A surreal and charming fable about Van Gogh’s headless ear and her search for identity, purpose, and acceptance, by Estonia’s leading children’s book illustrator. When Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh cuts off his ear, the ear is suddenly left alone and headless. What will become of her? Where should she go? What should she do? Aware of how small and insignificant she is in the big, wide world, the ear experiences something of an identity crisis. She simply doesn’t know who she is anymore. But thanks to a downcast frog with a heavy heart who simply needs to be listened to, she realizes what she can offer to the world: a sympathetic ear.News of the ear’s unique ability to listen spreads, and soon animals travel from far and wide just to visit her. But the ear’s newfound happiness is threatened when she is caught up in a spider’s web of gossip and lies. The ear’s new friends, grateful for everything she has done for them, come to her rescue. And from that day on, the ear never feels headless again.

Because of Yosef’s devotion to honoring the Sabbath, he is given special protection by a great lion.

A surreal and magical story by Estonia’s leading children’s book creator about the importance of bedtime stories.The Sea loves her family and everyone in it―the fish, the star fish, the turtles, the worms―and her family loves her back. The only problem is . . . they are so loud! So, the Sea takes a vacation to clear her head and enjoy some peace and quiet. In her absence the sh run amock, loving their newfound freedom, but they soon realize that their favorite part of the day is missing: there’s no one to read them a bedtime story. Enter a very naughty cat with ill intentions who promises to read to them. Once the sea animals realize their mistake, their tears bring back their mother and she promises to teach them to read so they can always enjoy a bedtime story.Illustrated in Piret Raud’s fun, quirky style and imaginatively told with her characteristic wit, this book is an appealing and humorous tale sure to delight children and adults alike. Illustrated in color throughout

This book, A Boy from Bahrain, is an English translation of a chapter in my Arabic book, Colored Papers.I thought this book might be an interesting way for English readers to learn about the typical life of a young boy in Bahrain during the years 1930-1950.

A universal story about compromise and collaboration for young readers Raven, Crayfish and Horse have always been best friends. They’re grown up now and would like to start a family. They want all their families to live together and start planning to build a house. But what should that house look like? Will they find a solution that works for all of them?

On the sandy shore of a big sea lived a bird named Ellie who had no voice.“Everything else has a voice,” Ellie thought sadly. “The trees rustle. The waves crash. Even the rain sings when it falls.”“I’m the only one who can’t make a sound.”Ellie felt tears well up in her eyes―that’s how sad she was to be voiceless. Ellie’s life is turned upside down when she finds a curious instrument on the shore that makes the most amazing sound when she blows into it: Trööömmmpffff! Creatures come from near and far to hear Ellie’s magnificent new voice. But when Ellie learns that the horn actually belongs to Duke Junior who is desperately unhappy without it, she goes on an adventure to return the horn to its rightful owner. After days and nights of searching, she finds Duke Junior on an island in the middle of the water. To her surprise and delight, Duke Junior doesn’t just toot Tröömmmpfff on the horn… he plays the most beautiful music! Ellie is so happy that Duke Junior has his horn back and can produce such lovely sounds that she’s content listening to his tunes and being herself.

The Turtle Secret tells the story of ten-year-old Hessa and her mission to save the turtles. When Hessa rescues a turtle in the local market, she takes it straight to her uncle, a marine biologist. She finds herself captivated by these fascinating marine creatures and their precarious way of life. But with her sister about to marry and her father still grieving over her deceased mother, Hessa realizes that none of her loved ones have time for her, or her passion for turtles. When her uncle discovers that someone has been stealing turtle eggs from the beach because of their high value as a rare delicacy, Hessa embarks on a mission to catch the thieves and protect the turtles, leading to a thrilling adventure. The Turtle Secret is unique in that it touches on subjects that resonate with contemporary readers, such as the local culture and the wildlife of the region, as well as the role of women in Emirati society, reflecting the author’s love for the region and her interest in the social and cultural nuances that define it.

Last Stop on Market Street meets We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga in this sweet, bighearted picture book about a young boy who learns the Cherokee lesson of gadugi—how working together and helping each other makes the whole community stronger.When eager Clay asks his elisi (grandmother) for help to be named star of the week at school, he’s surprised by her answer: No one person is more important than his family and his community. But is Clay still important at all?This contemplative exploration of community, individualism, and responsibility—accentuated with traditional beadwork in the art—is a moving invitation to consider an indigenous perspective of one’s place in the world and how we all light up our sky, together.

From the author of Marikit and the Ocean of Stars, a magical middle grade adventure about three Filipino children who must find their way through a mystical land filled with monsters and gods from Filipino lore.The town of Santo Cristo is known for two things―their colorful town fiesta capped off with a solemn evening procession, and the dozens of people that have disappeared over the years. When three kids―the headstrong Bayani, stubborn Isay, and anxious Aaron―find their way over the other side of a mysterious bridge and to a long-forgotten island of myth, they’re faced with monsters, cryptids, and sinister characters. In this land of Night, they must find their way back to their world and keep their light burning bright lest they lose themselves too.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Where the Dark Stands Still comes an atmospheric fantasy based on Swan Lake, following Odile as her plan to restore magic to her kingdom gets disrupted by a murder—forcing her to beg for help from the young woman whose identity she stole. Can two girls—one enchanted, one the enchantress—save their kingdom and each other? Two hundred years ago, a slighted deity stole the magic from Auréal and vanished without a trace. But seventeen-year-old Odile has a plan. All her life, her father, a vengeful sorcerer, has raised her for one singular task: infiltrate the royal palace and steal the king’s crown, an artefact with enough power to restore magic. But to enter the palace, she must assume the identity of a noblewoman. She chooses Marie d’Odette: famed for her beauty, a rumored candidate for future queen…and Odile’s childhood-friend-turned-sworn-enemy. With her father’s help, Odile transforms Marie into a swan and takes her place at court. But when the king is brutally murdered and her own brother is accused, her plans are thrown into chaos. Desperate to free her brother, Odile is forced to team up with none other than elegant, infuriating Marie, the girl she has cursed…and the girl she can’t seem to stop thinking about despite her best efforts. To make matters worse, there are whispers that the king’s murder was not at the hands of man, but beast. Torn between loyalty to her father and her growing feelings for Marie, Odile becomes tangled in a web of treachery and deceit. To save her kingdom, she must find the true path to magic…and find the real killer before they—or it—strikes again.