WorldKidLit Wednesday: Colorful Mondays: A Bookmobile Spreads Hope in Honduras

Forthcoming later this month from Eerdman's Books for Young Readers, Colorful Mondays: A Bookmobile Spreads Hope in Honduras is a vibrant and uplifting picture book based on the real-life work of Asociación Compartir, a nonprofit dedicated to education and community development. Supported by JustWorld International, Asociación Compartir in particular provides bookmobile service (hence the book's … Continue reading WorldKidLit Wednesday: Colorful Mondays: A Bookmobile Spreads Hope in Honduras

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Wounded Falcons

The person we present to the world and who we truly are can often be very different from one another. Sometimes, it takes a special catalyst for one’s authentic nature to be revealed. Wounded Falcons, by renowned picture book creators Jairo Buitrago and Rafael Yockteng, explores this idea through the character of Adrián. A young … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Wounded Falcons

#WorldKidLitWednesday: Amma’s Sari

With its pages encased in generous swirls of gentle blue and pink, this is a book that tells Shreya—a second-generation migrant's story. At home, she delights in her mother's touch, and sees her sari fan out like a "magic carpet" around her mother. Shreya comes across as confident, safe, and snug in contentment, within the … Continue reading #WorldKidLitWednesday: Amma’s Sari

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Cat Who Saved Books

A quiet hero’s journey for YA readers, The Cat Who Saved Books tells the story of high-schooler Rintaro Natsuki, a shy hikikomori (shut-in). When the story begins, Rintaro’s beloved grandfather and guardian has just died, leaving him the owner of his grandfather’s secondhand bookstore.  The description of Rintaro’s feelings about his grandfather’s death are poignant, … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Cat Who Saved Books

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Let’s Play Gonggi

Many of us adults now look back on our decidedly low-tech childhood pastimes with fondness. I remember playing hopscotch, for example, and partaking in neighborhood baseball games. In my family literacy work, I often encourage parents and caregivers to share their "old-school" games with their children. After all, play is a child's work— and adults … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Let’s Play Gonggi

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: João by a Thread

Dreams can be filled with vibrant adventure and fraught with fear. But often they dissipate when we wake, without leaving a trace. In his picture book João by a Thread, renowned author/illustrator Roger Mello captures the world of nightmares and dreams and commits it to memory in written and illustrated form. The book opens with … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: João by a Thread

#WorldKidLitWednesday: Terminal 3

Set against the backdrop of the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, this young adult graphic novel captures the aspirations of sportspersons from the region and what it costs to pursue their dreams. Dominantly rendered in hues of pastel reds and greens, Terminal 3 tells the story of 17-year-old Khwab Nazir, a young jiu-jitsu player. The book opens … Continue reading #WorldKidLitWednesday: Terminal 3

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup

Looking for a summertime middle grade adventure tale? Curious to learn about faraway places?  Then Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup* will be just the ticket for you! Set in Kazakhstan, Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup is the opening book in a coming-of-age fantasy series set in today’s world but … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Batu and the Search for the Golden Cup

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: This Is Our Place

Vitor Martins' tender, funny, and honest YA novels are no stranger to Global Literatures in Libraries Initiative, nor to its Translated YA Book Prize. He returns to us with his newest novel and the 2023 Translated YA Book Prize winner, This Is Our Place. Translated by Larissa Helena (who translated Martins' previous prize winning book), … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: This Is Our Place

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Almost Nothing, Yet Everything: A Book About Water

What has no color, but can be any color? What has no shape, but can take any shape? Why, water, of course. Almost Nothing, Yet Everything is a wondrous exploration of water by multi-award-winning creative duo Hiroshi Osada and Ryōji Arai. Aimed at readers ages 4-8, this picture book pairs Osada’s beautiful, lyrical ode to … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Almost Nothing, Yet Everything: A Book About Water