Tag Archives: Friends

Anne Arrives: Inspired By Anne Of Green Gables

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In this first of a charming early reader series that reimagines L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, Anne Shirley arrives at the farm of Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert. They had adopted what they thought would be a sturdy boy to help on their farm.  Instead, they got imaginative – and outspoken – red-headed Anne-with-an-e.  This book covers the first few chapters of Montgomery’s book.  The lovely illustrations are rendered in graphite, watercolor, and colored pencil and completed digitally.  And the chapters are short enough to keep young readers’ attention. mjw

Title: Anne Arrives: Inspired By Anne Of Green Gables Author: Kallie George Illustrator: Abigail Halpin Publisher: Tundra Books, and imprint of Penguin Random House. Canada Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77149-930-9 Hardcover pages: 72 Age range: 6-8 Genre: Historical fiction Book setting: Prince Edward Island, Canada Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Vancouver, British Columbia Illustrator’s ethnicity: U.S. Illustrator’s residence: Maine.  U.S. Subjects: Farms, Foster homes, Orphans

Hello, Horse

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When the little boy’s friend Catherine asks him to come meet her horse named Shannon, he replies that he’s not so sure he likes horses.  Shannon is very big, but Catherine says she’s very kind.  Catherine teaches the boy to talk quietly to the horse, how to feed her carrots, how to lead her across a field, and even how to blow at her softly to show that he likes her.  Catherine helps him up onto the horse for his first ride.  Facts about horses are sprinkled throughout this gentle story. The book ends with an author’s note that tells that Shannon is the illustrator’s horse.  An index and more information are also included.  The beautiful illustrations were done in mixed media. mjw

Title: Hello, Horse Author: Vivian French Illustrator: Catherine Rayner Publisher: Candlewick Press.  Somerville, MA Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-5362-0167-3 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Scotland Author’s ethnicity: British Author’s residence: Scotland Subjects: Farm animals, Horses, New experiences

The Fox Girl And The White Gazelle

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Twelve-year-old Reema is a Syrian refugee trying to find her place in Glasgow.  She struggles with a new language and culture and misses her older brother who got left behind in Aleppo.  Caylin feels completely alone.  She has to look after her alcoholic mother.  She bullies the other kids and steals from them so that she can eat. Reema and Caylin become friends when they discover an injured fox and her babies. The girls also discover that they both like to run. Told in alternating perspectives, this is a great story of friendship. mjw

Title: The Fox Girl And The White Gazelle Author: Victoria Williamson Publisher: Kelpies, an imprint of Floris Books. Edinburgh, Scotland Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English  ISBN: 978-178250-490-0 Paperback pages: 272 Age range: 10-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Scotland Author’s ethnicity: Scottish Author’s residence: U.K. Subjects: Foxes, Glasgow, Poetry, Prejudice and racism, Refugees, Running, Syria

The Little Prince 75th Anniversary Edition

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This is the 75thanniversary edition of the classic story about an aviator whose plane is forced down in the Sahara Desert where he encounters a little prince from a small planet who relates his adventures in seeking the secret of what is important in life.  This edition offers the full text of the beloved story – including a biography of the author, sketches, photos, and reviews from the first edition.  It also features a free audio download read by acclaimed author Viggo Mortensen.  The Little Prince is the most widely translated literary work of the twentieth century. mjw

Title: The Little Prince 75th Anniversary Edition Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900-1944) Illustrator: Antoine de Saint-Exupery Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. New York Copyright: 2018 Original Language: French Translator: Vali Tamm Original Title: Le Petit Prince Original Publisher: Editions Gallimard. Paris Original Copyright: 1943,1946 ISBN: 978-1-328-47975-4 Hardcover pages: 224 Age range: 10-12 Genre: Fantasy, Fiction Book setting: Sahara Desert Author’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Subjects: Airplanes, Fables, Fairytales, Pilots, Planets, Princes, Roses

Buried Beneath The Baobab Tree

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Based on interviews with young women who were kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014, this powerful novel tells the story of young YaTa and her dreams that became nightmares.  The terrorist group attacked her village and killed most of her family.  Before the abduction, she had a promising future of getting a university scholarship and becoming a teacher.  The book is written in poetic vignettes that tell how the girls were forced to follow their captors’ radical beliefs.  The narrator was forced to marry a man who used her for her body. But she refused to be brainwashed.  An enlightening afterword by Italian journalist Viviana Mazza gives more information about the kidnapping.  References and resources are also included. mjw

Title: Buried Beneath The Baobab Tree Author: Adobe Tricia Nwaubani Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-06-269672-4 Hardcover pages: 336 Age range: 14 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Nigeria Author’s ethnicity: Nigerian Author’s residence: Abuja, Nigeria Subjects: Africa, Girls, Human rights, Prejudice and racism, Survival, Violence

Mangoes, Mischief, And Tales Of Friendship: Stories From India

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This book includes eight original trickster tales inspired by traditional Indian folktales. Ten-year-old Prince Veera and his best friend, Suku, are given the opportunity to preside over King Bheema’s court.  They have to deal with a greedy merchant who charges people for enjoying the smells of his sweets. They also have to settle a dispute between a man and his neighbor to whom he sells a well – but not the water in it. Veera and Suku manage to outsmart the King’s trickiest subjects and how to be wise and just. The clever, black and white illustrations are done in acrylic, poster color, and watercolor. mjw

Title: Mangoes, Mischief, And Tales Of Friendship: Stories From India Author: Chitra Soundar Illustrator: Uma Krishnaswamy Publisher: Candlewick Press Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English Original Title:  A Dollop Of Ghee And A Pot Of Wisdom and A Jar Of Pickles And A Pinch Of Justice Original Copyright: 2010 and 2016 in the U.K. ISBN: 978-1-5362-0067-6 Hardcover pages: 192 Age range: 6-9 Genre: Fiction, Folktales, Short stories Book setting: India Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: London Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: Chennai, London  Subjects: Asia, Bravery, Folktales, Justice, Myths, Royalty, Short stories, Trickster tales

Astrid The Unstoppable

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Nicknamed “the little thunderbolt,” ten-year-old Astrid likes to spend her days skiing, sledding, singing, and drinking hot chocolate with her grumpy best friend and godfather, Gunnvald.  She is the only child living in the village of Glimmerdal and she wishes there were other children in the town.  When two children unexpectedly show up, and then another strange woman appears, Astrid’s life suddenly gets very exciting.  This hilarious book will charm fans of Pippi Longstocking and Heidi. A map of Glimmerdal sets the scene. mjw

Title: Astrid The Unstoppable Author: Maria Parr Illustrator: Katie Harnett Publisher: Candlewick Press Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Norwegian Translator: Guy Puzey Original Title: Tonje Glimmerdal Original Publisher: Det Norske Samlaget. Oslo Original Copyright: 2009 ISBN: 978-1-5362-0017-1 Hardcover pages: 320 Age range: 9-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Norway Author’s ethnicity: Norwegian Author’s residence: Norway Translator’s ethnicity: Grew up in Scotland Translator’s residence: Scotland Subjects: Girls, Humor, Norway, Rural children, Songs

The Bridge Home

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Eleven-year-old Viji and her younger sister Rukku who has intellectual and developmental disabilities have run away into the harsh streets of Chennai to get away from their abusive father.  The girls find shelter and friends on an abandoned bridge.  Two homeless boys, Muthi and Arul, and the girls survive by scavenging the city’s garbage heaps and by selling the bead necklaces that Rukku makes.  The four bond into a family of sorts.  They are often hungry and scared, but they have each other and their dog Kutti. When the rainy season comes, Rukku and Muthi get sick and Viji and Arul have to make decisions about who they can trust to help them.  The courage and strength of the children is an inspiration. mjw

Title: The Bridge Home Author: Padma Venkatraman Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books Copyright: 2019 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-5247-3811-2 Hardcover pages: 208 Age range: 10-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Chennai, India Author’s ethnicity: Born in Chennai, India Author’s residence: U.S. Awards: 2020 South Asia Book Award Subjects: Asia, Domestic violence, Homelessness, Lower caste children, Runaways, Sisters

Mary Poppins

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Based on the original 1934 novel by P.L. Travers, this picture book version has beautiful soft pastel and colored pencil illustrations that take readers back to Number Seventeen Cherry Tree Lane in London to meet Mary Poppins and the Banks children.  There is a tea party on the ceiling, a visit to the night zoo, and a trip to the star shop.  This is the perfect introduction to everyone’s favorite nanny. mjw

Title: Mary Poppins Author: P.L.Travers (1899-196), adapted ny Amy Novesky Illustrator: Genevieve Godbout Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English Original Copyright:  1934 ISBN: 978-1-328-91677-8 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture Book, Fantasy Book setting: London Author’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born and raised in Quebec Illustrator’s residence: Montreal Subjects: Fantasy; London, England: Magic: Nannies

Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert

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Sophie Johnson is a self-confessed unicorn expert.  She has seventeen unicorns that are really all her toys and pets that she has dressed up with unique unicorn horns. But Sophie doesn’t see the real unicorn hiding in plain sight.  Magical illustrations capture the unicorns, rainbows, and fun in Sophie’s world. mjw

Title: Sophie Johnson, Unicorn Expert Author: Morag Hood Illustrator: Ella Okstad Publisher: Aladdin, New York Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Simon and Schuster UK Ltd. Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-534431614 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book, Fantasy Author’s ethnicity: Scotland Author’s residence: Edinburgh Illustrator’s ethnicity: Norway Illustrator’s residence: Trondheim  Subjects: Make believe, Pets, Toys, Unicorns

When Morning Comes

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It is Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1976, and there is a secret movement of students plotting against the apartheid government.  This compelling account is written from the points of view of four young people in Soweto, the black township.  Zanele is the black female student organizer.  She works as a nightclub singer.  Meena is a South Asian girl who works in her father’s shop.  Jack is an affluent white student, who is about to go to Oxford and Thabo is a teen gang member.  The Soweto Uprising was the beginning of the end of apartheid.  A historical note and a glossary are very helpful. mjw

Title: When Morning Comes Author: Arushi Raina Publisher: Tradewind Books, Vancouver Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English  Original Publisher: Tradewind Books Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-1-926890-14-2 Paperback pages: 232 Age range: 14 up Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa Author’s ethnicity: Grew up in Johannesburg Author’s residence: Canada Awards: 2018 Children’s Africana Book Award for Older Readers Subjects: Ant-apartheid movements, High school students, Race relations, Resistance to government

The Stars At Oktober Bend

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Alice is fifteen, but to everyone else, she is forever twelve.  She has acquired brain injury.  She can speak, but her words don’t come out right and her electrics don’t work.  She writes poetry – beautifully and anonymously.  Her first person narration has no capital letters and is very fragile. Manny is a boy who discovers her poetry. He was a boy soldier in Sierra Leone. He suffers from PTSD.  This is an incredible love story of two teens and their pains. mjw

Title: The Stars At October Bend Author: Glenda Millard Publisher: Candlewick Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-0-7636-9272-8 Hardcover pages: 288 Age range: 12 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Australia Author’s ethnicity: Australian Author’s residence: Australia Subjects: Child soldiers, Mute persons, Orphans, People with mental disabilities, Sexual abuse, Sierra Leone, Teenage refugees, Violence, Wounds and injuries