Tag Archives: Families

On A Magical Do-Nothing-Day

 

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)

 

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

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

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

the-treasure-of-barracudaEleven-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

The Three Musketeers

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

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

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

A Dog wearing shoesMini 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?

Can I Build Another MeYoung 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

peter-panPeter 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

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