Tag Archives: Families

The Sandwich Thief

Marin’s parents are foodies who pack him delicious, healthy sandwiches graced with his mom’s homemade mayonnaise. On Monday, at lunchtime, his ham, cheddar, and kale sandwich is missing, so he starts an investigation of the potential thieves. All week, his sandwiches disappear and he identifies more suspects – classmates, teachers, the janitor, and even the school principal. Eventually, his mother comes up with a way to find out who’s behind the missing sandwiches. The comic-style panels and sequential art, done entirely in orange, red, and black, with speech balloons, and the font, which is based on the illustrator’s handwriting, make this lunchtime crime drama engaging and entertaining. mjw

Title: The Sandwich Thief
Author: Andre Marois
Illustrator: Patrick Doyon
Publisher: Chronicle Books, San Francisco, California
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: French
Translator: Taylor Norman
Original Title: Le Voleur de sandwichs
Original Publisher: Les Editions de la Pasteque
Original Copyright: 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4521-4659-1
Hardcover pages: 160
Age range: 7-9
Genre: Fiction
Author’s ethnicity: French
Author’s residence: Canada
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian
Illustrator’s residence: Canada
Awards: Governor General’s Literary Award for Illustrated Children’s Literature – French Language
Subjects: Comics, Detective stories, Graphic novels. Lost articles, Mystery, Sandwiches, Schools, Stealing, Thieves

Sweetest Kulu

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In this far north lullaby, baby Kulu, dressed in a snowsuit, receives gifts from all the animals and well-wishers of the Arctic, including Wind, Arctic Hare, Seal, Norwal and Beluga, Caribou, Polar Bear, Land, and Sun. Kulu is an Inuktitut term of endearment. The peaceful, charming illustrations in mostly greens, blues, and browns and the sophisticated language in this visually stunning book capture the Inuit reverence for the Earth. The author is an internationally acclaimed Inuit throat singer. mjw

Title: Sweetest Kulu
Author: Celina Kalluk
Illustrator: Alexandria Neonakis
Publisher: Inhabit Media, Inc., Iqaluit, Nunavut
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-927095-77-5
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 0-6
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Nunavut, Canada
Author’s ethnicity: Born in Nunavut
Author’s residence: Resolute Bay. Nunavut
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian (Nova Scotia)
Illustrator’s residence: Resolute Bay, Nunavut
Subjects: Arctic regions, Compassion, Cultural identity, Mother and child

My Wild Family

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The young girl narrator connects animal traits with the characteristics of her truly special family and friends in this oversize picture book. Her older brother is strong and respected, like an elephant. Her mother is tall, beautiful, and shy, like a giraffe and her father can be fierce, like a lion. A page of monkeys climbing on an electric power structure shows her cousins, who are “fast and flexible, always quick to monkey around.” The book ends with the question, “And you? What makes you special?” The animals in each double-page spread are not anthropomorphized and they appear in realistic settings – a classroom, a street scene, the beach, and more. The primitive-style paintings are rendered in gouache. The story provides great examples of metaphor and is perfect for storytime sharing because of its large format.. mjw

Title: My Wild Family
Author: Laurent Moreau
Illustrator: Laurent Moreau
Publisher: Chronicle
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: French
Original Title: Ma famile sauvage
Original Publisher: Helium/Actes Sud
Original Copyright: 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4521-4423-8
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 3-5
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: French
Author’s residence: France
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French
Illustrator’s residence: France
Subjects: Family life, Identity, Imagination

Heidi: The Years Of Learning And Travel

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Young, orphaned Heidi lives with her Aunt Dete, but is taken to live with her good-hearted, but grumpy, grandfather in the mountains. Grandfather mistrusts everyone and hopes to protect Heidi from the evils of the world. Heidi makes friends with Peter, the goatherd, and they live in their idyllic mountain world until Dete appears again to take Heidi to Frankfurt (Germany) to live with Fraulein Rottenmeier and work as a companion to her granddaughter Clara, who cannot walk. Heidi suffers from homesickness and eventually returns to her grandfather. Heidi and Clara keep in touch and Clara visits to experience the joy and healing power of the mountains. Gorgeous watercolor paintings take readers to the Swiss Alps and reflect the beauty of the region as described by Spyri in this classic story. An Afterword by Verena Rutschmann, head of research at the Swiss Institute of Media for Children and Young Adults, provides more information about the novel, which is the most popular piece of Swiss literature ever written. A condensed, illustrated young readers’ edition (2009, paperback 2015) is also available. mjw

Title: Heidi: The Years Of Learning And Travel
Author: Johanna Spyri (1827-1901)
Illustrator: Maja Dusikova
Publisher: North South Books, Inc, an imprint of NordSud Verlag AG, Zurich Switzerland
Copyright: 21105
Original Language: German
Original Title: Originally published in two parts. Heidi’s Lehr und Wonderjahre and Heidi Kann brauchen, was es gallant hat
Original Copyright: 1881
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4250-2
Hardcover pages: 162
Age range: 5 up
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Switzerland, Germany
Author’s ethnicity: Swiss
Author’s residence: Lived in Zurich, Switzerland
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Czechoslovakia
Illustrator’s residence: Florence, Italy
Subjects: Alps, Swiss; Grandfather; Grandparent and child; Mountain life; Orphans

Little Night Cat

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Little Night Cat

When the local animal shelter is in need of donations for their fundraiser, Tony rises to the occasion and donates his stuffed animals. He also gives away his favorite toy cat to help raise money for the needy dogs and cats. Later, Tony’s mother sees that Tony has a difficult time falling asleep without his cat. She gives her son her old stuffed cat. Tony adores the stuffed cat Paul and misses him while he is at school. One day when Tony returns home, he is visited by an old friend. This tender and warming story has beautiful realistic styled illustrations. The author, who has received a Batchelder Honor, also includes the sheet music for the song that Tony hums at the end. This book about giving and friendship is truly unforgettable. ema

Title: Little Night Cat
Author: Sonja Danowski
Illustrator: Sonja Danowski
Publisher: North South
Copyright: 2016
Original Language: German
Translator: David Henry Wilson
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4216-8
Hardcover pages: 48
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Authors’ ethnicity: German
Authors’ residence: Berlin
Illustrator’s ethnicity: German
Illustrator’s residence: Berlin
Subjects: Animal Shelter, Cats, Donating, Making A Difference, Stuffed Animals, Volunteering

When Mischief Came To Town

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It’s 1911 Denmark, and ten-year-old Inge Maria Jensen has been sent to the sleepy island of Bornholm to live with her grandmother on her farm. It is nothing like Copenhagen, where Inge Maria lived in an apartment with servants. Her grandmother is stern and serious and has Inge Maria working in the stables and the kitchen. At school, spirited Inge Maria defies her dull teacher, befriends some rowdy children, and can’t help doing the unexpected. Over time, she and her grandmother love and support each other and create a new life together. Inge Maria is a charming and exuberant girl whose happy mischief and zest for life awaken the whole town. This quick-paced, easy read captures early twentieth century rural Danish culture and includes references to the fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen. mjw

Title: When Mischief Came To Town
Author: Katrina Nannestad
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
Original Title: The Girl Who Brought Mischief
Original Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers, Australia
Original Copyright: 2013
ISBN: 978-0-544-53432-2
Hardcover pages: 192
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book setting: Bornholm, Denmark, 1911
Author’s ethnicity: Grew up in New South Wales. Australia
Author’s residence: Australia
Awards: 2014 Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children’s Literature, CBCA Notable Book
Subjects: Death and dying, Grandmothers, Grief, History, Imagination, Multigenerational, Music, Orphans

Hound And Hare

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Hounds and hares don’t get along in the town of Great Bone because of an old feud. Teens Hugo Hound and Harley Hare both want to participate in the Big Race, but their parents don’t approve. They do enter the race and are both in the lead when a terrible thunderstorm breaks out. Hugo is terrified of the storm and Harley panics when he discovers that they are lost. By working together, they find their way home, share the first prize, and become the heroes of the day. Funny, colored pencil and ink cartoon style drawings complement the lively text in this picture book/early chapter book. The endpapers feature a map of the town. mjw

Title: Hound And Hare
Author: Rotraut Susanne Berner
Illustrator: Rotraut Susanne Berner
Publisher: Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press
Copyright: 2011
Original Language: German
Translator: Shelley Tanaka
Original Title: Hund & Hase
Original Publisher: Jacoby and Stuart
Original Copyright: 22009
ISBN: 978-0-88899-987-0
Hardcover pages: 80
Age range: 6-9
Genre: Picture Book/ Early Chapter Book
Author’s ethnicity: German
Author’s residence: Germany
Illustrator’s ethnicity: German
Illustrator’s residence: Germany
Awards: 2016 Hans Christian Andersen Award, 2006 German Youth Literature Prize for her work as a whole
Subjects: Community, Conflict resolution, Cooperation, Dogs, Hares, Hounds, Rabbits, Running races, Racing, Thunderstorms

Tua And The Elephant

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While looking around the Night Market in her hometown of Chiang Mai, Thailand, ten-year-old Tua (Thai for “peanut”) sees an elephant being mistreated and knows she must rescue her from the abusive mahouts (elephant trainers) who own her. Tua is a clever, courageous, and big-hearted girl who bonds with the elephant she names Pohn-Pohn. The villains are evil, but also inept and Tua repeatedly outsmarts them. Other characters include her loving and hard-working single mother, the funny Auntie Orchid (the finest actress in Thailand –at least in her eyes), and many lively and colorful family members, farmers, and Buddhist monks who help Tua on her adventure. All ends well as Tua finally gets Pohn-Pohn to the sanctuary of an elephant refuge. Charcoal, linoleum block print, and photo- shopped illustrations in golds and purples reveal much about the culture and people of Thailand. mjw

Title: Tua And The Elephant
Author: R.P. Harris
Illustrator: Taeeun Yoo
Publisher: Chronicle Books. San Francisco, California
Copyright: 2012
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978- 0-8118-7781-7
Hardcover pages: 208
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Author’s residence: Shanghai, China
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Korean
Illustrator’s residence: New York
Subjects: Adventure, Animal rescue, Animal sanctuaries, Animal welfare, Asia, Asiatic elephants, Elephants, Thailand

My Bedtime Monster

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Rikki asks her parents for a pet that is cuddly and fierce, can be big or little, and can swim or fly, Rikki’s parents tell her that no animal like that exists. Through her imagination, she creates such a creature. The duo embarks on a journey where the creature changes its shape, size, and attitude on Rikki’s command. The Hans Christian Andersen illustrator uses modern style illustrations to manifest the spirited Rikki’s nighttime adventure with her monster. ema

Title: My Bedtime Monster
Author: Annelies Schwarz
Illustrator: Květa Pacovská
Publisher: Michael Neugebauer Publishing
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: German
Translator: Michael Neugebauer Publishing
Original Title: DasTier mit den Funkelaugen
Original Publisher: Beltz Verlag, Weinheim und Basel
Original Copyright: 1990
ISBN: 978-988-8240-47-0
Hardcover pages: 24 pages
Age range: 3-6
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Czech
Author’s residence: lives on the coast of the North Sea
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Czech
Illustrator’s residence: Prague
Awards: Recipient of Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2015, Picture Books, illustrator is recipient of the 1992 Hans Christian Andersen Medal, and Author is the winner of the 2001 Culture Prize of the Sudeten German Literature
Subjects: Creatures, Imaginary friends, Imagination, Monsters, Pets,

Dare To Disappoint: Growing Up In Turkey

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In this graphic novel memoir, spunky Ozge begins with her danger-filled childhood experiences in school and her dreams of a life of adventure. Her dad expects her to be an engineer and to be predictable, but Ozge eventually listens to her own voice and dares to disappoint her parents. This engaging quick-read offers a look at life in Turkey in the 1980s and 1990s, a fascinating time in the country’s history. The art is a mix of caricatures and doodles done in watercolor and mixed media compositions made of paper, photographs, maps, infographics, ink stamps, and more. Ozge’s bold visual storytelling is a real treat. mjw

Title: Dare To Disappoint: Growing Up In Turkey
Author: Ozge Samanci
Illustrator: Ozge Samanci
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux, New York
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-374-31698-3
Paperback pages: 200
Age range: 12 up
Genre: Biography, Graphic Novel
Book setting: Turkey
Author’s ethnicity: Turkish
Author’s residence: U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Turkish
Illustrator’s residence: U.S.
Subjects: Artists, Autobiography, Comic books, Cultural heritage, Memoir, Turkey – history

The Story And The Song

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This Tamil folktale tells what happens when stories don’t get told and songs don’t get sung. Parvathi knows a story and a song. They were her wedding gift from Thayi, the oldest woman in their small village in Tamil Nadu. Parvathi and her husband Kamban become very busy with their new domestic lives and responsibilities and they forget to share the story and the song. This thought-provoking tale reminds readers to nourish their creativity and preserve the traditional arts of music and literature. The intricately detailed paintings that show brass oil lamps, earthenware pots, roasting chilies, amusing animals, and elements of fantasy extend this folktale that has been adapted for children. mjw

Title: The Story And The Song
Author: Manasi Subramaniam
Illustrator: Ayswarya Sankaranarayanan
Publisher: Karadi Tales Company Pvt Ltd., Chennai, India
Copyright: 2012
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-81-8190-273-3
Paperback pages: 32
Age range: 5 up
Genre: Picture Book, Folktale
Book setting: Tamil Nadu
Author’s ethnicity: Indian
Author’s residence: India
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian
Illustrator’s residence: India
Awards: 2014 Best Illustrated Book for Children in ComicCon India
Subjects: Cultures, Folklore, Geography, Gifts, Music, Weddings

The Bear And The Piano

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The Bear And The Piano A curious bear cub finds a peculiar object in the forest. He discovers that he can make strange noises by pressing his paws on it. The bear continues to come back and play around with the object. He eventually is a master at making beautiful sounds. One day, as he plays for his bear friends, a group of humans ask him to come with them to their city to play the piano. The bear agrees and becomes famous. As time goes on, the bear feels homesick. He longs to see his friends again, but he worries they are angry that he left them. The book’s multilayered-mixed media illustrations of woods, bears, and cityscapes are absolutely beautiful. Everyone of all ages will enjoy the message of friendship and pursuing your dreams. ema

Title: The Bear And The Piano
Author: David Litchfield
Illustrator: David Litchfield
Publisher: Clarion Books
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-544-67454-7
Hardcover pages:
Age range: 4-7
Genre: Picture Book
Authors’ ethnicity: British
Authors’ residence: United Kingdom
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Israelis
Illustrator’s residence: United Kingdom
Subjects: Bears, Famous, Forests, Music, Musician, Piano, Woods
Awards: 2016 Winner of Waterstones Children’s Book Prize:Best Illustrated Book, 2016 Nominated for ‘Read It Again’ Cambridgeshire Libraries Children’s Picture Book Award