Tag Archives: Travel

The True Tale Of A Giantess: The Story Of Anna Swan

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This historical non-fiction children’s book follows the rich life of acclaimed Nova Scotia Giantess Anna Swan. Anna grows up feeling (figuratively and physically) out-of-place in her hometown and yearns for  a life of travel and adventure. She decides to join P.T. Barnum’s Gallery of Wonders and meets other people who are unique like she is. Being a part of the Gallery opens up doors for Anna and she is able to have all the adventures she dreamed about as a little girl. She meets and befriends Queen Victoria and falls in love with fellow giant Martin Van Buren Bates. Her life story emphasizes the value of individuality and creating one’s own world to fit into if such an environment is not provided. The illustrations in mixed media and Photoshop include a spectrum of shaded grey, blue, and olive-green pastels and feature soft round-faced characters with blush faces.    mm

Title: The True Tale of a Giantess: The Story of Anna Swan Author: Anne Renaud Illustrator: Marie Lafrance Publisher: Kids Can Press, Toronto Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77138-376-9 Hardcover pages:  32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Biography, Picture Book Book setting: Nova Scotia, New York, England Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Westmount, Quebec Illustrator’s ethnicity:  Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Montreal, Quebec Subjects: Biography, Circus, Giants, Nova Scotia, Performing arts, Women

Felix

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Felix is a fine cat with a lot of friends.  He goes on whirlwind tours to visit his family all over the world. He goes to India with its golden temples, meets tigers,  and has prawns and scrambled eggs. He travels to China to visit his mysterious cousins, the snow leopards.  They offer him tea and herrings.  Next, he stops in the Russian steppes to visit his cousin Mr. Lynx and is offered  blinis and caviar..  The next stop is the United States where pumas give him steak.  Next is the rainforest of Brazil to visit panthers who give him kebabs. His last stop is the African savannah where lions give him an acacia branch.  Felix finally goes home to his food bowl, his balcony, and his cozy pillow. Rich, colorful artwork accompanies Felix on his travels. mjw

Title: Felix Author: Giovanna Zoboli Illustrator: Simona Mulazzani Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Italian Translator: Laura Watkinson Original Title: Gatto Felice Original Publisher: Topipittoti, Milan Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5506-0 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: India, China, Russia, United States, Brazil, Africa Author’s ethnicity: Italian Author’s residence: Milan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Italian Subjects: Cats, Travel

Kakuma Girls: Sharing Stories Of Hardship And Hope From Kakuma Refugee Camp

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Clare Morneau is a 17-year-old author and speaker who lives in Toronto and is committed to working for real change.  As a student at Havergal College, she founded the Kakuma Toronto Girls Education Partnership. This illuminating book is a compilation of letters of hardship and hope from the girls in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya to girls at a high school in Canada.  The Kakuma girls have incredible hopes and dreams for their future.  They are fighting for their education and will do anything to go to university.  They dream of becoming doctors, engineers, pilots, or journalists and improving their families’ lives.  The book includes beautiful photographs, maps, a chronology, a glossary, and a list of ways to get involved. mjw

Title: Kakuma Girls: Sharing Stories Of Hardship And Hope From Kakuma Refugee Camp Author: Clare Morneau and contributors Publisher: Barlow Books, Toronto Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-988025-14-8 Hardcover pages: 184 Age range: 12 up Genre: Nonfiction, Information Book Book setting: Kenya Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Toronto Subjects: Refugee children. Refugees, Sudan, Women

Whisper Of The East: Tales From Arabia

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This magical collection of six folk stories from the fascinating world of the East contains The Secret of the Black Dress from Arabia, Jamil and Jamila from Syria, The Fisherman and the Djinn adapted from A Thousand and One Nights, The Little Camel from Palestine, The Old Pair of Shoes from Arabia, and The Fisherman and the Mermaid from Arabia.  The illustrations in red and teal are reminiscent of screen-printing.  This interactive book concludes with a glossary, a map of the Middle East, suggestions for making your own fairytales, the Arabic script, and drawing and painting ideas.  The final endpapers represent a fairytale alphabet in English and Arabic. mjw

Title: Whisper Of The East: Tales From Arabia Author: Franziska Meiners Illustrator: Franziska Meiners Publisher: North South Books, Inc. New York Copyright: 2018 Original Language: German Translator: David Henry Wilson Original Title: Das Flustern des Orients Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG. Zurich, Switzerland Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-0-7358-4323-3 Hardcover pages: 112 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Fiction, Short Stories, Folktales Book setting: Arabia, Syria, Palestine Author’s ethnicity: German Author’s residence: Cologne Illustrator’s ethnicity: German Illustrator’s residence: Cologne Subjects: Fairytales and folklore, Middle East, Storytelling

The Chameleon That Saved Noah’s Ark

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Noah and his multi-ethnic family can’t find the right food for the two picky eater chameleons on the ark. Noah’s wife is highlighted, but everyone is involved in trying to find food for the chameleons. The mystery continues until worms threaten the fruit bins and the chameleons solve both problems! Even worms are wonders…”and everything and everyone has a place under the sun.” Folk-art style, textured acrylic paintings are delightful in this extension of the well-known Bible story. mjw

Title: The Chameleon That Saved Noah’s Ark Author: Yael Molchadsky Illustrator: Orit Bergman Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, New York Copyright: 2016 Original Language: Hebrew Translator: Annette Appel Original Publisher: KInneret, Zmora-Bitan, Dvir Publishing House Ltd., Israel Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-101-99676-8 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Israeli Author’s residence: Israel Illustrator’s ethnicity: Born in Jerusalem Illustrator’s residence: Israel Subjects: Animals, Boats, Chameleons, Noah’s Ark, Noah (Biblical figure), Transportation

La Frontera: El Viaje Con Papa, My Journey With Papa

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This bilingual book (Spanish and English) follows Alfredo and his father during the 1980s as they leave behind their home in Mexico for Texas.  The story is told through Alfredo’s eyes and is based on one of the author’s own experiences in crossing the border, la frontera.  It tells why they left Mexico, describes their difficult journey, and shows how courage and determination can lead to a better and more productive life. Colorful pictures prepared in graphite, acrylic, and digital collage complement the vivid narrative.  Back matter includes more on Alfredo’s story, information about borders and cultures, a map, notes about immigration, and photographs.  mjw

Title: La Frontera: El Viaje Con Papa, My Journey With Papa Author: Deborah Mills and Alfredo Alva Illustrator: Claudia Navarro Publisher: Barefoot Books. Cambridge, MA and London Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English and Spanish Translator: Maria A. Perez ISBN: 978-1-78285-388-6 Hardcover pages: 48 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Mexico and Texas Author’s ethnicity: Mills – U.S.  Alva – Mexican Author’s residence: Mills – U.S.  Alva – Texas Illustrator’s ethnicity: Mexican Illustrator’s residence: Mexico Subjects: Central America, Emigrants and immigrants, Hispanic and Latino, Mexican Americans, Mexico, United States

The Murderer’s Ape

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This thrilling mystery is narrated by a gorilla named Sally Jones who can read and type on a 1908 Underwood No. 5 typewriter. She is an engineer working for Chief Henry Koskela who is falsely accused of murder. Sally Jones embarks on a whirlwind journey from Lisbon, Portugal, to the Maharaja of Bhapur’s magnificent court in India to clear the chief’s name. This suspenseful adventure is accompanied by detailed black and white drawings. Maps of the voyage appear on the endpapers. mjw

Title: The Murderer’s Ape Author: Jakob Wegelius Illustrator: Jakob Wegelius Publisher: Delacorte Press Copyright: 2017 Original Language: Swedish Translator: Peter Graves Original Title: Mordarens Apa Original Publisher: Bonnier Carlsen Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-1-101-93175-2 Hardcover pages: 624 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Fiction, Mystery Book setting: Portugal, India Author’s ethnicity: Swedish Author’s residence: Sweden Illustrator’s ethnicity: Swedish Illustrator’s residence: Sweden Awards: 2018 Batchelder Winner, International Youth Library White Raven Selection Subjects: Detective stories, Gorilla, Human-animal relationships, Music, Sailing

The Night Diary

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It’s 1947, and India, newly independent from British rule, has been divided into two countries: Pakistan and India. Twelve-year-old Nisha, who is half Muslim and half Hindu, doesn’t know where she belongs. Her Muslim mother died when Nisha was a baby. Her Hindu father decides it is too dangerous to stay in what has become Pakistan. Nisha and her family become refugees. They travel by train and foot to reach their new home. Nisha is finally able to meet her mother’s brother and find where she really belongs. Nisha’s story is told through diary entries she writes nightly to her mother. Included in the back is a helpful glossary. The author uses her own father’s story as a basis for this compelling historical novel. mjw

Title: The Night Diary Author: Veer Hiranandani Publisher: Dial Books Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-0735-2285-11 Hardcover pages: 272 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Historical Fiction Book setting: India, Pakistan Author’s ethnicity: Indian Author’s residence: U.S. Subjects: Diaries, Family life, Hindus, Muslims, Partition 1947, Refugees, Siblings

Yokki And The Parno Gry

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This traditional Traveler-family folktale tells of Yokki, a young boy who inspires his hard-working family with a tale of a magical white horse. His family experiences hard times and there is no work to be had. They travel from town to town looking for work mending household objects and trying to sell wooden spoons and beautiful paper flowers that they make. At night, they gather around a fire to tell stories they have heard on their travels. Yokki tells the best story about the Parno Gry, which is a horse that comes to take them to a new and better land. Colorful and gentle detailed mixed media illustrations bring Yokki’s family to life in this imaginative Romani folktale. An author’s note gives information about Romani and Traveling People. mjw

Title: Yokki And The Parno Gry Author: Richard O’Neill and Katherine Quarmby Illustrator: Marieke Nelissen Publisher: Child’s Play Inc. Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-84643-927-8 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-7 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Romani (O’Neill) Author’s residence: England Illustrator’s ethnicity: Dutch Illustrator’s residence: Netherlands Subjects: Fairytales, Folktales, Gypsies, Horses, Mythical animals, Romanis, Storytelling, Traveling people

Poles Apart

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Penguins are found at the South Pole – except when they get lost on their way to a picnic. When the Pilchard-Brown penguin family find themselves at the North Pole, they meet friendly Mr. White, the polar bear, who guides them back home. They follow him over land and sea to New York, England, Italy, India, Australia, and finally the South Pole and a surprise ending. Foreign words are sprinkled throughout this whimsical introduction to different cultures across the globe. Fun, digitally created illustrations show the travelers walking along Fifth Avenue, riding a double-decker bus in London, water skiing in the Sydney harbor, and more. mjw

Title: Poles Apart Author: Jeanne Willis Illustrator: Peter Jarvis Publisher: Nosy Crow, an imprint of Candlewick Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Nosy Crow, London Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-0-7636-8944-5 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: North Pole, South Pole, U.S., England, Italy, India, Australia Author’s ethnicity: Born in the United Kingdom Author’s residence: London Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: Manchester, England Subjects: Arctic Ocean, North Pole, Penguins, Polar bears, South Pole

In Focus: Cities

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Ten different illustrators explore ten cities in this large-size, gate-folded-page book. Cultural, social, and historical information is packed onto each page. The cities are New York, Tokyo, Paris, Rome, Moscow, Istanbul, Sydney, Cairo, Rio de Janeiro, and London. Each artist’s distinct color palette represents each city. mjw

Title: In Focus: Cities Author: Libby Walden Illustrator: 10 illustrators Publisher: 360 Degrees, an imprint of Tiger Tales Copyright: 2017 Original Publisher: Little Tiger Press, Great Britain Original Language: English Original Copyright: 2017 ISBN: 978-1-944530-08-2 Age range: 8-12 Genre: Information Book, Nonfiction Book setting: New York, Tokyo, Paris, Rome, Moscow, Istanbul, Sydney, Cairo, Rio de Janiero, London Author’s ethnicity: U.S. Author’s residence: U.S. Subjects: Atlas, Cities and towns

Little Polar Bear: Where Are You Going Lars?

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Lars, the little polar bear, is so tired after going with his father on his first hunting trip. He falls asleep on the ice and sleeps so soundly that he doesn’t hear the ice crack. His ice bed breaks off, he drifts south, and he wakes up in the middle of the sea, where it is getting warmer and warmer. This is where his adventures begin. He makes new friends, including Henry the hippopotamus. Lars gets homesick and wants to find his way back home. He gets help from Marcus the eagle and Samson the whale. Lars is finally reunited with his father, who catches Samson a big fish to thank him. The soft-colored illustrations have been refreshed in this Little Polar Bear 30th Anniversary Edition. mjw

Title: Little Polar Bear: Where Are You Going Lars? Author: Hans de Beer Illustrator: Hans de Beer Publisher: NorthSouth Books, Inc. Copyright: 2016 Original Language: German Original Title: Kleiner Eisbar – Wohin fahrst du, Lars? Original Publisher: NordSud Verlag AG, Switzerland Original Copyright: 1987 ISBN: 978-0-7358-4052-2 Paperback pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: North Pole, Tropics Author’s ethnicity: Dutch Illustrator’s ethnicity: Dutch Subjects: Bears, North Pole, Polar bears