BEAUTY BESIDE ME, STORIES OF MY GRANDMOTHERS SKIRTS by Seraphine Yazzie, Navajo, is a delightful weaving of images and words that express the pleasure of “being with grandma.” Baje Whitethorne’s watercolors illustrate each page with details that add humor plus cultural information. BEAUTY BESIDE ME is bilingual – both in Navajo and English – which… Read more »
Beyond Boundaries
Animal Friendships
These books speak to the powerful friendships that can happen between amazing animals and amazing people. SOLDIER BEAR written by Bibi Dumon Tak was translated from the Dutch by Laura Watkinson this year. Simple but fanciful illustrations were created by Philip Hopman. What an incredible and (mostly) true bear story! During WW II when Germany… Read more »
Amazing Animals!
CAN WE SAVE THE TIGER? by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Vicky White (Candlewick 2011) If you haven’t seen this book yet, beware. The tiger looks as if it could walk right off the cover. This book provides a marvelous overview of a variety of endangered species with engaging illustrations by Vicky White. Young readers can pick… Read more »
Building Bridges
RED BIRD SINGS: The Story of Zitkala-Sa, Native American Author, Musician, and Activist Adapted by Gina Capaldi & Q.L. Pearce, illustrations by Gina Capaldi Imagine being eight years old and leaving home. Not running away, but leaving in order to learn to read and write. Zitkala-Sa, little Red Bird, left the Yankton Sioux reservation in… Read more »
Notable Books for a Global Society
Each year the International Reading Association Selection Committee for Notable Books for a Global Society selects “well written books… in which children can see themselves…bringing stories that are engaging and compelling.” These represent books for all ages and all readers. Selections vary from poetry, fiction, and biography with age range spans from picture book through… Read more »
Working Together
Get ready… a new school year is coming up fast! A fun part of this time of year, besides gathering together school supplies and new-clothes shopping, is sharing books that get us reading and thinking. LEAH’S PONY and THE SUMMER OF HAMMERS & ANGELS are very different stories about how kids and friends, kids and… Read more »
Sing, Dance, Dream Poetry
“with a heart Like an angel… And songs in my belly I have to sing…” Choose this book and let your readers experience the connection between music and poetry, words and rhythm. Young people may not know Bob Marley’s name but many will recognize his songs. I AND I: BOB MARLEY by Tony Medina illustrated… Read more »
