Tag Archives: Schools

The Breadwinner

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Eleven-year-old Parvana lives with her family in one room of a bombed out apartment building in Kabul, Afghanistan.  Her father is a history teacher.  He is arrested by the Taliban for having a foreign education and put in prison. This leaves the family without anyone who can earn money and buy food, since according to Taliban rules, women cannot go out on their own.  Parvana cuts her hair and wears boys’ clothes so that she can become the family’s breadwinner.  This is the fifteenth anniversary edition of the four-volume story. It includes a new forward by the author, a new map, and a glossary.  There is also an animated, award-winning movie and a graphic novel based on this inspiring novel. mjw

Title: The Breadwinner Author: Deborah Ellis Publisher: Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press. Toronto Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Groundwood Books Original Copyright: 2000 ISBN: 978-1-55498-767-8 Paperback pages: 176 Age range: 10-14 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Afghanistan Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Ontario Awards: Middle East Book Award Subjects: Afghanistan, Girls and women, Taliban. Refugees

Mister Doctor: Janusz Korczak And The Orphans Of The Warsaw Ghetto

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Polish educator, writer, and doctor, Janusz Korczak (Mister Doctor) founded an orphanage for children in Warsaw. His remarkable story is told from the perspective of one of the orphans. In November of 1940, one hundred and sixty Jewish children, led by their beloved Mister Doctor, were forced by the Nazis to leave their famous orphanage on Krochmalna Street and walk to the other side – the ghetto. Their new home on Chlodna was nothing like their orphanage, but they would cling to their hope and celebrate their Jewish identity. Their final march on August 5, 1942, took them to trains bound for Treblinka camp, north of Warsaw. This is depicted in a powerful foldout of the children and Mister Doctor. Gray and sepia mood-setting drawings portray the horror and hope beautifully. An afterword, “About Janusz Korczak” offers details of his life. Further Reading and Resources are included. mjw

Title: Mister Doctor:  Janusz Korczak And The Orphans Of The Warsaw Ghetto Author: Irene Cohen-Janca Illustrator: Maurizio A.C. Quarello Publisher: Annick Press, Canada Copyright: 2016 Original Language: French Translator: Paula Ayer Original Title: Le dernier voyage Original Publisher: Les Editions des Elephants Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-55451-861-6 Paperback pages: 68 Age range: 11 up Genre: Historical Fiction, Biography Book setting: Poland Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian Illustrator’s residence: Italy Awards: 2016 Sydney Taylor Book Award, Notable Book.  2016 USBBY Honor List of Outstanding International Books Subjects: Ant-Semitism, History, Holocaust, Jewish children, Orphans, Orphanage, Poland, Warsaw, World War II

Macy McMillan And The Rainbow Goddess

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Sixth grader Macy McMillan, who is deaf, is facing big changes. Her house is for sale and her mother is about to remarry, adding a stepfather and six-year-old twin stepsisters. Macy’s mother has Macy go next door to help 86-year–old Iris Gillan pack, as Iris is moving into an assisted living facility. Iris doesn’t know sign language, but through notes, books, and cookies, Macy and Iris, the rainbow goddess, develop a beautiful friendship. This heartwarming story is written in free verse. There are many book references throughout, like The Tale of Despereaux, El Deafo, and Anne of Green Gables. mjw

Title: Macy McMillan And The Rainbow Goddess Author: Shari Green Publisher: Pajama Press Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77278-017-8 Paperback pages: 240 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction, Verse Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: British Columbia, Canada Awards: 2018 Schneider Family Book Award Subjects: Deaf children, Intergenerational, Special needs, Step families, Stories in verse

The Librarian Of Auschwitz

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Fourteen-year-old Dita is imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz and selected to be the librarian of the eight smuggled books that the school possesses. There are also six “living books” that are stories remembered and told by other detainees at the Family Camp, Block 31. The school is a secret school, as teaching the children to read is forbidden. Spanish author Iturbe describes the horrors of the death camp in straightforward prose. This sophisticated novel with mature themes is based on the experiences of real life Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus. mjw

Title: The Librarian Of Auschwitz Author: Antonio Iturbe Publisher: Godwin Books, Henry Holt and Company Copyright: 2017 Original Language: Spanish Translator: Lilit Thwaites Original Title: La Bibliotecaria de Auschwitz Original Publisher: Editorial Planeta Original Copyright: 2012 ISBN: 978-1627796187 Hardcover pages: 432 Age range: 12 up Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: Poland Author’s ethnicity: Spanish Author’s residence: Spain Subjects: Books and reading, Concentration camps, Germany, Holocaust, Jews, Libraries

The Day I Became A Bird

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A young boy narrates the story about how, on the first day of school, he fell in love with Sylvia. Sylvia is a bird lover. She observes them, cares for them, and even wears bird barrettes in her hair. Her voice sounds like a birdsong to the boy. To get her attention, he creates a bird costume, which he wears to school, even though climbing trees and playing soccer are difficult for him in the costume. When he and Sylvia finally meet face to face, she puts her arms around him and the boy feels like he is flying. Black line drawings tenderly illustrate this love story. mjw

Title: The Day I Became A Bird Author: Ingrid Chabbert Illustrator: Guridi (Raul Nieto Guridi) Publisher: Kids Can Press Copyright: 2016 Original Language: Spanish Original Title: El dia en que me converti en un pajaro Original Publisher: Editiones TTT Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-77138-621-0 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Spain Subjects: Birds, Costumes, Friendship, Love

One Half From The East

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Ten-year-old Obayda’s father lost one of his legs in a bomb explosion and the family is in need of some good fortune. They move from Kabul to s small village. Obayda is dressed as a boy, a bacha posh. This is a longstanding tradition in Afghanistan. Families without a son designate a preteen daughter to fill the void with a simple physical transformation involving swapping clothes and cutting hair. Before she reaches puberty, she is changed back and resumes life as a girl, a gender that enjoys far less freedom and privilege. Obayda becomes Obayd and everything changes. She meets Rashim, another bacha posh. They become friends, explore the village, and play sports, but there is no forever as a bacha posh. This heart-stirring and enlightening coming-of-age story includes an author’s note. mjw

Title: One Half From The East Author: Nadia Hashimi Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English  ISBN: 978-0-06-242190-6 Hardcover pages: 272 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Afghanistan Author’s ethnicity: Afghan Author’s residence: U.S. Awards: 2017 South Asia Book Award Highly Commended Subjects: Bacha posh, Child marriage, Gender, Prejudice and racism, Self-esteem and self-reliance

What Elephants Know

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Young Nandu was abandoned in the Nepalese Borderlands and raised by a pack of dhole, Asiatic wild dogs, much like Mowgli in The Jungle Book, until he was brought to the king’s elephant stable. There, Subba-sahib, the stable head, and Devi Kali, a protective female elephant become his new “parents.” Nandu wants to be a mahout, an elephant driver. He goes to boarding school where his teacher, Father Autry, becomes his mentor. When the elephant stable is to be closed, Nandu works to save it. This beautiful coming-of-age story includes rich detail about the culture of Nepal and a wealth of knowledge about the natural world. A glossary helps with the Nepalese words and common elephant commands. Maps adorn the endpapers. The book “dedicated to elephant lovers everywhere” was written by a world-class scientist specializing in the ecology of the Himalayan region. mjw

Title: What Elephants Know Author: Eric Dinerstein Publisher: Disney Hyperion Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1484728543 Hardcover pages: 288 Age range: 9-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: Nepal Author’s ethnicity: U.S. Author’s residence: U.S. Awards: 2017 South Asia Book Award Subjects: Elephants, India, Jungles, Nepal history 20th century, Orphans