Tag Archives: Nature

The Big Book Of Animals Of The World

The Big Book Of Animals Of The WorldYoung explorers are exposed to the several animals that live on Earth. The board book’s cartoonish animal illustrations are eye-catching and accurate depictions of animals around the world. Each animal, object, and building are labeled in this board book. Moreover, maps and the labels help expose readers to global terms and vocabulary.Readers who enjoyed this book should also check out the author’s other books The Big Book of Words and Pictures, Anton Can Do Magic, Anton and the Battle, and You Can Do It, Bert!. ema

 

 

Title: The Big Book Of Animals Of The World
Author: Ole Könnecke
Illustrator
: Ole Könnecke
Publisher
: Gecko Press
Copyright
: 2015
Original Language
:
Translator: Jan Michael
Original Title: Das große Bilderbuch der ganzen Welt
Original Publisher: Carl Hansen Verlag München
Original Copyright:
2014
ISBN: 978-1-776570-12-6
Board book pages
: 20
Age range: 4-8
Genre
: Board Book, Nonfiction
Authors’ ethnicity: Swedish
Authors’ residence
: Germany
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Swedish
Illustrator’s residence
: Germany
Subjects: Animals, Continents, Countries, Maps, World

Professor Astro Cat’s Atomic Adventure

Professor Astro Cat's Atomic AdventureReaders are taken on a scientific journey in this retro art style picture book. In this book, Professor Astro Cat returns with his friend Astro Mouse to talk about physics. Topics that this well-researched book covers includes: gravity, the scientific method, electricity, the laws of motion, energy, magnetism, light, atoms, and more. The language and excellent explanations make blowing concepts easily accessible to young scientists. Those who enjoy the book’s fun graphics, charming humor, and fascinating facts should pick up Professor Astro Cat’s other book, Professor Astro Cat’s Frontiers of Spaceema

 

Title: Professor Astro Cat’s Atomic Adventure
Author: Dr. Dominic Wallman
Illustrator
: Ben Newman
Publisher
: Flying Eye Books an imprint of Nobrow Ltd.
Copyright
: 2016
ISBN: 978-1-909263-60-4
Hardcover pages
: 56
Age range: 7-11
Genre
: Picture Book, Nonfiction
Authors’ ethnicity: English
Authors’ residence
: United Kingdom
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: English
Illustrator’s residence
: London
Subjects: Forces of motion, Math, Physics, Science, Space

How Love Was Born

How-love-was-bornMyths are “fanciful explanations of the mysteries of the universe and nature, as told by native people all over the world”. This picture book is adapted from a myth about how love was born. After the day is done and ready for bed, the night comes out dressed with stars.  When the night sees the moon, she always welcomes her out to dance.  The moon shows her love for life through her various dances. As people gaze at the moon, they feel like they are falling in love. The simplistically beautiful text and illustrations will have readers falling in love with this Puerto Rican tale. ema
Title: How Love Was Born
Author: Mrinali Álvarez Astacio
Illustrator
: Mrinali Álvarez Astacio
Publisher
: University of Puerto Rico Press
Copyright
: 2010
Original Language
: Spanish
Translator
: Raquel S. Arato
Original Title
: De como nacio el amor
Original Publisher:  University of Puerto Rico Press
Original Copyright: 2009
ISBN: 978-0-8477-1612-8
Hardcover pages: 23
Age range: 4 up
Genre: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity: Puerto Rican
Author’s residence
: Puerto Rico
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Puerto Rican
Illustrator’s residence
: Puerto Rico
Subjects: Ancient times, Love, Moon, Myths, Night, Sun

Alone In The Forest

alone in the forestYoung Musa sets off alone from his village to gather firewood. He hears a loud noise and becomes terrified. He hides in the hollow of a tree, feeling lost and alone. A tiny squirrel and a peaceful cow help Musa return home, courageous and enriched by his experience. Bold, outlined forms in muted natural colors by talented Gond folk artist, Bhajju Shyam, contribute to the expressive storytelling. mjw
Title: Alone In The Forest
Author: Gita Wolf and Andrea Anastasio
Illustrator
: Bhajju Shyam
Publisher
: Tara Books.  Chennai, India
Copyright
: 2012
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-81-923171-5-1
Hardcover pages
: 40
Age range
: 4 up
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: India
Author’s ethnicity
: Gita Wolf – Indian
Author’s residence
: Gita Wolf – India
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Indian – Gond tribe
Illustrator’s residence
: Bhopal, India
Subjects
: Asia, Fear, Forests and forestry, India, Self-esteem, Self respect

Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions Of Trees

wangari maathaiWangari Maathai received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for starting the Green Belt Movement, dedicated to planting trees, protecting the environment, and promoting women’s rights. This beautiful picture book biography describes her early life when she went to school at a time when very few African women even learned to read. She eventually studied in the United States and earned her Ph.D. from the University of Nairobi in 1971. Besides planting trees all over Kenya, she organized the environmental party to defeat the corrupt Kenyan government in 2002. Dramatic and vibrant stylized art, with African textile patterns, helps celebrate Maathai’s life and accomplishments. Extensive back matter includes a timeline of her life with photographs, a map of Africa, information on Kenya today and deforestation, quotations from her autobiography and Nobel lecture, and helpful websites. mjw
Title: Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions Of Trees
Author: Franck Prevot
Illustrator
: Aurelia Fronty
Publisher
: Charlesbridge. Watertown, Massachusetts
Copyright
: 2015
Original Language
: French
Translator
: Dominique Clement
Original Title
: Wangari Maathai: la femme qui plantait des millions d’arbres
Original Publisher
: Editions Rue du Monde
Original Copyright
: 2012
ISBN
: 978-1-58089-626-9
Hardcover pages
: 48
Age range
: 6-9
Genre
: Picture Book Biography
Book setting
: Kenya
Author’s ethnicity
: French
Author’s residence
: France
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: French
Illustrator’s residence
: France
Awards:  2016 Children’s Africana Book Award
Subjects
: Environmentalists, Green Belt Movement, Kenya, Multicultural, Novel Peace Prize, Trees, Women

The Bear And The Piano

The Bear And The PianoA curious bear cub finds a peculiar object in the forest. He discovers that he can make strange noises by pressing his paws on it. The bear continues to come back and play around with the object. He eventually is a master at making beautiful sounds. One day, as he plays for his bear friends, a group of humans ask him to come with them to their city to play the piano. The bear agrees and becomes famous. As time goes on, the bear feels homesick. He longs to see his friends again, but he worries they are angry that he left them. The book’s multilayered-mixed media illustrations of woods, bears, and cityscapes are absolutely beautiful. Everyone of all ages will enjoy the message of friendship and pursuing your dreams. ema

Title: The Bear And The Piano
Author: David Litchfield
Illustrator
: David Litchfield
Publisher
: Clarion Books
Copyright
: 2015
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0-544-67454-7
Hardcover pages

Age range: 4-7
Genre
: Picture Book
Authors’ ethnicity: British
Authors’ residence
: United Kingdom
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Israelis
Illustrator’s residence
: United Kingdom
Subjects: Bears, Famous, Forests, Music, Musician, Piano, Woods
Awards: 2016 Winner of Waterstones Children’s Book Prize:Best Illustrated Book, 2016 Nominated for ‘Read It Again’ Cambridgeshire Libraries Children’s Picture Book Award

 

Greenling

greenlingMr. 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 Wolf Wilder

the wolf wilderTwelve-year-old Feodora, Feo for short, lives in the snowy woods of Russia with her mother. They are wolf wilders. They take wolves that were bought as pups by St. Petersburg aristocrats and abandoned; teach the wolves to hunt, fight, and distrust humans; and then release them back into the wild. Feo’s house was burned and her mother was attacked and captured by the Russian Army. Accompanied by three loyal wolves, Ilya, a sensitive, lost young soldier who loves ballet, and Alexei, a 15-year-old agitator from a nearby village, Feo sets off into the ice and snow of the woods on a journey to rescue her mother. Set near the end of Tsar Nicholas II’s reign, the story combines history with fairytale, and suggests the hope of the Revolution. Feo is a feisty and beautiful heroine, who stands for everything that is right. This captivating book begins with a note on wolf wilders (which the author made up). mjw
Title: The Wolf Wilder
Author: Katherine Rundell
Publisher
: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York
Copyright
: 2105
Original Language
: English
Original Publisher
: Bloomsbury Publishing, London
Original Copyright
: 2015
ISBN
: 978-1-4814-1942-0
Hardcover pages
: 240
Age range
: 8-12
Genre
: Historical Fiction
Book setting
: Russia
Author’s Ethnicity:
Grew up in Zimbabwe, Brussels, and London
Author’s residence
: Oxford, England
Subjects
: Ballet, Bravery, Fairytales, Fantasy, Mothers and daughters, Russia – history – Nicholas II, 1894-1917, Russian Revolution, Survival, Wolves

The Tea Party In The Woods

The Tea Party In The WoodsKikko’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

This Is The Greatest Place!: The Forbidden City And The World Of Small Animals

This is the Greatest Place! The Forbidden City and the World of Small AnimalsOne day the creatures of a forest are visited by a man who raves about the beauty of the forest they live in. This visitor is the architect for the Chinese Emperor and is tasked with finding a place to build the emperor’s palace. The small animals show the builder their home, and he is inspired to construct the palace based on the sights he sees. This picture book with adorable illustrations, real photographs of the palace, maps, lift-flaps, and pull-out pages innovatively describes how the real Chinese Forbidden City was built and exists today. The factual information about how the trees were treated with tender loving care to build the Forbidden City promotes environmental preservation. This work is an excellent addition to the China Institute’s We All Live In The Forbidden City series. ema
Title: This Is The Greatest Place!: The Forbidden City And The World Of Small Animals
Author: Brian Tse
Illustrator
: Alice Mak
Publisher
: China Institute in America
Copyright
: 2014
Original Language
: Chinese
Translator
: Ben Wan
ISBN: 978-0-9893776-2-1
Hardcover pages
: 44 pages
Age range: 4 up
Genre
: Picture Book/ Nonfiction
Book setting
: China
Author’s ethnicity
: Chinese
Author’s residence
: China
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Chinese
Illustrator’s residence
: China
Awards: A Parent’s Choice Recommended Award for Picture Books, and a winner of A Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award, Books on Foreign Culture
Subjects: Architecture, Buildings, Forests, Palaces, History

A Prayer For World Peace

A Prayer for World PeaceJane Goodall, world-renowned anthropologist and conservationist, speaks out against greed, slave labor, animal abuse, bullying and torture, harm to the natural world, and more in this “family book” for adults to read along with their children. She asks for generosity to the living world and justice for all humankind in this nondenominational prayer for peace and equality. Beautiful double-page spreads of birds, animals, flowers, and humans are set on glowing, mysterious abstract patterns. Back matter includes a message from Jane Goodall as the UN Ambassador of Peace, notes about the Jane Goodall Institute and her Roots and Shoots organization, and a biography of the illustrator. mjw
Title: A Prayer For World Peace
Author: Jane Goodall
Illustrator
: Feeroozeh Golmohammadi
Publisher
: Michael Neugebauer Publishing, Minedition
Copyright
: 2015
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-988-8240-49-4
Hardcover pages
: 48
Age range
:  7 up
Genre
: Picture Book
Author’s ethnicity
: British
Author’s residence
: England
Illustrator’s ethnicity
: Iranian
Illustrator’s residence
: Tehran, Iran
Subjects
: Hope, Justice, Peace, Prayers, Values

The Never Snowy Christmas

The never Snowy ChristmasA young boy living in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands wishes for snow on his island and comes up with ingenious and impetuous ways to get it. He asks a policeman. He saves his money to buy a snow maker he saw in an electronics magazine. He has a friend in Belgium send some snow. And he even puts flour in the freezer and then throws it in the air, only to get “grounded until he’s old.”  Cartoon-like illustrations showing US Virgin Islands architecture and landscapes accompany the rhyming text.  A note about the US Virgin Islands and information about the story and author are included. mjw
Title: The Never Snowy Christmas
Author: Zenzi Hodge
Illustrator
: Jonathan Brown
Publisher
: Sandscript Publishing, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Copyright
: 2014
Original Language
: English
ISBN
: 978-0-9905662-8-1
Hardcover pages
: 36
Age range
: 4-8
Genre
: Picture Book
Book setting
: St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Author’s ethnicity
: Born in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Author’s residence
: St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Illustrator’s residence
: Utah, USA
Subjects
: Christmas, Dreams, Snow, Tropics