Imagine!
Written and illustrated by Raúl Colón.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018.
Wordless sophisticated picture book.
When a boy visits an art museum and one of the paintings
comes to life, he has an afternoon of adventure and discovery [that] changes
how he sees the world ever after.
The power of art to transform and change lives.
Set and embedded in New York.
I am a Bon dancer. Written by Brandi-Ann Uyemura.
Illustrated by Amy Matsushita-Beal.
Holiday House, 2026.
Picture book.
"I thread each arm through my peach sleeves. Grandpa Jo ties the bright yellow sash around me. I check to make sure the paper flowers in my hair are on just right. I am ready for my first Bon dance festival!”
It's a young Japanese-American girl's first time at the
"Festival of Souls," one of the largest Buddhist festivals. It's just
like her grandfather described: the smell of corndogs, the glow of hanging
paper lanterns, the beat of taiko drums. But Grandpa Jo didn't tell her that
everyone else already knew how to dance! Suddenly, the lanterns feel like
spotlights. She wish, wish, wishes she could dance, but she can't bring herself
to try until Grandpa Jo encourages her to remember the meaning of the Obon
Festival - celebrating our family members who have passed on - and to imagine
her beloved Grandma Nat dancing along with her. Because she is there, and
behind her are her parents, sugar-cane cutters, and behind them are their
parents, who came to Hawai'i on ships from Japan.
Traditions of light and dance – and their connection to
those who have passed.
The author is fifth generation Hawai’ian Japanese.
The illustrator was born in the USA, and is now based in
Tokyo.
A little delight of a book, with boundless fun and energy.
From the author’s afterword:
[W]e are all connected [land, plants, beetles, etc], living in relationship and in care to one another, in kinship. In Cree, this is called wâhkôhtowin.
Food, glorious food!
There are many books out there, which use food as a vehicle to foster cross-cultural understanding.
I get that. I believe they're coming from a good place.
But, do we have to 'shame' children for their food, in order to get a message through?
These books don't do that. They just celebrate food, especially that with cultural meaning and history.
I'm recommending this book on a friend's love of it. The use of Cree names, rather than English, helps this book stand out. And, there's use of gender-neutral pronouns, too. Not to mention glorious illustrations, and all-around goodness.
A celebration of an Indian tradition. The book is warm and cosy, like a welcoming cup of chai.
I've shared this book for previous World Kid Lit Month years, and I'm recommending it again. Because it is beautiful. There's even a recipe. Which I've used.
Food brings people and community together, especially when the smells spread throughout an apartment building. Recipes are included, so you can recreate the experience.
The heart-break. A world that will never be, again.
People who no longer with us.
Taken and destroyed.
Merging together various storytelling traditions – oral, written, and visual – this is a powerful anthology, commemorating Canada’s indigenous peoples.
There are stories of the past, the present, and the future.
As one reviewer said, these are post-apocalyptic tales – indigenous
cultures worldwide have lived – still live – in post-apocalyptic worlds, thanks
to Western colonisation.
A joyous romp of a book!
I challenge you not to smile while reading this.
Children and animals are lovingly detailed, with just enough scenery to provide context.
Bonus book with a bonus cat.
As someone from the southern hemisphere, whose pop culture is dominated by the global north, it's not weird that December celebrations happen in winter.
I mean, it's not something we personally experience, but it's not outside our awareness.
I'm all for Nora believing that her southern hemisphere way is the best. It is really hard to break out of the cultural hegemony, and reset your thinking.
I have always celebrated Christmas in summer, but some part of me yearns for a white Christmas, for example.
This is beautiful.
And heart-breaking.
And inspiring.
It has made me think about phrases I use, when talking to children. 'Wow, you're getting big!'
The use of colour - from pink to grey and back - is amazing.
The changes in perspective and the use of the full double-page spread.
An incredible work of love and art.
Bonus cat.
Bingo: A book translated from a language you don't know:
My footprints.
By Bao Phi; illustrated by Basia Tran.
Upset after being bullied, Thuy, a Vietnamese American, pretends she is different creatures, including an especially strong, wonderful being made up of her two mothers and herself. Includes note about the phoenix and the Sarabha.
Heart and soul: the story of America and African Americans.
Words and paintings by Kadir Nelson.
A simple introduction to African-American history, from Revolutionary-era slavery up to the election of President Obama.
Fry bread: a Native American family story.
By Kevin Noble Maillard; illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal.
Using illustrations that show the diversity in Native America and spare poetic text that emphasizes fry bread in terms of provenance, this volume tells the story of a post-colonial food that is a shared tradition for Native American families all across the North American continent. Includes a recipe and an extensive author note that delves into the social ways, foodways, and politics of America's 573 recognised tribes.
The sea-ringed world: sacred stories of the Americas.
By María García Esperón; illustrated by Amanda Mijangos; translated by David Bowles.
Presents a collection of stories from nations and cultures across North and South America, the Sea-Ringed World, as the Aztecs called it, from the edge of Argentina all the way up to Alaska.
The song within my heart.
By David Bouchard; paintings by Allen Sapp.
As a young Cree Indian boy hears the beat of a pow-wow for the first time, he learns from his grandmother that he has to create stories and songs to prepare for his own upcoming pow-wow.
