This stunning photo essay takes a look at the thousands of children around the world who have been forced to flee war, terror, hunger and natural disasters, young refugees on the move with very little left except questions. It’s hard to imagine, but the images here will help unaffected children understand not only what this must feel like, but also how very lucky they are. The final message is that children, even with uncertain futures, are resilient and can face uncertainty with optimism. With images from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Primary (ages 6-9)
Material appropriate for primary age groups
Sleep Well Siba & Saba
Forgetful sisters Siba and Saba are always losing something. Sandals, slippers, sweaters, you name it, they lose it. When the two sisters fall asleep each night, they dream about the things they have lost that day. Until, one night, their dreams begin to reveal something entirely unexpected. With playful illustrations and a lullaby-like rhythm, this heart-warming story set in Uganda is truly one to be treasured.
Canticos Little Skeletons Countdown to Midnight
Follow the little skeletons as they go about their surprising and intriguing day while counting down from 1 PM to midnight.
Manjhi Moves A Mountain
Dashrath Manjhi used a hammer and chisel, grit, determination, and twenty years to carve a path through the mountain separating his poor village from the nearby village with schools, markets, and a hospital. Manjhi Moves a Mountain shows how everyone can make a difference if their heart is big enough.
The Wooden Camel
Etabo dreams of being a camel racer. One day he might even beat his older brother when they race. But with the price of water rising, Etabo’s father must sell the camels, and his siblings must find work. What will Etabo do now? From acclaimed Kenyan filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu and Italian illustrator Manuela Adreani, this story of love and hope centers on the inspiring Turkana people of northwest Kenya. Told with gentleness and humor, it is a universal story about keeping one’s dreams alive.
You’re Safe With Me
When the moon rises high and the stars twinkle, it is bedtime for the baby animals of the Indian forest. But tonight, when the skies turn dark and the night grows stormy, the little ones can’t sleep. SWISH-SWISH! CRACK-TRACK! FLASH-SNAP! goes the storm. Only Mama Elephant with her words of wisdom can reassure them.
Love
Illustrations and easy-to-read text celebrate the bonds of love that connect us all.
Featured in Volume X, Issue 3 of WOW Review
Flying Colors
By exploring the designs of flags, we can learn all about the histories and aspirations of the countries they represent. Did you know that only the flag of Nepal has more than four sides? Or that the flag of Mozambique features a book, a hoe and an AK47? Robert Fresson’s vintage-inflected illustrations shed fresh light on the wonders of vexillology.
Whose Eyes Are These?
Whose eyes are these? Each spread in this magnificently illustrated book starts with a pair of mysterious eyes and a fun response to the question, and then children are off to discover just who is hiding—in its natural setting. Children can plunge into the colorful ocean and find the jellyfish, fly among beautiful flowers to catch the dizzy hummingbird, and delve into the woods after a prickly hedgehog.
Rainforest
Travel deep into the forest. What elusive and fascinating creatures will you find there? Delicate, colorful and distinctive, Julia Groves’ illustrations introduce us to the animals that live in this precious and endangered habitat. Wildlife fans will be thrilled to encounter all kinds of rainforest creatures from the familiar species to the more obscure.