Tag Archives: Schools

You Can’t See The Elephants

Thirteen-year-old Mascha is bored living with her grandparents for the summer in their quiet, small town. She meets siblings, Max, 7, and Julia, 9, who are withdrawn and shy and covered with bruises. Mascha suspects that their father is physically abusing them and when the adults don’t listen, she takes matters into her own hands. She makes some unusual choices, kidnaps the children, and locks them in an abandoned farmhouse in a nearby field. Mascha is brave, helpless, and desperate, and she wants to do the right thing, but her actions bring unintended consequences for everyone. This disturbing, heartbreaking, and straightforward novel about child abuse is discussion provoking mjw

Title: You Can’t See The Elephants
Author: Susan Kreller
Publisher: G.P.Putnam’s Sons, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, USA
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: German
Translator: Elizabeth Gaffney
Original Title: Elefanten sieht man nicht
Original Publisher: Carlsen Verlag Gmb H
Original Copyright: 2012
ISBN: 978-0-399-17209-0
Hardcover pages: 192
Age range: 10 up
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: The translator set the book in the USA
Author’s ethnicity: German
Author’s residence: Germany
Awards: Author has been nominated for the German Youth Literature prize twice and has won the Kranichsteiner Literary Prize
Subjects: Abuse, Brothers and sisters, Child abuse, Dysfunctional relationships, Grandparents, Siblings

Malala, A Brave Girl From Pakistan/Iqbal, A Brave Boy From Pakistan: Two Stories Of Bravery

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Two stories of young heroes from Pakistan who were unafraid to speak out are told in this two-in-one, upside-down book. Iqbal Masih was an anti child labor activist born in 1982 in Lahore. He was a bonded worker in a carpet factory until he was liberated at age 10. He spoke out against injustice and slavery, which affect millions of children worldwide. He was shot and killed when he was 12. Malala Yousafzai was born in Mingora, in the Swat Valley, in 1997. She first spoke publicly at the age of 11 about the importance of education for girls. In 2012, she was shot by the Taliban. She was treated in many hospitals and today continues to speak out. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. The two stories, with their simple sentences and direct quotations from the young activists, are linked by a shared wordless center-spread, which shows brightly-colored Malala holding onto a kite that reaches out to Iqbal, and gray-toned Iqbal having let go of his kite that sails off to Malala. The simple, uncluttered flat folk art style paintings in brilliant colors reflect the culture of Pakistan. An Author’s Note provides background information about Malala and Iqbal. mjw

Title: Malala, A Brave Girl from Pakistan/Iqbal, A Brave Boy From Pakistan: Two Stories Of Bravery
Author: Jeannette Winter
Illustrator: Jeanette Winter
Publisher: Beach lane Books, Simon & Schuster, New York
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-4814-2294-9
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 6-10
Genre: Picture book biography
Book setting: Pakistan
Author’s ethnicity: U.S.
Author’s residence: U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity: U.S.
Illustrator’s residence: U.S.
Subjects: Boys, Child labor, Children’s rights, Education, Girls, Heroes, Peshgi, Rug and carpet industry, Upside-down books

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

The Red Bicycle: The Extraordinary Story Of One Ordinary Bicycle

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In this amazing story about a red bike’s journey, Leo outgrows his bike and donates it to a charity which sends bikes to people in countries who cannot afford them. The bike touches all of the lives it encounters. The story invites readers to think about all of the ways a bicycle can help people. The digitally-inspired illustrations incorporate elements of real acrylic and silkscreen textures. The book also includes excellent resources and activities for educators. ema

Title: The Red Bicycle: The Extraordinary Story Of One Ordinary Bicycle
Author: Jude Isabella
Illustrator: Simone Shin
Publisher: CitizenKid, a trademark of Kids Can Press Ltd.
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
Original Publisher: Kids Can Press Ltd.
Original Copyright: 2015
ISBN: 978-1-77138-023-2
Hardcover pages: 32
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: North America, Ghana, and Burkina Faso
Author’s ethnicity: Canadian
Author’s residence: British Columbia
Illustrator’s ethnicity: American
Illustrator’s residence: San Francisco Bay Area
Subjects: Africa, Altruism, Burkina Faso, Bicycles, Caring, Charities, Helping others, Working

Little White Duck: A Childhood In China

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Andrés Vera Martínez’s mash of comic and classical styles with brown-palette illustrations captures what it was like for his wife, Na Liu, to grow up in China in the 1970s and 1980s. Na Liu, who is called by her nickname Da Qin “Big Piano” in the novel, and her sister Xiao Qin “Little Piano” grew up during a transitional time when China was slowly opening up to the world both economically and culturally. Illustrations and words simply capture the reality of China following Chairman Mao’s death without being overly pedantic. These changes are shown in the eight short stories describing Da Qin’s childhood, life in post-Mao China era, and Chinese traditions and stories. A glossary of terms, a timeline, translations of Chinese characters, a map of China, and a note about the author and illustrator are included. ema

Title: Little White Duck: A Childhood In China
Author: Na Liu
Illustrator: Andrés Vera Martínez
Publisher: Graphic Universe a division of Lerner Publishing Group
Copyright: 2012
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-7613-8115-0
Paperback pages: 108
Age range: 8 up
Genre: Graphic Novel, Biography
Book setting: China
Author’s ethnicity: Chinese
Author’s residence: United States
Illustrator’s ethnicity: American
Illustrator’s residence: United States
Awards: 2012 Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Book, 2012 SLJ Best Children’s Books in Fiction, 2012 Horn Book Fanfare in Fiction, 2012 Cybils Award Finalist for Elementary/Middle-Grade Graphic Novels
Subjects: Biography, Childhood, China, Comics, Government, Graphic Novels, History, Language, Memoir, Mythology, World Politics

Tiger Boy

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Set in the tidal mangrove forests of the Sunderbans of India and Bangladesh, this quiet, suspenseful story tells of young Neel and his efforts to track down a female tiger cub that has escaped from a local animal reserve and save it from greedy poachers. Neel is a good student and could qualify for a scholarship for a private boarding school in Kolkata. This would ensure him and his family a much better quality of life. But he loves his home, is reluctant to leave his familiar world, and therefore, only studies half-heartedly. Neel and his sister hatch out a courageous plan and succeed in rescuing the tiger. And Neel changes his mind about education. Global warming, gender discrimination, endangered animals, environmental protection, and class structure are some of the important issues in this fast-paced story, which is enhanced by dramatic black-and-white pastel illustrations. An Author’s Note, Information on Organizations Working with Bengal Tigers and Organizations Working to Improve Life in the Sunderbans, and a Glossary are provided. mjw

Title: Tiger Boy
Author: Mitali Perkins
Illustrator: Jamie Hogan
Publisher: Charlesbridge. Watertown, MA
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-58089-660-3
Hardcover pages: 144
Age range: 7-10
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Sunderbans, West Bengal, India
Author’s ethnicity: Born in Kolkata, India
Author’s residence: U.S. Has lived in Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Mexico, Thailand, Great Britain
Illustrator’s residence: U.S.
Subjects: Animal rescue, Community, Conflict, Economics, Nature, Teachers, Tigers

Cartwheeling In Thunderstorms

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Eight-year-old Will enjoys her adventurous life in Zimbabwe. She enjoys living on an African farm with her best friend Simon and loving father. But when her father passes away, her new guardians send her off to an all-girls’ boarding school in London to learn proper manners and get her “savage” streak out of her. Will has to deal with the challenges of living on her own in a new country where no one seems to understand her. Rundell’s novel illustrates the importance of accepting your differences and finding unforeseen friendships. ema

Title: Cartwheeling In Thunderstorms
Author: Katherine Rundell
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: English
Original Title: The Savage Girl
Original Publisher: Faber and Faber Limited
Original Copyright: 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4424-9061-1
Hardcover pages: 248
Age range: 8-12
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Zimbabwe and London
Author’s ethnicity: grew up in Zimbabwe, Brussels, and London
Author’s residence: London
Awards: 2014 SLJ Best Books for Middle Grade, 2015 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People for Third to Fifth Grade, 2015 Boston Globe/Horn Book Fiction Award Winner
Subjects: Africa, Boarding schools, Death, London, Orphans, Zimbabwe

Totto-Chan: The Little Girl At The Window

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Japan’s most popular television personality, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, reflects upon her childhood growing up in Japan during World War II. “Totto-chan”, as the author is called in the novel, after she is expelled from her elementary in the first grade chooses to attend Tomoe Gakuen. Headmaster Sosaku Kobayashi’s elementary school, which has old train cars for classrooms, is considered unusual, but it is the perfect school for Totto-chan. The headmaster’s pedagogy is that children should be able to freely express their thoughts and choose what they would like to learn. Brilliantly written text will have readers laughing, crying, and cheering for Totto-chan. The book features softly beautiful illustrations by the late picture book illustrator Chihiro Iwasaki, a postscript from the author, an epilogue explaining where Totto-chan’s classmates are now, and notes which translate some words into Japanese characters. ema

Title: Totto-Chan: The Little Girl At The Window
Author: Tetsuko Kuroyanagi
Illustrator: Chihiro Iwasaki
Publisher: Kodansha USA
Copyright: 2011
Original Language: Japanese
Translator: Dorothy Britton
Original Title: Madogiwa no Totto-chan
Original Publisher: Kodansha Ltd.
Original Copyright: 1981
ISBN: 978-1-56836-391-2
Paperback pages: 229
Age range: 9 up
Genre: Historical Nonfiction, Memoir
Book setting: Japan during WWII
Author’s ethnicity: Japanese
Author’s residence: Japan
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese
Illustrator’s residence: Died on August 8, 1974
Awards: Non-Fiction Prize
Subjects: Biography, Elementary schools, Nontraditional schools, Tomoe Gakuen, TV personalities

Amina

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Fourteen-year-old Amina lives in war-torn Somalia. Like her father, she has a passion for creating art which could get her in trouble with the Al-Shabaab, the rebel militant force which uses violence to control Somalia. Suddenly, Amina’s father is arrested for creating art which the Islamic extremists believe is against Islam, and her brother is kidnapped leaving her, her pregnant mother, and her elderly grandmother struggling to survive. Still, Amina firmly believes in creating her street art so the world will be inspired by her artwork which hopes for a better future. This gripping novel, a part of the “Through My Eyes” series, features a map of Somalia, an author’s note, a timeline of Somali history, a glossary of terms, and research resources to learn more about the country. ema

Title: Amina
Author: J.L. Powers
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Copyright: 2015
Original Language: English
Original Title: Amina
Original Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Original Copyright: 2013
ISBN: 978-174331-249-0
Paperback pages: 184
Age range: 11-14
Genre: Fiction
Book setting: Somalia in 2011
Author’s ethnicity: American
Author’s residence: California
Subjects: Children Soldiers, Civil war, Hunger, Independence, Islam, Painting, Poetry, Politics, Poverty, Religion

Same, Same But Different

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Elliot lives in America and Kailish lives in India. They exchange drawings and notes as part of a Picture Pals project in their schools. The boys compare families, pets, cities, alphabets, and art and yoga classes, and discover that they are best friends even though they live in two different worlds. Or do they? “Different, different but the same!” The colorful, detailed and vivid art, rendered in acrylic, crayon, pencil, collage, and tissue paper, illustrates the differences and similarities between the boys’ homes. Stamps on the endpapers are whimsical and fun. In this age of instant access through the Internet, students can see a different way to communicate. The author/illustrator traveled to Nepal and India where she learned the popular saying “same, same but different” that is used to compare cultures. mjw

Title: Same, Same But Different
Author: Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
Illustrator: Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company, New York
Copyright: 2011
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-0-8050-8946-2
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 4-7
Genre: Picture Book
Book setting: U.S. and India
Author’s ethnicity: U.S.
Author’s residence: U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity: U.S.
Illustrator’s residence: U.S.
Awards: 2012 South Asia Book Award, 2012 Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award
Subjects: Alphabet, Friendship, Pen pals

Twenty-two Cents: Muhammad Yunus And The Village Bank

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Muhammad Yunis grew up in India in the 1940s in a family that cared for and wanted to help others. He witnessed extreme poverty. He studied economics in America, and when he returned to his homeland (which became Bangladesh), as an economics professor, he founded Grameen Bank where people could borrow small amounts of money to start a job, and then pay back the bank without unfairly high interest charges. Over the next years, he was responsible for loaning more than 10 billion U.S. dollars in micro-credit, and empowering the poor, especially women, to break the cycle of poverty. Yunus would become renowned as the Banker to the Poor. Accurate and authentic soft chalk pastels enhance this true story. Back matter includes an Afterword with information on poverty in America, an update on Yunus’s life, and photos of him as a young Boy Scout and as a Nobel Prize laureate in 2006. Author’s Sources are also provided. mjw

Title: Twenty-two Cents: Muhammad Yunus And The Village Bank
Author: Paula Yoo
Illustrator: Jamel Akib
Publisher: Lee & Low Books, New York
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-60060-658-8
Hardcover pages: 40
Age range: 6-11
Genre: Picture book, Biography
Book setting: India and Bangladesh
Author’s ethnicity: Korean-American
Author’s residence: U.S.
Illustrator’s ethnicity: English and Malaysian
Illustrator’s residence: England
Awards: 2015 South Asia Book Award, 2015 IRA Notable Books for a Global Society
Subjects: Bangladesh, Bankers, Economics, Economists, Generosity, Microcredit, Microfinance, Nobel Peace Prize 2006, Social activists, Social justice

Haiti My Country

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Haiti My Country is a collection of poems written by Haitian children before the county’s earthquake in 2010. The authors of these poems about Haiti are from Camp Perrin which is a small village in the southern Republic of Haiti. It is accompanied by illustrated portraits of the book’s poets recreated from photographs by Rogé. Though Haiti is typically associated with being a nation struck by poverty and the natural disasters which have occurred in the country in recent years, these young writers paint an optimistic, heartwarming, and beautiful picture of Haiti. These young writers’ contemplative poetry demonstrates how people can learn much from observing their surroundings. Haiti My Country will make readers see Haiti from a new viewpoint through the luscious descriptions of the vibrant landscape. The authors show how hope can be found everywhere. ema

Title: Haiti My Country
Author: Poems by Haitian children with preface by Dany Laferriére
Illustrator: Rogé
Publisher: Fifth House Publishers
Copyright: 2014
Original Language: French
Translator: Solange Messier
Original Title: Haïtimon Pays
Original Publisher: La Bagnole
Original Copyright: 2011
ISBN: 978-1927083239
Paperback pages: 44
Age range: 6-10
Genre: Poetry
Book setting: Haiti
Author’s ethnicity: Canadian
Author’s residence: Canada
Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian
Illustrator’s residence: Canada
Awards: 2011 Governor General Finalist in Children’s Illustration Category, 2011 Lauréat Prix Saint Exupéry French Category, 2012 White Ravens Selection
Subjects: Camp Perrin, Children Authors, Haiti, Hope, Love of Country, Nature, Poetry, Schools, School Verse, Students, Writing