Mikis And The Donkey
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Lucy asks to borrow her mother’s very last hug before heading off to bed. She promises to give it back and decides to keep it safe. As she shares the hug with all of her family members, Lucy gets the hug back each time until Annie, the family dog, dashes away with it. This charming and warm story conveys the power and love in ordinary bedtime routines of family life. Mixed-media illustrations follow Lucy’s journey around the house until she is tucked snugly into bed. cc |
| Title: The Runaway Hug Author: Nick Bland Illustrator: Freya Blackwood Publisher: Random House Children’s Books, New York Copyright: 2013 Original language: English Original publisher: Scholastic Australia, Sydney Original copyright: 2011 ISBN: 978-0-449-81825-1 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture book Author’s residence: Australia Illustrator’s residence: Australia Awards: 2012 Children’s Book Council (CBC) of Australia Award Subjects: Australia, Bedtime routines, Family life, Hugging, Oceania |
In 1915, ten-year-old Aileen Rogers’ father, Lawrence Browning Rogers, enlisted in the Fifth Canadian Mounted Rifles. Aileen, left in Quebec with her mother and younger brother, sent her precious stuffed Teddy bear to the front lines in Europe to protect him. Teddy came home to the Rogers farm. Lieutenant Rogers did not. He was killed at the battle of Passchendaele in Belgium. In 2002, Lawrence’s granddaughter found Teddy, letter, and war memorabilia in a family briefcase. This moving story, narrated by Teddy, is accompanied by family photographs, newspaper cuttings, and warm oil paintings. Today Teddy lives in a glass display in the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Canada. mjw |
| Title: A Bear In War Author: Stephanie Innes and Harry Endrulat Illustrator: Brian Deines Publisher: Pajama Press, reprint edition Copyright: 2013 Original language: English Original publisher: Key Porter Books Limited, Canada Original copyright: 2008 ISBN: 978-1-927485-12-5 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 6-9 Genre: Picture book Book setting: Canada Author’s residence: United States, Canada Illustrator’s residence: Canada Awards: Silver Birch Award Shortlist, 2009 Vancouver Children’s Literature Roundtable Information Book Finalist Subjects: Canada, Father and child, North America, Soldiers, Teddy Bears, World War I |
This happy book celebrates the first ferris wheel ride of a young brother and sister. The brilliant, imaginative illustrations are filled with scenes of cotton candy trees, whirling ferris wheel cars, jelly bean people, and dot-to-dots with stars. Rhymed and unrhymed poetry dances on the pages. mjw |
| Title: Night Sky Wheel Ride Author: Sheree Fitch Illustrator: Yayo (Diego Herrara) Publisher: Tradewind Books, Canada Copyright: 2013 Original language: English ISBN: 978-1-896580-67-8 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Poetry Author’s residence: Canada Illustrator’s ethnicity: Colombian Illustrator’s residence: Canada Awards: Winner of the Lux Prize, 2013 Canadian Children’s Book Centre Best Books, 2013 White Raven Award Subjects: Canada, Children’s poetry, Ferris wheels, North America |
Rico is “a child proddity,” not prodigy, because his brain works like a “drum full of bingo balls.” He is also directionally challenged. His wondering about a single strand of spaghetti on the sidewalk outside his Berlin apartment leads him to Oscar, who is a true child prodigy. Oscar has a high IQ, a lot of anxieties, and he always wears a blue motorcycle helmet to protect his brain. When Oscar is kidnapped, Rico sets out to find his friend and catch the serial kidnapper know as Mr. 2000. This short novel with compelling characters is thoughtful and fun. mjw |
| Title: The Spaghetti Detectives Author: Andreas Steinhofel Publisher: Chicken House, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. Copyright: 2011 Original language: German Translator: Chantal Wright Original title: Rico, Oskar und die Tieferschatten Original publisher: Carlsen Verlag Gmb H, Hamburg Original copyright: 2008 ISBN: 978-0-545-28975-7 Hardcover pages: 176 Age range: 8-14 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Berlin, Germany Author’s residence: Germany Awards: 2009 German Youth Literature Prize, 2011 Marsh Award for Translation shortlist Subjects: Apartment houses, Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, Berlin, Europe, Germany, Mystery and detective stories, Single parent families, Western Europe |
In this fantastical picture book, the big brother sets the rules. The rules and consequences are arbitrary and unpredictable. “Never leave a red sock on the clothesline” is followed by an image of a gigantic red rabbit glaring at the terrified boys. “Never be late for a parade” leads to a procession of weird mechanical toys. And finally, “Always know the way home” shows the two boys safely sitting on the couch watching TV. The living room walls are covered with images of all the out-of-this-world creatures they encountered in the book. Lavish, thick oil paintings epics the mysterious world of the two boys’ imagination. An app of the story, published by Wheelbarrow- Australia, draws readers into Tan’s surreal landscape. mjw |
| Title: Rules Of Summer Author: Shaun Tan Illustrator: Shaun Tan Publisher: Arthur Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc. Copyright: 2013 Original language: English ISBN: 978-0-545-63912-5 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 10 up Genre: Picture book Author’s residence: Australia Subjects: Australia, Conduct of life, Friendship, Oceania, Summer |
Teenage Veda, who studies classical Indian dance Bharatanatyam, is injured in a car accident and her leg has to be amputated below the knee. She is devastated, but an American doctor understands her love of dance and designs a special prosthetic limb for her. Veda starts dancing all over again. She meets Govinda, a student teacher, who shows her a new way to bring joy to her dancing and who becomes her love interest. This enthralling story of Veda’s journey and of familial relationships in modern India is told in verse that captures the fascination of India. mjw |
| Title: A Time To Dance Author: Padma Venkatraman Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Book, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group Copyright: 2014 Original language: English ISBN: 978-0-399-25710-0 Hardcover pages: 320 Age range: 12 up Genre: Novel in Verse/Poetry Book setting: India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: United States Awards: 2015 South Asia Book Award – Honor, Grades 6 and up Subjects: Amputees, Dance, India, Novels in verse, People with disabilities, Southern Asia |
Ten-year-old Yannick leaves Paris to stay with his aunt and uncle at their inn in Provence. He is excited to go because Provence is where Cezanne, “the greatest painter in the world,” painted his picture. He works in the inn, setting tables, clearing tables, filling carafes of water, and cutting bread. Uncle Bruno teaches him to cook and make chocolate mousse and creme brulee. When a famous painter visits the inn and Yannick accidentally throws the drawing the painter scribbled on the paper tablecloth into the fireplace, he follows him back to his chateau to ask for another drawing. Yannick thinks the artist is Cezanne, but the artist signs another name, Picasso. Soft watercolor illustrations decorate the charming description of the culture of 1960s Provence. mjw |
| Title: Meeting Cezanne Author: Michael Morpurgo Illustrator: Francois Place Publisher: Candlewick Press Copyright: 2013 Original language: English ISBN: 978-0-7636-4896-1 Hardcover pages: 54 Age range: 7-10 Genre: Historical fiction Book setting: France Author’s residence: England Illustrator’s residence: France Subjects: Artists, Family life, France, Pablo Picasso, Paul Cezanne, Western Europe |
When young Razia learns that there will be a new school for girls in her Afghan village, she is determined to attend. Her baba gi (grandfather) supports her, but her father and brothers refuse to give her permission. The school’s founder assures them that Razia will be safe and that allowing her to go to school will be for the good of the family, the village, and the country. The book is a fictionalized account of the building of the Zabuli Education Center, a school for girls in the Afghan village of Deh’Subz. The story is enhanced by photo, fabric, and drawing collage. Illustrations capture the beauty and harsh realities of the small village. Background information on the lack of girls’ education worldwide; a brief biography of Razia Jan, the school’s founder; a glossary; and classroom activities accompany this powerful book. mjw |
| Title: Razia’s Ray Of Hope: One Girl’s Dream Of An Education Author: Elizabeth Suneby Illustrator: Suana Verelst Publisher: Kids Can Press Ltd. Copyright: 2013 Original language: English ISBN: 978-1-55453-816-4 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Afghanistan Author’s residence: United States Illustrator’s ethnicity: Belgian Illustrator’s residence: Canada Awards: 2014 USBBY Outstanding International Book List, 2014 Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Honor, 2014 South Asia Book Award, 2014 Middle East Outreach Council Book Award Subjects: Afghanistan, Girl’s educations, Southern Asia |
Anna, the youngest child in her large Jamaican family, wants to fetch water and carry it on her head like her brothers and sisters do. But, she cannot even balance an empty coffee can on her head. Anna is determined and she finally does succeed when the cows in Mister Johnson’s field frighten her and she runs home with her full coffee can on her head. She doesn’t spill a drop. The Jamaican landscape, a Jamaican flag, dasheen leaves, and Anna’s family are presented in interesting, bold acrylic paintings in tropical colors. mjw |
| Title: Anna Carries Water Author: Olive Senior Illustrator: Laura James Publisher: Tradewind Books Copyright: 2013 Original language: English ISBN: 978-1-896580-60-9 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture book Book setting: Jamaica Author’s ethnicity: Jamaican Author’s residence: Canada Illustrator’s ethnicity: Antiguan Illustrator’s residence: United States Subjects: Brothers and sisters, Caribbean, Jamaica, North America, Water supply |
In this striking, thoughtful first-person narration, a Mexican boy tells of his journey to the United States with his family as they face many dangers. The uncertainty all illegal immigrants face arouses empathy for the real risks surrounding relevant political issues, namely, migrant journeys taken in hopes of finding work and a better life. This bilingual, codex-style book literally unfolds as the story progresses and offers a straightforward Spanish translation on the reverse side of the English version. Brilliant illustrations in charcoal blacks and greys on amate, bark paper, are reminiscent of pre-Hispanic codices. cc |
| Title: Migrant: The Journey Of A Mexican Worker Author: Jose Manuel Mateo Illustrator: Javier Martinez Pedro Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2014 Original language: Spanish Translator: Emmy Smith Ready Original title: Migrar Original copyright: 2011 ISBN: 978-1419709579 Hardcover pages: 22 Age range: 8 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Mexico, United States Author’s residence: Mexico Illustrator’s residence: Mexico Awards: 2015 USBBY Outstanding International Books Grades 6-8, 2012 Bologna Book Fair Horizons’ Book Award Subjects: Central America, Emigration and immigration, Family life, Mexico, Migrant labor, North America |
On Hal’s tenth birthday, he receives a dog that he calls Fleck from Easy Pets. He knows they will be friends for life. But no one tells him that Easy Pets is a rent-a-pet agency and that Fleck has to be returned. Hal and his friend Pippa run away to his grandparents with a pack of escapee dogs from Easy Pets. On their cross country adventures, they meet up with a circus, a detective, greedy adults, and wonderful friends. This light, fun story about Hal and his dog, loyalty, and determination has a happy ending. All of the dogs find the right owners to belong to. mjw |
| Title: One Dog And His Boy Author: Eva Ibbotson Publisher: Scholastic Press Copyright: 2012 Original language: English ISBN: 978-0-545-35196-6 Hardcover pages: 288 Age range: 8 up Genre: Fiction Author’s ethnicity: Austrian Author’s residence: England Subjects: Dogs, England, Europe, Family life, Human-animal relationships, London, Voyages and travels, Western Europe |