Primary (ages 6-9)

Material appropriate for primary age groups

Yatandou

Yatandou lives in a Mali village with her family and neighbors. And though she is only eight years old and would much rather play with her pet goat, she must sit with the women and pound millet kernels. To grind enough millet for one day’s food, the women must pound the kernels with their pounding sticks for three hours. It is hard work, especially when one is eight years old. But as they work, the women dream of a machine that can grind the millet and free them from their pounding sticks. But the machine will only come when the women have raised enough money to buy it. Yatandou must help raise the money, even if it means parting with something she holds dear. Through the eyes and voice of a young girl, award-winning author Gloria Whelan brings to life one village’s dream of a better future. Atmospheric paintings from artist Peter Sylvada capture the landscape and spirit of this inspiring story of sacrifice and hope.

See the review at WOW Review, Volume 5, Issue 3.

My Grandfather Is a Magician

This is the story of a small Nigerian boy who doesn’t know what job to do when he grows up. His father teaches in a school; his mother owns a bakery; but maybe he should follow his grandfather who seems wiser and more interesting than any of them – for he is a traditional healer.

Galimoto

Kondi is determined to make a galimoto — a toy vehicle made of wires. His brother laughs at the idea, but all day Kondi goes about gathering up the wire he needs. By nightfall, his wonderful galimoto is ready for the village children to play with in the light of the moon.

Good-Bye, 382 Shin Dang Dong

Jangmi finds it hard to say goodbye to relatives and friends, plus the food, customs, and beautiful things of her home in Korea, when her family moves to America.

The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare

Just like young children everywhere, Little Nutbrown Hare likes to explore, play, venture out into the world, and sometimes just savor the comfort of being at home with loved ones. But whatever he does, and wherever he goes, Big Nutbrown Hare is always there to cheer him on. In a beautiful jacketed Guess How Much I Love You storybook, here are four heartwarming new stories that little readers (and their bigger companions) will instantly relate to.

Big Wolf and Little Wolf, Such a Beautiful Orange!

This is the third and last book in the Big Wolf series. Once again Olivier Tallec’s illustrations, which are bold in perspective and full of feeling, deepen the story. Departing from the previous two books, this story takes place in a city, albeit one with a park and a tree on a hill.Big Wolf and Little Wolf have gone on an adventure. Little Wolf sees an orange and goes after it, but he doesn’t return. Big Wolf plunges into the urban jungle in search of Little Wolf. He finds the orange, but not his friend. Fear and loneliness overtake him, but he perseveres. Finally, he comes into a clearing of light, where he finds Little Wolf near where he lost him. Big Wolf has gone full circle and, as these things go, everything has changed. Big Wolf has undertaken an interior journey, gone through the metaphorical forest, and come out fuller and richer and more himself. This is a deep story about true friendship and how it helps to make us who we are.Nadine Brun-Cosme is the author of over twenty juvenile novels and picture books. She lives in France. Her book Big Wolf and Little Wolf is a 2010 Batchelder Honor book.Olivier Tallec was born in Brittany, France, in 1970. After graduating from the Ecole Supérieure d’Art Graphic in Paris, he worked in advertising as a graphic designer, after which he devoted himself to illustration. Since then he has illustrated more than sixty books, seven of which have been published by Enchanted Lion Books.

Bananas in My Ears

From the chaos of breakfast to the calm of bedtime, this whimsical collection, pairing two former British Laureates, is full of delightful moments. Explore the pleasures of acting silly and the pains of feeling ill, the camaraderie of siblings and strange goings-on at the beach. . . . All this and a trip on a flying bed, too!