Tuesday, April 2 is
International Children’s Book Day. It recognizes books originally published outside the United States and now available from U. S. publishers. Here are some favorites from the past. Joan Aiken
(Wolves of Willougby Chase), Anthony Browne
(Gorilla), Julia Donaldson
(The Gruffalo), Anne Fine
(Mrs. Doubtfire), Kenneth Grahame
(Wind in the Willows), C.S. Lewis
(The Chronicles of Narnia), A. A. Milne
(Winnie-the-Pooh), Michael Morpurgo
(War Horse), Philppa Pearce
(Tom’s Midnight Garden), Rosemary Sutcliff
(The Eagle of the Ninth), P. L. Travers
(Mary Poppins) and so many other’s it is difficult to list. You must be familiar with these contemporary authors such as Eva Ibbotson,
(Secret of Platform 13), Phillip Pullman
(The Golden Compass), Hilary McKay
(Saffy’s Angel) and…. J.K Rowling!
Here are some titles from 2012 separated by reading level that are available at the
Scarborough Public Library.
Kindergarten – Grade 2
COAT, Janik.
Hippopposites. illus. by author. France.
Each spread introduces both predictable and surprising contrasting concepts with a hint of humor as a hippo is the focus; an unexpected tactile experience is also added. Bold colors and shapes bring fresh thinking about the world of opposites.
DAVIES, Nicola.
Just Ducks! illus. by Salvatore Rubbino. UK.
“Quack-quuuack” begins this story of a young girl’s daylong observations of mallard ducks–with information points about them juxtaposed throughout fluid mixed-media illustrations–until she imagines the next morning’s cacophony of quacking.
GRAHAM, Bob.
A Bus Called Heaven. illus. by author. Australia.
Young Stella discovers an abandoned bus with a sign that says “Heaven” and with the help of neighbors transforms it into a vibrant community center. Droll watercolor and ink illustrations enlarge the celebration of diversity and neighborliness.
KRISHNASWAMI, Uma.
Out of the Way! Out of the Way! illus. by Uma Krishnaswamy. India.
The lively text chronicles the changes over the years as a village path becomes a busy city road. In the middle of the path a tiny sapling grows into a giant tree that nurtures the people who gather under it. The colorful folk art captures the diversity of life in India.
MACLEAR, Kyo.
Virginia Wolf. illus. by Isabelle Arsenault. Canada.
When Virginia is feeling particularly glum and wolfish, her sister Vanessa resorts to painting the imaginative garden Virginia describes as Bloomsberry. Digitally assembled art conveys the emotional swings and love the girls feel toward each other; loosely inspired by the lives of writer Virginia Woolf and her sister, Vanessa Bell.
ROGERS, Gregory.
The Hero of Little Street. illus. by author. Australia.
A young boy dodges some bullies by entering the National Art Gallery. When a dog escapes from inside a van Eyck painting, the boy follows the pup into the 17th century through another canvas. Their adventure is told in lively, wordless cartoon style.
SIF, Birgitta.
Oliver. illus. by author. UK.
Oliver, a bespectacled loner, is happy playing alone or with his puppets. Quirky illustrations in muted browns and greens, with a mouse and future buddy, Olivia, hidden in most spreads, invite multiple readings.
Grades 3 – 5
HARTNETT, Sonya.
Sadie and Ratz. illus. by Ann James. Australia.
Young Hannah calls one of her hands Sadie and the other Ratz. Brief chapters and black line drawings reveal Hannah and her hands’ mischief, especially when they behave badly with her brother. The unexpected conclusion is humorous and satisfying.
IBBOTSON, Eva.
One Dog and His Boy. UK.
In this riveting survival adventure, a boy, his beloved dog, and an endearing cast of homeless animals journey across England to find safe homes. The exciting tale is full of slapstick humor, hair-raising chases, and a satisfying conclusion.
MCKAY, Hilary.
Lulu and the Duck in the Park. illus. by Priscilla Lamont. UK.
Lulu sneaks an abandoned duck egg into class knowing her teacher has a strict rule against animals. When the egg begins to hatch, Lulu worries about the consequences. This is a gentle school story generously illustrated, adding to the drama and humor.
MORPURGO, Michael.
Shadow. UK.
A man and his mother escape the Taliban in Afghanistan and seek asylum in England but are arrested. While awaiting deportation, Aman’s friend Matt, Matt’s grandfather, and a courageous spaniel, Shadow, work together to rescue them. This story provides hope for civilians entangled in the complexities and horrors of war.
VOAKE, Steve.
Hooey Higgins and the Shark. illus. by Emma Dodson. UK.
What better way to earn money than to capture a shark using ketchup. Or display the world’s biggest sea urchin masquerading as a World War II mine. Hilarious happenings augmented with exaggerated drawings seem to be the realm of Hooey and his best friend, Twig.
Grades 6–8
DOYLE, Roddy.
Greyhound of a Girl. UK.
This unusual ghost story involves four generations of women in one family who come together to take a dramatic midnight journey into their past. The distinctive writing with its lilt of Irish dialogue lends authenticity to this haunting family story.
ELLIS, Deborah.
My Name Is Parvana. Canada.
In the last book from “The Breadwinner” series, Parvana, now 15, is helping in a school for girls in Afghanistan. Her fate is revealed as she is imprisoned and interrogated at a Coalition military base. This compelling story provides insight into personal loss during conflicts.
Grades 9–12
WEIN, Elizabeth.
Code Name Verity. UK.
War and espionage, friendship and loyalty are explored in this story of Julie, fighting for her life after being captured by the Nazis, and Maddie, trying to find and save her. Their final meeting tests the verisimilitude and depth of trust and loyalty and love.
Have you met Violet Mackerel ? 
Long before The Hunger Games, Divergent by Veronica Roth, and even The Giver by Lois Lowry, there was The Tripods Trilogy. Written by British author John Christopher (1922-2012) during the middle 1960’s, the series was a gateway for children into science fiction. The titles in the series are: The White Mountains, City of Gold and Lead, and Pool of Fire.
Stickman Odyssey by Christopher Ford. In this humorous take on Homer’s Odyssey, Zozimos, banished from his country by his evil stepmother, has many adventures as he prepares to return home to claim the throne that is rightfully his.
In book two, The Wrath of Zozimos, the exiled prince Zozimos, in his quest to reclaim the throne of Sticatha from his evil stepmother, has fought golems, matched wits with a sphinx, and overcome his own ineptitude to, well, stay alive. Now, with his homeland finally in sight, he and his band of misfits ready themselves for battle. Only it's not quite the fight they were expecting.
Stickman Odyssey is perfect for those who have already devoured Percy Jackson and the Olympians series and Mary Pope Osborne’s Tales from the Odysse. For more mature readers, ages 14 and up, try Troy by Adele Geras. Told from the point of view of the women of Troy, this novel portrays the last weeks of the Trojan War, when women, sick of tending the wounded and men are tired of fighting, bored gods and goddesses find ways to stir things up.
In Elmer and the Dragon, book 2, Elmer and his flying dragon, on their way home, land on an unusual island and help some canaries uncover a buried treasure.
This trilogy has continuously remained in print since its publication, for over 40 years. The illustrations were done by the author’s step-mother, Ruth Chrisman Gannett.
If your child(ren) enjoys My Father’s Dragon, you might then try:
