Tag Archives: Families

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas

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

Captain Jack And The Pirates

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A family day at the beach turns into a make-believe swashbuckling adventure for pre-schoolers Jack, Zack, and Caspar. They build a ship out of sand, chase pirates, become marooned on an island, discover a treasure – delicious desserts, and get captured by friendly pirates (their parents). The artwork is a mix of lively brown-tone sketches and pale watercolor paintings of the chubby-cheeked children. The trip between the car and the beach is documented on the endpapers. Told in rhyme, this delightful story is a perfect read-aloud. mjw

Title: Captain Jack And The Pirates
Author: Peter Bently
Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers, New York
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Puffin Books, Great Britain
Original Copyright: 2015
ISBN: 978-0525-429500
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 3-5
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: English
Author’s residence: Devon, England
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English
Illustrator’s residence: London, England
Awards: Illustrator has won two Kate Greenaway medals, Shortlisted for the 2016 CLIP Kate Greenaway Medal
Subjects: Adventure, Pirates, Sea stories, Stories in rhyme

The Ballad Of A Broken Nose

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Thirteen-year-old Bart Norum has had a hard life. He lives in public housing with his alcoholic mother, his neighbors are drug addicts, and he doesn’t know who is father is. He takes up boxing so that he can protect himself, but his real love is opera. His friend Ada, who cannot keep a secret, lets his classmates and teacher know about his passion and they want him to sing in the class talent show. But Bart suffers from paralyzing stage fright. Bart is an optimist and he tells his story about bravery, fear, sports, and music in a funny and matter-of-fact style. An interesting note is that Welsh baritone Bryn Terfel is Bart’s idol. mjw

Title: The Ballad Of A Broken Nose
Author: Arne Svingen
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, New York
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: Norwegian
Translator: Kari Dickson
Original Title: Sangen om en Brukkt Nese
Original Publisher: Gyldendal Norsk Forlag
Original Copyright: 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4814-1542-2
Hardcover pages: 224
Age range: 10-12
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Norway
Author’s ethnicity: Norwegian
Author’s residence: Norway
Awards: 2017 Mildred L. Batchelder Award, Norwegian Ministry of Culture’s Best Young Adult Literature Prize
Subjects: Boxing, Bullies, Drugs, Friendship, Music, Opera, Talent shows

The Sun Is Also A Star

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Natasha has hours left before she is deported to Jamaica. The logical aspiring scientist believes in facts and refuses to fall in love with someone she just met. Dreamer Daniel, who lives under the pressure of pleasing his Korean parents, believes Natasha is the one. That fate has made several events fall into place for them to meet. With all of the possible futures there are, will their one day in New York City lead to a future together? Yoon’s multiple points of view in narration brings to light a variety of perspectives and emotions of the human experience. ema

Title: The Sun Is Also A Star
Author: Nicola Yoon
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: English
Original Copyright: 2016
ISBN: 978-0553496680
Hardcover pages: 384
Age range: 14 and up
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Fiction
Authors’ ethnicity: American, Jamaican
Authors’ residence: Los Angeles
Awards: National Book Award finalist, Michael L. Printz Honor Book, and Coretta Scott King New Talent Award winner
Subjects: Immigration, Jamaican, Love, Multiple POVs, Poetry, Racism, Science, South Korean

The Pearl Thief

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This pre-war, prequel to Elizabeth Wein’s award- winning Code Name Verity tells the story of fifteen-year-old Julie before she becomes Verity. After her grandfather dies, leaving the family in debt, they are forced to sell the estate. Julie returns home to the estate for a last visit, finds herself with a bump on her head, and a mystery to solve. There is a fascinating cast of characters, including two young Scottish Travellers whose family has been camping on her grandfather’s land. This multi-layered coming of age story does stand alone, though it would be valuable for fans of Verity. A map and an author’s note are included. mjw

Title: The Pearl Thief
Author: Elizabeth Wein
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Copyright: 2017
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1484717165
Hardcover pages: 336
Age range: 12 up
Genre: Historical fiction
Book setting: Scotland
Author’s residence: Scotland
Subjects: Investigations, Missing persons, Murder, Mystery, Nomadic people, Prejudices, Scottish Travellers, Scotland – history

Leather Shoe Charlie

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Charlie and his family move from the country to Manchester where there is more work. They face many hardships, including pollution from the city’s factories. Charlie’s mother is ill from the lack of sun and clean air and she needs tea that will help her regain her strength. Charlie decides to sell his fine leather shoes that his grandfather made for him so that he has money to buy the tea for his mother. Charlie’s brightly colored shoes stand out against the gray/tan tones of the industrialized city. This moving story concludes with information about the Industrial Revolution in England, key terms and concepts, a map, and a timeline of events. mjw

Title: Leather Shoe Charlie
Author: Gyeong-hwa Kim
Illustrator: Anna Balbusso and Elena Balbusso
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Copyright: 2017
Original Language: Korean
Editor: Joy Cowley
Original Publisher: Yeowan Media Co Ltd.
Original Copyright: 2014
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5473-5
Paperback pages: 36
Age range: 6-10
Genre: Picture Book, Historical Fiction
Book setting: Manchester, England
Author’s ethnicity: Korean
Author’s residence: South Korea
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian
Illustrator’s residence: Milan, Italy
Subjects: Careers, Europe, Industrial Revolution, Jobs, Occupations

A Dog Like Sam

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Nine-year-old Kix and his younger sister Emilia discover a big white sheepdog in their front yard and want to adopt him. They name him Sam. The problem is that he belongs to loony Flint, their neighbor who is in a mental hospital following the failure of his farm. All is resolved in a dramatic scene where Kix states that Sam must decide where he wants to live. Lively pen and ink illustrations add to this moving and heartwarming tale. An author’s note gives background for the story. mjw

Title: A Dog Like Sam
Author: Edward van de Vendel
Illustrator: Philip Hopman
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young People
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: Dutch
Translator: David Colmer
Original Title: Toen Kwam Sam
Original Publisher: Em. Queridos Kinderboeken Uitgeverij
Original Copyright: 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5484-1
Hardcover pages: 111
Age range: 8-11
Genre: Fiction, illustrated novel
Author’s ethnicity: Dutch
Author’s residence: Netherlands
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Dutch
Illustrator’s residence: Netherlands
Awards: 2011, 2012 Author was nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award
Subjects: Dogs, Families, Pets

Karma

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Fifteen-year-old Maya is traveling with her Sikh father to bring her Hindu mother’s ashes to India. Arriving in 1984 on the eve of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination she is thrust into an India full of fear and chaos. She manages to escape the worst of the riots in Delhi but is separated from her father and must rely on others to help her navigate the dangers of India in 1984. Maya finds a companion in Sandeep a mysterious young man who helps her face an uncertain future. Written in verse, this fast paced historical fiction novel shows the harsh reality of Indian life in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination along with the troubles a young woman could have faced being alone in India. Ostlere shows the danger of the time but also honors the vibrancy of India through realistic details such as, warm chai being sold on the street, that will transport the reader directly into Indian culture. amo

Title: Karma
Author: Cathy Ostlere
Publisher: Razor Bill
Copyright: 2011
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-59514-384-6
Paperback pages: 534
Age range: 13 and up
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book setting: Canada, India
Author’s ethnicity: Canadian
Author’s residence: Calgary, Canada
Awards: R. Ross Annett Children’s Award
Subjects: Assassination, Family, India, Love, Riots