Tag Archives: Families

The Three Musketeers

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This beautifully illustrated adaptation of the classic French novel by Alexandre Dumas will introduce young readers to Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and their friend D’Artagnan, whose dream is to become one of the king’s elite guardsmen the Musketeers. In seventeenth century France, they learn that loyalty and friendship are the most important values. “One for all and all for one!” Vibrant watercolor effects enhance this ambitious retelling. mjw

Title: The Three Musketeers Author: Benedicte Riviere.  Adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas Illustrator: Camille Andre Publisher: Auzou Publishing. Paris, France Copyright: 2016 Original Language: French Original Title: Les Tres Mousquetaires Original Publisher: Auzou Publishing. Paris, France Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-2-7338-4326-0 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 8 up Genre: Picture Book, Historical Fiction Book setting: France Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: Paris, France Subjects: Action, Adventure, France, History, Louis xiii, Swordsmen

The Warli People

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The Warli people lived in ancient India around 2500 BCE. They hunted, fished, and harvested salt from the sea. The women were artists who painted scenes of day-to-day activities on the walls of their mud-brick houses. The artwork in the book , in the Warli style, depicts seasons, the forest, animals, trees, food, a festival, and a wedding day. It is interesting that no mythological characters or deities are shown. The Warli people celebrated life’s joyous moments. Back matter includes a note on the people and their artwork, a timeline of events, key terms and concepts, and information on the rise of civilization. mjw

Title: The Warli People Author: Hye-eun Shin Illustrator: Su-bi Jeong Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. Grand Rapids, MI Copyright: 2017 Original Language: Korean Editor: Joy Cowley Original Publisher: Yeowon Media Co. Ltd. Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5476-6 Paperback pages: 36 Age range: 6-10 Genre: Picture Book, Information Book Book setting: India Author’s ethnicity: Korean Illustrator’s ethnicity: Korean Subjects: Agriculture, Community, Harvest, Indic people, Monsoon, Wedding

Good Night Hockey Fans

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A young boy would rather stay up watching the hockey game than go to bed. He’s worried that he won’t be able to go to sleep. As he listens on a radio he keeps under his pillow, he drifts off to sleep. He dreams that he is part of the action and that he scores the winning goal. This delightful bedtime story is illustrated in gouache and edited digitally in blues and greens. mjw

Title: Good Night Hockey Fans Author: Andrew Larsen Illustrator: Jacqui Lee Publisher: Kids Can Press Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77138-105-5 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Toronto, Canada Illustrator’s residence: London, England Subjects: Bedtime, Dreams, Hockey, Sleep

A Dog Wearing Shoes

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Mini and her mother find a silly lost dog on their way home one day. Mini is determined to keep him even though he is wearing yellow shoes and probably belongs to someone. When the dog runs off again, Mini realizes that she needs to find his real owner. The whimsical artwork is rendered in pencil and colored digitally with splashes of red and yellow. Information on how to adopt a dog and suggested websites complement the cute, heartwarming story. mjw

Title: A Dog Wearing Shoes Author: Sangmi Ko Illustrator: Sangmi Ko Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books, an imprint of Random House, New York Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-385-38396-7 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Korean Author’s residence: Seoul, South Korea Illustrator’s ethnicity: Korean Illustrator’s residence: Seoul, South Korea Subjects: Dogs, Lost and found possessions, Lost articles, Shoes

Can I Build Another Me?

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Young Kevin decides to make a clone of himself to do all the things he really doesn’t want to do, like homework, but it becomes very difficult when he considers what actually makes him. In pondering his individuality, he looks at facts about himself, his likes and dislikes, growing up, what others think about him, what he knows, and much more. He concludes that “thinking about yourself isn’t always easy, but it can be fun.” Quirky line drawings in greens and golds add humor to this philosophical comic-style book. mjw

Title: Can I Build Another Me? Author: Shinsuke Yoshitake Illustrator: Shinsuke Yoshitake Publisher: Thames and Hudson Ltd.  London Copyright: 2016 Original Language: Japanese Original Publisher: Bronze Publishing, Inc. Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-0-500-65078-3 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 8 up Genre: Picture book, Graphic novel Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Japan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: Japan Subjects: Cloning, Comics, Identity, Inventions, Robots, Self

Peter Pan

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Peter Pan is a mischievous and free-spirited young boy who can fly and who never grows up. He kidnaps three ordinary children, Wendy Darling and her two brothers, and the adventures begin. They fly to Neverland and interact with the Lost Boys, fairies, pirates, mermaids, Indians, and Captain Hook. Enchanting, delicate paintings bring the classic story to life. mjw

Title: Peter Pan Author: J.M. Barrie (1860-1937) Illustrator: Silke Leffler Publisher: NorthSouth Books Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English Original Title: Peter Pan, Or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up Original Copyright: 1904 ISBN: 978-0-7358-4259-5 Hardcover pages: 176 Age range: 9 up Genre: Fiction, Fantasy Book setting: England Author’s ethnicity: Scottish Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Austria Illustrator’s residence: Lake Constance at the border of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland Subjects: Fairies, Flying, Neverland, Pirates

Father’s Road

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Wong Chung joins his father’s caravan on a journey on the Silk Road from China to Constantinople. The trip is full of dangers – rough terrain and weather and bandits. He learns to ration water, care for the camels, and endure a sandstorm. He even takes care of the bandit leader’s son. Sand colored illustrations vividly depict travel on the Silk Road. Included are a map of the long desert road, information about the Silk Road and global trade, a timeline, and a list of key terms and concepts. The book is part of the Tradewinds series that presents historical information in a fun, accessible way. mjw

Title: Father’s Road Author: Ji-yun Jang Illustrator: Tan Jun Publisher: Eerdman’s Books for Young Readers.  Grand Rapids, Michigan Copyright: 2017 Original Language: Korean Editor: Joy Cowley Original Publisher: Yeomon Media Co. Ltd. Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5472-8 Paperback pages: 36 Age range: 6-10 Genre: Picture Book, Historical Fiction Book setting: Asia Illustrator’s ethnicity: Chinese Subjects: Asia, China, Commerce, Fathers and sons, Silk Road, Travel

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas

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Nine-year-old Bruno and his family leave Berlin in 1942 to take up residence near a concentration camp, where his father will be commandant. Unhappy and lonely, Bruno disobeys his parents and goes out exploring near his new home. He finds Shmuel, a Jewish boy, behind a barbed-wire fence. They become friends. They do not understand the true nature of the camp. Bruno wants to help Shmuel find his father, who has mysteriously disappeared. He sneaks into the camp, wearing a striped prisoners’’ outfit. The two boys are taken on a march with other inmates. Briuno’s family never sees Bruno again. This tenth anniversary edition of the book, told from Bruno’s point of view, features powerful illustrations. There is also a 2008 award-winning movie adaptation of this international bestseller. mjw

Title: The Boy In The Striped Pajamas Author: John Boyne Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, New York Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English Original Copyright: 2006 ISBN: 978-0-399-55931-0 Hardcover pages: 352 Age range: 12 up Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: Germany Author’s ethnicity: Irish Author’s residence: Dublin, Ireland Illustrator’s ethnicity: Irish Illustrator’s residence: New York Subjects: Auschwitz, Concentration camp, Holocaust, Jews, Nazis, Poland, World War II

One Half From The East

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Ten-year-old Obayda’s father lost one of his legs in a bomb explosion and the family is in need of some good fortune. They move from Kabul to s small village. Obayda is dressed as a boy, a bacha posh. This is a longstanding tradition in Afghanistan. Families without a son designate a preteen daughter to fill the void with a simple physical transformation involving swapping clothes and cutting hair. Before she reaches puberty, she is changed back and resumes life as a girl, a gender that enjoys far less freedom and privilege. Obayda becomes Obayd and everything changes. She meets Rashim, another bacha posh. They become friends, explore the village, and play sports, but there is no forever as a bacha posh. This heart-stirring and enlightening coming-of-age story includes an author’s note. mjw

Title: One Half From The East Author: Nadia Hashimi Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English  ISBN: 978-0-06-242190-6 Hardcover pages: 272 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Afghanistan Author’s ethnicity: Afghan Author’s residence: U.S. Awards: 2017 South Asia Book Award Highly Commended Subjects: Bacha posh, Child marriage, Gender, Prejudice and racism, Self-esteem and self-reliance

Birthdays Around The World

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Birthday celebrations of seventeen kids from around the world are shared in this fun information book. Shinobu from Japan dresses in a kimono. Mercedes in Peru eats cake and purple pudding called mazamorra morada. Alana and Kainoa have a luau in Hawaii. And Dimitry in Russia eats blini with caviar and dumplings. A note to parents and teachers gives activities for children, like locating the countries mentioned on a map, sending cards, and making a birthday paper chain. A glossary is included. The author has also written Children Around the World, Families Around the World, and School Days Around the World. mjw

Title: Birthdays Around The World Author: Margriet Ruurs Illustrator: Ashley Barron Publisher: Kids Can Press.  Toronto, Canada Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77138-624-1 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book, Information Book Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: British Columbia Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Toronto, Ontario Subjects: Birthdays, Celebrations

The Little Black Fish

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An old fish tells the story of Little Black Fish to her 12,000 children and grandchildren. Little Black Fish leaves the safety of his small stream to venture out and see the world. He meets many different creatures along the way, including the dreaded pelican and the helpful lizard. Little Black Fish has big questions and is determined to find answers. He makes it to the edge of the sea and finds his answers, though he does not survive. He learns about life, dangers, enemies, and friends. This famous Iranian children’s story is considered to be a political allegory and was banned in pre-revolutionary (1978) Iran. mjw

Title: The Little Black Fish Author: Samad Behrangi (1939-1967) Illustrator: Farshid Mesghali Publisher: Tiny Owl Publishing Ltd.  London, England Copyright: 2015 Original Language: Persian Translator: Azita Rassi Original Publisher: Kanoun Par Varesh Fekri.  Tehran, Iran Original Copyright: 1968 ISBN: 978-1-910328-00-2 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 9 up Genre: Fiction, Allegory Author’s ethnicity: Iranian Author’s residence: Author lived in Iran Illustrator’s ethnicity: Iranian Illustrator’s residence: U.S. Awards: Illustrator has won 1974 Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustration Subjects: Coming of age, Fishes, Freedom, Independence

Mrs. White Rabbit

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The wife of the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland describes her busy day and her children in her diary. Beatrix, the eldest, wants to be a supermodel and refuses to eat. There are two pages of 100 ways to cook carrots, but not one will do. The twins are wise and thoughtful boys sitting on their chamber pots. Betty is concerned about starting school. Little Eliot insists on wearing a bunny costume for Halloween and the baby cries all day. The wonderful detailed illustrations make the book. We see Alice’s foot, a portrait of John Tenniel, the Cheshire cat, the Caterpillar, Humpty Dumpty, and much more. Look for mad prices at the hat shop and Lewis Carroll’s photograph of the real Alice Liddell in the window of C. L. Dodgson Photographer. This modern twist is perfect for fans of the Alice books. mjw

Title:  Mrs. White Rabbit Author: Giles Bachelet Illustrator: Giles Bachelet Publisher: Eerdmans Books for young Readers. Grand Rapids, MI Copyright: 2017 Original Language: French Original Title: Madame le Lapin Blanc Original Publisher: Editions du seuil Original Copyright: 2012 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5483-4 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 6-10 Genre: Fiction, Fairytale, Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: France Subjects: Alice in Wonderland, Characters in literature, Diaries, Fairytales, Folktales Housewives, Humor, Rabbits