#IntlYALitMonth: Lumberjanes

Lumberjanes, a series by N.D. Stevenson Welcome to Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady-Types! It’s got all your classic summer camp experiences: hiking, canoeing, capture the flag, lake monsters, talking statues, dinosaurs, and more! Make sure to bring your best sneakers, because there’s a lot of running involved.  Lumberjanes, a graphic … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: Lumberjanes

#WorldKidLit Weekend: A Place for Pauline

A Place for Pauline Pauline is the eldest sibling in a family of five (almost six) people. Pauline’s friends are envious of her being the oldest sibling, because she doesn’t get hand-me-downs, and her parents were free to take lots of pictures of her when she was younger. But Pauline doesn’t agree with her friends, … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Weekend: A Place for Pauline

#IntlYALitMonth: Night Bus

Night Bus, by Zuo Ma, translated from Chinese by Orion Martin. Early in my reading of Night Bus, something strange happened: I began to feel nostalgic for the Chinese countryside of the 1980’s and 90’s. Not that I’ve ever been to China; Zuo Ma’s ability to evoke a sense of place with his incredibly detailed … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: Night Bus

#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

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Perfect Presents!

In Perfect Presents!, a wry, graphic picture book from Down Under for ages 3-7 (but frankly, for all ages), we meet a rotund owl and his friend, a salamandery lizard.  The lizard arrives bearing gifts: a cake, a bouquet of flowers, and a large wrapped box. The owl devours them with great satisfaction. When he licks his … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Perfect Presents!

#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: Pearl of the Sea

Set in South Africa, Pearl of the Sea* is a beautifully illustrated coming-of-age graphic novel for upper middle grade and YA readers. Pearl, whose mother abandoned the family long before the start of the story, lives with her father, Vernon—a restaurant owner and chef who is sinking deeper and deeper into financial trouble—and her beloved … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Pearl of the Sea

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: ¡Vamos! Let’s Cross the Bridge

Wolf Little Lobo and his rooster sidekick Kooky Dooky are back! Raúl the Third (Raúl Gonzalez) continues his award-winning bilingual ¡Vamos! series with ¡Vamos! Let’s Cross the Bridge. As in the first two volumes for readers age 4-7, the third bustles with cross-cultural Tex-Mex action and zany illustrations. All three books have brought Raúl the … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: ¡Vamos! Let’s Cross the Bridge

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Amazona

While most of the Amazon rainforest is found within the borders of Brazil, other South American countries such as Peru and Colombia lay claim to portions of its acreage. The Amazon itself is home to hundreds of indigenous people groups, who find themselves increasingly displaced from their ancestral homes, or even killed, because of mining, … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Amazona

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear

Chang is a young Vietnamese girl and a wildlife conservationist; Sorya is a bear at the rescue and conservation center where she works. This 120-page middle grade graphic novel is their story. And it’s based on the real-life experiences of author Trang Nguyen, herself a wildlife conservationist, and bears that have been rescued from captivity. … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear