Tag Archives: Friends

Kisses And Croissants

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Kisses and CroissantsSixteen-year-old Mia Jenrow is a talented ballerina whose dream is to dance with American Ballet Theatre. She has just arrived in Paris for a competitive summer dance program. While in Paris, she searches for the history behind a family legend that states that a distant relative danced for the Paris Opera and was painted by Edgar Degas. She is so passionate for ballet and she trains for a part in Swan Lake and a very important audition. And, she falls for Louis, an endearing and cute French boy who happens to be the son of her strict ballet master. They hop on his Vespa and discover the truth about her family legend. The book provides a beautiful look at Paris – museums, gardens, bakeries, art, love, and much more. mjw
Title: Kisses And Croissants
Author: Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Copyright: 2021
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-593-17357-2
Hardcover pages: 320
Age range: 12 up
Genre: Fiction, Young Adult
Book setting: Paris
Author’s ethnicity: French
Author’s residence: New York City
Subjects: Ballet, Ballet dancers, Coming of age, Edgar Degas, Friendship, Paris, Romance

Peace

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Peace

This rhyming concept book explores peace for children. “Peace is a smile, a hug. Peace can be bold or quiet and snug.” At the end of the book, fold-out pages reveal children in delightful, peaceful interactions. The children in the colorful illustrations are diverse in skin color and abilities. Many of the animals in the book are cultural symbols of peace from nations around the world. The endpapers depict a tree, with the leaves showing the word for peace in many different languages. An author’s note tells how peace affects all inhabitants of our planet. A Spanish edition is also available. 978-0-7358-4455-1. mjw
Title: Peace
Author: Baptiste Paul and Miranda Paul
Illustrator: Esteli Meza
Publisher: NorthSouth Books Inc. New York
Copyright: 2021
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4449-0
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Baptiste- grew up in Saint Lucia
Author’s residence: Baptiste and Miranda – Wisconsin, U.S.A.
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Mexican
Illustrator’s residence: Mexico City
Awards: Illustrator has won A la Orilla del Viento in Mexico
Subjects: Friendship, Interpersonal relations, Peace, Stories in rhyme

The Elevator

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downloadA girl and her dog Roco want to go on their afternoon walk. They get on the elevator on Floor 4 and the girl pushes the down button, but the elevator goes up. It stops at Floor 7 and Ms. Paula gets on. She is afraid of dogs. She presses the down button, but the elevator goes up again. On Floor 8, old Mr. Miguel gets on with his walker. He presses the down button and the elevator stops on Floor7 and Cora and the twins in their stroller get on. After pressing the button again, the elevator stops between Floor 5 and Floor 4. Then Ms. Paula opens the box that she is carrying and gives everyone a slice of birthday cake that she was planning to give to her friend. Next, Mr. Miguel tells a story called Who Cares? about a bear that always said he didn’t care when he really did. All of a sudden the elevator starts to move, though no one pushed the button. It stops at Floor 4 and everyone gets off and has tea at the girl’s apartment. At the end of the book, in a real envelope, there is a surprise mini-book titled Who Cares? The playful black, white and red illustrations were created with drawing, collage, and photography all assembled digitally. The tall and slender format of the book resembles an elevator. mjw
Title: The Elevator
Author: Yael Frankel
Illustrator: Yael Frankel
Publisher: Tapioca Stories. Huntington, New York.
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: Spanish
Translator: Kit Maude
Original Title: El ascensor
Original Publisher: Limonero, Argentina
Original Copyright: 2019
ISBN: 978-1-7347839-0-2
Hardcover pages: 44
Age range: 5-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Argentinian
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Argentinian
Awards: 2021 Outstanding International Books USBBY, 2020 White Raven Award
Subjects: Apartment buildings, Dogs, Elevators, Pets, Twin

The Story Of Baldomera

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Baldomera

Baldomera the donkey became famous worldwide, when a video of her reunion with her owner, Ismael, after three months without seeing him due to COVID-19, went viral on YouTube. When they met, the little donkey burst into tears. This delightful picture book with its simple text and sweet, playful illustrations was inspired by the true story of the donkey and his owner. A Spanish edition is also available, La Burrita Baldomera. mjw
Title: The Story Of Baldomera
Author: Enrique G. Ballesteros and Ismael F. Arias
Illustrator: Ayesha L. Rubio
Publisher: NubeOcho
Copyright: 2021
Original Language: Spanish
Translator: Laura Fielden
Original Title: La Burrita Baldomera
Original Publisher: NubeOcho
Original Copyright: 2020
ISBN: 978-84-18133-69-5
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 3-8
Genre: Picture Book, Nonfiction, Information Book
Book setting: Spain
Author’s ethnicity: Spanish
Author’s residence: Spain
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish
Illustrator’s residence: Spain
Subjects: Donkeys, Emotions, Feelings, Farm animals, Friendship, Pandemic, Reunion, Separation

My Favorite Memories

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This gentle story tells of a young girl who is moving to a new country. She has a suitcase in which to pack her most favorite things. She wants to take her aquarium, a wooden chair, the pear tree outside, her best friend, and even the bus driver, but these things are all too big. She comes to understand that while we can’t always carry our favorite things physically, we can travel with them in other ways. The charming illustrations complement this hopeful story of change and resilience. mjw
Title: My Favorite Memories
Author: Sepideh Sarihi
Illustrator: Julie Volk
Publisher: Blue Dot Kids Press. San Francisco, CA
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: German
Translator: Elisabeth Lauffer
Original Title: Meine liebsten Dinge müssen mit
Original Publisher: Beltz & Gelberg
Original Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 978-1-7331212-4-8
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 5-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Iranian
Author’s residence: Germany
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Austrian
Illustrator’s residence: Vienna
Awards: 2020 Bologna Ragazzi Award, Illustrator has won the White Raven Award
Subjects: Change, Emotions, Moving, Permanence, New experiences

Beyond Me

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This novel-in-verse examines the aftershocks of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan and damaged a nuclear power plant in March, 2011, through the eyes of eleven-year-old Maya.  Maya and her family were lucky. They didn’t lose their Tokyo home or the lives of family members, but Maya is still terrified. She feels helpless and hopeless. What can she do to help? She chronicles the 24 days after the quake, sometimes minute by minute. Maya and her friend Yuka fold paper cranes and ask for sunflower seeds to plant. She continues writing her journal for 113 days with interesting formatting and timelines. An author’s note tells more about the Great Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of March 11, 2011. mjw

Title: Beyond Me
Author: Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-48143-789-9
Hardcover pages: 304
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Fiction, Verse
Book setting: Japan
Author’s ethnicity: U.S.
Author’s residence: Tokyo, Japan
Subjects: Earthquakes, Family life, Japan, Novels in verse, Paper cranes, Sunflowers, Survival, Tsunamis

Digging For Words: Jose Alberto Gutierrez And The Library He Built

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This picture book is based on the true story of Jose Alberto Gutierrez, a Colombian garbageman, who rescues thrown-away books from the trash and has created a library in his home. Local children look forward to Saturdays when they can visit Jose’s Paradise Library and be transported by the magic of the stories. Spanish words are integrated smoothly into the text. The beautiful illustrations were rendered digitally. An author’s note supplies photographs and biographical information about Jose Albert Gutierrez. A section called Featured Books describes several references to books that have been showcased in the illustrations. A Spanish edition of the book is also available.. mjw
Title: Digging For Words: Jose Alberto Gutierrez And The Library He Built
Author: Angela Burke Kunkel
Illustrator: Paola Escobar
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade Books.  New York
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-9848-9263-8
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Bogota, Colombia
Author’s ethnicity: U.S.
Author’s residence: U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Colombian
Illustrator’s residence: Bogota, Colombia
Subjects: Bogota, Colombia; Books and reading; Latin American history; Libraries, South America books

Little Wise Wolf

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Little Wise Wolf lives far away on the other side of the mountains. He reads big books, knows a lot, and is very proud. When various animals come to him to get answers to their difficult questions, he has no time for them. One day a big black bird flies to Little Wise Wolf’s house to tell him that the king is ill and needs his help. Little Wise Wolf takes off, wearing his red boots, and riding on his bicycle to visit the king at the palace. He discovers along the way that he has much to learn from his friends about the real world. He gives the king some medicine and the king wants him to stay and be his royal doctor, but Little Wise Wolf decides that he needs to go back to his friends and his books. Enchanting illustrations of the little animals enhance this important book about friendship. mjw
Title: Little Wise Wolf
Author: Gijs van der Hammen
Illustrator: Hanneke Siemensma
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Copyright: 22020
Original Language: Dutch
Translator: Laura Watkinson
Original Title: Kleine wijze wolf
Original Publisher: Uitgeverij Hoogland. Hoorn, The Netherlands
Original Copyright: 2017
ISBN: 978-1-525305498
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture book
Author’s ethnicity: Dutch
Author’s residence: The Netherlands
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Dutch
Illustrator’s residence: The Netherlands
Awards: Nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal
Subjects: Books, Friendship, Kings, Reading, Wolves

From My Window

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A boy looks out the window and sees in his favela (his district in Rio de Janeiro), patched roofs, rainbows, and people everywhere. He talks to his friends and starts a telephone game. He sees children playing soccer and going to school and he hears Brazilian funk, also called favela funk. He sees his favela and asks, “What do you see from your window?” Colorful, extremely detailed illustrations prepared in acrylics and finished digitally celebrate the boy’s diverse urban community. Back matter explains favelas in Brazil. mjw
Title: From My Window
Author: Otavio Junior
Illustrator: Vanina Starkoff
Publisher: Barefoot Books. Cambridge, MA
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: Portuguese
Translator: Beatriz C. Dias
Original Publisher: Companhia das Letras. Sao Paulo
Original Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 978-1-78285-977-2
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: Brazil
Author’s ethnicity: Brazilian
Author’s residence: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Brazilian
Illustrator’s residence: Brazil
Subjects: Brazil, Cities, Favela, Soccer, South America, Urban community living

Doctor Mouse

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Every morning in the forest, Doctor Mouse opens the old barn door and hangs up his sign: Consultations from Sunrise to Sunset. He straightens up the six chairs in his office and puts on his white coat backwards.  First to arrive is Ms. Chicken who needs to keep calm, but consultations cannot begin until all six chairs are occupied. The second patient is Mr. Dog, followed by Mr. Bear, a rabbit, and Ms. Owl.  The sixth chair remains empty. It is eventually filled by Mr. Fox. The patients charmingly help each other. It becomes a kind of group therapy session and all the patients leave Doctor Mouse’s office happy. The hand-crafted illustrations in this sweet story are filled with fun details. mjw
Title: Doctor Mouse
Author: Christa Kempter
Illustrator: Amelie Jackowski
Publisher: North South Books, Inc.
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: German
Translator: David Henry Wilson
Original Title: Doktor Maus
Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG
Original Copyright: 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7358-4410-0
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: German
Author’s residence: Germany
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French
Illustrator’s residence: France
Subjects: Bears, Chickens, Cooperation, Doctors, Dogs, Fox, Humor. Mice, Owls, Rabbits

The Bear And The Duck

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It’s the end of winter, and when Duck plans to fly off, he crashes into a jumble of branches. The noise wakes Bear, who grumbles and emerges from his den. Duck is not afraid of Bear because Bear is old and he doesn’t have many teeth left. Bear takes care of Duck and they become friends. They swim and explore, and Duck tells stories. Duck is finally well enough to fly away and Bear misses him. Winter comes and Bear goes back to his den, thinking that he may never see Duck again. After the long winter, it’s spring and Bear wakes up to find that Duck has returned.  Woodcut engravings enhance this sweet story of friendship and the seasons. mjw
Title: The Bear And The Duck
Author: May Angeli
Illustrator: May Angeli
Publisher: Eerdmans Books For Young Readers
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: French
Original Publisher: Les Editions des Elephants, France
Original Copyright: 2019
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5555-8
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 4-8
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: French
Author’s residence: Paris
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French
Illustrator’s residence: Paris
Subjects: Bears, Birds, Ducks, Seasons

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Catherine’s War

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This teen Jewish French girl’s historical graphic novel is inspired by a true survival story. Rachel Cohen, whose passion is photography, lives at the Sevres Children’s Home outside Paris. As Hitler’s war escalates, she must go into hiding. She has to leave her friends, but she takes her camera as she is forced to move from location to location. The ink and watercolor illustrations capture beautifully the detail of the French setting. A map of Catherine’s journey through France is included, as well as photographs of the real Catherine, and an interview with the author. mjw
Title: Catherine’s War
Author: Julia Billet
Illustrator: Claire Fauvel
Publisher: Harper Alley, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers
Copyright: 2020
Original Language: French
Translator: Ivanka Hahnenberger
Original Title: La Guerre de Catherine
Original Publisher: Rue de Sevres, Paris
Original Copyright: 2017
ISBN: 978-0-06-291559-7
Paperback pages: 176
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Historical Fiction, Graphic Novel
Book setting: France
Author’s ethnicity: French
Author’s residence: France
Illustrator’s ethnicity: French
Illustrator’s residence: France
Awards: 2021 ALA Batchelder Honor Award
Subjects: Cameras, Coming of age, Holocaust, Nazis, Paris, Photographs, World War II