Tag Archives: Families

Little White Duck: A Childhood In China

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Andrés Vera Martínez’s mash of comic and classical styles with brown-palette illustrations captures what it was like for his wife, Na Liu, to grow up in China in the 1970s and 1980s. Na Liu, who is called by her nickname Da Qin “Big Piano” in the novel, and her sister Xiao Qin “Little Piano” grew up during a transitional time when China was slowly opening up to the world both economically and culturally. Illustrations and words simply capture the reality of China following Chairman Mao’s death without being overly pedantic. These changes are shown in the eight short stories describing Da Qin’s childhood, life in post-Mao China era, and Chinese traditions and stories. A glossary of terms, a timeline, translations of Chinese characters, a map of China, and a note about the author and illustrator are included. ema

Title: Little White Duck: A Childhood In China Author: Na Liu Illustrator: Andrés Vera Martínez Publisher: Graphic Universe a division of Lerner Publishing Group Copyright: 2012 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-7613-8115-0 Paperback pages: 108 Age range: 8 up Genre: Graphic Novel, Biography Book setting: China Author’s ethnicity: Chinese Author’s residence: United States Illustrator’s ethnicity: American Illustrator’s residence: United States Awards: 2012 Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Book, 2012 SLJ Best Children’s Books in Fiction, 2012 Horn Book Fanfare in Fiction, 2012 Cybils Award Finalist for Elementary/Middle-Grade Graphic Novels Subjects: Biography, Childhood, China, Comics,  Government, Graphic Novels, History, Language, Memoir, Mythology, World Politics

Zac And Mia

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Seventeen year old leukemia patient Zac says that he accepts his odds. His world changes when he hears loud music from the hospital room next door. His neighbor, the fiery osteosarcoma patient Mia, refuses to accept the unfair reality that is her life. When the two are released from the hospital, they try to resume normalcy, but they are unable to erase their minds about the other. The writing, as told in dual narratives from Zac and Mia, tells a genuine tale about a friendship that builds between two strangers. ema

Title: Zac And Mia Author: A.J. Betts Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English Original Title: Zac And Mia Original Publisher: Text Publishing Original Copyright: 2013 ISBN: 978-0544331648 Hardcover pages: 304 Age range: 14 up Genre: Contemporary Fiction Book setting: Australia Author’s ethnicity: Australian Author’s residence: Australia Awards: 2012 Australian Text Prize Subjects: Cancer, Disabilities, Family, Farming, Farms, Friendships, Hope, Hospitals, Relationships,Teens

Tiger Boy

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Set in the tidal mangrove forests of the Sunderbans of India and Bangladesh, this quiet, suspenseful story tells of young Neel and his efforts to track down a female tiger cub that has escaped from a local animal reserve and save it from greedy poachers. Neel is a good student and could qualify for a scholarship for a private boarding school in Kolkata. This would ensure him and his family a much better quality of life. But he loves his home, is reluctant to leave his familiar world, and therefore, only studies half-heartedly. Neel and his sister hatch out a courageous plan and succeed in rescuing the tiger. And Neel changes his mind about education. Global warming, gender discrimination, endangered animals, environmental protection, and class structure are some of the important issues in this fast-paced story, which is enhanced by dramatic black-and-white pastel illustrations. An Author’s Note, Information on Organizations Working with Bengal Tigers and Organizations Working to Improve Life in the Sunderbans, and a Glossary are provided. mjw

Title: Tiger Boy Author: Mitali Perkins Illustrator: Jamie Hogan Publisher: Charlesbridge.  Watertown, MA Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-58089-660-3 Hardcover pages: 144 Age range: 7-10 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Sunderbans, West Bengal, India Author’s ethnicity: Born in Kolkata, India Author’s residence: U.S.  Has lived in Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Mexico, Thailand, Great Britain Illustrator’s residence: U.S. Subjects: Animal rescue, Community, Conflict, Economics, Nature, Teachers, Tigers

Cartwheeling In Thunderstorms

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Eight-year-old Will enjoys her adventurous life in Zimbabwe. She enjoys living on an African farm with her best friend Simon and loving father. But when her father passes away, her new guardians send her off to an all-girls’ boarding school in London to learn proper manners and get her “savage” streak out of her. Will has to deal with the challenges of living on her own in a new country where no one seems to understand her. Rundell’s novel illustrates the importance of accepting your differences and finding unforeseen friendships. ema

Title: Cartwheeling In Thunderstorms Author: Katherine Rundell Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English Original Title: The Savage Girl Original Publisher: Faber and Faber Limited  Original Copyright: 2011 ISBN: 978-1-4424-9061-1 Hardcover pages: 248 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Zimbabwe and London Author’s ethnicity: grew up in Zimbabwe, Brussels, and London Author’s residence: London Awards: 2014 SLJ Best Books for Middle Grade, 2015 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People for Third to Fifth Grade, 2015 Boston Globe/Horn Book Fiction Award Winner Subjects: Africa, Boarding schools, Death, London, Orphans, Zimbabwe

Totto-Chan: The Little Girl At The Window

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Japan’s most popular television personality, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, reflects upon her childhood growing up in Japan during World War II. “Totto-chan”, as the author is called in the novel, after she is expelled from her elementary in the first grade chooses to attend Tomoe Gakuen. Headmaster Sosaku Kobayashi’s elementary school, which has old train cars for classrooms, is considered unusual, but it is the perfect school for Totto-chan. The headmaster’s pedagogy is that children should be able to freely express their thoughts and choose what they would like to learn. Brilliantly written text will have readers laughing, crying, and cheering for Totto-chan. The book features softly beautiful illustrations by the late picture book illustrator Chihiro Iwasaki, a postscript from the author, an epilogue explaining where Totto-chan’s classmates are now, and notes which translate some words into Japanese characters. ema

Title: Totto-Chan: The Little Girl At The Window Author: Tetsuko Kuroyanagi Illustrator: Chihiro Iwasaki Publisher: Kodansha USA Copyright: 2011 Original Language: Japanese Translator: Dorothy Britton Original Title: Madogiwa no Totto-chan Original Publisher: Kodansha  Ltd. Original Copyright: 1981 ISBN: 978-1-56836-391-2 Paperback pages: 229 Age range: 9 up Genre: Historical Nonfiction, Memoir Book setting: Japan during WWII Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Japan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: Died on August 8, 1974 Awards: Non-Fiction Prize Subjects: Biography, Elementary schools, Nontraditional schools, Tomoe Gakuen, TV personalities

Tiptoe Tapirs

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BOOM! BAM-BAM! CAW-CAW! These are some of the sounds of the jungle. One that animal people will not hear is the tapir. Tapir and Little Tapir tiptoe around the jungle softly, so they will not disturb anything or anyone. On Little Tapir’s birthday, Tapir and Little Tapir travel to the Great Puddle  to eat mud cakes. Suddenly, “THUD, THUD, THUD…GROWL!” a leopard attacks. The tapirs run from the leopard when they are surprised by a sharp BANG! A hunter has entered the jungle. Little Tapir notices that Leopard is frightened by the noise. Together he and his mother teach him how to walk silently. From now on, Leopard and the rest of the animals tiptoe silently to avoid hunter’s attention. Exquisite pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations, rhythmic text, and onomatopoeia words work perfectly in this original pourquoi story. ema

Title: Tiptoe Tapirs Author: Hanmin Kim Illustrator: Hanmin Kim Publisher: Holiday House Copyright: 2015 Original Language: Korean Translator: Sera Lee Original Title: Tapir’s Soft Steps Original Publisher: BIR Publishing Co. Ltd. Original Copyright: 2013 ISBN: 978-0-8234-3395-7 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: South Korean Author’s residence: Seoul Illustrator’s ethnicity: South Korean Illustrator’s residence: Seoul Subjects:  Animals sounds, Fairytale/ Folk tales, Hunters, Jungle, Noise, Tapirs

Where The Streets Had A Name

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Thirteen-year-old Palestinian Hayaat and her family have been uprooted from their home and are living behind the Israeli-built Separation Wall in Bethlehem on the occupied West Bank. She and her soccer-loving, Christian friend Sami decide to journey across the wall to Jerusalem, with an empty hummus jar, to get a handful of soil from her ailing grandmother’s beloved ancestral home. It is only a few miles, but checkpoints, curfews, barriers, and the permit system make crossing the border dangerous. They encounter armed soldiers, an Israeli peace activist couple, fellow travelers, and a young boy who needs a friend. Humor and a loving family keep the story light despite the violence, anguish, and suspense in the realistic 2004 war zone setting. This fascinating and heart-breaking story does end on a hopeful note.   A Glossary enhances the understanding of Arabic words used throughout the novel, which was written by the acclaimed author of the young adult novel Does My Head Look Big in This? mjw

Title: Where The Streets Had A Name Author: Randa Abdel-Fattah Publisher: Scholastic Press, New York Copyright: 2010 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Pan Macmillan, Australia Original Copyright: 2008 ISBN: 978-0-545-17292-9 Hardcover pages: 313 Age range: 10-13 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Jerusalem, Israel.  Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine Author’s ethnicity: Palestinian and Egyptian heritage Author’s residence: Sydney, Australia Awards: 2011 Middle East Outreach Council Youth Literature Award Subjects: Arab-Israeli conflict, Grandmothers, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Palestinian Arabs

A Pair Of Twins

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One day in Mysore, India, a pair of “twins” are born. The two are commonly referred to as “twins” because they are born only a few moments apart. When Sundari is born, she is a three-and-a-half kilo baby girl while Laksmi is a 500-kilo elephant calf. As Lakshmi and Sundari  grow older, it becomes apparent that they are treated differently because of their sex. Sundari wants to become a mahout (elephant trainer), but her father refuses to allow her to be a mahout because he believes the job belongs to her brother. Lakshmi is banned from being the lead elephant of the Dussehra procession because she is a female elephant. Eventually, the twins are able to convince people that they are the right pair to lead the Dussehra procession, making them the first females to do so. Gorgeous dry pastel, charcoal, ink, watercolor, and pencil illustrations play perfectly with this wondrous tale about two friends who strive for equal rights. ema

Title: A Pair Of Twins Author: Kavitha Mandana Illustrator: Nayantara Surendranath Publisher: Karadi Tales Company Pvt. Ltd. Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-8181903020  Paperback pages: 32 Age range: 6 up Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Mysore, India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: India Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: Indian Awards: 2015 ALA Amelia Bloomer Project List Book Subjects: Elephants, Elephant Training, Feminism, Folklore, Gender Roles, Human-Animal Relationships, India, Tales, Women’s Rights

Worms

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John-Paul finds himself dying of boredom at a dinner party his father hosts for the senior executives from the factory. The adults are chatting about subjects he doesn’t understand when John-Paul’s father asks him to bring in the salads. He seizes this perfect opportunity to have a bit of fun and make the dinner more lively. Carefully, the mischievous boy places one bait worm in each of the guest’s salad bowls, brings them out to the dining room, and proceeds to eagerly observe each guest’s varied reaction. Dinner has finally become more entertaining for John-Paul and he laughs hysterically until scolded by his father to eat his salad. The boy eats up all his leafy greens, worm and all. The delightful retro style illustrations, especially the expressive tiny pink worms, capture the reader’s imagination and enhance the silly nature of the story. cc

Title: Worms Author: Bernard Friot Illustrator: Aurélie Guillerey Publisher: Kids Can Press Copyright: 2015 Original Language: French Translator: Yvette Ghione Original Title: Asticots Original Publisher: Éditions Milan Original Copyright: 2010 ISBN: 978-1-77138-571-8 Hardcover pages: 24 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture book Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: France Subjects: Dining, Dinners, Practical jokes, Worms

 

Amina

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Fourteen-year-old Amina lives in war-torn Somalia. Like her father, she has a passion for creating art which could get her in trouble with the Al-Shabaab, the rebel militant force which uses violence to control Somalia. Suddenly, Amina’s father is arrested for creating art which the Islamic extremists believe is against Islam, and her brother is kidnapped leaving her, her pregnant mother, and her elderly grandmother struggling to survive. Still, Amina firmly believes in creating her street art so the world will be inspired by her artwork which hopes for a better future. This gripping novel, a part of the “Through My Eyes”  series, features a map of Somalia, an author’s note, a timeline of Somali history, a glossary of terms, and research resources to learn more about the country. ema

Title: Amina Author: J.L. Powers Publisher: Allen & Unwin Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English Original Title: Amina Original Publisher: Allen & Unwin Original Copyright: 2013 ISBN: 978-174331-249-0 Paperback pages: 184 Age range: 11-14 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Somalia in 2011 Author’s ethnicity: American Author’s residence: California Subjects: Children Soldiers, Civil war, Hunger, Independence, Islam, Painting, Poetry, Politics, Poverty, Religion

Bartolomé The Infantina’s Pet

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Madrid is a harsh place for a dwarf named Bartolomé. He is seen as incapable and worthless due to his deformities. When Bartolomé moves to the city with his family, he is hidden in a back room so as to not be seen. One day while Jeronima, a 20 year old neighbor who has an intellectual disability, is carrying Bartolomé back from secret reading and writing lessons with a monk, Bartolomé tumbles out of the laundry basket and into the path of the royal carriage of the Infanta, the king’s daughter. The Infanta gets out of the carriage and gazes upon Bartolomé, perceiving him as a human dog and plans to make him into another one of her playthings. Now having lost his dignity, Bartolomé must be dressed up daily as a dog to please the Infanta. Andrés is the painter’s apprentice who is in charge of painting Bartolomé’s face. Kindly, he teaches Bartolomé how to make paint and even allows him to create his own work of art which is beautiful and meaningful. With the help of his family and members of the painters’ guild, a clever magic trick allows Bartolomé to be free from his degrading work and he becomes a painter’s apprentice himself. This story takes place during the 17th century and explores the intolerance of individuals with disabilities while a hopeful tone shines through. cc

Title: Bartolomé The Infanta’s Pet Author: Rachel Van Kooij Publisher: Little Island Copyright: 2012 Original Language: German Translator: Siobhán Parkinson Original Title: Kein Hundeleben für Bartolomé Original Publisher: Jungbrunnen Verlag Original Copyright: 2003 ISBN: 978-1-908195-26-5 Paperback pages: 208 Age range: 12 up Genre: Historical fiction Book setting: Madrid, Spain Author’s ethnicity: Dutch Author’s residence: Austria Subjects: 17th century, Disabilities, Discrimination, Dwarfs, Families, Madrid, Spain

The Bus Ride

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This book captures the thrills, fears, and excitement a child has when  experiencing something new. It is Clara’s first time riding on the bus to her grandmother’s house alone. Detailed illustrations, made by tiny strokes of softly colored pencils, and words are reminiscent of  “Little Red Riding Hood”. Similarities include Clara traveling to her grandmother’s house, a red sweater and picnic basket, and a family of wolves. Readers should pay close attention to the other character’s actions and newspaper headings which foreshadow upcoming events. ema

Title: The Bus Ride Author: Marianne Dubuc Illustrator: Marianne Dubuc Publisher: Kids Can Press Copyright: 2015 Original Language: French Translator: Yvette Ghione Original Title: L’autobus Original Publisher: Comme des géants inc. Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-1-77138-209-0 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: French Canadian Author’s residence: Canada Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Canada Subjects: Busses, Bus ride, Fairytales, Friendly community, Independence, Little Red Riding Hood, Travel