Tag Archives: Travel

The Crow And The Peacock

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Crow sets off on a journey to find happiness. He first meets a gentle dove. Dove says that he thought he was the happiest bird alive until he heard Nightingale. So Crow goes to hear Nightingale, who says he thought he was happy until he heard Rooster. Crow then visits Rooster and is told that Swan must be the happiest bird alive. Finally he is encouraged to see Peacock, who truly must be the happiest bird in the world. Peacock says that once he was happy, but the emperor put him in a cage and all he wanted then was to be free to fly like a crow. So Crow flies back to the woods knowing that he is happy with his life and that all he wants is to share his happiness. This beautiful fable about happiness is illustrated in glorious, joyful colors. mjw

Title: The Crow And The Peacock Author: Jo Fernihough Illustrator: Jo Fernihough Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. Grand Rapids, Michigan Copyright: 2021 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Oxford University Press. Oxford, England Original Copyright: 2020 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5568-8 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book. Fable Author’s ethnicity: British Author’s residence: Cambridge, England Illustrator’s ethnicity: British Illustrator’s residence: Cambridge, England Subjects: Birds, Fables, Happiness

Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story Of The Oldest Person To Ever Run A Marathon

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This is the true story of Fauja Singh, the first one-hundred-year-old to run a marathon. He was born with legs that didn’t work in a Punjab village.  He could not play with his friends or walk to school, but that did not stop him. He worked on his family’s farm and grew stronger. Throughout his life he made his mind, body, and heart stronger. At age 81, he ran his first marathon. He has broken many records and became the first person over one hundred (centenarian) to complete a marathon. The beautiful and enlivening illustrations were created digitally using hand drawings and collage pieces. A forward written by Fauja Singh introduces the book.  Back matter includes a list of his world records and a photograph of him today. mjw

Title: Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story Of The Oldest Person To Ever Run A MarathonHannah’s Winter Author: Simran Jeet Singh Illustrator: Baljinder Kaur Publisher: Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House. New York Copyright: 2020 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0-525555094 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture book, Biography Book setting: Punjab, India; England; New York City; Toronto Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: New York Illustrator’s residence: England Subjects: Biography, Centenarians, Marathons, Punjabi, Running, Sikh, Track and field

My Favorite Memories

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This gentle story tells of a young girl who is moving to a new country. She has a suitcase in which to pack her most favorite things. She wants to take her aquarium, a wooden chair, the pear tree outside, her best friend, and even the bus driver, but these things are all too big. She comes to understand that while we can’t always carry our favorite things physically, we can travel with them in other ways. The charming illustrations complement this hopeful story of change and resilience. mjw

Title: My Favorite Memories Author: Sepideh Sarihi Illustrator: Julie Volk Publisher: Blue Dot Kids Press. San Francisco, CA Copyright: 2020 Original Language: German Translator: Elisabeth Lauffer Original Title: Meine liebsten Dinge müssen mit Original Publisher: Beltz & Gelberg Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-7331212-4-8 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Iranian Author’s residence: Germany Illustrator’s ethnicity: Austrian Illustrator’s residence: Vienna Awards: 2020 Bologna Ragazzi Award, Illustrator has won the White Raven Award Subjects: Change, Emotions, Moving, Permanence, New experiences

Little Wise Wolf

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Little Wise Wolf lives far away on the other side of the mountains. He reads big books, knows a lot, and is very proud. When various animals come to him to get answers to their difficult questions, he has no time for them. One day a big black bird flies to Little Wise Wolf’s house to tell him that the king is ill and needs his help. Little Wise Wolf takes off, wearing his red boots, and riding on his bicycle to visit the king at the palace. He discovers along the way that he has much to learn from his friends about the real world. He gives the king some medicine and the king wants him to stay and be his royal doctor, but Little Wise Wolf decides that he needs to go back to his friends and his books. Enchanting illustrations of the little animals enhance this important book about friendship. mjw

Title: Little Wise Wolf Author: Gijs van der Hammen Illustrator: Hanneke Siemensma Publisher: Kids Can Press Copyright: 22020 Original Language: Dutch Translator: Laura Watkinson Original Title: Kleine wijze wolf Original Publisher: Uitgeverij Hoogland. Hoorn, The Netherlands Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-1-525305498 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture book Author’s ethnicity: Dutch Author’s residence: The Netherlands Illustrator’s ethnicity: Dutch Illustrator’s residence: The Netherlands Awards: Nominated for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal Subjects: Books, Friendship, Kings, Reading, Wolves

Anita And The Dragons

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Young Anita lives in a village in the Dominican Republic where she is a valiant princesa. She worries about boarding dragons (airplanes) that will take her to a new life in a new country. The vivid text describes her anxiety about what she will miss and what she will encounter in a new land. She becomes a brave princesa when she meets the dragon. “With one step I move away from the familiar. With another step, I walk into the unknown.” She becomes a “fearless dragon” of her own. The textured artwork was created using mixed media and finished digitally. mjw

Title: Anita And The Dragons Author: Hannah Carmona Illustrator: Anna Cunha Publisher: Lantana Publishing Ltd. Copyright: 2021 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-911373-63-6 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 7-10 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Dominican Republic Author’s ethnicity: U.S. Author’s residence: Tennessee Illustrator’s ethnicity: Brazilian Illustrator’s residence: Brazil Subjects: Airplanes, Central America, Social situations

Amrita Sher-gil: Rebel With A Paintbrush

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This beautiful, well-researched book tells the story of modern Indian artist Amrita Sher-Gil’s short, but fascinating life. She was born in Hungary in 1913. Her mother was a Hungarian pianist and her father was an Indian Sikh. Amrita was raised in Hungary and trained in France. She was inspired by writers, musicians, artists, and the time she lived – world wars, the Indian freedom movement, and major changes in the art world. The set-up of the book is amazing. The text that tells Amrita’s story is woven around pictures and boxes of information. Political events and artistic movements that shaped her life are found in other boxes. Real photographs, sometimes taken by her father, are included in the margins, and reproductions of Amrita’s gorgeous paintings are also spread throughout the book. Back matter provides a section called Why Was Amritas’s Art Important? and another section of interesting references. mjw

Title: Amrita Sher-gil: Rebel With A Paintbrush Author: Anita Vachharajani Illustrator: Kalyani Ganapathy Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books Copyright: 2018 Original Publisher: Harper Collins Children’s Books. India Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-93-5277-473-9 Hardcover pages: 184 Age range: 10 up Genre: Information book, Biography, Nonfiction Book setting: Hungary, India, France, Pakistan Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: Mumbai Illustrator’s ethnicity: Indian Illustrator’s residence: Nilgiris Awards: 2020 USBBY Honor List Subjects: Art Biography, India, Indian freedom, Hungary, Painting

Lemon Butterfly

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This abstract and artsy picture book is an amazing picture book because both the author and the illustrator have won the Hans Christian Andersen Award. A lemon butterfly searches for a field of flowers. To a butterfly, a field of flowers is the most beautiful thing in the world. The butterfly searches through real and imagined landscapes until it finally finds the water where it becomes a lemon butterfly fish.  There are many lessons along the way. Most of the illustrations are rendered in vivid colors, with a few being only black and white graphic forms. mjw

Title: Lemon Butterfly Author: Cao Wenxuan Illustrator: Roger Mello Publisher: Reycraft Books. New York Copyright: 2020 Original Language: Chinese Original Publisher: China Children’s Press and Publication Group. China Original Copyright: 2020 ISBN: 978-1-4788-6975-7 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Chinese Author’s residence: China Illustrator’s ethnicity: Brazilian Illustrator’s residence: Brazil Awards: Both author and illustrator have won the Hans Christian Andersen Award Subjects: Butterflies, Fish, Flowers, Horses, Insects, Mountains, Rivers

Catherine’s War

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This teen Jewish French girl’s historical graphic novel is inspired by a true survival story. Rachel Cohen, whose passion is photography, lives at the Sevres Children’s Home outside Paris. As Hitler’s war escalates, she must go into hiding. She has to leave her friends, but she takes her camera as she is forced to move from location to location. The ink and watercolor illustrations capture beautifully the detail of the French setting. A map of Catherine’s journey through France is included, as well as photographs of the real Catherine, and an interview with the author. mjw

Title: Catherine’s War Author: Julia Billet Illustrator: Claire Fauvel Publisher: Harper Alley, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers Copyright: 2020 Original Language: French Translator: Ivanka Hahnenberger Original Title: La Guerre de Catherine Original Publisher: Rue de Sevres, Paris Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-0-06-291559-7 Paperback pages: 176 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Historical Fiction, Graphic Novel Book setting: France Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: France Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: France Awards: 2021 ALA Batchelder Honor Award Subjects: Cameras, Coming of age, Holocaust, Nazis, Paris, Photographs, World War II

Mexique: A Refugee Story From The Spanish Civil War

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On May 27,1937, 456 children sailed on the Mexique from Spain to Morelia, Mexico, to escape the violence of the Spanish Civil War. It was supposed to be a short trip, but they stayed for a long time and many never returned to Spain because of Francisco Franco’s dangerous dictatorship after the war. The haunting, dark, images in the book are based on photographs of the “Children of Morelia” and the ship that brought them to Mexico. mjw

Title: Mexique: A Refugee Story From The Spanish Civil War Author: Maria Jose Ferrada Illustrator: Ana Penyas Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2020 Original Language: Spanish Translator: Elisa Amado Original Title: Mexique: El nombre del barco Original Publisher: Alboroto Ediciones, Mexico Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5545-9 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 7-10 Genre: Historical Fiction, Information Book, Nonfiction Book setting: Spain, Mexico Author’s ethnicity: Chilean Author’s residence: Chile Illustrator’s ethnicity: Spanish Illustrator’s residence: Madrid Subjects: Displaced people, Francisco Franco, Mexico, Refugees, Ships, Spain, Spanish Civil War 1936-1939

Bear And Fred: A World War II Story

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This is a touching true story of a Jewish boy hiding during World War II, as told by his teddy bear. He is Fred’s bear and he is very happy. He and Fred do everything together. But one night there is a soft knock at the door.  It is a warning that they would be forced to leave their home. They flee to Amsterdam where Fred goes into hiding, apart from the rest of his family. After the war, Fred and his family are reunited and they move to the United States. An author’s note tells how the bear ended up in the Yad Vashem Museum – the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Israel. A photo of the real bear is included. This endearing story is illustrated digitally with beautiful drawings. mjw

Title: Bear And Fred Author: Iris Argaman Illustrator: Avi Ofer Publisher: Amazon Crossing Kids, New York Copyright: 2020 Original Language: Hebrew Translator: Annette Appel Original Title: Ha Doobi Shel Fred Original Publisher: Hakibbutz Hameucchad. Israel Original Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 978-1-542018234 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 6-9 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Holland and U.S. Author’s ethnicity: Israeli Author’s residence: Israel Illustrator’s ethnicity: Israeli Illustrator’s residence: Spain Awards: Vad Vashem Prize in Israel, Giovanni Arpino Proze for Children’s Literature in Italy. Subjects: Holocaust, Jewish people, Nazi party, Prejudice and racism, Teddy bear

Piglettes

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This laugh-aloud coming-of-age story tells of the bicycle road trip across France to Paris of three teenage girls, Mirielle, Astrid, and Hakima. The girls were voted by their classmates on Facebook to be the ugliest girls in their school. They take off on their bikes, accompanied by Kader, Hakima’s wheelchair-bound older brother. Their goal is a garden party with the French president. They pull a trailer along with them and sell sausages to make money for the trip. The girls, known as the Piglettes, become stars of social media and television. The story is told through the eyes of funny, philosophical, and awkward Mirielle. This is a powerful book for self-conscious teens. mjw

Title: Piglettes Author: Clementine Beauvais Publisher: Pushkin Press Copyright: 2017 Original Language: French Translator: Clementine Beauvais Original Title: Les Petites Reines Original Publisher: Editions Sarbacane. Paris Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-1782691204 Paperback pages: 287 Age range: 12 up Genre: Fiction Book setting: France Author’s ethnicity: French Author’s residence: U.K. Awards: Prix Sorcieres in France Subjects: Bicycles, Bullying, Coming of age, Cyber-bullying, Feminism, Girls and women, Paris, Racism, Roadtrip, Sausages, Teens and young adult fiction, Ugly girls, Wheelchair

Festivals And Traditions In Switzerland

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This fascinating book takes you on a journey through a year in Switzerland. Starting with the New Year’s Mummers Procession in Appenzel Ausserrhoden with the Uglies, Pretties, and Pretty-Uglies costumes, which are made only of material from nature and ending with Christmas traditions like Yule log cakes,  bell-ringing, giant top hats, frankincense, and Christmas decorations. This amazing book thoroughly describes the many celebrations that occur throughout the year. On the journey, you’ll encounter brass bands, terrifying masks, shepherds, men dressed as trees, fast pigs, bareback riders, and much, much more. The illustrations are colorful, detailed, and entertaining. An Afterword explains even more. A section of Information and Tips provides dates and even times for travelers going to Switzerland. Also included is a list of customs and celebrations according to cantons, or states. mjw

Title: Festivals And Traditions In Switzerland Author: Barbara Piatti Illustrator: Yvonne Rogenmoser Publisher: NorthSouth Copyright: 2020 Original Language: German Translator: Mary Carozza Original Title: Feste & Brauche in der Schweiz Original Publisher: Nordsud Verlag Original Copyright: 2019 ISBN: 978-0-7358-4416-2 Hardcover pages: 96 Age range: 4-12 Genre: Information book, Nonfiction, Picture book Book setting: Switzerland Author’s residence: Basel, Switzerland Illustrator’s residence: Zurich, Switzerland Subjects: Celebrations, Holidays, Switzerland