Tag Archives: Families

Mina Vs. The Monsoon

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Mina, a young girl living in India, really wants to go outdoors to play soccer, but it’s monsoon season and she has to stay in.  Her mother prepares to celebrate the monsoon by making chai and samosas.  Mina plays her tabla (drum) to cheer herself up.  The doodh wallah (milkman) explains how important rain is for the rice paddies, but Mina is still sad.  When her mother asks her to get thread for stringing flower garlands, Mina discovers her mother’s soccer jersey. As her mother explains that she used to play soccer, the dark clouds disappear and they head outside together.  The bold, bright illustrations accompany the energetic text.  The book concludes with a glossary of Urdu and Hindi words and a note to parents and educators. mjw

Title: Mina Vs. The Monsoon Author: Rukhsanna Guidrozz Illustrator: Debasmita Dasgupta Publisher: Yali Books, New York Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-949528-98-5 Hardcover pages: 38 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture book Book setting: Bijar and Jharkhand, India Author’s ethnicity: Persian-Indian-Chinese Author’s residence: Hawaii Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: Singapore Subjects: Drums, Girls and women, Monsoons, Peacocks, Soccer

We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga

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Cherokee people say otsaliheliga to express gratitude. Journey through the seasons with a Cherokee family as cool breezes blow and colored leaves fall during uligohvsdi– fall.  As bears sleep deep and snow blankets the ground in gola– winter, the elders share stories and savor buttery bean bread and steamy hominy soup.  In spring – gogeyi, they say otsaliheliga while men sing asking for rain’s protection of the emerging sprouts that women tend.  And as the crops mature, they celebrate the first harvest at the Green Corn Ceremony in gogi – summer.  Every day, every season, they are grateful. Cherokee words are smoothly integrated into the text, which is illustrated with bright gouache paintings. Definitions, an author’s note, and the Cherokee syllabary are included. mjw

Title: We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga Author: Traci Sorell Illustrator: Frane Lessac Publisher: Charlesbridge. Watertown, MA Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English, Cherokee Translator: Mr. Feeling ISBN: 978-1580897723 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: U.S. Author’s ethnicity: Cherokee Author’s residence: Kansas City Illustrator’s residence: Monsterrat, London, Australia Awards:  2019 NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor, 2020 ALA American Indian Youth Award Subjects: Cherokee Indians, Cherokee language, Multicultural, Native Americans, Religion Seasons

Someone Like Me: How One Undocumented Girl Fought For Her American Dream

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National bestselling author Julissa Arce tells of her journey from Taxco, Mexico, to growing up undocumented in Texas.  As a young girl, she, her two sisters, her nanny, and her grandmother were left behind in Taxco for months at a time, while her parents worked in America, hoping to build a home for the family.  At age eleven, her parents brought her to Texas where she secretly lived as an undocumented immigrant.  She worked tirelessly, achieved academic excellence, overcame cultural barriers, and ultimately climbed to a successful career on Wall Street. Eight pages of black and white photographs complement this compelling story. mjw

Title: Someone Like Me: How One Undocumented Girl Fought For Her American Dream Author: Julissa Arce Publisher: Little, Brown and Company Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-316-48174-8 Hardcover pages: 240 Age range: 11-14 Genre: Autobiography Book setting: Mexico, Texas Author’s ethnicity: Mexican Author’s residence: Los Angeles, U.S. Subjects: Biography, Illegal aliens, Immigrants, Mexican American women, Social justice, Texas

Buried Beneath The Baobab Tree

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Based on interviews with young women who were kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014, this powerful novel tells the story of young YaTa and her dreams that became nightmares.  The terrorist group attacked her village and killed most of her family.  Before the abduction, she had a promising future of getting a university scholarship and becoming a teacher.  The book is written in poetic vignettes that tell how the girls were forced to follow their captors’ radical beliefs.  The narrator was forced to marry a man who used her for her body. But she refused to be brainwashed.  An enlightening afterword by Italian journalist Viviana Mazza gives more information about the kidnapping.  References and resources are also included. mjw

Title: Buried Beneath The Baobab Tree Author: Adobe Tricia Nwaubani Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-06-269672-4 Hardcover pages: 336 Age range: 14 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Nigeria Author’s ethnicity: Nigerian Author’s residence: Abuja, Nigeria Subjects: Africa, Girls, Human rights, Prejudice and racism, Survival, Violence

Toshi’s Little Treasures

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In this search-and–find information book, young Toshi and his grandmother explore six of their favorite places – the riverbank, the city, the forest, the country, the park, and the beach. Toshi finds treasures to add to his growing collection in his new backpack. He finds a pussy willow branch, a dog whistle, a partridge feather, a glittery rock, a coin, and much more. Each scene is featured in a double-page spread, followed by matching activity pages where readers can identify Toshi’s treasures and match them to related items. Answers at the back of the book give additional interesting facts. The animals they find are also presented. Charming, delicate watercolor art adds to the fun. mjw

Title: Toshi’s Little Treasures Author: Nadine Robert Illustrator: Aki Publisher: Kids Can Press Copyright: 2016 Original Language: French Translator: Yvette Ghione Original Title: Le grand livre des petits trésors Original Publisher: Comme des Geants, Inc. Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-77138-573-2 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book, Information Book Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Montreal, Quebec Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: Paris, France Subjects: Grandmothers, Habitats, Nature, Natural history

Snow

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Walter de la Mare’s gentle poem has illustrations of a family preparing for Christmas, done in screen prints with a limited, muted palette.  The family decorates their home, goes to bed, and waits for Santa Claus to arrive.  The children wake up to presents, going sledding, and making a snowman.  The text is perfect for the illustrations.  The book makes a beautiful winter bedtime story. mjw

Title: Snow Author: Walter de la Mare (1873-1956) Illustrator: Carolina Rabei Publisher: Faber & Faber Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Faber & Faber, Bloomsbury House. London Original Copyright: 2014.  The poem “Snow” was first published in Peacock and Pie in 1924 ISBN: 978-0-571-31219-1 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5 up Genre: Poetry Author’s ethnicity: British Illustrator’s ethnicity: Moldova Illustrator’s residence: England Subjects: Christmas, Santa Claus, Snow, Weather

A Dog Named Haku: A Holiday Story From Nepal

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In Kathmandu, Nepal, courageous dogs are honored on Divali, the Hindu holiday called the Festival of Lights.  Brothers Alu and Bhalu have been searching in the earthquake ruins for a stray dog, a kukur, to celebrate. They finally spot a small black dog, who is in need of a home.  The illustrations that were created with a combination of hand drawing and digital imagery add to the simple text.  A glossary of Nepali words, a list of sources to learn more about Nepal, and another list of suggested activities are included.  mjw

Title: A Dog Named Haku: A Holiday Story From Nepal Author: Margarita Engle with Amish Karanjit and Nicole Karanjit Illustrator: Ruth Jeyaveeran Publisher: Millbrook Press. Minneapolis Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1512432053 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Kathmandu, Nepal Author’s ethnicity: Engle – Cuban, Karanjit – born in Nepal Author’s residence: San Francisco, CA Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Zambia, Africa to Indian parents Illustrator’s residence: U.S. Awards: Engle is the 2018  United States Young Peoples Poet Laureate Subjects: Brothers Divali. Dogs, Holidays. Nepal

Astrid The Unstoppable

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Nicknamed “the little thunderbolt,” ten-year-old Astrid likes to spend her days skiing, sledding, singing, and drinking hot chocolate with her grumpy best friend and godfather, Gunnvald.  She is the only child living in the village of Glimmerdal and she wishes there were other children in the town.  When two children unexpectedly show up, and then another strange woman appears, Astrid’s life suddenly gets very exciting.  This hilarious book will charm fans of Pippi Longstocking and Heidi. A map of Glimmerdal sets the scene. mjw

Title: Astrid The Unstoppable Author: Maria Parr Illustrator: Katie Harnett Publisher: Candlewick Press Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Norwegian Translator: Guy Puzey Original Title: Tonje Glimmerdal Original Publisher: Det Norske Samlaget. Oslo Original Copyright: 2009 ISBN: 978-1-5362-0017-1 Hardcover pages: 320 Age range: 9-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Norway Author’s ethnicity: Norwegian Author’s residence: Norway Translator’s ethnicity: Grew up in Scotland Translator’s residence: Scotland Subjects: Girls, Humor, Norway, Rural children, Songs

The Bridge Home

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Eleven-year-old Viji and her younger sister Rukku who has intellectual and developmental disabilities have run away into the harsh streets of Chennai to get away from their abusive father.  The girls find shelter and friends on an abandoned bridge.  Two homeless boys, Muthi and Arul, and the girls survive by scavenging the city’s garbage heaps and by selling the bead necklaces that Rukku makes.  The four bond into a family of sorts.  They are often hungry and scared, but they have each other and their dog Kutti. When the rainy season comes, Rukku and Muthi get sick and Viji and Arul have to make decisions about who they can trust to help them.  The courage and strength of the children is an inspiration. mjw

Title: The Bridge Home Author: Padma Venkatraman Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-5247-3811-2 Hardcover pages: 208 Age range: 10-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Chennai, India Author’s ethnicity: Born in Chennai, India Author’s residence: U.S. Awards: 2020 South Asia Book Award Subjects: Asia, Domestic violence, Homelessness, Lower caste children, Runaways, Sisters

Mary Poppins

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Based on the original 1934 novel by P.L. Travers, this picture book version has beautiful soft pastel and colored pencil illustrations that take readers back to Number Seventeen Cherry Tree Lane in London to meet Mary Poppins and the Banks children.  There is a tea party on the ceiling, a visit to the night zoo, and a trip to the star shop.  This is the perfect introduction to everyone’s favorite nanny. mjw

Title: Mary Poppins Author: P.L.Travers (1899-196), adapted ny Amy Novesky Illustrator: Genevieve Godbout Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English Original Copyright:  1934 ISBN: 978-1-328-91677-8 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture Book, Fantasy Book setting: London Author’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born and raised in Quebec Illustrator’s residence: Montreal Subjects: Fantasy; London, England: Magic: Nannies

When Morning Comes

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It is Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1976, and there is a secret movement of students plotting against the apartheid government.  This compelling account is written from the points of view of four young people in Soweto, the black township.  Zanele is the black female student organizer.  She works as a nightclub singer.  Meena is a South Asian girl who works in her father’s shop.  Jack is an affluent white student, who is about to go to Oxford and Thabo is a teen gang member.  The Soweto Uprising was the beginning of the end of apartheid.  A historical note and a glossary are very helpful. mjw

Title: When Morning Comes Author: Arushi Raina Publisher: Tradewind Books, Vancouver Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English  Original Publisher: Tradewind Books Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-1-926890-14-2 Paperback pages: 232 Age range: 14 up Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa Author’s ethnicity: Grew up in Johannesburg Author’s residence: Canada Awards: 2018 Children’s Africana Book Award for Older Readers Subjects: Ant-apartheid movements, High school students, Race relations, Resistance to government

40 Things I Want To Tell You

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Amy (a.k.a. Bird) writes an online advice column full of top tips for teens.  She has trouble taking her own advice.  She seems to have the perfect boyfriend, best friend, parents, and future at Oxford University.  But after one mistake, everything falls apart and her life changes forever. The book is beautifully written and hard to put down. mjw

Title: 40 Things I Want To Tell You Author: Alice Kuipers Publisher: Harper Trophy, Canada Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-44340-588-1 Paperback pages: 304 Age range: 14 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: London, England Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Saskatoon Awards: Saskatchewan Book Award for Young Adult Literature  Subjects: Blogs, Teenagers, Teen pregnancy