Dulari Devi didn’t know how to read the printed word, but she always had a rich visual lexicon built into her consciousness, a legacy that stemmed from being part of a rural community in Bihar that created stunning wall murals in the Mithila art style, also known as Madhubani painting. Her story is one of … Continue reading #WORLDKIDLITWEEKEND: Following My Paint Brush
Eva Apelqvist is the author of the Swedish-language skateboard mystery Mörker över skateparken (2022 Swedish Mystery Academy Award for best mystery for children and young adults), Swede Dreams, LGBTQ FAMILIES: The Ultimate Teen Guide, and Getting Ready to Drive: A How To Guide in English, and the translator from Swedish into English of 2024 Michael L. … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: An Interview with Writer and Translator Eva Apelqvist
Fire from the Sky is the beautifully evocative story of Ánte, a young Sámi reindeer herder. Ánte loves his land and herding reindeer; he wants to follow in his father’s footsteps. But as the book begins, he has just realized he is attracted to his long-time good friend, Erik, who has a girlfriend but also … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Fire from the Sky
Stunningly illustrated in Bhajju Shyam's trademark Gond Art style, this book narrates the story of Musa, a young tribal boy, who leaves home for the forest one morning, little knowing that this will be the day when he's pushed to face his fears. When his mother falls sick, Musa offers to collect the firewood for … Continue reading #WORLDKIDLITWEDNESDAY: Alone in the Forest
Described as a "poetic riddle" emphasizing the importance that language holds in our lives today, and the fragile position that it increasingly occupies, What Makes Us Human is a book filled with gentle surprises. Beginning with a time when the idea of a language was still new, to the breathtakingly beautiful spread that shows how … Continue reading #WORLDKIDLITWEDNESDAY: What Makes Us Human
1808. The Napoleonic wars. In Ghent, a draft for the Emperor’s army is looming and the respectable Hoste family is in financial trouble. From the very first sentence, Ironhead, or, Once a Young Lady is the engaging story of the two oldest Hoste siblings, 18-year-old Constance ("Stance") and her entitled 14-year-old brother Pieter (Piers), whom … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Ironhead, or, Once a Young Lady
Rosie is a sleek greyhound who loves to run. And at the start of her story, Rosie Runs–a beautiful, oversized picture book for ages 3-7–that’s exactly what she does, day in and day out: The white mechanical hare scurries in front, and Rosie can just see it from the corner of her eye. Soon she … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Rosie Runs
We continue this week on a thread of short story collections, namely from new debut authors. Today I will introduce you to David Chasumba and his award-winning collection, which is published by the Carnelian Heart imprint.. The title story is reminiscent of a short story by a Nigerian writer, Osahon Ize-Iyamu's The Mad Man of … Continue reading #ZimbabweLitMonth: The Mad Man on First Street and Other Short Stories (2022)
Looking to dip your toe into the ocean of new graphic novels (in translation) for children and young adults? Reading the Eisners is the perfect approach. The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards are the comic kingdom’s equivalent of the Oscars, with the winners announced annually at San Diego Comic Con. Children’s graphic novels in translation appear in the obvious … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The 2023 Eisner Nominees
Speculative fiction has become the umbrella term for encompassing Afrofuturism, science fiction, fantasy, horror, dystopian and utopian fiction. This is a highly popular and growing genre. Christopher Mlalazi is one of those Zimbabwean writers stretching their imagination beyond the current reality. In Langabi: Seasons of the Beasts, Christopher exports us into the world of epic … Continue reading #ZimbabweLitMonth: Langabi: Seasons of Beasts (2023)
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 