Tag Archives: Schools

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

In A Cloud Of Dust

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Anna lives in a Tanzanian village, where she has a long walk to the schoolhouse. She has a hard time doing homework because it is dark when she gets home from school. One day, she misses the visit of the bicycle library truck. In her village, bicycles are expensive and many families cannot afford them. At a bicycle library, a child can sign out a bike just like we sign out books at our libraries. Anna hides her disappointment of not getting a bike by helping her classmates steer and balance their bikes. A friend gives Anna a bicycle when he gets to his house because she has farther to go. Anna then rides home and kicks up her own cloud of dust. Glowing oil painting in golds and oranges spotlight the simple, uplifting story about sharing. An author’s note highlights more information about bicycle libraries and organizations that distribute bikes to Africa and other developing countries. mjw

Title:  In A Cloud Of Dust Author: Alma Fullerton Illustrator: Brian Deines Publisher: Pajama Press.  Toronto Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 1-978-1-927485-62-0 Paperback pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Tanzania Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Ontario Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Toronto Subjects: Bicycles, Friendship, Libraries, School children, Tanzania

Ada’s Violin: The Story Of The Recycled Orchestra Of Paraguay

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Eleven-year-old Ada Rios lives with her family in a landfill in Cateura in Paraguay’s capital city of Asuncion. It is one of the poorest slums in all of South America. Favio Chavez, an environmental engineer sent to Cateura to teach safety practices to the gancheros (recyclers) working in the dangerous heaps of trash, worried about the children and decided to offer them music lessons. Since they could not afford instruments, they created cellos, flutes, guitars, violins, and more out of garbage. In time, Chavez’s music class became the Recycled Orchestra. Now, the orchestra plays around the world, spreading their message of hope and inspiration. They even opened for a Metallica concert. This true story is illustrated with mixed media collages. Spanish words are smoothly integrated into the text. An author’s note; websites, videos, and sources; and a photo of string instruments made from oil drums, paint cans, and pieces of wooden crates are included. The book is also available in a Spanish edition, El Violin de Ada: La historia de la Orquesta de Intrumentos Reciciados del Paraguay. mjw

Title: Ada’s Violin: The Story Of The Recycled Orchestra Of Paraguay Author: Susan Hood Illustrator: Sally Wern Comport Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-4814-3096-8 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Paraguay Author’s ethnicity: U.S. Author’s residence: Connecticut, U.S. Illustrator’s ethnicity: U.S. Illustrator’s residence: Maryland, U.S. Subjects: Classical music, instruments, Music, Musicians, orchestra, Recycling, Spanish

Cloudwish

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Van Uoc Phan is a shy, quiet Vietnamese teenager living in Australia with her parents who were asylum seekers after the fall of Saigon. She is a scholarship student at a prestigious Melbourne International Baccalaureate school. She plays the oboe, loves photography and Jane Eyre, and is being pushed by her parents to a high-prestige profession. She has a crush on Billy Gardiner. Billy lives in a mansion, is a star on the crew team, and loves pranks. Van Uoc wishes that Billy would notice her and fall in love with her. Miraculously, he does, but Van Uoc questions how this could happen. Fans of Jane Eyre will appreciate the writing style and all the mentions of Jane in this first-love story. mjw

Title: Cloudwish Author: Fiona Wood Publisher: Little Brown and Company, New York Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Pan Macmillan, Australia PTY, Ltd. Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-0-316-24212-7 Hardcover pages: 320 Age range: 12 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Melbourne, Australia Author’s ethnicity: Australian Author’s residence: Melbourne, Australia Awards: 2016 Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year: Older Readers Subjects: Australia, Dating, Jane Eyre, Magic, Vietnamese, Wishes

Malala: Activist For Girls’ Education

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Malala Yousafzai stood up to the Taliban, fought for girls’ education, and received the Nobel Prize in 2014. At age fifteen, the Taliban attempted to kill her, but even this did not stop her activism. Bright, beautiful naïve-style folk illustrations depict Pakistan and Malala’s life. The present tense text will engage and inspire older readers. Back matter includes photos of Malala, the history of the fight for girls’ education, a map of Pakistan, a timeline, information about the Taliban, details about Malala’s heroes, excerpts from her speeches, and a brief biography. mjw

Title: Malala: Activist For Girls’ Education Author: Raphaele Frier Illustrator: Aurelia Fronty Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing, Watertown, MA. USA Copyright: 2017 Original Language: French Translator: Julie Cormier Original Title: Malala: pur le droit des filles a l’education Original Publisher: Editions Rue du Monde Original Copyright: 2105 ISBN: 978-1-58089-785-3 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 6-9 Genre: Picture Book Biography Book setting: Pakistan and England Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: France Awards: 2018 Batchelder Award Honor Subjects: Biography, Education Girls, Pakistan, Political activists, Sex discrimination in education, Women social reformers

Hidden

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Alix, 14, lives on quiet Hayling Island off the coast of England. One day at the beach, she and her friend Samir pull a drowning man out of the incoming tide. He is Mohammed, an asylum seeker, who was tortured by rebels in Iraq for helping the allied forces. Alix and Samir decide to hide Mohammed and, consequently, have to make choices that will determine whether Mohammed will live or die. Alix is a likeable and brave character who has problems of her own – Dad has left, Mom has a broken leg, and Grandfather just died. Samir is an Iraqi refugee who is bullied at their school. This thought-provoking book deals with important themes, like racism, immigration, diversity, and human rights.  mjw

Title: Hidden Author: Miriam Halahmy Publisher: Holiday House Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Albury Books Original Copyright: 2011 ISBN: 978–0-8234-3694-1 Paperback pages: 224 Age range: 12 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Hayling Island, England Author’s residence: London, England Awards: Nominated for the Carnegie Medal Subjects: Asylum seekers, Gangs, Human rights, Immigrants-England, Iraqi, Political refugees, Racism, Terrorism

Dear Mrs. Naidu

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Spunky twelve-year-old Sarojini lives in Bangalore with her mother, who works in rich people’s houses. They struggle to make ends meet. Her best friend Amir has moved from their poor government school to a posh private school and Sarojini worries that she has lost her friend. She learns about the Right to Education law and becomes determined to improve her school. She gets help from feisty Deepti, a classmate; Vimala Madam, a human rights lawyer who might also be an evil genius; and Mrs. Sarojini Naidu, a long-dead freedom fighter and poet. Told through letters written to Mrs. Naidu, this is Sarojini’s life-changing journey, where she learns about justice and important education issues in India. The book concludes with a note about the real Sarojini Naidu and a list of organizations working for child rights. mjw

Title: Dear Mrs. Naidu Author: Mathangi Subramanian Publisher: Zubaan Publishers Pvt Ltd. New Delhi Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-93-83074-98-3  Paperback pages: 286 Age range: 12 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Bangalore, India Author’s residence: New Delhi, Delhi, India Awards: 2016 South Asia Book Award Subjects: Education, Friendship, Human rights, Law, Right to Education

Pablo And His Chair

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For his birthday, young Pablo receives a chair. What could he do with a chair? Disappointed and angry, he shuts himself in his bedroom. But Pablo is an imaginative kid. He is a musician, an astronaut, a cowboy, and a soccer player, but most of all he is a stunt boy. He becomes a skilled chair acrobat. He sets out into the world, performing for large crowds everywhere. Theatres and performance halls start to ask for Pablo. People even fight to get tickets. Then, one day, he packs up his chair to return home, where everyone and his dinner plate are waiting for him. Glorious, yet simple, line drawings in black fountain pen and colored ink applied with a brush illustrate this fun book. mjw

Title: Pablo And His Chair Author: Delphine Perret Illustrator: Delphine Perret Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press, New York Copyright: 2016 Original Language: French Translator: Hannele and Associates Original Title: Pablo et la chaise Original Publisher: Editions Les Fourmis Rouges Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-61689-490-0 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: France Subjects: Birthdays, Family life, Stunt performances