Tag Archives: Environment

John The Skeleton

John is a newly retired skeleton. He was a classroom teaching aid in a South Estonian school. Gramps and Grams bring John to their outdoor summer kitchen on their farm deep in the woods. Every day is exciting for John. He rides in a car, meets the farm animals, scares some crooks in the village, visits with the grandchildren, takes a bath and makes a snow angel. He even becomes part of an art exhibit at the city museum. Short chapters and folk art pencil illustrations in black and white with pops of beet red present a view of Estonian culture with saunas, pixies, and linden-blossom tea. The text is also medically accurate. This quirky, affectionate story portrays what it means to care for one another, grow old together, and appreciate the little things. mjw

Title: John The Skeleton
Author: Triini Laam
Illustrator: Marja-Liisa Plats
Publisher: Yonder, an imprint of Restless Books
Copyright:2024
Original Language: Estonian
Translator: Adam Cullen
Original Title: Luukere Juhani juhtumised
Original Publisher: Paike ja Pilve, Saue, Estonia
Original Copyright: 2020
ISBN: 978-1632063700
Hardcover pages: 64
Age range: 6-12
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: South Estonia
Author’s ethnicity: Estonian
Author’s residence: Estonia
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Estonian
Illustrator’s residence: Estonia
Awards:2025 Batchelder Award, soo5 ISBBY Outstanding International Books, 20221 White Raven Catalog
Subjects: Aging, Death, Farms, Grandchildren, Grandparents, Retirement, Skeletons

Honk Honk Beep Beep Putter Putt!

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Baba takes his son Ibraheem and the cat Mitu in his rickshaw on a trip through the big city. They encounter all kinds of vehicles and discover that each one has its own language. The rickshaw’s motor says Putter Putt. The car says Honk Honk. The bus tries to barge in with a Toot Toot and the mighty truck joins with a Rumble Rumble. The vehicles screech to a stop when there is a toad in the road saying Burp! Everyone safely shares the road. The bright, playful illustrations that convey each vehicle’s personality were digitally drawn. An author’s note describes her experiences with big city traffic around the world. mjw

Title: Honk Honk Beep Beep Putter Putt!
Author: Rukhsana Khan
Illustrator: Chaaya Prabhat
Publisher: Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House of Canada, Ltd.
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-774882-658
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Pakistan
Author’s ethnicity: Pakistani
Author’s residence: Canada
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: Goa, India
Subjects: Buses, Cars, Cities, City life, Horns, Rickshaws, Sharing, Toads, Traffic, Trucks, Vehicles

Sunday

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For Martin and his dog Maize, every Sunday is the same. His family always sits in the same seats at the dinner table, watches TV, cooks, and folds laundry. But this Sunday, things will be different because Martin and Maize decide to travel the world. The world is waiting. They travel to freezing ice caps, baking lava flows, the home of sacred creatures, arid deserts, fertile forests, and seas teeming with pirate ships, After their adventure, they long to find their way home to tell Grandma where they have been, They might even travel beyond the world on their next magical Sunday. The line art, bold matte colors, and hidden pictures produce an etched look that adds to the drama in this story about imagination, dreams, and play. mjw

Title: Sunday
Author: Marcelo Tolentino
Illustrator: Marcelo Tolentino
Publisher: Blue Dot Lids Press, Sacramento, California
Copyright: 2025
Original Language: Portuguese
Translator: Rahul Bery
Original Publisher: Companhia das Letras. Sao Paulo, Brazil
ISBN: 979-898985-88-11
Hardcover pages: 48
Age range: 3-7
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Brazilian
Author’s residence: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Brazilian
Illustrator’s residence: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Subjects: Action, Camels, Creativity, Dogs, Dragons, Grandmother-son relationships, Imagination, Pirates, Penguins, Play

L Is For Love

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Two adults and four children set off in the dark to sell lemons at the market in this L-focused story, leaving grandparents behind. They are lucky to catch a lift on a red bus. They travel through lightning until the morning light, looking at lazy lions and a lonely leopard. They arrive at the loud, large market in Lagos, where they sell their lemons and enjoy lunch. On the long way home, this time by foot, they see elephants and arrive home late to greet the grandparents, where L is for love. The beautiful double-page spreads, loaded with detail, and rendered in mixed media depict the bustling market stalls, the natural world, and the rich relationship of the family. mjw

Title: L Is For Love
Author: Atinuke
Illustrator: Angela Brooksbank
Publisher: Candlewick Press. Somerville, MA
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Walker Books Ltd. UK
Original Copyright: 2024
ISBN: 978-1-5362-3555-5
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 3-7
Genre: PIcture Book, Alphabet Book
Book setting: Nigeria
Author’s ethnicity: Nigerian
Author’s residence: Wales
Illustrator’s residence: LOndon
Subjects: Alphabet, Cities, Lagos, Lemons, Love, Markets, Transportation

Genius Noses: A Curious Animal Compendium

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This beautiful collection of animal noses around the world tells kids everything they ever wanted to know about animal noses. A Table of Contents divides the book into Flying Creatures, Ground-dwellers, Underground Diggers, Happiest When Hanging Out In Trees, and Water Creatures. Aardvarks, Dik-Diks, Pigs, Proboscis Monkeys, Coatis, and many, many more are clearly explained and illustrated in detail. A comprehensive Glossary, Notes, and a thorough index are included. The front endpapers show a world map and the back endpapers depict many animals drawn to scale, compared to humans. The witty drawings rendered in ink and colored pencil round out this impressive work. mjw

Title: Genius Noses: A Curious Animal Compendium
Author: Lena Anlauf
Illustrator: Vitali Konstantinov
Publisher: NorthSouth Books, New York
Copyright: 2023
Original Language: German
Translator: Marshall Yarbrough
Original Title: Geniale Nasen
Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG. Zurich, Switzerland
Original Copyright: 2023
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4535-0
Hardcover pages: 64
Age range: 6-12
Genre: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Information Book
Author’s ethnicity: German
Author’s residence: Marburg, Germany
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Ukrainian
Illustrator’s residence: Marburg, Germany
Subjects: Animal habitats, Diversity of nature, Noss, Zoology

Water: Discovering The Precious Resource All Around Us

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This question-and-answer book features a young girl and her grandfather exploring water’s role in world history and earth science. Topics include: How much water is there on earth? Why does it rain? How are rainbows and water related? How is a sea different from an ocean? What lives in our oceans? How powerful is water? What is life without water? How can we protect our planet’s water? The answers offer many vocabulary words clearly explained in the energetic text. The book’s endpapers reveal fascinating water facts. To illustrate the book, the author/artist sprinkled, dripped, and thinned acrylic paints with water. Approximately ten liters (2.6 gallons) of water were used to create the book’s gorgeous artwork. mjw

Title: Water: Discovering The Precious Resource All Around Us
Author: Olga Fadeeva
Illustrator: Olga Fadeeva
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: Russian
Translator: Lena Traer
Original Title: Boda
Original Publisher: Rech
Original Copyright: 2022
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5622-7
Hardcover pages: 56
Age range: 8-14
Genre: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Information Book
Author’s ethnicity: Russian
Author’s residence: St. Petersburg, Russia
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Russian
Illustrator’s residence: St. Petersburg, Russia
Subjects: Earth Science, Ecology, History, Natural resources, Nature, Oceans, Rain, Science, Seas, STEAM. Weather

Agreement Under The Stars

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There was a time in the forest when the animals lived together in peace and harmony. But little by little the outside grew around them and the forest seemed to grow smaller and smaller. The animals couldn’t stand it anymore and soon there were quarrels. An emergency committee came up with a solution to restore peace. Some animals would be active during the day and sleep at night. Others would come out at night and sleep during the day. Since nobody volunteered to take the night shift, the committee selected animals to be the night creatures. However, the reason why we have daytime and nocturnal animals is not how it is told in the story. The book’s real message is that deforestation has caused the disappearance of one-third of our forests. The realistic-looking animals and bright colors rendered in ink and watercolors with rubbings and stamped textures are very appealing. The book is printed on “stone paper,” a special paper made of limestone. The paper doesn’t come from cutting down trees, doesn’t use water, and doesn’t need harmful chemical products. A final note tells more about deforestation and things we can do to save our forests. mjw

Title: Agreement Under The Stars
Author: Susana Rosique
Illustrator: Susana Rosique
Publisher: Cuento De Luz. Madrid,, Spain
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: Spanish
Translator: Jon Brokenbrow
Original Title: Acuerdo jajo las estrellas
ISBN: 978- 84-19464-82-8
Hardcover pages: 38
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Spanish
Author’s residence: Spain
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish
Illustrator’s residence: Spain
Subjects: Cooperation, Deforestation, Empathy, Forests, Harmony, Nocturnal animals, Parable, Peace, Solidarity, Survival, Sustainability

HaiCuba/HaiKuba: Haikus About Cuba

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Cuba’s people, culture, and natural world are featured in bilingual haikus written in Spanish and English in this brilliant picture book. An introduction explains the poetic form. Discover Cuba’s national bird, the Tocororo, whose feathers resemble the flag of Cuba. Learn about Havana neighborhoods, salsa dancing, the Almendares River, candied sweets, and much more. The fun, vibrant illustrations were created with watercolors, colored pencils, gouache, and acrylics. Back matter gives information on the topics covered in the poems. A map of Cuba is presented on the endpapers. mjw

Title: HaiCuba/HaiKuba: Hiakus About Cuba
Author: Carlos Pintado and Lawrence Schimel
Illustrator: Juan Jose Colsa
Publisher: Ediciones NorteSur. Distributed by Simon & Schuster. New York
Copyright: 2024
Original Language: English and Spanish Bilingual
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4568-8
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Poetry, haiku. Picture Book
Book setting: Cuba
Author’s ethnicity: PIntado – Cuban. Schimel – U.S.
Author’s residence: Pintado – Miami. Schimel – New York and Madrid
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Mexican
Awards: Schimel has won a White Raven Award and a Bachelder Honor.
Subjects: Birds, Caribbean, Dance, Flags, Haikus, Islands, Havana, Latin America, People and Places, Poetry, Rivers, Trees

My Incredible India

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Thara and her Nanijee (grandmother) explore Nanijee’s wooden trunk of collected special objects from around India. They tell stories and take readers to amazing places in this visually stunning introduction to this diverse country’s people, places, flora, and fauna. Learn about elephants in Kerala, wander about Delhi’s bustling streets, ride a train in the Himalayas, explore the Ganges River, marvel at Nek Chand’s secret sculpture garden, and stand in awe before the Taj Mahal. Visit the Bhimbetka Cave Paintings, celebrate Diwali and religious festivals, enjoy spice markets and tasty Indian food, discover the Satish Dhawan Space Center, and delight in Bharatanatyam dance and Bollywood movies. And there is so much more in this perfect narrative nonfiction atlas of incredible India. Colorful mixed-media illustrations round out this impressive work. Back matter includes an extensive timeline, brief essays on Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian flag, an index, and resources for additional information. mjw

Title: My Incredible India
Author: Jasbinder Bilan
Illustrator: Nina Chakrabarti
Publisher: Candlewick Press. Massachusetts
Copyright: 2023
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Walker Books. U.K.
Original Copyright: 2022
ISBN: 978-1-5362-2501-3
Hardcover pages: 80
Age range: 7-10
Genre: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Information Book
Book setting: India
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: England
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: England
Subjects: Animals, Atlases, Art, Asian people and places, Cities, Customs, Fauna, Flora, Geography, History, Languages, Maps, Religions, Sport, Traditions, Wildlife

Room On Our Rock

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There are two ways to read this story. When read conventionally, from front to back, it tells the tale of a group of seals and a seagull on their rock who are afraid of some approaching seals who have nowhere to go because their rock is being engulfed by the sea. The first seals cry out, “This rock is ours. Go back to your own. Shoo! Go away!” They insist that the newcomers cannot join their rock group. The danger of the sea builds. However, there are two sides to every story. At the end of the first standard reading – “No room on this rock? Can it be true? Read back to front for another point of view.” When read this way, with the exact same words on every page, sharing, acceptance, and generosity emerge. “There’s space for plenty more. So it’s ridiculous to say – There’s no room on our rock.” The story now becomes an uplifting tale of hope. The seals on the rock welcome the struggling refugees. A subdued palette of soft blue-gray watercolors portrays the marine environment in the clever two-sided story. This book is a companion volume to Move That Mountain by the same authors and illustrator. mjw

Title: Room On Our Rock
Author: Kate and Jol Temple
Illustrator: Terri Rose Baynton
Publisher: Kane Miller, A division of EDC Publishing
Copyright: 2019
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Scholastic Press. Australia
Original Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 978-1-61067-902-2
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Australian (both Kate and Jol)
Author’s residence: Sydney, Australia (both Kate and Jol)
Illustrator’s ethnicity: New Zealander
Illustrator’s residence: Taupo, New Zealand
Awards: Charlotte Huck Award 2020
Subjects: Acceptance, Compassion, Danger, Fear, Inclusion, Marine life, Refugees, Rejection, Seals, Sharing, Exclusion

The First Flute Whowhoahyahzo Tohkohya

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A young man named Dancing Raven is the best dancer from all the Nations, but his passion is not recognized by the other men and boys in his village and he is refused the woman he loves. The men consider hunting and fishing to be the best talents. Finally, Grandfather Cedar gives Dancing Raven a flute and a song. Dancing Raven shares his music with the village, his love, and her father. The story of the first flute is shared far and wide. A prologue tells that the story was passed on to Jan Michael Looking Wolf by his uncle Standing Elk. Stunning illustrations add to this beautiful tale. Included is a CD with readings of the story in English, French, and Dakota, as well as music played by Jan Michael Looking Wolf, a renowned and award-winning Native American flute recording artist and performer. Poetry, music, and art make this uplifting tale very special. mjw

Title: The First Flute Whowhoahyahzo Tohkohya
Author: David Bouchard
Illustrator: Don Oelze
Publisher: Red Deer Press, Ontario
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English and Dakota
Translator: Wayne Goodwill
ISBN: 978-0-88995-475-5
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Picture Book.Poetry
Book setting: Canada
Author’s ethnicity: Metis
Author’s residence: Victoria, British Columbia
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in New Zealand
Illustrator’s residence: U.S.
Subjects: Canada, Dakota Indians, Dancers, Flute, Juvenile sound recordings, Intergenerational, Native North Americans

The Wolves Of Greycoat Hall

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Boris Greycoat is a friendly, sophisticated young wolf who likes to meet people and try new foods. He, his father, a polymath (an expert in many things), and his mother, who gives warm, reassuring smiles, return to their Scottish homeland to save Drommuir Castle. The castle has been in the family for generations, and now it is being threatened by a dishonest developer who wants to build villas for vacation rentals. The refined wolf family stays in the exclusive Highland Hotel, visiting turreted castles and quaint shops. They learn about other cultures and enjoy delicious cakes. Their adventure is full of surprising discoveries, one of which leads to Drommuir Castle being saved. The book includes a family tree, a table of contents, a recipe for Boris’s bannocks, a detailed map of the wolf family’s ancestral Scotland, and humorous illustrated sidebar comments on wolfish etiquette. The brilliant, amusing pen and ink drawings are magnificent. Lucinda Gifford’s author website offers fun activities to go with the book. mjw

Title: The Wolves Of Greycoat Hall
Author: Lucinda Gifford
Illustrator: Lucinda Gifford
Publisher: Kane Miller, a division of EDC Publishing
Copyright: 2023
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Walker Books, Australia
Original Copyright: 2020
ISBN: 978-1-68464-719-4
Paperback pages: 187
Age range: 7-10
Genre: Fiction, Humor, Fantasy
Book setting: Scotland
Author’s ethnicity: English
Author’s residence: Melbourne, Australia
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English
Illustrator’s residence: Melbourne, Australia
Subjects: Acceptance, Architecture, Bannocks, Birds, Cakes, Castles, Dogs, Heroes, Nature preservation, Prejudices, Recipes, Vacations, Villians, Wolves