Submitted by Chad from Charlotte Hall!
The Magic Pillow written & illustrated by Demi. “Once upon a time in China” begins this adaptation of a Shen Jiji’s short story by award winning children’s book author Demi. Ping, who comes from a poor family, is the central character. He is forced to find shelter at an inn during a snowstorm. At the inn, he meets a wonderful magician who can conjure up dragons and trees of diamonds. Ping tells the magician he is not satisfied with his life and his family’s poverty. The magician gives Ping a magic pillow and tells him, “Go to sleep on this pillow and all your wishes will come true!” Will Ping’s wishes for a better life come true? Colorful illustrations of ancient Chinese culture make for a beautiful presentation of Shen Jiji’s 8th century story.
Foreign Culture
What Can You Do with a Rebozo?
Submitted by county youth coordinator Janis!
What Can You Do with a Rebozo? ¿Que Puedes hacer con un Rebozo? by Carmen Tafolla. What can you use to dress up, play hide and seek, carry a baby, and dance? In this playful celebration of a vibrant culture, a young Mexican American girl explains all the things she can do with a rebozo, a traditional Mexican shawl. The lively rhyme and illustrations celebrate a warm cultural icon that, with a little imagination, can be used in many different ways. With imagination you can do almost anything with the rebozo! This bilingual book is a real gem!
The Pet Dragon
The Pet Dragon by Christoph Niemann is an adorable tale of a little girl and her mythical animal companion, that also teaches basic concepts about the written Chinese language. Niemann was inspired by a trip to Asia, and a his first lesson about Chinese characters. The most memorable characters for him were the ones that most appeared to be symbolic icons for the ideas they represented. Through the illustrations in this book, Niemann demonstrates how the Chinese characters for words such as “tree” “dog” and “mountain” are all understandably indicative of what they mean. It’s also a really cute story, told like a folktale about a young woman who recieves a dragon, loses him, and then must find him again.
Wombat Walkabout
I love wombats. What else can I say? If your child loves wombats too, Wombat Walkabout by Carol Diggory Shields, and illustrated by Sophie Blackall, is simply required reading. Six wombats go for a stroll through the outback. A handful get distracted by interesting Australian things like a wattle tree, a billabong, and a kookabura (all of which are defined in a handy intro). When only two are left, they discover they’ve been trailed by a hungry dingo, and must save their friends from his evil clutches. They capture him with the tried and true cover-a-hole-with-sticks trick, which may seem old hat to you, but fabulously innovative to your youngster!
Diary of a Wombat
Australia is a fantastic place filled with many creatures unfamiliar to us: Kangaroos, Koalas, and an adorable burrowing marsupial called a Wombat–the subject of Jackie French’s Diary of a Wombat, illustrated by Bruce Whatley. It’s told in true diary form, the wombat treating us to her day to day routine consisting mostly of eating, sleeping, and scratching. But one day she discovers she has new neighbors–humans! And these humans have delicious carrots, for which she will do most anything for! This is a very cute book you’re sure to enjoy.
City I Love
City I Love is a love letter to the city. Which city? All of them! Eighteen poems by Lee Bennett Hopkins are skillfully illustrated by Marcellus Hall to take you on a whirlwind international journey. Hopkins and Hall praise the skyscrapers of New York, the traffic sounds of Paris, and the neon lights of Tokyo. The heat of Rio and Cairo, and the brisk temperatures of Moscow and Toronto. Landmarks like the The Golden Gate Bridge of San Fransisco and the Millennium Wheel of London. Subways, and taxis, even gondolas (oh my)! I hope you enjoy this urban romance as much as I did. It’s a great conversation starter–a fabulous lead in to discussion with your child about how people live differently in different parts of the world. One can never be to young to develop an appreciation and tolerance for foreign culture.