This picture book is amazing. A must have for classroom and home.
Discover the exhilarating diversity of the African continent in storyteller Atinuke’s kaleidoscopic nonfiction guide to the people, flora, and fauna of all fifty-five countries.
A Nigerian storyteller explores the continent of Africa country by country: its geography, peoples, animals, history, resources, and cultural diversity. The book is divided into five distinct sections—South, East, West, Central, and North—and each country is showcased on its own bright, energetic page brimming with friendly facts on science, industry, food, sports, music, wildlife, landscape features, even snippets of local languages. The richest king, the tallest sand dunes, and the planet’s largest waterfall all make appearances along with drummers, cocoa growers, inventors, balancing stones, salt lakes, high-tech cities, and nomads who use GPS! Atinuke’s lively and comprehensive introduction to all fifty-five African countries—a celebration scaled to dazzle and delight even very young readers—evokes the continent’s unique blend of modern and traditional. Complete with colorful maps, an index, and richly patterned and textured illustrations by debut children’s book artist Mouni Feddag, Africa, Amazing Africa is both a beautiful gift book and an essential classroom and social studies resource.
What a gorgeous resource!
Stína, who lives in Iceland, does not like the cold. In fact, she will go to any length to avoid it. Even in summer she never goes out without tights and socks. When winter comes, she hides inside, knits, and invents ingenious devices to protect her from the slightest chill. One extremely cold day, when Stína has retreated under her thick down comforter and fallen into a deep sleep, she is awakened by a pounding at the door. When she opens it, two children tumble in, blown by the icy wind, but they aren’t cold—they’re warm from playing outside! Finally, Stína learns that nothing can keep you as warm as friendship.
With its cloth cover and Stína’s clever instructions for knitting without needles (what are fingers for, after all?), plus a recipe for hot chocolate, this is the perfect book for cold winter days.
Step out into a snowy Valentine’s Day with Jasper the bunny as he searches the forest valley for a special gift for his loved one.
In his picture-book David Petersen tells a delightful tale that becomes the perfect way to say “I love you.”
Francisco Alarcón was a renowned poet and educator, and a three-time winner of the Pura Belpré Author Award Honor for his bilingual Magical Cycle of the Seasons series of poetry for children. His many other honors include the American Book Award, the PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award, the Chicano Literary Prize, and finalist for state poet laureate of California. Alarcón was also the author of several poetry collections for adults and textbooks for teaching Spanish. In addition, he directed the Spanish for Native Speakers Program at the University of California. Alarcón passed away in early 2016.
The animals of the Iguazú speak for themselves, creating a collection of poems that will resonate with readers of all ages.
In the magical rainforest of the Iguazú National Park, butterflies are the multicolored flowers of the air. Great dusky swifts watch over the park, and the untamed spirits of jaguars roam the jungle. Spanning three countries–Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay–the thundering waterfalls and lush green rainforests of the Iguazú have dazzled visitors for centuries, and are now in danger of being lost.
Following the Amerindian oral tradition, award-winning Chicano poet Francisco X. Alarcón lets the animals of the Iguazú speak for themselves in their own soaring, roaring, fluttering voices, and the resulting poems are as urgent as they are beautiful and humorous. Maya Christina Gonzalez’s mixed media illustrations bring the colors and textures of the Iguazú rainforest to vibrant life.
This is a stunningly beautiful picture book. Makes a wonderful read a loud.
