It is not easy to find picture books from Tonga that are available to members of the general public. As author, editor and publisher Don Long writes in this hugely informative article: ‘Most Pasifika language stories are published for the education market . . .’ Many books in Pasifika languages, or dual-language books (with English or French), … Continue reading Tongan Picture Books
Don’t Cross the Line!
This is a sublimely quirky picture book! Don’t Cross the Line could be mistaken for a child’s drawing book, with its bright felt-tip colours, cartoon-like drawings, and dialogue written entirely in speech bubbles. Unusually, the story starts on the title page, with a ferocious general on horseback making it clear to an unfortunate guard that he, … Continue reading Don’t Cross the Line!
Five Picture Books That Surprise and Delight
As I was editing yesterday’s post on Feather, I started to think about picture books I have recently read that have held surprises, either in their format or artwork – or both. At its simplest, the surprise can be the way a book opens: Horizontally or vertically? A magnificent example is A Lion in Paris … Continue reading Five Picture Books That Surprise and Delight
Feather
Feather is on a quest to find the bird she belongs to, but it is no easy journey. She is at the mercy of the elements, blown this way and that by the wind and, on calm days, forced to lie where she has fallen. The strong gusts bring her into contact with a wide … Continue reading Feather
A Boy and a House
A Boy and a House is a wordless picture book by Maja Kastelic, a Slovenian author/illustrator with a background in painting and fresco restoration. Wordless picture books can travel across borders, and offer readers of all ages the chance to explore each page and create their own stories. The illustrations in A Boy and … Continue reading A Boy and a House
In Translation: A Powerful Norwegian Picture Book Comes to America
Translator Tara Chace discusses Angryman, her work as a translator, and the “Nordic” sensibility in children’s books. NorthSouth Books: What languages do you translate, and how did you become a book translator? Do you work on adult as well as children’s literature? TC: I translate Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish. I suppose I took a unique … Continue reading In Translation: A Powerful Norwegian Picture Book Comes to America
#WorldKidLitWednesday: Happy Mid-Autumn Festival
How sweet is a picture book where the villain gets foiled *and* gets mooncakes? Happy Mid-Autumn Festival is that book. Ssshhh, don’t spoil the ending like I just did. To savor thoroughly, read aloud with a toddler-through-early elementary student who, at first glance, sees nothing more than a book about a holiday. Ho-hum. Your young … Continue reading #WorldKidLitWednesday: Happy Mid-Autumn Festival
Sleep Well, Siba and Saba
Siba and Saba lose things every day – sweaters, slippers, sandals, a sash, a shawl; lots of things that start with ‘s’, in fact. Thankfully, they don’t lose each other! The sisters find the things they have lost in their dreams. As the story progresses, however, so do their dreams. Siba and Saba no longer … Continue reading Sleep Well, Siba and Saba
On a Magical Do-Nothing Day
Beatrice Alemagna has written so many brilliant picture books! My personal favourites include The Marvellous Fluffy Squishy Itty Bitty and A Lion in Paris, and this one: On a Magical Do-Nothing Day. The theme of technology vs. nature, in particular, really strikes a chord with me. The storyline is simple: It’s a rainy day and a young boy and his mother … Continue reading On a Magical Do-Nothing Day
World Back-to-School Books
In many parts of the world, the summer holidays are over. September marks the beginning of a new term and the first day of primary school for a whole intake of young children. It can be a daunting and exciting time for new pupils. And for their parents and caregivers too! Books can be a … Continue reading World Back-to-School Books
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 