#ItalianLitMonth n.5: Jenny McPhee, Translator of Lies and Sorcery, Interviewed by Lisa Mullenneaux

Jenny McPhee is the author of the novels The Center of Things, No Ordinary Matter, and A Man of No Moon and co-authored Girls: Ordinary Girls and Their Extraordinary Pursuits. Her translations from the Italian include works by Anna Banti, Massimo Bontempelli, Natalia Ginzburg, Giacomo Leopardi, Primo Levi, Anna Maria Ortese, Curzio Malaparte, Pope John … Continue reading #ItalianLitMonth n.5: Jenny McPhee, Translator of Lies and Sorcery, Interviewed by Lisa Mullenneaux

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Two Little Red Mittens

Sweet but not saccharine, heartwarming but not maudlin, Two Little Red Mittens is a charming, old-fashioned story. A picture book for children ages seven and under, the gentle tale features an anthropomorphic pair of red mittens:         Left and right, they always went out as a pair, wrapping Little One’s hands in … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Two Little Red Mittens

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Ellie in First Position

It’s not easy moving to a new place away from family and friends and trying to settle into a new home and school. The middle grade graphic novel Ellie in First Position tackles all this, and more. The story opens with 10-year-old Electra, or Ellie for short, relocating to a new city with her mother … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Ellie in First Position

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Grandma’s Roof Garden

In our big, bustling hometown in southwest China,On the top floor of an apartment tower, lives an old grandma.A weather-worn apron covers her cornflower blue blouse,And she putters about town, lugging her little cart around. In Grandma’s Roof Garden, a delightful, heartwarming picture book for ages 4-8, we meet an eccentric, energetic grandmother. With enviable … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Grandma’s Roof Garden

#WorldKidLitWednesday: Fast, Cheetah, Slow Tortoise: Poems of Animal Opposites

Up, down, over, under, open, close: learning opposites is an important piece of early childhood development. Learning opposites helps children learn not only vocabulary, but also develop observational skills, critical thinking, and a more concrete understanding of the world around them. Forthcoming this September from Eerdman's Books for Young Readers, Fast Cheetah, Slow Tortoise: Poems … Continue reading #WorldKidLitWednesday: Fast, Cheetah, Slow Tortoise: Poems of Animal Opposites

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Cat Way

If your daily walks are becoming a bit same-ish, then perhaps you ought to consider doing things the cat way. The Cat Way is a 66-page picture book neatly divided into two parts. It opens with a child of about 9 years of age taking their unnamed pet cat for a walk. Unfortunately, things don’t … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Cat Way

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Wild Poppies

Set against the backdrop of the ongoing Syrian civil war and the resulting refugee crisis, Wild Poppies is the story of two brothers, Omar and Sufyan. As the novel opens, they, along with their mother and younger sister, have been displaced to their aunt's home in a village named Al-Nuaman, or "the poppy flower." Their … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Wild Poppies

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: Bear Is Never Alone

A talented performer can certainly play to a crowd, but they may want to lead a quiet life once the show is over. Bear is a performer. He captivates the animals of the forest with his magnificent piano recital. So much so that, when he finishes his final piece, they want MORE—and they’re very vocal … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Bear Is Never Alone

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Bodyguard Unit: Edith Garrud, Women’s Suffrage, and Jujitsu

The Bodyguard Unit: Edith Garrud, Women’s Suffrage, and Jujitsu is the engagingly told story of a lesser-known figure from an important part of 20th century history, Edith Garrud. A 2024 GLLI Translated YA Book Prize Honor Book, this superb nonfiction graphic novel connects the dots between women’s suffrage, their personal freedom, and their ability to … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Bodyguard Unit: Edith Garrud, Women’s Suffrage, and Jujitsu

#WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Shade Tree

On a hot day, how wonderful it is to be able to sit outside in the shade of a tree! And how terrible to be deprived of the opportunity by one person’s greed and selfishness. In The Shade Tree, renowned picture book creator Suzy Lee retells a traditional Korean folk tale. As the story goes, … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Shade Tree