Tag Archives: Families

Waffle Hearts: Lena and Me in Mathildewick Cove

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Nine-year-olds Trille and Lena live in the wonderful fjord-side village of Mathildewick Cove in Norway. They have crazy adventures and learn about love, friendship, loss, and loyalty. Lena is feisty and fearless and lives with her mum. Trille, the narrator, is sensitive and sensible and lives with his parents, three siblings, and Grandpa. One delightful escapade is when Lena and Trille create Noah’s “shark” on Uncle Tor’s fishing boat with a load of village animals. Another involves placing an ad for a dad for Lena in the local General Store window and getting a puppy instead. And of course, Auntie Granny makes the best waffles in the world! Silhouette illustrations grace the cover and the start of each of twenty short chapters. There is a smattering of Norwegian culture, which is interesting and lovely. Written in true Scandinavian style, this book is perfect for fans of Pippi Longstocking. It has also been made into a popular television series in Norway.  A U.S. edition, Adventures With Waffles, was published in 2015, by Candlewick.  mjw

Title: Waffle Hearts: Lena and Me in Mathildewick Cove Author: Maria Parr Illustrator: Kate Forrester Publisher: Walker Books Ltd, London Copyright: 2013 Original Language: Norwegian Translator: Guy Puzey Original Title: Vaffelhjarte Original Publisher: Det Norske Samlaget, Oslo Original Copyright: 2005 ISBN: 978-1-4063-4136-2 Hardcover pages: 240 Age range: 9-11 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Norway Author’s ethnicity: Norwegian Author’s residence: Norway Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: Brighton, England Translator’s ethnicity: Scotch Translator’s residence: Scotland Awards: 2015 Marsh Translation Award shortlist, 2010 Prix Sorcieres (French), 2009 Brage Prize (Norwegian), 2008 Zilveren Griffel (Dutch) Subjects: Best friends, Grandparents, Single parents, Waffles

The Tightrope Walkers

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This moving and powerful coming-of-age novel set in the 1960s in downtrodden Tyneside in northern England tells the story of Dominic and Holly from ages five to seventeen. Dom comes from a long line of shipyard workers and is destined to work at the yard if he does not succeed in school. Lovely Holly, the eccentric artist next door, is the daughter of a draughtsman at the yard. Dom is creative, good with words, and has the potential to go to college and escape from a dangerous, dead-end job building ships, but he is tempted away from Holly and school by the wild and wreckless local bad-boy Vincent. As Holly and Dom grow, they walk a homemade tightrope, literally and figuratively, trying to find their balance. Together, they break the bonds that have held their previous generations hostage and find peace and love. Spare poetry, lush descriptions, and Geordie dialect enrich the text. The book was published in the UK as an adult title, but the strong characters, themes, and sense of place will appeal to teens. mjw

Title: The Tightrope Walkers Author: David Almond Publisher: Candlewick Press.  Somerville, Massachusetts Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Viking, published for adults Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-0-7636-7310-9 Hardcover pages: 336 Age range: 14 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Newcastle, England Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: England  Awards: 2013 Eleanor Farjeon Award, 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Award Subjects: Coming-of-age, Dreams, England, Life choices, Love, Manhood, Shipbuilding, Tyneside, Young men, Violence

Anton and Piranha

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Anton is looking forward to his summer vacation with his grandparents, until they reach the campsite and discover there is no pool. There is just a dark, murky lake filled with disgusting sludge. He is deeply disappointed and cannot understand why the other kids are happy to dive bomb (Caramba!) and swim in it all day long. He goes fishing with his grandfather and discovers a friend – a fish he names Piranha. The humor in this funny, quirky tale about eccentric and witty Anton is universal. Amusing black and white illustrations supplement the text. There is a frog on the corners of the pages, which appears animated if you flick through them quickly. mjw

Title: Anton and Piranha Author: Milena Baisch Illustrator: Elle Kusche Publisher: Andersen Press, London Copyright: 2013 Original Language: German Translator: Chantal Wright Original Title: Anton Taucht Ab Original Publisher: Beltz and Celberg Original Copyright: 2010 ISBN: 978-184-939-6196 Paperback pages: 99 Age range: 9-12 Genre: Fiction Author’s ethnicity: German Author’s residence: Germany Translator’s ethnicity: English Translator’s residence: England Awards: 2011 German Youth Literature Prize, 2015 Marsh Award for Translation shortlist Subjects: Camping, Fish, Grandparents, Piranhas, Vacations

Deep Sea

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Almost four years ago, Stephie, now nearly sixteen, and her eleven-year-old sister Nellie, were sent from Nazi-occupied Vienna to Sweden by their parents. She lives in the city on the mainland and attends school. Nellie lives on a remote island in the Goteborg archipelago with her foster parents. Stephie worries about her education, her sister, her faith, and her parents, who are in a concentration camp in Austria. Smoothly integrated into this delicate coming of age story are details about how neutral Sweden was affected by the war. The present tense, third-person narration gives the novel an unusual impact. This is the third installment in a quartet of books about Stephie’s experiences as a Jewish refugee in Sweden during World War II. The first, Faraway Island, won the 2010 Batchelder Award. The second, The Lily Pond, was a Batchelder Honor Book in 2012. mjw

Title: Deep Sea Author: Annika Thor Publisher: Random House Children’s Books, Delacorte Press, New York Copyright: 2015 Original Language: Swedish Translator: Linda Schenk Original Title: Havets djup Original Publisher: Bonnier Carlsen, Stockholm Original Copyright: 1998 ISBN: 978-0-385-74385-3 Hardcover pages: 229 Age range: 12-16 Genre: Historical fiction Book setting: Sweden Author’s ethnicity: Swedish Author’s residence: Stockholm, Sweden Awards: Author has won the Deutsche Jugendliteraturpries Subjects: Jews, Refugees, Sisters, Sweden, World War II

Nine Open Arms

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A family of nine – three sisters, four brothers, their ever-optimistic father, and their strong-tongued grandmother Oma Mei – move into a run-down, mysterious brick house outside a small village in the province of Limburg, the Netherlands, in 1937. The house stands as long as nine open arms. The first and third parts of the story are narrated by eleven-year-old Fing, who tells of their new school, her father’s money-making schemes, family relationships, “tragical tragedy”, and the mysterious button-chewer, Oompah Hatsi. The middle part, narrated by Oma Mei, is set in the 1860s, and tells the story of the lovers Charley Bottletop and Nienevee, the traveler girl. By the end of this unique Dutch import, all the secrets are revealed and they neatly and believably click into place. Some Dutch words have been left untranslated and are defined in a Slang Words and Character List. A Map and Translator’s Note are also included in this well-crafted, challenging, and quirky story about storytelling. mjw

Title: Nine Open Arms Author: Benny Lindelauf Illustrator: Dasha Tolstikova Publisher: Enchanted Lion Books, New York Copyright: 2014 Original Language: Dutch Translator: John Nieuwenhuizen Original Title: Negen Open Armen Original Publisher: Em. Querido’s Uitgeverij B.V. Original Copyright: 2004 ISBN: 978-1-59270-146-9 Hardcover pages: 264 Age range: 9 up Genre: Historical fiction, Mystery Book setting: Limburg, The Netherlands Author’s ethnicity: Dutch Author’s residence: Rotterdam, The Netherlands Translator’s ethnicity: Dutch Translator’s residence: Australia Awards: 2015 Mildred L. Batchelder Award Subjects: Dwellings, Family life, Grandmothers, Mystery, Romanies, Single-parent families, Sisters

The Adventures Of Shola

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Shola is a small white, highly cultivated and opinionated dog with a huge imagination. She lives with her long-suffering owner, Senor Grogo. Four short stories are included in this one volume, with comic pen and ink and watercolor illustrations on practically every double page spread. In the first story, Shola discovers her inner lioness. In the second, she leads the pack on a wild sheepboar hunt. Third, she helps another dog, Angelino, who is plagued by a mouse. And finally, Shola is visited by her eccentric Aunt Clementine from America, who can never remember the pronunciation of Shola’s name, but completely understands Sholas’ independence. Feisty Shola is used to doing and eating exactly what she wants and walking in the park without a collar and lead. The use of language is delightful, especially the use of rarely used words, like “discombobulated” and “rara avis” (Latin for strange creature). Shola doesn’t always understand the words and this results in some very funny consequences. mjw

Title: The Adventures Of Shola Author: Bernardo Atxaga Illustrator: Mikel Valverde Publisher: Pushkin Children’s Books, London Copyright: 2013 Original Language: Euskera (Basque) Translator: Translated into Spanish by the author.  Translated in English by Margaret Jull Costa. Original Spanish Title: Shola y los leones, Sholas y los jabalies, Shola y Angelino, Shola y la tia de America Original Spanish Publisher: Ediciones SM Original Spanish Copyright: 1995, 1997, 2006, forthcoming ISBN: 978-1-782690-09-2 Hardcover pages: 220 Age range: 9-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Spain Author’s ethnicity: Basque Author’s residence: Spain Illustrator’s ethnicity: Basque Illustrator’s residence: Spain Awards: 2015 Marsh Award for Literature in Translation Subjects: Aunts, Dogs, Food, Lions, Human-animal interactions, Short stories, Wild boar

So Much for Democracy

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Twelve-year-old Astrid has moved from Canada to Ghana with her parents and two younger siblings so that her father can help organize the 1979 national election. Difficulties at school, the oppressive heat, the threat of disease, soldiers on the roads, and her mother’s overprotectiveness are some of the many challenges Astrid faces. She is a strong, kind, and courageous character with good sense. The beauty of the land and the relationships the Ghanaians have with each other and with Astrid’s family are honestly presented. A brief historical note on Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings’ coup provides background information about an event relatively unknown in the United States.mjw

Title: So Much for Democracy Author: Kari Jones Publisher: Orca Book Publishers. Canada Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-4598-0481-4 Paperback pages: 175 Age range: 9-12 Genre: Historical fiction Book setting: Accra, Ghana Author’s ethnicity: Australian Author’s residence: British Columbia, Canada Subjects: Conflict, Coups, Elections, Ghana

Hidden: A Child’s Story of the Holocaust

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In this touching and powerful graphic novel told in flashbacks, Dounia tells her story to her granddaughter Elsa. At about age six, in Paris, Dounia found herself shunned by her teachers and classmates when she attended school wearing the yellow star, which identified her as Jewish. After police took her parents away in a scary nighttime raid, neighbors hid her from the Nazis in their apartment for as long as they could. She eventually was taken by Resistance workers to a farm in the French countryside, where she was protected by a loving family, and after the war ended, was reunited with her mother. Honest and direct words and full-color graphics mingle seamlessly to make this heart-breaking subject accessible to children. An Afterword explains that 84% of Jewish children living in France survived because of people who were willing to risk their own lives to hide and protect children from the Nazis and collaborating French police. mjw

Title: Hidden: A Child’s Story of the Holocaust Author: Loic Dauvillier Illustrator: Marc Lizano, Color: Greg Salsedo Publisher: First Second/Roaring Brook, New York Copyright: 2014 Original Language: French Translator: Alexis Siegel Original Title: L’Enfant Cachee Original Publisher: Le Lombard Original Copyright: 2012 ISBN: 978-1-59643-873-6 Hardcover pages: 76 Age range: 10 up Genre: Graphic novel, Historical fiction Book setting: Paris Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: France Awards: 2015 Mildred L. Batchelder Award = Older reader category, 2015 Sydney Taylor Award, 2015 NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Subjects: Comics, Grandmothers, Graphic novels, Hidden children, Holocaust, Jewish, Multigenerational, Nazis, Paris

Where I Belong

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Teenager Carrie, adopted as an infant, looks completely different from her parents and is the only black-haired, dark-skinned girl in McDonalds Corners, Ontario. She feels like she is out-of-place. At a hockey game, she meets Tommy, who is from a nearby Mohawk reserve. This leads to the discovery that her biological father is Mohawk. She journeys to Kahnawake, Ontario, to meet him and there realizes that she can love two families. This story of self-discovery takes place during the Oka Crisis in the summer of 1990, which was a 78-day standoff between Mohawk protestors, police, and army over the proposed expansion of a golf course on disputed land that included a Mohawk burial ground. mjw

Title: Where I Belong Author: Tara White Publisher: Tradewinds Books.  Vancouver, Canada Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English  ISBN: 978-1-896580-77-7 Paperback pages: 112 Age range: 12-15 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Canada Author’s ethnicity: Mohawk Author’s residence: Ontario, Canada Subjects: Canada, Hockey, Indian reservations, Mohawk, Oka Uprising 1990, Quebec history, Self-discovery

The Tiny King

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Once upon a time, there was a Tiny King, who lived in a big castle guarded by an army of big soldiers. He ate all alone at a big table. He could never finish the huge feast. He had a big white horse, but he always fell off. He bathed in a big bathtub with a water fountain, but splashing alone wasn’t much fun. And he slept in a big bed, but not very well. One day, he met a big princess. They married and were blessed with ten children. Then, everything brightened and became just the right size. The spare text of this new fairytale is complemented by clever, colorful, cut-outs, and digital collage. mjw

Title: The Tiny King Author: Taro Miura Illustrator: Taro Miura Publisher: Candlewick Press, Somerville, Massachusetts Copyright: 2013 Original Language: Japanese Original Title: Chilsana Osama Original Publisher: Kaisei-sha Publishing Co., Ltd., Tokyo Original Copyright: 2010 ISBN: 978-0-7636-6687-3 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 2-5 Genre: Picture book Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Japan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: Japan Awards: 2011 Sankei Award for Children’s Books and Publications Subjects: Counting, Family, Happiness, Kings and rulers, Shapes, Size, Stature

Vango: Between Sky and Earth

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In 1934, a young man named Vango on the cusp of taking priestly vows is suddenly made a fugitive. Accused of murder, pursued by police and mysterious others, Vango finds that proving his innocence involves uncovering secrets from his past, taking him from Parisian rooftops to Mediterranean islands to Scottish forests in a hyper-coloured spy-thriller with a backwards-and-forwards timeline.  Part of the book’s charm involves historic figures turned into characters – like Hugo Eckener (commander of the Graf Zeppelin) who de Fombelle has written as a friend of Vango and as a quick-witted protester to Hitler’s increasing regime.  Snippets of story are also told from the perspective of a young girl who turns out to be Stalin’s daughter. These historic guess-who’s never felt clunky.  With a larger-than-life protagonist, Vango will appeal to lovers of daring escapades. The mystery to his identity unravels in the sequel, Vango, Book 2, A Prince Without A Kingdom, published in 2105. ew

Title: Vango: Between Sky and Earth Author: Timothee de Fombelle Publisher: Candlewick Press.  Somerville, Massachusetts Copyright: 2014 Original language: French Translator: Sarah Ardizzone Original title: Vango: Entre ciel et Terre Original publisher: Gallimard Jeunesse Original copyright: 2010 ISBN: 978-0-7636-7196-9 Paperback pages: 421 Age range: 12 up Genre: Historical fiction Book setting: France, Germany, Mediterranean Islands, Russia, Scotland Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: Paris, France Awards: Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Books of 2014,  2012 IBBY Honor List Subjects: Adventure, Fugitives, Identity, Mystery, Nazi, Priests, Voyages, World War II, Zeppelin

Anna Hibiscus’ Song

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Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa. Amazing Africa. She is so happy that she almost floats out of the mango tree. When she asks her grandparents, Aunt Joli, Uncle Tunde, and her cousins what they do when they are happy, they all offer suggestions. She asks her father and mother, and her mother knows how to channel Anna’s infectious happiness. Anna climbs back into the mango tree and sings her happiness song. Gorgeous, colorful illustrations feature the daily life of a large extended family in urban Africa. This is the first picture book that brings Anna’s world into full color. It could be used as an introduction to the four chapter books about Anna. mjw

Title: Anna Hibiscus’ Song Author: Atinuke Illustrator: Lauren Tobia Publisher: Kane Miller, A Division of EDC Publishing Copyright: 2011 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Walker Books, Ltd., London Original Copyright: 2011 ISBN: 978-1-61067-040-1 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture book Book setting: Africa Author’s ethnicity: Nigerian Author’s residence: Wales Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: England Subjects: African culture, Emotions, Family life, Multi-generational, Music