When the lighthouse keeper is rescued from the stormy sea by a whale, they become friends. Soon, Blue the whale gets into danger, too. Blue is sick with a stomach full of plastic bags. The lighthouse keeper cleans up the trash, so Blue will feel better. Charming simple text and beautiful watercolor paintings introduce young readers to the impact of plastic waste on our oceans and ocean life. An author’s note includes ways that readers can protect whales and their habitats. mjw |
| Title: I Love You, Blue Author: Barroux Illustrator: Barroux Publisher: Flyaway Books Copyright: 2022 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-91307-4500 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: Paris Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: Paris Subjects: Ecological and environmental issues, Lighthouses, Oceans, Plastic waste, Whales |
Tag Archives: Environment
A Dream Of Birds
As Sara walks to school in her island town, she sees a lot of birds trapped in a little house with a bright red roof. She is awed by the colored parakeets and she wants the birds to be free. The next day on her walk to school, she discovers that the door to the birdhouse is unlocked, and she opens it wide so the parakeets can take off. Sara is punished when her parents find out what she did. She worries that the freed birds may not know how to feed themselves. She goes to sleep that night and dreams that the birds will find their way. “All will be well, so long as the world has wings to dream.” The realistic illustrations in this story about love for nature and dreams for a better world were rendered in digital media. A publisher’s note gives information about Mauritius and the birds that live there. mjw |
| Title: A Dream Of Birds Author: Shenaz Patel Illustrator: Emmanuelle Tchourkriel Publisher: Amazon Crossing Kids, New York Copyright: 2022 Original Language: French Translator: Edwige-Renee Dro Original Title: Reve D”Oiseau Original Publisher: Atelier des Nomades. Mauritius Island and France Original Copyright: 2020 ISBN: 978-1-66250-0930 Hardcover pages: 31 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Mauritius Author’s ethnicity: Mauritian Author’s residence: Mauritius Island Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: France Subjects: Birds, Freedom, Grandfathers, Liberty, Mauritius, Parakeets |
Where We Live: Mapping Neighborhoods Of Kids Around the Globe
This intriguing book is a fun look at sixteen children’s neighborhoods around the world. First, there is a helpful page with information about maps, compass roses, legends, and scale bars. Next, we meet the children and learn about their neighborhoods – where they live, go to school and play, what they eat, and sometimes their religions. Maps of each child’s neighborhood show important places, a legend, and some words from the child’s language. The places featured are the Cook Islands, Canada, the United States, Honduras, Venezuela, Antarctica, Spain, the Netherlands, Romania, Egypt, Ethiopia, Zambia, Pakistan, India, China, and Cambodia. Both small communities and big cities are included. Back matter provides activities, a glossary, an author’s note, a further-reading list, and an index. A world map with all the locations is presented on the endpapers. The digitally rendered artwork is perfect for the book. mjw |
| Title: Where We Live: Mapping Neighborhoods Of Kids Around The Globe Author: Margriet Ruurs Illustrator: Wenjia Tang Publisher: Kids Can Press Ltd., Toronto Copyright: 2022 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1525-3013-77 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 7-10 Genre: Information Book, Nonfiction Book setting: Sixteen locations around the world Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: British Columbia Illustrator’s ethnicity: Chinese Illustrator’s residence: New York City Subjects: Communities, Customs, Explorations, Human settlements, Mapping, Maps, Neighborhoods, Traditions |
At The Drop Of A Cat
The French six-year-old narrator in this gorgeous picture book loves spending time in his Spanish grandfather’s incredible garden. The grandfather, Luis, left Spain because of the terrible war. He didn’t have a chance to be a kid, and he never learned to read and write. Together they watch birds. Luis speaks BIRD language. They also draw what they see in the magnificent garden. Luis is a great cook, too, making his house always smell good. Luis speaks in a vibrant and unique language, hence the title of the book, At the Drop of a Cat, and another phrase like “the apple of his pie.” At the end of the story, Luis gives his grandchild a guitar. Even though Luis cannot read or write, he imparts wonderful knowledge about nature and life to his grandchild. Dreamy, colorful, and rich, plant-filled pictures in watercolor and collage depict their natural world effectively. mjw |
| Title: At The Drop Of A Cat Author: Elise Fontenaille Illustrator: Violeta Lopiz Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books. New York Copyright: 2023 Original Language: French Translator: Karin Snelson and Emilie Robert Wong Original Title: Les poings sur les iles Original Publisher: Editions du Rouergue Original Copyright: 2011 ISBN: 978-1-59270-382-1 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: France Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: Haute-Loire, France Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Peru Subjects: Birds, Gardens, Grandfathers, Intergenerational, Multigenerational family life, Music |
In The Garden With Flori
When Linn’s grandfather breaks his leg, she offers to take care of his garden. Unfortunately Linn’s dog, Flori, likes to dig and the garden gets filled with snails. By the end of the book, all is well. The lifelike, very detailed illustrations are magical. Back matter includes information about the common garden snail. mjw |
| Title: In The Garden With Flori Author: Sonja Danowski Illustrator: Sonja Danowski Publisher: NorthSouth Books, Inc. New York Copyright: 2022 Original Language: German Translator: Marshall Yarbrough Original Title: Garten mit Flori Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG. Zurich, Switzerland Original Copyright: 2021 ISBN: 978-0-7358-4458-2 Hardcover pages: 56 Age range: 4-9 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: German Author’s residence: Berlin, Germany Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Berlin, Germany Awards: Danowski has won the Batchelder Award Subjects: Dogs, Flowers, Gardens, Grandfathers, Humor, Intergenerational, Love, Patience, Snails, Vegetables |
9 Kilometers
A young boy walks nine kilometers – over five-and-a-half miles – to school through the mountains and rainforests of Chile. He observes butterflies, birds, and animals, as he crosses a stream and crawls under a barbed wire fence. He likes to walk and count. Endpapers show maps of his route. An opening note explains a bit about the metric system. The vibrant and detailed illustrations are rendered in acrylics and show interesting perspectives in this important book about perseverance and the right to an education. Back matter tells of other walkers around the world – in China, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Kenya, Uruguay, Venezuela, and other parts of Chile. Some of them walk as much as 30 kilometers round-trip to get to school. Descriptions and photos of birds that live in southern Chile are also included. mjw |
| Title: 9 Kilometers Author: Claudio Aguilera Illustrator: Gabriela Lyon Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. Copyright: 2023 Original Language: Spanish Translator: Lawrence Schimel Original Title: 9 Kilometros Original Publisher: Ediciones Ekare Sur,.Santiago, Chile. Original Copyright: 2020 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5600-5 Hardcover pages: 56 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Chile Author’s ethnicity: Chilean Author’s residence: Chile Illustrator’s ethnicity: Chilean Illustrator’s residence: Chile Awards: 2021 White Ravens Catalog (Spanish edition) Subjects: Birds, Chile, Counting, Education, Global cultures, Journeys, Kilometers, Math, Numbers, Perseverance, Schools |
Rainbow Fish And The Storyteller
In this ninth story about Rainbow Fish, he meets a new friend, Humbert. Humbert tells the other fish fantastic stories. First, there’s a plug in the bottom of the ocean that, if taken out, all the water in the sea will be drained dry. Next, there are several shoals of fish that are threatening the territory of Rainbow Fish’s friends. And finally, there’s a blue whale living nearby that is going to eat all their food. Now, Rainbow Fish catches on that Humbert is just telling exaggerated stories. When they see Humbert all alone by some rocks, they feel sorry for him and want to help him. They suggest that he should use his storytelling talent to tell interesting and true stories at storytelling shows for everyone. The vibrant, beautiful watercolor paintings enhance this important lesson for young children about making friends and not telling lies. mjw |
| Title: Rainbow Fish And The Storyteller Author: Marcus Pfister Illustrator: Marcus Pfister Publisher: NorthSouth Books, Inc. Copyright: 2022 Original Language: German Translator: David Henry Wilson Original Title: Der Regegbogenfisch glaubt nicht alles Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag, AG. Zurich, Switzerland Original Copyright: 2022 ISBN: 978-0-7358-4500-8 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-9 Genre: Picture book Author’s ethnicity: Swiss Author’s residence: Bern, Switzerland Illustrator’s ethnicity: Swiss Illustrator’s residence: Bern, Switzerland Subjects: Animal fiction, Fish, Friendship, Honesty, Truthfulness, Values |
The Barren Grounds: The Misewa Saga, Book One
Seventh grader Eli and eighth grader Morgan are Indigenous foster children in this middle-grade First Nations fantasy. The children feel disconnected from their culture and struggle to fit in at school and at their new home. They find a secret portal in an unfinished attic that leads to another reality, Aski, with frozen, barren grounds. They meet Ochek, a hunter supporting his starving community. He teaches the children traditional ways, and together they embark on a mission to save Misewa. Engaging characters, life lessons, adventure, cliffhangers, evocative descriptions, and twists make this a compelling read about the importance of taking care of the land. “The land provides everything that anybody would need. If you take only what your need, the land renews itself so that it can provide more…In exchange, because we don’t really have anything the land wants, we honor it for what it gives us.” The book is reminiscent of The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe. A map of the North Country and a Swampy Cree Glossary and Pronunciation Guide are included. mjw |
| Title: The Barren Grounds Author: David A. Robertson Publisher: Puffin Canada, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers Copyright: 2022 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0735-2661-24 Paperback pages: 256 Age range: 10-17 Genre: Fiction, Novel, Fantasy First Nations Book setting: Winnipeg, Manitoba Author’s ethnicity: Norway House Cree Nation Author’s residence: Winnipeg, Manitoba Awards: Honor Book in the USBBY-CBC Outstanding International Trade Books, Robertson is a two-time winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award Subjects: Cree culture, Fantasy, Folk tales, Foster homes, Indigenous stories, Myths, Chronicles of Narnia, Orphans, Traditions |
Pablo Neruda Book of Questions
This bilingual Spanish-English edition, the first illustrated selection of 70 questions from Pablo Neruda’s original poem (320 questions), The Book of Questions, is a glorious introduction to Neruda’s works for young children. “Why don’t they teach helicopters how to draw honey from the sun? How did the abandoned bicycle find its freedom? Does the earth chirp like a cricket in the symphony of the skies?” These are a few of the unanswerable imaginative questions posed in the text. The book is large and includes fold-out pages. Blues, reds, and yellows against black or white backgrounds created by pencil and ink have a folk art feel. This is a gorgeous book. mjw |
| Title: Pablo Neruda Book Of Questions – Bilingual Spanish-English Author: Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) Illustrator: Paloma Valdivia Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books Copyright: 2022 Original Language: Spanish Translator: Sara Lissa Paulson Original Title: Libro de las Preguntas Original Copyright: 1974 ISBN: 978-1-59270-322-7 Hardcover pages: 80 Age range: 5 up Genre: Picture Book, Poetry Author’s ethnicity: Chilean Illustrator’s ethnicity: Chilean Illustrator’s residence: Santiago, Chile Awards: Nobel Prize in Literature 1971 Subjects: Bilingual, Chilean, Hispanic, Imagination, Poetry, Questions, Spanish |
Lands Of Belonging: A History of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Britain
Published for the 75th anniversary of the Partition of India, this engaging book is an exploration of the history, achievements, and culture of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Britain. “This book aims to piece together how South Asian and British history are connected. You might find it interesting, surprising, and sometimes very sad – but for the people of South Asia, and for South Asians in Britain, the future is full of hope and excitement.” The book not only provides historical details but it also spotlights Indian cuisine, traditions, festivals, dances, sports, famous people, language, and more. Included are a table of contents, a calendar of celebrations, a timeline of events, a glossary, and an index. Glorious artwork brings each page to life in this beautiful information book. mjw |
| Title: Lands Of Belonging: A History Of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Britain Author: Donna and Vikesh Amey Bhatt Illustrator: Salini Perera Publisher: Nosy Crow, London Copyright: 2022 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-83994-468-0 Hardcover pages: 64 Age range: 7-12 Genre: Nonfiction, Information Book Book setting: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Britain Author’s ethnicity: East African (Vikesh) Author’s residence: London Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Sri Lanka Illustrator’s residence: Toronto Subjects: Ancient empires, East India Company, Festivals, Food, Games, Holidays, Independence, Partition, World War I, World War II |
It’s Up To Us: Building A Brighter Future For Nature, People, and Planet
This beautifully illustrated book is introduced by King Charles. His call to action for our planet is divided into four sections –Nature, People, Planet, and Terra Carta. The Terra Carta is a plan of action for the Earth created by HRH the Prince of Wales, now King Charles. The text is included in the book. Thirty-three award-winning artists from around the world have contributed wonderful artwork. Profiles of the illustrators are included as back-matter. The story tells how Nature operates and how People have damaged it. Information about the Prince’s Foundation and an index/glossary are also provided. mjw |
| Title: It’s Up To Us: Building A Brighter Future For Nature, People, and Planet Author: Christopher Lloyd Illustrator: 33 artists from around the world Publisher: What On Earth Books Copyright: 2022 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-9137505-6-5 Hardcover pages: 64 Age range: 6-10 Genre: Picture book, Information book, Nonfiction Author’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s ethnicity: 33 illustrators from around the world Subjects: Climate change, Conservation, Earth, Environment, Global community, Green living, Prince of Wales, Recycling, Sustainability. Terra Carta, Values |
The Mountain
The bear claims that a mountain is a forest full of trees and green things. The sheep says that a mountain is a meadow with flowers, herbs, fresh smells, and buzzing bees. All the animals have their own opinions in this clever story about different perspectives. The detailed artwork is very appealing and magnificent. mjw |
| Title: The Mountain Author: Rebecca Gugger Illustrator: Simon Rothlisberger Publisher: NorthSouth Books, New York Copyright: 2021 Original Language: German Translator: Marshall Yarbrough Original Title: Der Berg Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG. Zurich, Switzerland Original Copyright: 2021 ISBN:978-0-7358-4457-5 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Swiss Author’s residence: Switzerland Illustrator’s ethnicity: Swiss Illustrator’s residence: Switzerland Subjects: Ants, Bears, Chamois. Forests, Octopi, Perspectives, Poin of view, Sheep, Snow hare, Tolerance |

When the lighthouse keeper is rescued from the stormy sea by a whale, they become friends. Soon, Blue the whale gets into danger, too. Blue is sick with a stomach full of plastic bags. The lighthouse keeper cleans up the trash, so Blue will feel better. Charming simple text and beautiful watercolor paintings introduce young readers to the impact of plastic waste on our oceans and ocean life. An author’s note includes ways that readers can protect whales and their habitats. mjw
As Sara walks to school in her island town, she sees a lot of birds trapped in a little house with a bright red roof. She is awed by the colored parakeets and she wants the birds to be free. The next day on her walk to school, she discovers that the door to the birdhouse is unlocked, and she opens it wide so the parakeets can take off. Sara is punished when her parents find out what she did. She worries that the freed birds may not know how to feed themselves. She goes to sleep that night and dreams that the birds will find their way. “All will be well, so long as the world has wings to dream.” The realistic illustrations in this story about love for nature and dreams for a better world were rendered in digital media. A publisher’s note gives information about Mauritius and the birds that live there. mjw
The French six-year-old narrator in this gorgeous picture book loves spending time in his Spanish grandfather’s incredible garden. The grandfather, Luis, left Spain because of the terrible war. He didn’t have a chance to be a kid, and he never learned to read and write. Together they watch birds. Luis speaks BIRD language. They also draw what they see in the magnificent garden. Luis is a great cook, too, making his house always smell good. Luis speaks in a vibrant and unique language, hence the title of the book, At the Drop of a Cat, and another phrase like “the apple of his pie.” At the end of the story, Luis gives his grandchild a guitar. Even though Luis cannot read or write, he imparts wonderful knowledge about nature and life to his grandchild. Dreamy, colorful, and rich, plant-filled pictures in watercolor and collage depict their natural world effectively
A young boy walks nine kilometers – over five-and-a-half miles – to school through the mountains and rainforests of Chile. He observes butterflies, birds, and animals, as he crosses a stream and crawls under a barbed wire fence. He likes to walk and count. Endpapers show maps of his route. An opening note explains a bit about the metric system. The vibrant and detailed illustrations are rendered in acrylics and show interesting perspectives in this important book about perseverance and the right to an education. Back matter tells of other walkers around the world – in China, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Kenya, Uruguay, Venezuela, and other parts of Chile. Some of them walk as much as 30 kilometers round-trip to get to school. Descriptions and photos of birds that live in southern Chile are also included. mjw

This bilingual Spanish-English edition, the first illustrated selection of 70 questions from Pablo Neruda’s original poem (320 questions), The Book of Questions, is a glorious introduction to Neruda’s works for young children. “Why don’t they teach helicopters how to draw honey from the sun? How did the abandoned bicycle find its freedom? Does the earth chirp like a cricket in the symphony of the skies?” These are a few of the unanswerable imaginative questions posed in the text. The book is large and includes fold-out pages. Blues, reds, and yellows against black or white backgrounds created by pencil and ink have a folk art feel. This is a gorgeous book. mjw