Tag Archives: Families

Alive Again

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A boy wonders if the blossoms that fall from trees will ever return. When there is no rain, will it rain again? If no wheat grows, will it grow again? And if no one goes on a journey, will there be new journeys? When spring comes, the boy’s father points out new blossoms, fresh rain, and born-again wheat. And tomorrow will be a day for a new journey. Striking collage artwork enhances this simple story about trust and understanding that will leave readers asking similar questions. mjw

Title: Alive Again Author: Ahmadreza Ahmadi Illustrator: Nahid Kazemi Publisher: Tiny Owl Publishing Ltd.  England Copyright: 2015 Original Language: Persian Translator: Azita Rassi Original Publisher: Salis Publisher. Tehran, Iran Original Copyright: 2013 ISBN: 978-1-910328-05-7 Hardcover pages: 24 Age range: 4-9 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Iranian Author’s residence: Iran Illustrator’s ethnicity: Iranian Illustrator’s residence: Montreal, Canada Awards: Author was shortlisted for the 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Award Subjects: Blossoms, Flowers, Journeys, Questions, Rain, Trust, Understanding, Wheat

Yokki And The Parno Gry

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This traditional Traveler-family folktale tells of Yokki, a young boy who inspires his hard-working family with a tale of a magical white horse. His family experiences hard times and there is no work to be had. They travel from town to town looking for work mending household objects and trying to sell wooden spoons and beautiful paper flowers that they make. At night, they gather around a fire to tell stories they have heard on their travels. Yokki tells the best story about the Parno Gry, which is a horse that comes to take them to a new and better land. Colorful and gentle detailed mixed media illustrations bring Yokki’s family to life in this imaginative Romani folktale. An author’s note gives information about Romani and Traveling People. mjw

Title: Yokki And The Parno Gry Author: Richard O’Neill and Katherine Quarmby Illustrator: Marieke Nelissen Publisher: Child’s Play Inc. Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-84643-927-8 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Romani (O’Neill) Author’s residence: England Illustrator’s ethnicity: Dutch Illustrator’s residence: Netherlands Subjects: Fairytales, Folktales, Gypsies, Horses, Mythical animals, Romanis, Storytelling, Traveling people

Macy McMillan And The Rainbow Goddess

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Sixth grader Macy McMillan, who is deaf, is facing big changes. Her house is for sale and her mother is about to remarry, adding a stepfather and six-year-old twin stepsisters. Macy’s mother has Macy go next door to help 86-year–old Iris Gillan pack, as Iris is moving into an assisted living facility. Iris doesn’t know sign language, but through notes, books, and cookies, Macy and Iris, the rainbow goddess, develop a beautiful friendship. This heartwarming story is written in free verse. There are many book references throughout, like The Tale of Despereaux, El Deafo, and Anne of Green Gables. mjw

Title: Macy McMillan And The Rainbow Goddess Author: Shari Green Publisher: Pajama Press Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77278-017-8 Paperback pages: 240 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction, Verse Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: British Columbia, Canada Awards: 2018 Schneider Family Book Award Subjects: Deaf children, Intergenerational, Special needs, Step families, Stories in verse

Indian Tales: A Barefoot Collection

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Eight traditional tales from all over the Indian Subcontinent are included in this colorful anthology. Each story is taken from a different region in India, from Punjab in the north to Tamil Nadu in the south. A “Welcome to India!” introduces the country and provides a map. Each tale is accompanied by two pages of information about the state – geography, history, food, dance, culture, traditions, and more. Bright, colorful folk style illustrations in gouache present story elements and frame the narratives. mjw

Title: Indian Tales: A Barefoot Collection Author: Shenaaz Nanji Illustrator: Christopher Corr Publisher: Barefoot Books, Cambridge, MA Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English  Original Publisher: Barefoot Books Original Copyright: 2007 ISBN: 978-1-78285-357-2 Paperback pages: 96 Age range: 7-10 Genre: Folktales, Fairytales Book setting: India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: Calgary, Canada Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: London Subjects: Anthologies, Gods and goddesses, Myths

The Way Home In The Night

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A young bunny is carried home through the dark, quiet streets by her mother. She can see the lights on in her neighbors’ windows and she wonders what they might be doing. The bookshop is closing for the night. Someone is on the phone. Someone else is baking a pie. And there is a party going on next door. When they reach home, the father rabbit tucks the bunny into bed, but the bunny continues to wonder about her neighbors’ activities until she finally falls asleep. Charming, soft-focus, mostly black and white illustrations rendered in pencil, charcoal, and acrylic gouache enrich this perfect bedtime story. mjw

Title: The Way Home In The Night Author: Akiko Miyakoshi Illustrator: Akiko Miyakoshi Publisher: Kids Can Press, Toronto Copyright: 2017 Original Language: Japanese Original Title: Yoru no Kaerimichi Original Publisher: Kaisei – Sha Publishing Co. Lyd. Tokyo Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-77138-663-0 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Japan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: Japan Awards: Author has won the Japan Picture Book Award Grand Prix Subjects: Bedtime, City life, Night, Rabbits, Sleep

Sputnik’s Guide To Life On Earth

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Prez lives with a foster family out in the country in Scotland. One day he answers the door to meet Sputnik. Sputnik is a strange kid wearing aviator goggles, a kilt, and a backpack. Everyone, but Prez, sees Sputnik as a dog. Prez hears English when everyone else hears barking. Sputnik claims to be from outer space on a mission to help save the world from destruction. He can manipulate the laws of space and time. Together they come up with ten reasons why the planet should be saved. This is a touching tale that is out of this world funny. mjw

Title: Sputnik’s Guide To Life On Earth Author: Frank Cottrell Boyce Publisher: Walden Pond Press, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Macmillan Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-0-06-264362-9 Hardcover pages: 336 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Scotland Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: England Awards: Shortlisted for the 2017 Carnegie Medal Subjects: Dogs, Fantasy, Foster homes, Grandfathers, Orphans, Science Fiction

The Librarian Of Auschwitz

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Fourteen-year-old Dita is imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz and selected to be the librarian of the eight smuggled books that the school possesses. There are also six “living books” that are stories remembered and told by other detainees at the Family Camp, Block 31. The school is a secret school, as teaching the children to read is forbidden. Spanish author Iturbe describes the horrors of the death camp in straightforward prose. This sophisticated novel with mature themes is based on the experiences of real life Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus. mjw

Title: The Librarian Of Auschwitz Author: Antonio Iturbe Publisher: Godwin Books, Henry Holt and Company Copyright: 2017 Original Language: Spanish Translator: Lilit Thwaites Original Title: La Bibliotecaria de Auschwitz Original Publisher: Editorial Planeta Original Copyright: 2012 ISBN: 978-1627796187 Hardcover pages: 432 Age range: 12 up Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: Poland Author’s ethnicity: Spanish Author’s residence: Spain Subjects: Books and reading, Concentration camps, Germany, Holocaust, Jews, Libraries

On A Magical Do-Nothing-Day

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In this magical picture book, a young child is lured away from technology to find fun in the forest. He is playing a game on his device destroying Martians until his mother takes it away from him. She hides the game, but he finds it and goes outside in a neon orange raincoat. He drops his computer console in a pond and then becomes captivated by what he finds – snails, squishy mushrooms, seeds, mud, icy rainwater, stones as clear as glass, and more. Soaked, he returns home, wanting to tell his mother what he has seen, felt, and tasted outside in the world. But he doesn’t tell her. Together they sit in the kitchen breathing in the smell of their hot chocolate. That’s all they did “on the magical do-nothing day.” The artist used gouache, oil, collage, and wax pencils to create the texture and details of nature in this breathtaking book. mjw

Title: On A Magical Do-Nothing-Day Author: Beatrice Alemagna Illustrator: Beatrice Alemagna Publisher: Harper Collins Copyright:  2017 Original Language: French Translator: Jill Davis Original Publisher: Albin Michel Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-0-06-275760-2 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Italian Author’s residence: Paris Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian Illustrator’s residence: Paris Awards: A New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book 2017 Subjects: Forest, Imagination and play, Parents, Rain and rainfall, Technology, Video games

Three Balls Of Wool (Can Change The World)

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Narrated by an eight-year-old child, a family moves from 1960s Fascist Portugal to Communist Czechoslovakia in search of a better future. But the new country is far from ideal. Graphic designs on pale gray paper capture the darkness of the new city. The buildings are gray boxes and everyone wears monotone, orange, green, or gray sweaters knit in the same pattern. The mother unravels the sweaters and mixes the colors and stitches, knitting different bold checks, zigzags, and stripes. A foreword by Amnesty International gives the history of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Back matter gives the history of Portugal from 1962 to 1974. Maps, as well  as the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights are included.  mjw

Title: Three Balls Of Wool (Can Change The World) Author: Henriqueta Cristina Illustrator: Yaro Kono Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books Copyright: 2017 Translator: Lyn Miller Lachman Original Title: Com 3 Novelos (O Mundo Da Muitas Voltas Original Publisher: Planeta Tangerina, Portugal Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-1-59270-220-6 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-9 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Portugal, Czechoslovakia Author’s ethnicity: Portuguese Author’s residence: Portugal Illustrator’s ethnicity: Brazilian Illustrator’s residence: Portugal Subjects: Europe, Knitting, Needlecrafts, Refugees

The Girl With A Brave Heart: A Tale From Tehran

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Shiraz drops her stepmother’s ball of red yarn from her balcony into the neighbor’s garden. Bravely, she knocks on the door of the house and is greeted by a wild old lady who will give back the yarn if Shiraz completes three chores. First, she is to smash everything in the kitchen. Next, she is to cut down all the plants in the overgrown garden. Finally, she is to cut the old lady’s dirty long hair. She sees the truth behind the lady’s words and instead, she cleans the kitchen and the garden and braids the old lady’s hair. Her yarn is returned and she receives the gift of beauty. Shiraz’s spoiled and impatient stepsister goes through the same routine, but does exactly what the old lady says and does not receive the gift of beauty. Richly colored illustrations in gouache brighten this tale’s message of the importance of listening to people’s hearts. mjw

Title: The Girl With A Brave Heart: A Tale From Tehran Author: Rita Jahanforuz Illustrator: Vali Mintzi Publisher: Barefoot Books. Cambridge, MA Copyright: 2013 Original Language: Hebrew  Original Publisher: Kinneret Zmora – Bitan Publishing Original Copyright: 2010 ISBN: 978-1-84686-931-0 Paperback pages: 40 Age range: 6-9 Genre: Picture book Book setting: Tehran Author’s ethnicity: Born in Tehran Author’s residence: Israel Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Romania Illustrator’s residence: Israel Subjects: Courage, Iran, Fairytales, Folktales, Kindness, Persia

Grandfather Whisker’s Table

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Young Enzo lives in Siena, Italy, during the Renaissance. He and his father attend the festival for the Palio di Siena horse race, where Enzo buys a toy woodpecker for his little brother. The piazza is so crowded that Enzo is afraid he will lose the toy. An old man named Grandfather Whiskers who loans and exchanges money at the festival agrees to keep the toy safe. He gives Enzo a receipt that Enzo must be careful not to lose. Stylized artwork enhances the story set in this period in the history of economy and culture. This installment in the Trade Winds series offers readers historical information about the first known bank. Back matter provides further information about the first banks, the city of Siena, and different currencies. A map, key terms and concepts, and a timeline are also included.  mjw

Title: Grandfather Whisker’s Table Author: Eun-jeong Jo Illustrator: Bimba Landmann Publisher: Eerdman”s Publishing Co.  Grand Rapids, MI Copyright: 2017 Original Language: Korean Editor:  Joy Cowley Original Publisher: Yeowon Media Co. Ltd. Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5474-2 Paperback pages: 36 Age range: 6-10 Genre: Picture book, Historical fiction Book setting: Siena, Italy Author’s ethnicity: Korean Author’s residence: South Korea Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian Illustrator’s residence: Milan, Italy Subjects: Banks and banking, History 15th century, Lost and found, Possessions

The Treasure Of Barracuda

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Eleven-year-old Sparks is a deck hand on the Southern Cross, a pirate ship led by Captain Barracuda. Sparks and the crew discover a book left by the infamous pirate, Phineas Johnson Krane, but they cannot read. The fifty-three zany pirates learn to read and decipher the book’s contents so they can go in search of Krane’s real hidden treasure. In this laugh-aloud story, the pirates learn that the most valuable treasures are reading, writing, and family. An extensive Barracuda’s Glossary is included. mjw

Title: The Treasure Of Barracuda Author: Llanos Campos Illustrator: Julia Sarda Publisher: Little Pickle Press, Inc. California Copyright: 2016 Original Language: Spanish Translator: Lawrence Schimel Original Title: El Tesoro de Barracuda Original Publisher: Ediciones SM Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-1-939775-14-6 Hardcover pages: 156 Age range: 9-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: The Caribbean Author’s ethnicity: Spanish Author’s residence: Spain Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Spain Awards: 2014 Barco de Vapor Award for Children’s Literature in Spain Subjects: Books, Pirates, Reading