Children are never too young to begin exploring the many different cultures that make up our beautiful world. Whether we awaken to the wind blowing from the desert, the spray from an ocean wave, or snowflakes dusting the trees, we all share this truly magnificent planet. Through a young boy’s eyes, we visit children from far away places fly kites in Japan, swing through the jungles of Costa Rica, play the didgeridoo in Australia… Marty Husted’s watercolors flow with Jane Hoffelt’s thoughtful poem, helping us feel the depth of our global connections.
Poetry
Poetry genre
Red Butterfly: How a Princess Smuggled the Secret of Silk Out of China
An enchanting tale of hidden beauty and fierce courage, retold in the style of T’ang Dynasty poetry and illustrated with charm and grace. A young Chinese princess is sent from her father’s kingdom to marry the king of a far-off land. She must leave behind her home of splendors: sour plums and pink peach petals and — most precious and secret of all — the small silkworm. She begs her father to let her stay, but he insists that she go and fulfill her destiny as the queen of Khotan. Beautifully told and arrestingly illustrated, here is a coming-of-age tale of a brave young princess whose clever plan will go on to live in legend — and will ensure that her cherished home is with her always.
One Earth, One Spirit: A Child’s Book of Prayers from Many Faiths and Cultures
All over the world, in every country and culture, people express their innermost thoughts, feelings, and hopes through prayer. When we pray, the mystery and beauty of the universe and of our own earth can comfort and uplift us, for our prayers give us a way of connecting with something greater than ourselves.This collection of prayers, compiled especially for children, brings together offerings from many cultures and religions. The prayers themselves, which read like poetry, are enhanced by beautiful photographic images of children from around the world. Together, words and pictures express a deep reverence for the earth and a spirit of oneness among all living things. A special section at the end of the book offers information on the origins and significance of each selection so that adults can help young readers toward a greater understanding of the prayers.
Flamboyan
One sunny afternoon while everyone is resting, Flamboyan, a young girl named after the tree whose red blossoms are the same color as her hair, dreamily flies over her Caribbean island home.
By The River
A fourteen-year-old describes, through prose poems, his life in a small Australian town in 1962, where, since their mother’s death, he and his brother have been mainly on their own to learn about life, death, and love.
Today and Today
Collection of small poems-haiku-by the haiku master, Issa. These Haiku bring to light the preciousness of this moment, and the wonder of today. Poem by poem, the cycle of this family’s life together unfolds with moments of simple joy and difficult loss-moments.
Julia
A story of a girl, Julia Burgos, born into a humble Puerto Rican family in 1914. With beautiful illustrations, it re-creates the time in which she grew up, and narrates how Julia Burgos became one of Puerto Rico’s and Latin America’s most beloved poets.
Let’s Play In The Forest
In this adaptation of the traditional French and Latin American song, animals play in the forest while a scary wolf slowly dresses and becomes hungrier and hungrier.
Drumbeat In Our Feet
The beauty of African dances is explained by introducing the history and the energy of African dances. The poetic rhythms of African dance are the instrument of the poem flow.
Illustrative medium; watercolor and colored pencil.
Rhymes for Annie Rose
A collection of more than twenty poems about young Annie Rose and the daily activities of a child.