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Friendship

¡Vamos! Let’s Go…

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¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat!  by Raúl the Third
Format : Book, eBook, Digital audiobook, digital movie, DVD
Who it’s for: Kids,  Adults

Hope you’re hungry!


Little Lobo and his dog Bernabé are back, taking their food delivery service to their friend El Toro’s big wrestling match.  The story is laid out in a fantastic format that is part graphic novel and part Richard Scarry storybook. With detailed illustrations that make your mouth water, this bilingual tale of food, friendship and fun is one you can read and reread, finding something new every time!  This is a spot on selection for any detail oriented picture book reader!

 

Don’t forget to check out the super delicious Spanish/English food glossary in the back, a great resource to expand vocabulary.   Another engaging learning extension to hear the proper Spanish pronunciations within the story is available on Hoopla in a super cool animated digital read-along format! 

 

Find this title in the catalog and on Hoopla as an eBook, digital audiobook and movie.

 

¡Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market by Raúl the Third

Format : Book, eBook, Digital audiobook, digital movie, DVD

Who it’s for: Kids, Adults

 

If you enjoyed ¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat  also check out Little Lobo and Bernarbé’s other adventure in food! Available in the catalog as both a book and an eBook.  And on Hoopla as a digital audiobook, movie and read-along!

My Heart is Laughing ~ A New Zealand Treasure

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My Heart is Laughing by Rose Lagercrants, Translated by Julia Marshall and illustrated by Eva Eriksson is another treasure from New Zealand.

Format: Book

Who’s it for: Kids

Dani and Ella are together again joined by their classmates – some are nice like Cushion and others not so nice like Mickey and Vickey. The two best friends, Dani and Ella along with pet hamsters, Snow and Flake are off on new adventures. Ella has recently moved to a new town and Dani is struggling with the loss of her closest friend. When Cushion chooses Dani over Mickey and Vickey they bully Dani by pinching her repeatedly until she is so upset she acts totally our of character. When Dani’s Dad goes to school to address the harm she has suffered Ella appears and helps Dani remember all the great things to be happy about.

Find My Heart is Laughing here.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret By Brian Selznick

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The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Format: Book, audiobook, DVD

Who’s it for: Kids, Teens, Adults

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is an enticing and atmospheric work of children’s literature with a cast of characters cloaked with mystery and charm. This hybrid work, a mix of prose and full-page graphics, engulfs the reader in the wonder and magic of 1930s Paris. Orphaned Hugo Cabret has skills beyond his years as he keeps the train station’s clocks operating and attempts to rebuild a peculiar invention left by his father in hopes of uncovering a secret message.

Find The Invention of Hugo Cabret here. If this artistic hybrid novel/graphic novel format appeals to you, check out Brian Selznick’s other books, Wonderstruck and The Marvels.

Mooncakes

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Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker (Author) & Wendy Xu (Illustrator)
Format: Graphic Novel
Who’s it for: Teens & Adults

Mooncakes is a paranormal graphic novel following two Chinese-American childhood best friends, Tam Lang, a werewolf, and Nova Huang, a hard-of-hearing witch, as they reconnect, fall in love, and solve a mystery. The illustrations are adorable, the plot is inclusive, and here is a ton of every day representation mixed in amongst the magical, the bittersweet, and the fantastical.

It’s a cute and fun read, if really predictable; It is not especially deep, so it may suit someone looking for something quick and light. Not only is it a story about a romance, but also about the importance of a supportive family, blood or found.

Find it in the catalog & on Hoopla Digital

The Island of the Sea Women

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The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See
Format: Book
Who it’s for: Adults

This book is a One Maryland One Book selection for 2020.

This historical fiction novel is set on the island of Jeju in Korea. Over many decades, beginning with the Japanese occupation during the 1930 – 1940’s and during World War II and the Korean War.
During this turbulent time in history, two young girls Young-sook and Mi-ja, both from different backgrounds bond. Their close friendship begins over their love of the sea and working in their villages’ all-female diving collective. The haenyeo woman are trained from a young age to expand their lungs and go diving on the ocean floor to harvest food. Their livelihood and traditions are intertwined. Their diving skills are handed down for generations.
Mi-ja, a city born orphan living nearby with a neglectful aunt and uncle is caught stealing food in the fields of Jeju by Young-sook and her mother. Her mother as head of the collective, decides to take Mi-ja on and teaches her alongside Young-sook to dive. The girls become lifelong friends enduring many life altering events that impact their lives growing up.
The political unrest and unspeakable tragedies inflicted upon the villagers are part of the horrors of war. The impact on their island from famine, to extreme punishment, and demands of the opposing government regimes are inflicted upon the villagers who struggle to comply.

Young-sook and Mi-ja endure impossible choices that tear their friendship apart causing disappointment, anger and judgement that take generations to understand and forgive.

Find it in the catalog

 

 

Railway Jack

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Railway Jack: the True Story of an Amazing Baboon by KT Johnston, illustrated by Cesar Samaneigo
Format: Book
Who It’s For:  Kids

Railway Jack is the true story of South African Railway employee Jim Wide and the baboon who became first his service animal, then his best friend.

Long, long ago Jim Wide worked as a railway inspector for South African Railroad, but after he lost his legs in an accident, he couldn’t do that job anymore. Jim got a new job as a railroad signalman, the person pulling the levers that switch trains to the right tracks for their journeys. He made a cart to sit on which helped him get to work and inspect the switches, and with his new wooden legs he could stand and walk a bit. But Jim struggled to do some tasks by himself, both at home and at the station. He needed help, but what could he do?  He bought a baboon of course, a very intelligent baboon named Jack! Jack learned fast and worked hard, quickly mastering water-pumping, taking out trash and sweeping floors. He pushed Jim’s cart to the station morning and evening, jumping on the back for a ride down the hill!  Amazingly, Jack even began to recognize train signals and learned which lever to pull to switch the trains. However, one day a passenger was horrified to see a “monkey” pulling levers at the station and reported them to the railroad. The railway sent a man to investigate, who tested Jack carefully. Would he pass? Would Jim and Jack get to keep their jobs or be fired? Find out when you read Railway Jack: The True Story of an Amazing Baboon.

Find it in the Catalog