: 4 up Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Dutch Author’s residence: Belgium Illustrator’s ethnicity: Dutch Illustrator’s residence: Belgium Subjects: Chronology, Civilization, Discoveries, History, Inventions, Pictorial works, World history

The Wolf Wilder

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Twelve-year-old Feodora, Feo for short, lives in the snowy woods of Russia with her mother. They are wolf wilders. They take wolves that were bought as pups by St. Petersburg aristocrats and abandoned; teach the wolves to hunt, fight, and distrust humans; and then release them back into the wild. Feo’s house was burned and her mother was attacked and captured by the Russian Army. Accompanied by three loyal wolves, Ilya, a sensitive, lost young soldier who loves ballet, and Alexei, a 15-year-old agitator from a nearby village, Feo sets off into the ice and snow of the woods on a journey to rescue her mother. Set near the end of Tsar Nicholas II’s reign, the story combines history with fairytale, and suggests the hope of the Revolution. Feo is a feisty and beautiful heroine, who stands for everything that is right. This captivating book begins with a note on wolf wilders (which the author made up). mjw

Title: The Wolf Wilder Author: Katherine Rundell Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York Copyright: 2105 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, London Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-4814-1942-0 Hardcover pages: 240 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: Russia Author’s Ethnicity: Grew up in Zimbabwe, Brussels, and London Author’s residence: Oxford, England Subjects: Ballet, Bravery, Fairytales, Fantasy, Mothers and daughters, Russia – history – Nicholas II, 1894-1917, Russian Revolution, Survival, Wolves

Adam And Thomas

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Adam and Thomas are two nine-year-old Jewish boys who have been left in the forest by their mothers who must return to the ghetto. They eat berries to survive and build a nest in a high tree for shelter. They witness Nazis chasing other fugitives and help when they can. A peasant girl named Mina discovers the boys and leaves them packages of food at her own risk. Through their positive thinking and resourcefulness, they survive winter’s harsh weather and eventually reach the infirmary of the Red Army, but the story’s ending is uncertain. This powerful fable about survival and friendship is illustrated with delicate dreamlike watercolor and ink paintings. The author’s personal experience was inspiration for the book.  mjw

Title: Adam And Thomas Author: Aharon Appelfeld Illustrator: Philippe Dumas Publisher: Seven Stories Press, New York Copyright: 2015 Original Language: Hebrew Translator: Jeffrey M. Green Original Title: Yalda Shelo Minhaolam Haze (A Girl From Another World) Original Copyright: 2013 ISBN: 978-1-60980-634-7 Hardcover pages: 149 Age range: 10-18 Genre: Historical fiction Book setting: World War II Author’s ethnicity: Born near Czernowitz, Bukovina, Ukraine Author’s residence: Beersheba, Israel Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: France Awards: 2016 Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Book, 2016 Sydney Taylor Book Award, 2016 National Jewish Book Award Finalist Subjects: Courage, Holocaust, Jews, Refugees, Surfival, War stories, World War II, 1939-1945

This Is The Greatest Place!: The Forbidden City And The World Of Small Animals

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One day the creatures of a forest are visited by a man who raves about the beauty of the forest they live in. This visitor is the architect for the Chinese Emperor and is tasked with finding a place to build the emperor’s palace. The small animals show the builder their home, and he is inspired to construct the palace based on the sights he sees. This picture book with adorable illustrations, real photographs of the palace, maps, lift-flaps, and pull-out pages innovatively describes how the real Chinese Forbidden City was built and exists today. The factual information about how the trees were treated with tender loving care to build the Forbidden City promotes environmental preservation. This work is an excellent addition to the China Institute’s We All Live In The Forbidden City series. ema

Title: This Is The Greatest Place!: The Forbidden City And The World Of Small Animals Author: Brian Tse Illustrator: Alice Mak Publisher: China Institute in America Copyright: 2014 Original Language: Chinese Translator: Ben Wan ISBN: 978-0-9893776-2-1 Hardcover pages: 44 pages Age range: 4 up Genre: Picture Book/ Nonfiction Book setting: China Author’s ethnicity: Chinese Author’s residence: China Illustrator’s ethnicity: Chinese Illustrator’s residence: China Awards: A Parent’s Choice Recommended Award for Picture Books, and a winner of A Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award, Books on Foreign Culture Subjects: Architecture, Buildings, Forests, Palaces, History

A Prayer For World Peace

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Jane Goodall, world-renowned anthropologist and conservationist, speaks out against greed, slave labor, animal abuse, bullying and torture, harm to the natural world, and more in this “family book” for adults to read along with their children. She asks for generosity to the living world and justice for all humankind in this nondenominational prayer for peace and equality. Beautiful double-page spreads of birds, animals, flowers, and humans are set on glowing, mysterious abstract patterns. Back matter includes a message from Jane Goodall as the UN Ambassador of Peace, notes about the Jane Goodall Institute and her Roots and Shoots organization, and a biography of the illustrator. mjw

Title: A Prayer For World Peace Author: Jane Goodall Illustrator: Feeroozeh Golmohammadi Publisher: Michael Neugebauer Publishing, Minedition Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-988-8240-49-4 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range:  7 up Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: British Author’s residence: England Illustrator’s ethnicity: Iranian Illustrator’s residence: Tehran, Iran Subjects: Hope, Justice, Peace, Prayers, Values

The Never Snowy Christmas

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A young boy living in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands wishes for snow on his island and comes up with ingenious and impetuous ways to get it. He asks a policeman. He saves his money to buy a snow maker he saw in an electronics magazine. He has a friend in Belgium send some snow. And he even puts flour in the freezer and then throws it in the air, only to get “grounded until he’s old.”  Cartoon-like illustrations showing US Virgin Islands architecture and landscapes accompany the rhyming text.  A note about the US Virgin Islands and information about the story and author are included. mjw

Title: The Never Snowy Christmas Author: Zenzi Hodge Illustrator: Jonathan Brown Publisher: Sandscript Publishing, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-9905662-8-1 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands Author’s ethnicity: Born in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands Author’s residence: St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands Illustrator’s residence: Utah, USA Subjects: Christmas, Dreams, Snow, Tropics

Painted Skies

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Leslie has recently moved to the Arctic. Her new friend, Oolipika, teaches her about one of the most amazing wonders of the world, the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights or aqsarniit in Inuktitut. Awe-striking illustrations depict these “painted skies” in various shades of greens, blues, yellows, purples, and pinks. The book includes exquisite artwork, text about the Inuit legend, and an explanation about the science behind the Northern Lights which sure will fascinate readers. ema

Title: Painted Skies Author: Carolyn Mallory Illustrator: Ameri Zhao Publisher: Inhabit Media Inc. Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77227-004-4 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 5 up Genre: Picture Book, Contemporary Fiction Book setting: the Arctic Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Canada Illustrator’s ethnicity: Australian  Illustrator’s residence: Sydney Subjects: Arctic, Aqsarniit, Aurora Borealis, Beliefs, Inuit, Legends, Northern Lights, Science

Thea’s Tree

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A little girl named Thea lives in a city full of “houses, houses, and more houses” and longs for a tree to climb, to hide in, and to sit under and dream. A solitary, beautiful leaf floats past her window and Thea drifts off into a dream. She awakes with a seed in hand. She plants it and a tiny plant sprouts from the soil. Thea and the tree grow. Thea’s children play under the tree, and Thea’s grandchildren, too. The story’s setting is not specified, but Thea’s Papa tells about picking mangoes and guavas and neem leaves to eat. The tender, Chagall-like, ink, pastel, colored pencil, and collage illustrations are magical and portray the beauty in nature. The text is printed over delicate leaf prints. mjw

Title: Thea’s Tree Author: Judith Clay Illustrator: Judith Clay Publisher: Karadi Tales Company Pvt.Ltd., Chennai, India Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-8-181-90297-9 Hardcover pages: 28 Age range: 4 up Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Asia Author’s ethnicity: German Author’s residence: Germany Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Germany Awards: 2011 White Ravens List of the International Youth Library Subjects: Environment, Natural world, Nature, People and places, Trees

A Persistent Vine

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A retired Japanese magistrate’s family works together to make their new house’s garden their own. The magistrate and his wife are appalled when they learn from their daughter Morning Glory that morning glories are growing in their garden. The morning glories continue to grow despite their efforts to rid the plant. When Morning Glory’s parents pass away, she is left in charge of the house. Her uncle and servants become worried when they cannot find Morning Glory anywhere on the propriety. Morning Glory’s uncle and servants flee the propriety when they see that the morning glories have taken over the garden. Morning Glory’s identity has become a part of the morning glories in her garden. Illustrations are beautifully done in a mix of styles including acrylics, watercolors, and mixed media. There is a page explaining morning glories and other similar plants at the end of the book.  This is the first book in the Botanical Tales series, which is inspired by the Montessori material known as the Botany Cabinet. ema

Title: A Persistent Vine Author: Han Tran and Christinia Cheung Illustrator: Hsiao- Yen Chi Publisher: Hands-on-Prints Copyright: 2013 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0989014007 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 7 up Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Japan in the Heian Period Author’s residence: Both live in California Illustrator’s ethnicity: Taiwanese, born in Hong Kong Illustrator’s residence: California Awards: 2013 Winner of the Silver Moonbeam Children’s Book Award For Picture Book (‘All Ages’ Category) Subjects: Environment, Family, Female Protagonist, Flowers, Heian Period, Japan, Morning Glories, Nature, Teenage Girl

Moletown

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Reminiscent of the author’s phenomenal debut, Lindbergh: The Tale of a Flying Mouse, this tale about moles creating their own underground city will enthrall readers. Moletown started when one mole moved under a lush green meadow. He eventually finds other moles underground, and they become the founders of Moletown. Their town grows rapidly, but there are some consequences to urbanizing. This picture book with few words utilizes awe striking rustic, industrial, and mechanical style illustrations, created using pens, watercolor, acrylics, oil paints, and digital programs, to speak volumes about pollution. The end pages are newspaper headlines which show the history of Moletown. This great book will generate a discussion about environmental concerns. ema

Title: Moletown Author: Torben Kuhlmann Illustrator: Torben Kuhlmann Publisher: North-South Books Copyright: 2015 Original Language: German Translator: Andrew Rushton Original Title: Maulwurfstadt Original Publisher: NordSüd Verlag AG Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-0-7358-4208-3 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4 up Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: German Author’s residence: Hamburg Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Hamburg Subjects:  Buildings, Cities, Construction, Pollution, Underground

Tiger Boy

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Set in the tidal mangrove forests of the Sunderbans of India and Bangladesh, this quiet, suspenseful story tells of young Neel and his efforts to track down a female tiger cub that has escaped from a local animal reserve and save it from greedy poachers. Neel is a good student and could qualify for a scholarship for a private boarding school in Kolkata. This would ensure him and his family a much better quality of life. But he loves his home, is reluctant to leave his familiar world, and therefore, only studies half-heartedly. Neel and his sister hatch out a courageous plan and succeed in rescuing the tiger. And Neel changes his mind about education. Global warming, gender discrimination, endangered animals, environmental protection, and class structure are some of the important issues in this fast-paced story, which is enhanced by dramatic black-and-white pastel illustrations. An Author’s Note, Information on Organizations Working with Bengal Tigers and Organizations Working to Improve Life in the Sunderbans, and a Glossary are provided. mjw

Title: Tiger Boy Author: Mitali Perkins Illustrator: Jamie Hogan Publisher: Charlesbridge.  Watertown, MA Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-58089-660-3 Hardcover pages: 144 Age range: 7-10 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Sunderbans, West Bengal, India Author’s ethnicity: Born in Kolkata, India Author’s residence: U.S.  Has lived in Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Mexico, Thailand, Great Britain Illustrator’s residence: U.S. Subjects: Animal rescue, Community, Conflict, Economics, Nature, Teachers, Tigers