Bear is inconsolable when his little bird friend dies. He locks himself away in his house, consumed by his grief. But one day, when the smell of spring grass comes through his window, he ventures out again, making a new friend who will help him through his grief by reminding him of the beauty he experienced and instilling hope that comes with new friendship. Tender and senstive, The Bear and the Wildcat tells a delicate story of loss, grief, hope and friendship. Originally published in Japan in 2008, now translated into English from the Japanese edition by Cathy Hirano.
Primary (ages 6-9)
Material appropriate for primary age groups
The Pebble: An Allegory Of The Holocaust
Two best friends, Eitan and Rivka, live in a gated Jewish ghetto, where they have been imprisoned by the Nazis since last Spring. But here they can still experience children laughing, dogs barking and women chatting, all as Eitan plays his violin. Yet no one can leave, and if anyone goes through the gates, they never come back. Light hearted in appearance only, this picture book presents one of the darkest moments in human history, the Holocaust, by showcasing the complexities of the human condition and how hope can endure, be it the music of a violin, or the sound of laughter and chatting. They may be trapped within walls of a ghetto, but they can still climb to the rooftop.
Letters In Charcoal
A young narrator recounts learning to read with the help of Señor Velandia, the owner of the village shop, so she can unlock the messages her older sister, Gina, receives from a young doctor each month. In doing so, she will change her life, as well as the lives of every child in the pueblo of Palenque Colombia. Inspired by stories told to the author by Colombian women, Letters in Charcoal celebrates the freedom to read and the joy reading can bring by adding light for a brighter future.
The Moon Is A Ball: Stories Of Panda & Squirrel
Join best friends, Panda and Squirrel, in nine stories about the importance and meaning of friendship. Whether they are lying on rocks to look up at the moon, taking walks or playing games, Panda and Squirrel do everything together. On some days they argue, but they always make up. With full-color illustrations by world-leading illustrator for children and Hans Christian Andersen nominee, Tjong-Khing, and written by one of Belgium’s most important and innovative children’s authors, Ed Franck, The Moon is a Ball is sure to delight young readers again and again. Perfect for emerging readers and reading aloud.
A Daydreamy Child Takes A Walk
Even though he has promised his mama he will stay focused, Little Giovanni cannot help but continue to daydream and pay attention to the smaller, more wonderous, details of the world around him. Written by the father of modern Italian children’s literature, Gianni Rodari, with a Batchelder Award winning translation by Antony Shugaar, A Daydreamy Child Takes a Walk is beautifully illustrated by New York Public Library Best illustrator, Beatrice Alemagna and is sure to delight young readers with its assertion of the power and value of childlike wonder.
Colorful Mondays: A Bookmobile Spreads Hope In Honduras (Stories From Latin America)
Monday is Luis’s favorite day of the week, the day the bookmobile comes to his neighborhood in Villa Nueva. You see, in Villa Nueva, sad stories gather like dark clouds, but when the bookmobile arrives, light and color burst through with laughter, stories, and maybe even a puppet show! Inspired by the JustWorld International’s bookmobile program in Tegucigalpa, Colororful Mondays celebrates the ways in which books and learning can bring joy to communities.
Who Will Make The Snow?
Purr and Craw, twin moles born on the first day of spring, learn to dig themselves out of their comfort zones and experience the vast and unpredictable world around them. Indeed, they are curious about everything and ask endless questions. What is swimming? Do animals live in the sea? Why does mother speak French when she makes pancakes? No matter where or how far they go in the forest as they pursue answers, home is always waiting for them.
The Invisible Elephant
In four short stories, The Invisible Elephant tells the story of a young blind heroine who gleefully explores her environment through her senses and imagination. Although she cannot see the world with her eyes, this doesn’t stop her from interacting with her surroundings joyfully. Young readers watch as she learns Braille, with her family and friends cheering her on at every step of the way as she learns to navigate the world in her own unique way. In addition to gorgeous illustrations by Yulia Sidneva and an artful translation by Ruth Ahmedzai, the book includes an illustrated guide that shows readers how to respectfully interact with the visually impaired.
The Invisible Elephant is featured in WOW Review Volume XVII, Issue 3.
The Amazing And True Story Of Tooth Mouse Pérez
Did you know? In Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries, instead of a Tooth Fairy, they have a Tooth Mouse! This is his story. Though the world is very different from when his Tooth Mouse descendants worked, a Tooth Mouse named Pérez continues his ancestors’ tradition and brings children their permanent teeth. Thought-provoking and playful The Amazing and True Story of Tooth Mouth Perez illuminates how, just as Tooth Mice must adapt their customs in the face of culture-shifting forces, so too must the child as they grow up and gain their independence.
The Young Teacher And The Great Serpent (Stories From Latin America)
When a young teacher sets out to the remote community of Las Delicias in the Amazon rain forest, she is eager to share her knowledge of science, math and geography. While the town’s children love the books she brings, they still keep repeating the legend about a great and dangerous serpent. While in disbelief that her young students could still care about the nonsense of folk tales, the river begins to rise, and suddenly the stories don’t seem to be nonsense after all. Perhaps there are other ways to learn wisdom of past generations besides in books.