Tag Archives: Schools

The Storm

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A little boy is excited about a trip to the beach with his parents, but his teacher warns him to hurry home because a bad storm is coming. The sky grows darker and the boy’s parents close the shutters, bring in the plants, and prepare for the weather. The powerful storm rages, but the boy is not scared. He goes to bed and dreams he is on a big ship with propellers to drive the storm away. He awakens, the skies are clear blue, and they can go to the beach. Rich, black and gray charcoal sketches convey the boy’s emotions – excitement, frustration, worry, and excitement again. Moments of blue are used meaningfully in the illustrations. mjw

Title: The Storm Author: Akiko Miyakoshi Illustrator: Akiko Miyakoshi Publisher: Kids Can Press. Toronto, Canada Copyright: 2016 Original Language: Japanese Original Title: Taifu ga Kuru Original Publisher: BL Publishing Co Ltd, Kobe Original Copyright: 2009 ISBN: 978-1-77138-559-6 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Tokyo, Japan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: Tokyo, Japan Awards: Nissan Children’s Storybook and Picture Book Grand Prix Subjects: Emotions and feelings, Nature, Storms, Weather

The Sandwich Thief

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Marin’s parents are foodies who pack him delicious, healthy sandwiches graced with his mom’s homemade mayonnaise. On Monday, at lunchtime, his ham, cheddar, and kale sandwich is missing, so he starts an investigation of the potential thieves. All week, his sandwiches disappear and he identifies more suspects – classmates, teachers, the janitor, and even the school principal. Eventually, his mother comes up with a way to find out who’s behind the missing sandwiches. The comic-style panels and sequential art, done entirely in orange, red, and black, with speech balloons, and the font, which is based on the illustrator’s handwriting, make this lunchtime crime drama engaging and entertaining. mjw

Title: The Sandwich Thief Author: Andre Marois Illustrator: Patrick Doyon Publisher: Chronicle Books, San Francisco, California Copyright: 2016 Original Language: French Translator: Taylor Norman Original Title: Le Voleur de sandwichs Original Publisher: Les Editions de la Pasteque Original Copyright: 2013 ISBN: 978-1-4521-4659-1 Hardcover pages: 160 Age range: 7-9 Genre: Fiction Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: Canada Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Canada Awards: Governor General’s Literary Award for Illustrated Children’s Literature – French Language Subjects: Comics, Detective stories, Graphic novels. Lost articles, Mystery, Sandwiches, Schools, Stealing, Thieves

Mouse’s First Night At Moonlight School

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Owl, Cat, Bat, and Mouse all attend the one-room Moonlight School, but Mouse hides behind a curtain and is too shy to even say hello. Her wee nocturnal classmates are impressed with Mouse’s hiding skills and suggest a game of hide-and-seek. Owl, Cat, and Bat are easy to find, but it takes some time before Mouse is discovered hiding in her teacher’s hat. Mouse is praised for being the best at hiding and she decides that she likes school after all. This sweet story about first-day jitters and making new friends is brightened by colorful digitally created illustrations. mjw

Title: Mouse’s First Night At Moonlight School Author: Simon Puttock Illustrator: Ali Pye Publisher: Nosy Crow, and imprint of Candlewick Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Nosy Crow, London Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-0-7636-7607 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Scottish Author’s residence: Edinburgh, Scotland Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: London, England Awards: 2106 Scottish Children’s Book Award Subjects: Bashfulness, Mice, Schools

When Mischief Came To Town

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It’s 1911 Denmark, and ten-year-old Inge Maria Jensen has been sent to the sleepy island of Bornholm to live with her grandmother on her farm. It is nothing like Copenhagen, where Inge Maria lived in an apartment with servants. Her grandmother is stern and serious and has Inge Maria working in the stables and the kitchen. At school, spirited Inge Maria defies her dull teacher, befriends some rowdy children, and can’t help doing the unexpected. Over time, she and her grandmother love and support each other and create a new life together. Inge Maria is a charming and exuberant girl whose happy mischief and zest for life awaken the whole town. This quick-paced, easy read captures early twentieth century rural Danish culture and includes references to the fairytales of Hans Christian Andersen. mjw

Title: When Mischief Came To Town Author: Katrina Nannestad Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English Original Title: The Girl Who Brought Mischief Original Publisher: Harper Collins Publishers, Australia Original Copyright: 2013 ISBN: 978-0-544-53432-2 Hardcover pages: 192 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: Bornholm, Denmark, 1911 Author’s ethnicity: Grew up in New South Wales. Australia Author’s residence: Australia Awards: 2014 Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children’s Literature, CBCA Notable Book Subjects: Death and dying, Grandmothers, Grief, History, Imagination, Multigenerational, Music, Orphans

Dare To Disappoint: Growing Up In Turkey

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In this graphic novel memoir, spunky Ozge begins with her danger-filled childhood experiences in school and her dreams of a life of adventure. Her dad expects her to be an engineer and to be predictable, but Ozge eventually listens to her own voice and dares to disappoint her parents. This engaging quick-read offers a look at life in Turkey in the 1980s and 1990s, a fascinating time in the country’s history. The art is a mix of caricatures and doodles done in watercolor and mixed media compositions made of paper, photographs, maps, infographics, ink stamps, and more. Ozge’s bold visual storytelling is a real treat. mjw

Title: Dare To Disappoint: Growing Up In Turkey Author: Ozge Samanci Illustrator: Ozge Samanci Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux, New York Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-374-31698-3 Paperback pages: 200 Age range: 12 up Genre: Biography, Graphic Novel Book setting: Turkey Author’s ethnicity: Turkish Author’s residence: U.S. Illustrator’s ethnicity: Turkish Illustrator’s residence: U.S. Subjects: Artists, Autobiography, Comic books, Cultural heritage, Memoir, Turkey – history

Boys Don’t Knit (In Public)

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Seventeen-year-old Ben Fletcher tells his story in a witty and funny diary format. After an unfortunate incident with some stolen liquor and a crossing guard, he is put on probation and has to choose an evening course at the local college as part of his rehabilitation. He takes up knitting and discovers he’s really good at it, but he has to keep his knitting a secret from his friends and his sports-loving dad.   There is even more for him to worry about – his knitting teacher is the mom of the girl of his dreams and his friends are real troublemakers. Ben gains confidence, wins the All-United Kingdom Knitting Championship, and even gets the girl. He is quirky, perceptive, and adorable and his passion for knitting will encourage readers to take up knitting, regardless of gender stereotypes. Packed with pop culture references and jokes, the book is a laugh-aloud fast read. A sequel, An English Boy in New York (2014, Hot Key Books) follows Ben on his trip to New York for the U.S. National Knit Fair. mjw

Title: Boys Don’t Knit (In Public) Author: T.S. Easton Publisher: Fiewel and Friends, New York, an imprint of Macmillan Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Hot Key Books Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-1-250-05331-2 Hardcover pages: 272 Age range: 12-16 Genre: Fiction Book setting: England Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: England Awards: 2015 Carnegie Medal nomination Subjects: Adolescence, Communities, Conduct of life, England, Family life, Fathers and sons, Humorous stories, Knitting, Social issues, Teenage boys, Women teachers

Miss Moon: Wise Words from A Dog Governess

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Red-haired Miss Wilhelmina Moon, who works as a governess to sixty-seven dogs on an island off the coast of France, shares twenty lessons she has learned “for raising happy, healthy, well-mannered pooches – and people.” Each page presents one lesson that is accompanied by an elegant, yet whimsical oil painting. Examples of lessons are “Never stop learning” and “Make-believe is food for the soul.” There are dogs in hats, dogs wearing glasses, dogs in Halloween costumes, dogs dressed as pirates, dogs in the bathtub, and more. Dog breeds range from dachshunds and dalmatians to poodles and pugs. Included is a class photo of all sixty-seven dogs with their canine pupil names. mjw

Title: Miss Moon: Wise Words From A Dog Governess Author: Janet Hill Illustrator: Janet Hill Publisher: Tundra Books Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English, French Original Title: Mademoiselle Moon, gouvernante de chiens Original Publisher: Les Editions Marchand de feuilles Original Copyright: 2013 ISBN: 978- 1-101-91793-0 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: France Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Stratford, Ontario, Canada Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Stratford, Ontario, Canada Subjects: Dogs, Governesses, France

The Girl Who Buried Her Dreams In A Can

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This book is based on the author’s true story. As a young girl, she dreamed of going to school. It was a challenge for her to achieve her dream because in her country Rhodesia, current Zimbabwe, girls do not receive any formal education. This picture book is filled with watercolor illustrations and moving text that describes how she achieved her dream of earning three degrees. The author  shares her talents as an educator and humanitarian with her village and other communities around the world.  ema

Title: The Girl Who Buried Her Dreams In A Can Author: Dr. Tererai Trent Illustrator: Jan Spivey Gilchrist Publisher: Penguin Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-670-01654-9 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 6-8 Genre: Nonfiction Picture Book Book setting: Zimbabwe Author’s ethnicity: Zimbabwean Author’s residence: Zimbabwe and California Illustrator’s ethnicity: African American Illustrator’s residence: Chicago Subjects: Africa, Communities, Girls Education, Dreams, Education, Villages

Diary Of A Time Traveler: Meet Over One Hundred Of History’s Biggest Superstars

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It all started when a boy named Augustus fell asleep in his boring history class, but thanks to his creative teacher, Professor Tempo, and his magic notebook, history comes alive. He and his teacher travel back in time to 1 Million BC in Africa when people first used fire, then make 28 more stops at important points in Earth’s history, and end in 1969 when man walked on the moon. Other highlights explored are Stonehenge, the early Olympics in Greece, The Great Wall in China, the end of slavery, and the advent of women’s suffrage. They meet explorers, inventors, leaders, writers, and more, such as Leif Erikson, Genghis Khan, Johannes Gutenberg, Michelangelo, William Shakespeare, Sacagawea, Marie Curie, and Duke Ellington. The text contains many amusing and interesting facts and is illuminated by fun, digitally created illustrations. An index is included. mjw

Title: Diary Of A Time Traveler: Meet Over One hundred Of History’s Biggest Superstars Author: David Lang Illustrator: Nicholas Stevenson Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions, and imprint of Quarto Inc. Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Aurum Press Ltd., Great Britain Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-84780-704-5 Hardcover pages: 64 Age range: 7-10 Genre: Picture Book, Historical Fiction Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Suffolk. England Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: North London, England Subjects: History, Reference, Science fiction, Time travel, World history

The Green Bicycle

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One of Saudi Arabia’s best-known and most controversial filmmakers has adapted her very successful film Wadjda for middle grade readers. Rebellious, 11-year-old Wadjda lives with her strict parents in modern day Riyadh and dreams of owning the green bicycle that she passes in a store everyday on her way to school.   She wants to race her friend Abdullah, but riding bikes is frowned upon for girls and Wadjda’s parents refuse to buy the bike for her. Wadjda tries to raise the money buy selling bracelets and mixtapes that she makes. Fiercely independent, she doesn’t fit in at school, gets into a lot of trouble, and risks expulsion. She eventually enters a Quran competition in order to win the prize money and purchase the bike. She wins, but the school chooses to donate the money to Palestine on her behalf. She returns home to find that her mother has bought the bike and Wadjda then wins the race against Abdullah. Explanations of various elements of Saudi culture and its patriarchal society are woven into the story and provide helpful background for readers unfamiliar with the region. The film Wadjda (2012) was the first full-length feature to be shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and through 2013, the only feature-length film made in Saudi Arabia by a female director. The film has won numerous awards around the world. mjw

Title: The Green Bicycle Author: Haifaa Al Mansour Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0525-42806-0 Hardcover pages: 352 Age range: 8 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Author’s ethnicity: Saudi Arabian Author’s residence: Bahrain Awards: The film Wadjda (2012) won the 2013 Best International Feature Audience Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival Subjects: Bicycles and bicycling, Coming of Age, Female empowerment, Gender roles, Girls and women, Koran, Middle East, Music, Muslims, Quran, Sex roles,

Apple And Rain

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Thirteen-year-old Apollinia Apostolopoulou (Apple) has lived with her strict grandmother since her flighty mother went off to America to be a Broadway actress eleven years ago. Her grandmother makes her go to church on Sundays, won’t let her hang out with her girlfriends, and is too watchful. Apple craves the return of her mother and when she returns, Apple eagerly chooses to live with her. But things aren’t as Apple expects. Her mother does not have a job, is not responsible, and has another ten-year-old daughter, Rain, who has her own set of problems. Rain carries around a doll, which she believes is real and can’t take care of herself. Apple is reduced to being Rain’s babysitter and maid. Del, the boy next door, is a wonderful character who is sweet, smart, geeky, and adds humor to the book. Mr. Gaydon, Apple’s teacher, helps Apple by encouraging her to see poetry and writing as a creative outlet. This quick read about forgiveness, complicated relationships, and Apple’s growth and change is heartbreaking, emotionally intense, but honest. mjw

Title: Apple And Rain Author: Sarah Crossan Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Copyright: 2014 Original Language: English  ISBN: 978-1-4088-5306-1 Hardcover pages: 332 Age range: 12 up Genre: Realistic Fiction Book setting: England Author’s ethnicity: Grew up in Dublin and London Author’s residence: Hertfordshire, England Awards: 2015 Carnegie Medal Nominee Subjects: Coming of age, Dysfunctional families, Family problems, Mothers and daughters, Poetry, Sisters

Imaginary Fred

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Fred is the best imaginary friend for a boy named Sam. They act in plays, read, look at the clouds, imagine, figure out how the toilet works, and pretend they are French. Everything is fine until Sam meets a “real friend” named Sammi. Sammi has her own imaginary friend named Frieda. But the imaginary friends do not fade away when real friendships are found. The power of friendship is stronger than Fred had imagined. Fred’s shape is made of digital, blue dots with no outline. He floats “like a feather in the wind.”  Sam and real objects are made of quirky line drawings. This engaging picture book is a perfect collaboration between two master book creators. mjw

Title: Imaginary Fred Author: Eoin Colfer Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers Publisher:  Harper Collins Children’s Books Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-06-237955-9 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Irish Author’s residence: Ireland Illustrator’s ethnicity: Originally from Northern Ireland Illustrator’s residence: New York Awards: 2105 Specsavers Ireland Children’s Book of the Year Junior Award Subjects: Emotions and feelings, Friendship, Imaginary companions, Imaginary playmates, Social skills