#IntlYALitMonth: Catherine’s War

Catherine's War There’s certainly no shortage of WWII stories available for younger readers, especially stories focusing on the devastating impact and consequences of the Holocaust. And at first blush, Catherine’s War seems like just another entry to the cannon of middle grade Holocaust fiction.  But the graphic novel, adapted by Claire Fauvel from Julia Billet’s … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: Catherine’s War

#IntlYALitMonth: The Cat I Never Named: A True Story of Love, War, and Survival

Posted on 5/2/23 by Suzi Tonini The Cat I Never Named: A True Story of Love, War, and Survival written by Amra Sabic-El-Rayess with Laura L. Sullivan is a riveting memoir of a young girl who survives genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Now a university professor living in the United States, Amra shares her experiences … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: The Cat I Never Named: A True Story of Love, War, and Survival

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Yellow Butterfly

My library colleagues and I are big proponents of wordless picture books. They are accessible to readers no matter their age, literacy level, or primary language. They impart vital narrative skills, and are ideal for practicing dialogic reading with young children. Wordless books are not less than for their lack of text; they are important … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Yellow Butterfly

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Dagfrid, Viking Girl

Dagfrid is not your stereotypical Viking girl. She’d rather wear her hair in two long braids than rolled into buns on either side of her head. She chooses to dress in pants instead of the super long dress that other girls wear. And she’s absolutely not into fish. In Dagfrid, Viking Girl: No More Ear … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Dagfrid, Viking Girl

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: A Case with a Bang:

Frog and Toad meet Encylopedia Brown with a dash of The Wind in the Willows in the award-winning Detective Gordon series, a charming, whimsical set of five chapter books for ages 6-10.  The final book in the series, A Case with a Bang starts off with young mouse Detective Buffy investigating a case of “night … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: A Case with a Bang:

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Beethoven: A Stand for Freedom

From the Beatles’ “Roll Over Beethoven” to Schroeder in “Peanuts,” Ludwig van Beethoven has become a cultural icon. Beethoven cuts an appealing figure for teens. He was a talented musician who lost his hearing at the height of his fame; a romantic guy who loved a mysterious, unnamed woman but never married her; and a … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Beethoven: A Stand for Freedom

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Just a Girl: A True Story of World War II

Last week the American Library Association (ALA) presented their annual Youth Media Awards, celebrating the best in literature for young people. Among major awards such as the Caldecott and the Newbery medals, there is also the Mildred L. Batchelder Award, given to an outstanding "children’s book originally published in a language other than English in … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Just a Girl: A True Story of World War II

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Penguin Who Was Cold

Sometimes you are searching your library catalog for books for a winter-themed storytime, and you come across the perfect book not only for storytime, but also for your next GLLI book review! The Penguin Who Was Cold is an absolutely charming picture book about a penguin who does not fit the mold. Written and illustrated … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Penguin Who Was Cold

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Box

“What was that box doing there in the middle of the forest? It was a mystery.” It’s not every day that a strange box, large enough for someone to hide in, arrives in the woods. And it has the local animals wondering from the moment they wake. They are full of questions, and then anticipation, … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Box

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Bedtime for Bo

There are parents and caregivers who look upon bedtime with dread. It can be a fraught time, what with perhaps recalcitrant young children who don't always realize how nice it is to go to sleep, and adults who want nothing more than to do the same. In dreamy Norwegian import Bedtime for Bo, however, a … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Bedtime for Bo