Tag Archives: Food

The Sandwich Thief

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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

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

Greenling

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Mr. Barleycorn finds what looks like a giant artichoke under a railroad trestle near his remote Australian farmhouse and comes home with a bright green baby. His wife is wary, but Barleycorn takes it in, nurtures it, and it becomes part of its natural world until fall when it disappears. Melons twine through the kitchen, apples grow in the living room, and grass sprouts from the phone. Nature runs wild – the greenling is nature’s bounty personified. A haunting final double-page spread shows wind turbines instead of power lines and grass and flowers growing, but no humans. The intricately detailed, surreal watercolor and gouache paintings include Australian animals and the rhyming text will certainly invite discussion. mjw

Title: Greenling Author: Levi Pinfold Illustrator: Levi Pinfold Publisher: Templar Books, and imprint of Candlewick Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-0-7636-7598-1 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 9 up Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Australia Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Cornwall, England Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: Cornwall, England Awards: Author/illustrator has won 2013 Kate Greenaway Medal Subjects: Ecology, Fable, Fantasy, Fruit, Nature stories, New baby, Science, Vegetables, Vegetation

The Tea Party In The Woods

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Kikko’s father forgot the pie he was going to bring to Grandmother’s house. Kikko runs through the snow-covered woods to give her father the pie before he reaches the home. Unfortunately, Kikko trips and ruins the pie. Although she is dispirited, she still plans on giving her grandmother the pie. As she continues to follow what she believes to be her father’s footprints, Kikko comes across a house she has never seen before. She meets speaking, clothed, and upright woodland creatures who invite her to their tea party. The mostly black and white charcoaled and penciled illustrations have touches of color and bring this enchanting tale of unexpected friendship and kindness to life.  ema

Title: The Tea Party In The Woods Author: Akiko Miyakoshi Illustrator: Akiko Miyakoshi Publisher: Kids Can Press Copyright: 2015 Original Language: Japanese Translator: Kids Can Press Original Title: Mori no Oku no Ochakai e Original Publisher: Kaisei-Sha Publishing Co. Ltd. Original Copyright: 2010 ISBN: 978-1-77138-107-9 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Tokyo Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: Tokyo Awards: A 2015 Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of the Year Winner Subjects: Acts of kindness, Grandmother, Party, Pies, Tea, Winter, Woods

A Pig Called Heather

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Heather, the Duroc pig, lives on a lovely 300-year-old farm in Scotland, loves and can identify apples of all kinds, and has Isla, the farmer’s daughter, as her best friend. When the barn is destroyed in a fire and Isla and her father move to London, the new owner, Mr. Busby, has a commercial promoting farm life shot at the farm and Heather is “discovered.” She is whisked off to London to become a national celebrity and the star of an advertising campaign. At a photo shoot, Heather escapes and finds Isla. A pig living in a flat in London proves challenging and Heather ends up finding a home in the London Zoo. Heather’s animal friends are brilliant, perfectly personified, and completely believable. However they don’t talk to humans. Heather and Isla communicate by snout scrunching. The writing is imaginative, fast-paced, and contains fun Britishisms. The ending hints at the two sequels, The Return of A Pig Called Heather (paperback 2014) and Heather’s Piglets (2015), where Heather has more zany adventures. mjw

Title: A Pig Called Heather Author: Harry Oulton Publisher: Holiday House, New York Copyright: 2105 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-8234-3290-5 Hardcover pages: 128 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction, Animal Fantasy Book setting: Aberdeenshire, Scotland.  London Author’s ethnicity: British Author’s residence: England Subjects: England, Farm life, Human-animal relationships, Pigs, Voyages and travels

The Feast For The King

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Tarantula created an amazing meat cake for King Lion’s birthday, but a problem arises. The centerpiece of his cake, an extra tender piece of meat, is missing! Tarantula is determined to find the thief who thoughtlessly ruined his masterpiece. He examines each animal’s mouth to find the criminal and is surprised by what he finds. The book’s festive characters and illustrations are perfect to create a classroom discussion about the characteristics of various animals. ema

Title: The Feast For The King Author: Marlies Verhelst Illustrator: Linde Faas Publisher: Lemniscaat Copyright: 2015 Original Language: Dutch Translator: Lemniscaat Publishing Original Title: Feestmaal voor de koning Original Publisher: Lemniscaat  Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-1-935954-44-6 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Dutch Author’s residence: The Netherlands Illustrator’s ethnicity: Dutch Illustrator’s residence: The Netherlands Subjects: Birthday, Feast, Party, Theft

When The Earth Lost Its Shapes

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One day, the Earth loses all of its shapes and nobody knows how or why they have gone. Triangles, rectangles, ovals, circles, and squares have all disappeared. Maybe it was a thief or giant aliens? Vibrant acrylic artwork shows eggs that are scrambled, oranges that are squeezed, sandwiches that are squished, and kites that look windswept. The only shape left is a little dot. She declares that she must do something and teams up with the other dots to save the world from shapeless confusion. Soon, everything is shipshape once again. The author is Co-founder and Publishing Director of Karadi Tales Company, an independent children’s publisher in Chennai. mjw

Title: When The Earth Lost Its Shapes Author: Shobha Viswanath Illustrator: Christine Kastl Publisher: Karadi Tales Company Pvt. Ltd.  Chennai, India Copyright: 2011 Original Language: English Original Copyright: 2008 ISBN: 978-81-8190-192-7 Paperback pages: 36 Age range: 3 up Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: Chennai, India Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Germany, France, and India Subjects: Environment, Size and shape

In Andal’s House (Tales Of The World)

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Young Kumar is invited to his classmate Andal’s house to watch the fireworks for the celebration of Diwali, India’s 5-day Festival of Light. Andal is a high-caste Brahmin and his family is wealthy. Kumar’s family had been Dalit, outcasts or untouchables. Kumar thinks he has been invited because he is the best student in their class, but when he arrives at Andal’s house, Andal’s grandmother sends him away. He cannot join the festivities. Disappointed, he returns home, where his grandfather explains how things used to be and that India is changing. Men like Mahatma Gandhi and Doctor B.R. Ambedkar have helped to outlaw discrimination against the Dalit, or the broken people. The story ends with Kumar feeling hopeful about both his and India’s future. A Glossary helps with unfamiliar words and an Author’s Note provides more information. Colorful folk-art illustrations in pencil crayon and watercolor ink depict the Diwali celebration and everyday life in contemporary India. mjw

Title: In Andal’s House (Tales Of the World) Author: Gloria Whelan Illustrator: Amanda Hall Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press.  Ann Arbor , Michigan Copyright: 2013 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-58536-603-3 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 6-10 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Gujarat, India Author’s ethnicity: U.S. Author’s residence: Michigan, U.S. Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: United Kingdom Subjects: Castes, Diwali, Gandhi, Prejudice, Social classes, Untouchables

Shooting Kabul

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Twelve-year-old Fadi and his family are illegally leaving Afghanistan for asylum in the U.S. in 2001. As they hurriedly board the escape truck, Fadi’s six-year-old sister Mariam lets go of his hand and is lost. As the Taliban is patrolling, there is no going back. They arrive in San Francisco to begin anew, but they are heart-broken and are constantly searching for Mariam. Fadi joins and finds comfort in the photography club at his middle school, with the hope that he can win a photo competition. The prize is a trip to India. Since Afghanistan is close to India, he thinks he can go there and find his sister. Fadi’s family also has to deal with the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Kids at school assume Fadi is responsible for what happened and make him fearful and miserable. A clever and satisfying ending will encourage readers to move on to the Glossary, Author’s Note, Suggestions for Further Reading, and Reading Guide. A map is also included. This story about family relationships, with realistic detail about the immigrant experience and Afghani (particularly Pukhtun) culture, is based on the author’s husband’s personal history of fleeing his home in Soviet controlled Afghanistan in the 1970s. One note: “shooting” in the title is a reference to photography, and not violence. mjw

Title: Shooting Kabul Author: N.H. Senzai Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2010 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-4424-0194-2 Hardcover pages: 273 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: San Francisco.  Afghanistan Author’s residence: U.S.  Has lived in Saudi Arabia and England. Awards: 2010 Middle East Outreach Book Award for Youth Literature, 2011 CBC/NCSS Notable Children’s Book Subjects: Afghan-Americans, Bravery, California, Cameras, Emigration, Immigration, Love, Perseverance, Photography, Prejudice, Tolerance

Halfway Home: Drawing My Way Through Japan

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At 15, the cartoonist-author traveled solo to Japan to stay with her grandparents who live in Kashiwa, a small city outside of Tokyo, to rediscover her roots. She was born in 1997 in Japan and lived there until 2003, when her American father and Japanese mother moved the family to the U.S. She explores Japan with her Baba (grandmother), but also ventures out alone. She visits the trendy Harajuku neighborhood of Tokyo, where she enjoys a Japanese crepe. She rides the shinkansen (bullet train) to Kyoto to see the ancient Zen Temple of the Golden Pavilion, Kinkaku-Ji. Later, her family joins her and they travel to Tsukiji for sushi “worth waking up at 5 a.m.” for and to Shibuya to see the statue of the legendary dog, Hachiko. She is a smart observer. The book is a combination of expressive comics, illustrations, photos, and thoughtful and humorous prose. The title refers to her “somewhat feeling half at home in both Japan and America.” mjw

Title: Halfway Home: Drawing My Way Through Japan Author: Christine Mari Inzer Illustrator: Christine Mari Inzer Publisher: Naruhodo Press Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-9907014-8 Paperback pages: 102 Age range: 12 up Genre: Graphic Novel, Fiction Book setting: Japan Author’s ethnicity: Japanese-American, born in Tokyo Author’s residence: Connecticut, U.S. Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese-American, born in Tokyo Illustrator’s residence: Connecticut, U.S. Awards: 2015 Benjamin Franklin Silver Award – Best New Voice: Children’s and YA (Independent Book Publishers Association) Subjects: Coming of age, Cultural exploration, Grandparents, Identity, Memoir, Mixed-race issues, Travelogue

Slovenly Peter: Freely Translated Into English By Mark Twain

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Struwwelpeter (translated as “slovenly” or “shock-headed” Peter) is one of the most popular and influential children’s books ever written. It is the most widely published German book.  It has been translated into over 35 languages. Rhyming couplets and grotesque pictures portray the often gruesome consequences that befall children who misbehave. A boy who doesn’t groom himself is unpopular. A girl plays with matches and burns to death. A child, who won’t stop sucking his thumb, has both thumbs cut off. A boy, who refuses to eat his soup, wastes away and dies. Today’s children will distinguish these tales from reality and will probably even giggle. Also included are a Foreword by Mark Twain’s daughter (1934), an Introduction with information on how the book came to be written, and a note by Mark Twain (1891). Maurice Sendak said that Struwwelpeter is “graphically one of the most beautiful books in the world.” And Slovenly Peter’s influence is evident in Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands. mjw

Title: Slovenly Peter: Freely Translated Into English By Mark Twain Author: Heinrich Hoffmann (1809-1894) Illustrator: Fritz Kredel (1900-1973) Publisher: Calla Editions, an imprint of Dover Publications, Inc.   Mineola, New York Copyright: 2013 Original Language: German Translator: Mark Twain (1835-1910) Original Title: Der Struwwelpeter (or Shockheaded Peter) Original Publisher: Marchbanks Press, New York Original Copyright: 1935, 1845 ISBN: 978-1-60660-048-1 Hardcover pages: 34 Age range: 8-14 Genre: Poetry, Rhymed stories Author’s ethnicity: German Translator’s ethnicity: U.S. Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Subjects: Boys, Conduct of life, Exaggeration, Girls, Misbehavior, Morality tales, Morals, Nursery rhymes

Imelda and the Goblin King

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This entertaining story about fairies and goblins tells of adventurous Imelda, who helps her fairy friends devise a plan to turn the toothy, grumpy, mean, and greedy Goblin King into a worm. After he imprisons their Fairy Queen, he is given a chance to be generous, but he remains a bully, and so deserves what he gets. Vivid illustrations of the fairies, who come in all shapes, sizes, colors, genders, and hairstyles and the straightforward, crisp storytelling enrich this brand new fairytale. mjw

Title: Imelda And The Goblin King Author: Briony May Smith Illustrator: Briony May Smith Publisher: Flying Eye Books, an imprint of Nobrow Ltd., London Copyright: 2105 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-909263-65-9 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Sandhurst, U.K. Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: Sandhurst, U.K. Subjects: Fairies, Fairytales and folklore, Goblins, Pie, Royalty