Tag Archives: Families

Girl Of The Southern Sea

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Fourteen-year-old Nia lives in the slums of Jakarta, Java, with her father and her little brother. She dreams of attending high school and becoming a writer, but school is too expensive.  Her father runs a banana fritter cart near the railway station, but the money he makes usually just supports his drinking habit.  He is an unhappy and weak man who disappears for days, so Nia has to raise her little brother.  A series of unfortunate events leads to Nia’s father’s plan to marry Nia off to a much older man.  Nia overcomes all the obstacles and determines her own future.  A map of Indonesia and a glossary are included. mjw

Title: Girl Of The Southern Sea Author: Michelle Kadarusman Publisher: Pajama Press, Toronto Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77278-081-9 Hardcover pages: 224 Age range: 9-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Jakarta, Java, Indonesia Author’s ethnicity: Grew up in Melbourne, has lived in Indonesia Author’s residence: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Awards: 2020 USBBY Outstanding International Book List Subjects: Asian literature, Authors, Fantasy, Homelessness, Mythology, Poverty, Self-esteem and self-reliance, Slums, Teenage marriage

My Sweet Orange Tree

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Zeze, a precocious five-year-old born to a poor family in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, taught himself to read at a very young age and wants to grow up to be “a poet with a bow tie.” Zeze is a naughty child with a heart of gold.  He plays clever pranks on his neighbors and is punished severely for them by his parents. Imaginative Zeze adopts a small orange tree that grows in his yard as his magical friend.  Inspired by the author’s childhood, the book is a Brazilian classic, adopted by schools and adapted for cinema, television, and the stage. It has been translated into nineteen languages. mjw

Title: My Sweet Orange Tree Author: Jose Mauro De Vasconcelos (1920-1984) Publisher: Candlewick Press Copyright: 2019 Original Language: Portuguese Translator: Alison Entrekin Original Title: Meu pe de laranja lima Original Publisher: Editora melhoramentos Ltda, Brazil Original Copyright: 1968 ISBN: 978-1-5362-0328-8 Hardcover pages: 272 Age range: 14-17 Genre: Autobiographical novel Book setting: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Author’s ethnicity: Brazilian Subjects: Abuse, Imagination, Magic, Orange trees, Poverty

Bounce Back: Zayd Saleem, Chasing The Dream

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This is the third in a series about Pakistani-American fourth-grade basketball player Zayd Saleem. An ankle injury leaves him on the sidelines just as he is about to become team captain of the Gold Team. He is on the bench for several weeks and worries about how he can help his team win the championship.  Meanwhile, at home, his family is preparing Pakistani wedding festivities for his uncle. Specific cultural information is smoothly integrated into this universal story.  Black and white drawings enhance the text. mjw

Title: Bounce Back: Zayd Saleem, Chasing The Dream Author: Hena Khan Illustrator: Sally Wern Comport Publisher: Salaam Reads, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-534412057 Hardcover pages: 144 Age range: 7-11 Genre: Fiction Author’s ethnicity: Pakistani-American Author’s residence: Rockville, Maryland. U.S. Illustrator’s ethnicity: U.S. Illustrator’s residence: U.S. Subjects: Basketball, Family life,Leadership, Middle schools, Muslims, Urdu, Weddings

I’m An Immigrant Too!

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This book uses poetry to guide the reader though the journeys of several young people, as they immigrate from various countries around the world to Australia. Brightly colored computer graphics set the tone marvelously for this story of perseverance and hope. mm

Title: I’m An Immigrant Too! Author: Mem Fox Illustrator: Ronojoy Ghosh Publisher: Beach Lane Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-1-5344-3602-2 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture book Author’s ethnicity: Australian Author’s residence: Adelaide, Australia Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: Sydney, Australia Subjects: Australia, Family, Immigrants

The Secret Of The Blue Glass

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In the library, in a house in a Tokyo suburb, live the Little People: Fern and Balbo, Robin and Iris. Just a few inches high, a beloved nanny brought them from England to the Moriyama family in Japan. Since then, each generation of the Moriyama family children take care of the Little People by filling the blue glass goblet daily with milk to feed them.  Now it is Yuri Moriyama’s turn.  When World War II comes to Japan, and the older Moriyama brother becomes a fanatic nationalist, the family is divided.  Yuri and a loyal pigeon keep the Little People safe.  This tender fantasy story is full of adventure, hardship, and cultural revelations. mjw

Title: The Secret Of The Blue Glass Author: Tomiko Inui (1924-2002) Publisher: Pushkin Children’s Books.  London Copyright: 2015 Original Language: Japanese Translator: Ginny Tapley Takemori Original Title: Kokage No Ie No Kobitotachi (Yuri And The Little People) Original Publisher: Fukuinkan Shoten Publishers.  Tokyo Original Copyright: 1967 ISBN: 978-1-782690-34-4 Paperback pages: 192 Age range: 12-16 Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy Book setting: Tokyo suburb Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Awards: 2019 Global Literature in Libraries Initiative Shortlist Subjects: Asian historical fiction, Libraries, Pigeons, World War II

Marwan’s Journey

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Marwen is a young boy and refugee who flees from starvation, poverty, and war. Along with thousands of other refugees, he takes an incredible journey across the desert and away from his homeland and culture. Marwen hopes to return to his home in the future and create a place that is safe, happy, and filled with hope. Brown, black, blue, red, and yellow watercolors combine in variations to establish scenes that reflect the ups and downs of Marwen’s journey. mm

Title: Marwan’s Journey Author: Patricia de Arias Illustrator: Laura Borrás Publisher: Michael Neugebauer Publishing ltd Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-988-8341-55-9 Hardcover pages: 36 Age range: 5-7 Genre: Picture book Author’s ethnicity: Spanish Author’s residence: Brazil Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Awards: 2019 USBBY Honor List of Outstanding International Books Subjects: Family, Hope, Refugees

No Ballet Shoes In Syria

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Eleven-year-old Aya has just arrived in Manchester, England, from Syria, with her Mumma and her baby brother.  She is an “asylum seeker, a would–be refugee, a poor little girl from Syria, a fatherless child from a war zone.” Her passion is dance.  One day she comes across a ballet class and the teacher recognizes her talent and thinks she might earn a position at the prestigious Northern Ballet School.  Aya is a powerful, brave character.  Her story engages in a series of flashbacks about her life in Syria.  There is a parallel story about her ballet teacher who had to flee the holocaust.  This incredibly moving, well-written story shows how dance transcends borders.  A map of Aya’s journey from Syria is included. mjw

Title: No Ballet Shoes In Syria Author: Catherine Bruton Publisher: Nosy Crow Ltd. U.K. Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English  ISBN: 978-1-78800-4-503 Paperback pages: 272 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Syria, Turkey, Greece, England Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: England Awards: 2020 Middle Eat Book Award for Youth Literature Subjects: Aleppo, Asylum seekers, Ballet, Dance, Prejudice and racism, Refugees

Rasha: Little Girl Big Heart

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Feisty fourteen-year-old Rasha is abandoned by her mother in a village far from their cosmopolitan Dhaka home, where she is forced to live with her aged and probably mad grandmother. The village has no electricity, heavy rains, and nosy neighbors. Rasha has to attend a primitive school with a bullying teacher.  She rises against her circumstances and exposes the teacher, stops a child marriage from happening, builds a boat so that she can get to school, and teaches her new school friends how to use a computer.  She even wins a science Olympiad. mjw

Title: Rasha: Little Girl Big Heart Author: Muhanned Zafar Iqbal Publisher: Puffin Books.  Penguin Random House India Copyright: 2016 Original Language: Bengali Translator: Arunava Sinha Original Title: Rashed Amar Bondhu Original Publisher: Tamralipi, Dhaka Original Copyright: 2010 ISBN: 978-780143434887 Paperback pages: 240 Age range: 12-15 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Bangladesh Author’s ethnicity: Bangladeshi Author’s residence: Bangladesh Translator’s ethnicity: Bangladeshi Translator’s residence: Bangladesh Awards: Translator has won the Crossword Prize for Translated Books.  The book is on the 2019 Global Literature in Libraries Initiative Award Shortlist Subjects: Bangladesh liberation war, Dhaka, East Pakistan, Freedom, Freedom fighters, Intergenerational

Ojiichan’s Gift

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Mayumi visits her grandfather (Ojiichan) in Japan every summer.  She helps him in his beautiful rock garden.  But one summer, everything changes.  Ojiichan has grown older and he cannot tend the garden any more.  Mayumi makes him a mini rock garden in a bento box. This is a heartwarming story about the bond of love.  The watercolor paintings are detailed and calming just like a Japanese rock garden. The Japanese words used in the story are explained in a brief glossary. mjw

Title: Ojiichan’s Gift Author: Chieri Uegaki Illustrator: Genevieve Simms Publisher: Kids Can Press. Toronto Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77138-963-1 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Japan Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: British Columbia Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Toronto, Ontario Subjects: Asia, Gardens, Multigenerational, Rock gardens

Borka: The Adventure Of A Goose With No Feathers

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Borka is the youngest of six geese born to Mr. and Mrs. Plumpster.  She has no feathers, so Mrs. Plumpster knits a gray woolen sweater for her. The other geese tease her.  She is left behind when the family migrates south for the winter because she cannot fly.  She makes friends with a dog named Fowler and a boat skipper named Captain McAllister, who takes Borka on his boat.  He brings her to Kew Gardens in London where she fits in nicely because there are so many kinds of strange birds there.  She meets Ferdinand and he and Borka live there happily.  The bold, richly textured illustrations complement this beautiful classic.  This is the 55thanniversary edition, back by popular demand. mjw

Title: Borka: The Adventure Of A Goose With No Feathers Author: John Burningham Illustrator: John Burningham Publisher: Candlewick Press. Somerville, MA Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Jonathan Cape, U.K. Original Copyright: 1963 ISBN: 978-1-5362-0040-9 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-7 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: England Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: North London, England Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: North London, England Awards: 1964 Kate Greenaway Medal Subjects: Birds, Dogs, Geese, Knitting

Step Up To The Plate, Maria Singh

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It is 1945, and with World War II going on, fifth-grader Maria Singh wants to play baseball.  When her teacher starts an all-girls team at her school, Maria is thrilled.  However she meets many challenges. Her father from India doesn’t want her wearing shorts.  Her mother form Mexico wants her to stay home to watch her younger brother.  Maria also wants to work to get the city council to approve a baseball field for her neighborhood.  And because her father isn’t a U.S. citizen, he can’t own their farm and the family is in danger of losing it.  As she learns about teamwork and baseball, she also learns about prejudice and racism in her community.  And most importantly, she learns to speak up and make a difference in her world.  This well-written, fascinating book, that covers a lot of social history, has great potential for the classroom.  mjw

Title: Step Up To The Plate, Maria Singh Author: Uma Krishnaswami Publisher: Tu Books, an imprint of Lee and Low Books.  New York Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-600602-61-0 Hardcover pages: 288 Age range: 9-12 Genre: Historical fiction Book setting: California Author’s ethnicity: born in New Delhi Author’s residence: Victoria, British Columbia Awards: 018 South Asia Book Award Subjects:East Indian Americans, Farm life, Mexican Americans, Prejudice, Racially mixed people, Racism, Sexism, Softball, World War II

This Is Me, Mayil

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This is the diary of spirited sixteen-year-old Mayil Ganeshan.  She is curious and intelligent and wants to be a writer.  Also included are her rhymes and doodles.  The diary feels natural and is third in a series. mjw

Title: This Is Me, Mayil Author: Niveditha Subramaniam and Sowmya Rajendran Illustrator: Niveditha Subramaniam Publisher: Tulika Publishers.  Chennai, India Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-93-5046-996-5 Paperback pages: 124 Age range: 13 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: India Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: India Subjects: Autobiography, Diary, Humor, Rhyme, Verse, Young adult