![]() Nour and her friends live a happy life in Damascus, Syria. But one day war comes to the city with its smelly tanks and noisy guns. Nour, her family, and friends need to hide in the basement to be safe. Some days when there is no fighting, Nour and her friends bravely roam their neighborhood rubble looking for abandoned books so that they can start a secret library. Eventually, their library is filled with books from floor to ceiling. Some are Arabic, while others are English, Armenian, Greek, French, Hebrew, and Syriac. Nour thinks that the world of books is wonderful. “Like a galaxy full of stars. Some are shinier than others, but together they make the sky sparkle.”The illustrations in pencil, gouache, and charcoal depict the rough and ruined landscapes in grays and the hopeful story of the children and the library in vibrant blues and oranges. Back matter includes information about Syria, a map, a glossary, facts about famous libraries in the Middle East, information about the inspiration for the story, and both an author’s and illustrator’s note. This book is a story of hope and longing for peace. mjw |
Title: Nour’s Secret Library Author: Wafa Tarnowska Illustrator: Yali Mintzi Publisher: Barefoot Books Copyright: 2022 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-64686-292-4 Paperback pages: 32 Age range: 6-10 Genre: Picture book Book setting: Syria Author’s ethnicity: Lebanese Author’s residence: U.K. and Poland Illustrator’s ethnicity: Romanian Illustrator’s residence: Jerusalem Subjects: Books, Libraries, Middle East, Reading, Syria, War |
Tag Archives: Families
Adam And His Tuba
![]() Everyone in the Von Trapeze family likes to perform in the circus, except for Adam, the youngest member of the family. Grandma Antonia breathes fire. Uncle Artem and his clan perform an unforgettable human pyramid. Papa Alexei and Mama Anastasia bravely walk the tightrope. And daughter Aria rides a unicycle and juggles six clubs all at once. But Adam doesn’t like circus tricks or the loud applause. The family is so worried about their youngest son. They try different approaches to change him. One day, something unusual happens – they are enchanted by Adam playing the tuba. From now on, the circus has a new performer and Adam becomes a star. Warm sepia-colored paintings light up the Von Trapeze’s circus world in this lighthearted story about finding one’s own path. mjw |
Title: Adam And His Tuba Author: Ziga X. Gombac Illustrator: Maya Kastelic Publisher: NorthSouth Books, Inc., New York Copyright: 2023 Original Language: German Translator: Olivia Hellewell Original Title: Adam und seine Tuba Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG. Zurich, Switzerland Original Copyright: 20223 ISBN: 978-0-7358-4497-1 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Slovenian Author’s residence: Ljubljana, Slovenia Illustrator’s ethnicity: Slovenia Illustrator’s residence: Slovenia Awards: Illustrator has won the White Ravens Award Subjects: Circus, Grandparents, Growing up, Music, Performing arts, Tubas |
Just A Girl: A True Story Of World War II
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Title: Just A Girl: A True Story Of World War II Author: Lia Levi Illustrator: Jess Mason Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers, LLC. Copyright: 2022 Original Language: Italian Translator: Sylvia Adrian Notini Original Title: Una bambina e basta Original Copyright: 2020 ISBN: 978-0-06-306508-6 Hardcover pages: 144 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Historical biography, Novel, Autobiography Book setting: Italy Author’s ethnicity: Italian Author’s residence: Rome, Italy Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: England Awards: 2023 Batchelder Winner Subjects: Boarding schools, Convents, Discrimination, Holocaust, Italy, Jewish, Memoirs, Survival, WWII |
Different: A Story Of The Spanish Civil War
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Title: Different: A Story Of The Spanish Civil War Author: Monica Montanes Illustrator: Evan Sanchez Gomez Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2022 Original Language: Spanish Translator: Lawrence Schimel Original Title: Los distintos Original Publisher: Ediciones Ekare. Barcelona, Spain Original Copyright: 2020 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5598-5 Hardcover pages: 88 Age range: 9-14 Genre: Historical fiction Book setting: Spain, Venezuela Author’s ethnicity: Venezuelan Author’s residence: Madrid Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Spain Awards: 2021 White Raven, 2023 Batchelder Award Subjects: Brothers and sisters, Caribbean and Latin America, Emigration and immigration, Military and wars, Refugees, Spain Civil War 1936-1939, Survival, Venezuela |
The Katha Chest
![]() Asiya loves visiting Nanu’s house. It is filled with all sorts of treasures, the best being the katha chest. This is an old trunk full of quilts made from the old saris of her grandma, aunts, and mother. Each quilt has a story to tell. The illustrations are inspired by the Bengali folk art called Pattachitra – cloth paintings with simple colors, bold lines, and intricate details. Author’s and illustrator’s notes are provided. mjw |
Title: The Katha Chest Author: Radhiah Chowdhury Illustrator: Lavanya Naidu Publisher: Salaam Reads, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Copyright: 2021 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1665903905 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture book Book setting: Bangladesh Author’s ethnicity: Bengali Author’s residence: Australia Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: Australia Subjects: Aunts, Grandmothers, Memories Mothers, Quilts, Saris |
Girl On The Run
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Title: Girl On The Run Author: Nancy McDonald Publisher: Iguana Books. Toronto Copyright: 2021 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77180-517-9 Paperback pages: 174 Age range: 10 up Genre: Historical fiction, Novel Book setting: Berlin, Paris Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Stratford, Ontario Subjects: Coming of age, Germany, Holocaust, Jewish persecution, Nazis, Stepmothers, World War II |
Madani’s Best Game
![]() Madani is the neighborhood soccer star, who plays on his bare feet. Everyone watches when he plays and wonders what he could do if he only had a proper pair of cleats. Madani is saving money, but not for soccer shoes. Instead, he buys a new sewing machine for his mother. The story is narrated by one of Madani’s teammates. The author explains that the story was inspired by his work with immigrant families. The beautiful, smudgy illustrations, created with pencil, gouache, and colored pencil, capture the city neighborhood and the movement of the soccer games. mjw |
Title: Madani’s Best Game Author: Fran Pintadera Illustrator: Raquel Catalina Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2022 Original Language: Spanish Translator: Lawrence Schimel Original Title: La mejor jugada de Madani Original Publisher: Ediciones Ekare. Barcelona, Spain Original Copyright: 2021 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5597-8 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Picture book, Sports fiction Book setting: Spain Author’s ethnicity: Spanish Author’s residence: Spain Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Spain Subjects: Immigrant life, Love, Poverty, Sewing machines, Shoes, Soccer, Teamwork, Values |
Our Own Little Paradise
![]() On the last day of sixth grade, all of Nora’s classmates tell about their exciting summer plans – Italy, Croatia, Florida, Denmark, Paris, Portugal, and Spain. Nora lies and tells the class that she is going to the tropics. She keeps the lie growing through social media. The problem is that a new boy, Wilmer, has moved into the neighborhood and finds out that she has not gone to the tropics. Nora and Wilmer secretly build their own “tropics” in an abandoned apartment. By the end of summer, her whole class finds out that she lied, but the resolution is satisfyingly happy. This wonderful middle age story, with short chapters, addresses the struggles of trying to fit in, finding true friends, and different social classes. mjw |
Title: Our Own Little Paradise Author: Marianne Kaurin Publisher: Arctis Books. Stamford, CT, USA Copyright: 2022 Original Language: Norwegian Translator: Olivia Lasky Original Title: Syden Original Publisher: H. Aschehoug and Co. (W. Nygaard) AS Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-64690-018-3 Hardcover pages: 300 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction, Novel Book setting: Norway Author’s ethnicity: Norwegian Author’s residence: Oslo. Norway Translator’s ethnicity: US Translator’s residence: Oslo, Norway Awards: 2021 German Youth Literature Prize Subjects: First love, Holidays, Lies, Peer pressure, Relationships, Social media, Summer, Vacations |
My Name Is Bana
![]() Seven-year-old Bana, a Syrian girl from Aleppo, took to Twitter to describe her war-torn home. In this picture book memoir, she offers her perspective on the war and being a refugee. She explains the origin of her name. Bana is a tall bushy tree that grows in Syria. Her father and mother wanted her to be strong just like the tree – being kind to others, standing up against injustice, and being brave in the face of fear. She also shows her strength by bringing joy to her brothers amidst bombings, starting over in a new country, and speaking to world leaders on behalf of Syrian refugee children. The illustrations rendered in acrylic paint and finished in procreate are emotional and bright. Arabic words are smoothly integrated into the text. An author’s note tells that the book is based on a true story. mjw |
Title: My Name Is Bana Author: Bana Alabed Illustrator: Nez Riaz Publisher: Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2021 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1534412484 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture book, Autobiography Book setting: Syria and Turkey Author’s ethnicity: Syrian Author’s residence: Turkey Illustrator’s ethnicity: Pakistani Illustrator’s residence: Boston, MA Awards: 2022 NCSS Notable Books Subjects: Autobiography, Biography, Children’s writings, Human rights, Refugee children, Syria – Civil War, Trees |
The Library Bus
![]() Author Bahram Rahman grew up in Afghanistan during the civil war and Taliban regime of 1996-2001. His story was inspired by the first library bus in Kabul that brought books to girls in remote villages and refugee camps who had no other access to education. Five-year-old Pari is starting her first day as her mother’s helper on the library bus. The girls in the villages and camps are learning English, but Pari cannot even read or write in Farsi yet. She is lucky that she will attend school next year. Her mother had to learn in secret because not long ago, girls were forbidden to read. The captivating watercolor and digital media artwork portrays the girls’ smiling faces, the rich landscape of Afghanistan, and the power of education. Included are notes about refugee camps and the author’s experiences in Kabul. mjw |
Title: The Library Bus Author: Bahram Rahman Illustrator: Gabrielle Grimard Publisher: Pajama Press. Toronto Copyright: 2020 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77278-101-4 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture book Book setting: Kabul, Afghanistan Author’s ethnicity: born in Kabul, Afghanistan Author’s residence: Ontario, Canada Illustrator’s ethnicity: born in Montreal Illustrator’s residence: Canada Awards: 2021 Governor General’s Literary Award, 2021 Middle East Book Award Winner, 2021 Sout Asian Book Award – Highly recommended book Subjects: Books, Education, Libraries, Homelessness, Middle East, Poverty, Reading, Refugees |
Born Behind Bars
![]() Nine-year-old, low-caste Kabir was born in jail in Chennai, India, because his mom is serving time for a crime she didn’t commit. He ends up living on the streets when a new warden decides that he is too old to still be living in jail. He meets Rani, a Roma girl, who helps him survive in the harsh, ugly outside world. He eventually finds his grandparents and a helpful lawyer who gets his mother released from jail. This story told through the lens of a young boy is both educating and entertaining. Kabir is brave and optimistic. Like Venkatraman’s other books, A Time To Dance, Climbing The Stairs, and The Bridge Home, this book is unforgettable. mjw |
Title: Born Behind Bars Author: Padma Venkatraman Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC Copyright: 2021 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0593-11247-2 Hardcover pages: 273 Age range: 10 up Genre: Fiction, Novel Book setting: Chennai, India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: U.S. Awards: 2022 NCSS Notable Books, 2022 South Asia Award Winner Subjects: Homelessness, India, Poverty, Prejudice, Prisoners’ families, School, Street children |
Last Witnesses (Adapted for Young Adults)
![]() A very helpful Historical Context sets the scene for 65 short personal narratives told by those who were Russian children during World War II and survived terrifying war-time experiences. Nobel Prize-winning Svetlana Alexievich discloses the traumatic memories of children who were separated from their parents, most of them never to be reunited. This is the young adult adaptation of her masterpiece, Last Witness: An Oral History of the Children of WWII. The Russian perspective stories are fascinating as they portray terror, survival, and hope. The book also features a useful glossary. mjw |
Title: Last Witnesses (Adapted for Young Adults) Author: Svetlana Alexievich Publisher: Penguin Random House LLC Copyright: 2021 Original Language: Russian Translator: Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky Original Title: Last Witnesses: An Oral History Of The Children Of WWII Original Publisher: Molodaya Gvardiya, Moscow Original Copyright: 1985 ISBN: 978-0-593-30853-0 Hardcover pages: 288 Age range: 12-17 Genre: Information book, Nonfiction, Oral history Book setting: Russia Author’s ethnicity: Ukrainian Author’s residence: Soviet Union, Belarus, Western Europe Awards: Author has won the 2015 Nobel Prize for Literature. 2022 NCSS Notable Books Subjects: Childhood, Death, Historical biographies, Hope, Military history, Oral history, Resilience, Survival, Terror, WWII, Young adult |