Today I have a few backlist titles I’ll be adding to the growing country lists already on my site. Many of them were included in special holiday or collection posts on Instagram, so the reviews are not as long as usual. If you read any of these I’d love to hear what you think!
Wangari Speaks Out (Kenya)
The third book in the Speak Out Series from Groundwood Books, Wangari Speaks Out, came out last September, and features a speech given by Kenyan Wangari Maathai, the first African woman and the first environmentalist to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Following the main text is commentary by Laia de Ahumada, which has been translated to English by Susan Ouriou.
These texts would be great to use in the classroom for students in late middle school/high school. I appreciate the commentary following each speech, which adds historical and political context, making the speeches more accessible to younger readers (and myself). This book was sent to me for review by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
What Dwells in the Deep? (World Oceans)
Who Dwells in the Deep? is a board book, which, like Kai’s Ocean of Curiosities encourages questioning and curiosity about the vast oceans. This board book, part of the Yikes! Discovery Series, takes readers on an adventure introducing them to sea creatures as they travel deeper and deeper under the sea.
Title: What Dwells in the Deep?
Author: Canadian author Kelly Ward-Wills
Illustrator: Steve James
Publisher: Eye of Newt Books
What Dwells in the Deep? Was sent to me by Eye of Newt Books and Publisher Spotlight. All opinions are my own.
The Garden Witch (Canada)
The Garden Witch appeals to my 5 year old’s quirky sense of humor. A witch with a magical garden is seen as an outcast by her neighbours in the village where she tries to sell potions, and abused by three rats who have moved into her house. One evening after hearing the witch cry about her situation, the garden decides to strike back. by sending her a little turnip boy.
Title: The Garden Witch
Author/Illustrator: Canadian Kyle Beaudette
Publisher: Eye of Newt [2023]
The Garden Witch was sent to me for review by Eye of Newt and Publisher Spotlight.
In the Garden (France)
In the Garden is an oversized (and I mean HUGE) book filled with flaps that takes readers on a yearlong tour of a garden alongside a parent and child. Readers will learn about what happens as seeds and bulbs begin to grow in spring, garden maintenance, plant life cycles, gardening tools, parts of a plant, common insects found in gardens and so much more.
Title: In the Garden
Author/Illustrator: French artist Emma Giuliani
Translator: Jenny Florence
Publisher: Princeton Architectural Press [2020]
I purchased this book for my family.
Ganesha Goes Green (India/Hindu Religion)
“During her town’s Ganesha Chaturthi festival, young Prema comes up with an innovative plan to save the river from pollution. Persevering through multiple obstacles, she convinces her friends to help her create natural clay Ganesha statues to replace the plaster ones that harm the river when they dissolve. Created by an author and artist from different parts of India and set in modern-day India, this inclusive tale of activism, ingenuity and sustainability is sure to inspire young readers. Endnotes include information about Ganesha Chaturthi, a recipe for homemade sculpting dough and instructions for making an earth-friendly statue.” ~ Bookshop.org summary, I did not write a review, but included it in an Earth Day round up.
Title: Ganesha Goes Green
Author: Indian-American writer Lakshmi Thamizhmani
Illustrator: Indian born English artist Debasmita Dasgupta
Publisher: Barefoot Books [2023]
An Invitation to Passover (Jewish Religion)
Hannah’s extended family has always come to her house for Passover seder, but this year they can’t make it. Hannah is disappointed it will not be the big gathering it usually is, so she asks her parents if she can invite some friends. While making the invitations, Hannah’s family reflects on what Passover means to them. As her friends arrive they each bring something from their own culture they thought of after reading Hannah’s invitations.
During the seder Hannah is able to share about her people’s history while including the things brought by her guests, sharing an inclusive message that showcases how people from various backgrounds can recognize their similarities while also celebrating their differences.
An Invitation to Passover weaves Jewish history and customs into the narrative making this a great story to read with both Jewish and non-Jewish children. I shared it with my girls last night to mark the beginning of Passover, which will continue through April 30 this year.
Back matter includes a short history of Passover, as well as a glossary and a recipe for matzah.
Title: An Invitation to Passover
Authors: American Rabbis Kerry Olitzky & Deborah Bodin Cohen
Illustrator: Russian artist Mariia Kolker
Publisher: Kalanoit Books [2023]
An Invitation to Passover was sent to me for review by Publisher Spotlight and Kalanoit Books.
Mary Anning’s Curiosity (England/UK)
Where has your curiosity taken you lately?
Ours recently took us to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC where we got to see, among many other natural wonders, dinosaur fossils like the ones Marry Anning is famous for discovering near her home.
Mary Anning’s Curiosity is a sparsely illustrated fictionalized account of Mary Anning’s childhood, a childhood she spent combing the beaches near her home in Lyme Regis, England in hopes of finding fossils to support her family.
While fossil hunting she and her brother discover what they believe to be a giant crocodile in the cliff. Will they be able to excavate it before rival fossil hunter Captain Curry lays claim to the find?
Mary Anning is credited with being the first person to find a complete Plesiosaurus skeleton. She went on to unearth many other dinosaur skeletons and fossils. Despite becoming well known in geological circles around the world, she was not permitted to join the Geological Society of London because she was a woman.
Mary Anning’s Curiosity highlights this female scientist’s curiosity, determination, and intelligence, providing inspiration for young girls who are interested in the sciences. I was so drawn into the story that despite it being 104 pages, and 10 chapters long, I finished it in a single sitting.
Title: Mary Anning’s Curiosity
Author: Monica Killing
Illustrator: Melissa Castrillon
Publisher: Groundwood Books [2017]
This book was sent to me by Groundwood Books for review. All opinions are my own.
A Ramadan to Remember (Muslim Religion)
Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, will be celebrated by Muslims around the world in April.
I shared A Ramadan to Remember with my class today. While it would also be great to read leading up to Ramadan, I just received it this week, and wanted to put it on your radar.
Zain, the boy in this story, has just moved to a new neighborhood. As Ramadan nears, Zain gets nervous realizing how different this holiday, his favorite time of year, will be than the ones before when he had attended a Muslim school.
Zain gets creative, using the empty packing boxes to create a mosque, and his able to share his family’s traditions with a few neighbors and friends. He even discovers there is another Muslim family in the area, one they share the holiday with, helping Zain feel less alone.
Woven throughout the story are references to Muslim traditions, important holiday observations, and foods Muslims may eat during this special month. A glossary at the back expands on these, which encouraged my girls at home to ask questions and compare the holidays we observe with Zain’s.
A Ramadan to Remember is part of a series called Holidays in Our Home, which celebrates holidays and festivals around the world. I’ll be looking into the others to add to our classroom library.
Title: A Ramadan to Remember
Author: Pakistani author Marzieh A. Ali
Illustrator: Malaysian artist Najwa Awatiff
Publisher: Soaring Kite BooksSoaring Kite Books and Publisher Spotlight sent this book for my review. All opinions are my own.
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Kids Read the World 