Children's Books Around the World
Located at Livingston Lord Library,
Minnesota State University Moorhead

This bibliography lists books published outside of the United States.  They originate in more than twenty different countries.  Some books are in English, some are bilingual or multi-lingual, and others represent a variety of languages.  If books are in languages other than English, the language of the book is included below. 

PICTURE BOOKS

Genres of the picture books include alphabet books, folklore, biographies, realistic stories, fantasy, poetry, and political satire.  The illustrations range in style from representational art to expressionism and collage.  Techniques of art also vary and include watercolor, acrylics, photographs, and paper engineering.

Auzary-Luton, Sylvie.  Loup y es-tu.  Paris: Kaléidoscope, 1993.  LANGUAGE: French.  Curric. 448 A944L

Barbot, Daniel.  Rosaura en bicicleta.  Illus. Morella Fuenmayor.  Caracas: Ediciones Ekaré, 1990.  LANGUAGE: Spanish.  Curric. 468 B238r

Batigne, Laurence.  Boucle d’or et les Trois Ours [Goldilocks and the Three Bears].  Champigny Sur Marne, France: Lito Editions, 1993.  LANGUAGE: French.  Curric. 398.2 B333b

Benedek, Elek.  Palko the Piper; The Cowherd's Daughter; Salt  [Furulyas Palkó; A gulyás leanya; A só].  Illus. by Rozi Békés.  Budapest, Hungary: Corvina, 1988.  LANGUAGE: Hungarian/English.  Curric. 494.511 B462p
Three Hungarian folktales in both Hungarian and English texts end happily ever after.  Common motifs will remind readers of folktales from other cultures.  Full-color illustrations detail the landscapes, interiors, and costumes typical of Hungary at an earlier time.  Border designs show common Hungarian patterns. 

Berg, Karin and Hans.  Igaliko: Baile beag sa Ghraonlainn.  Baile Atha Cliath i.e. Dublin: Oifig an tSolathair, 1976.  LANGUAGE: Irish Gaelic.  Curric. 491.62 B493i

Bianchi, John.  The Bungalo Boys III: Champions of Hockey.  Newburgh, Ontario, Canada: Bungalo Books, 1989.  Curric. Easy B5776b
It's a battle on ice for the greatest prize in Canadian hockey.  Can the Bungalo Boys save their honor and the Bungalo birdbath trophy from the determined Bruins?  Watch Granny and the Boys as they take on the roughest and toughest of the Natural Hockey League, a team that consists of three penguins and three bears.

Bolliger, M.  Bim, Bam, Bum.  Illus. by V. Barankova.  Zurich, Switzerland: Bohem Press, 1994.  LANGUAGE: German.  Curric. Easy B692b

Bon, Lisa.  Karel Konijn [Karel Rabbit].  Antwerp, Belgium: C. de Vries-Brouwers, 1987.  LANGUAGE: Flemish.  Curric. 439.31 B697k
A friendly mouse saves a fat rabbit who is about to be the main course at his owner's birthday party.  Readers see the sights of Amsterdam through the eyes of the fleeing rabbit and mouse.  The illustrator skillfully uses perspective to directly involve the reader in the major events of the story.   

Bouvet-Lanselle, Violaine, and Marie Sellier.  My Little Louvre.  .  Paris: Réunion des Musées Nationaux, 2001.  Curric. 708.94 B7822m

Bunanta, Murti.  Legenda Pohon Beringin: Cerita Rakyat dari Jawa, Indonesia [The Legend of the Banyan Tree: A Javanese Folktale, Indonesia].  Illus. Hardiyono.  Jakarta: Kelompok Pencinta Bacaan Anak, 2001.  LANGUAGE: Indonesian/English.  Curric. 398.2  B9421L

Daly, Jean.  Monuments that Tell the Story of Paris: From the Roman Arena to the Arche at La Défense.  Illus. Olivier Audy.  Paris: Parigramme, 2001.  Curric. 914.436 D1533m

Dorfman, Ariel.  La Rebelion de los Conejos Magicos [The Rebellion of the Magic Rabbits].  Illus. by Juan Marchesi.  Buenos Aires, Argentina: Ediciones de la Flor, 1986.  LANGUAGE: Spanish.  Curric. 468 D695r
Self-appointed King Wolf issues an edict declaring the nonexistence of rabbits.  However, much to his embarrassment, they begin turning up everywhere in ever-increasing numbers.  This political satire is typical of the work of Ariel Dorfman, an exiled Chilean literary critic and novelist.   

Erlbruch, Wolf.  Nachts.  [At Night].  Translated from Dutch. Wuppertal, Germany: Peter Hammer, 2002.  LANGUAGE: German.  Curric. 438 E69n

Fittipaldi, Cica.  A Lenda do Guaraná [The Legend of the Guarana Tree].  Sao Paulo, Brazil: Melhoramentos, 1986.  LANGUAGE: Portuguese.  Curric. 469 F547L
This myth explains the relationship between the Satere-Maue Indians of Brazil and the guarana tree.  Many of the rituals of the tribe center around the guarana tree, a symbol for life itself.  The women of the tribe prepare a drink from the fruit of the guarana, which is drunk for good luck.  The artist's black and white drawings and paintings in acrylics reflect her understanding of the culture of this South American Indian tribe. 

Furiya, Nana.  Momo no ue no Tanemaro [Prince in the Peach].  Tokyp: Fukuinkan Shoten, 1991.  LANGUAGE: Japanese.  Curric. 495.68 F984m

Gallaz, Christophe.  Mozart.  Illus. by Georges Lemoine.  Geneva, Switzerland: La Joie de Lire, 1988.  LANGUAGE: French.  Curric. 921 M939g2
In this fictionalized biography, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) tells the story of his own life.  Even though Mozart enjoyed puns and practical jokes and composed many lighter works, such as the opera Cosi Fan Tutte, this self-portrait dwells on his hardships and disappointments.  Detailed illustrations in soft shades depict the major events of Mozart's life.  Maps show Mozart's extensive concert tours, which began at the age of six.  Mozart, considered one of the world's greatest composers, died in poverty a the age of thirty-five. 

Gay, Marie-Louise.  Angel and the Polar Bear.  Toronto, Canada: Stoddart, 1988.  Curric. Easy G2849a
While her parents try to sleep, Angel wakes up in the morning ready to conquer boredom through a series of fantastically exciting adventures.  Most memorable is her encounter with a polar bear who slides out of the fridge.  Readers become part of Angel's daydream through action-packed, full-color illustrations that splash off the edges of each page.  The pictures abound with interesting details.  Watch for the cats! 

Grossman, David.  Itamar Mikhtav [Itamar Is a Letter].  Tel Aviv, Israel: Av Oved, 1989.  LANGUAGE: Hebrew.  Curric. 492.4 G878i
Itamar, feeling frustrated when he doesn't get any letters, stamps his forehead and pins his home address on his shirt.  Thus, he becomes a "human" letter which is eventually delivered to his parents' home.  Note the cancellation marks on Itamar's face and later the contents of the letter he and his father mail.  Simple, full-color illustrations capture Itamar's anger and self-satisfaction.

Hirata, Shogo.  Momo tarou.  Tokyo: Shinkouinsatsu, 1985.  LANGUAGE:  Japanese.  Curric. 495.6 H6683m

Hirata, Shogo.  Tsuru no ongaesi.  Tokyo: Nagaoka Syoten, 1995.  LANGUAGE:  Japanese.  Curric. 495.6 H6683t
A poor village man saved a crane that was trapped in the winter snow.  The crane comes back as a pretty girl to return his favor in mysterious ways.

Hua, Shiming.  Li Bai Looks for a Teacher.  Illus. by Pan Xiaoqing.  Designed by Zhang Xizhu.  Beijing, China: Zhaohua Publishing House, 1985.  Curric. Easy H874L
Li Bai, a famous poet of ancient China, lived during the Tang Dynasty, the golden age of Chinese civilization.  In this story, the elderly Li Bai searches for Xu Xuanping, a poet he admires, who has chosen to live a hermit's life in the mountains.  Together Li Bai and Xu Xuanping become kindred spirits, both nourished by the beauty of the surrounding woods and mountains.  The illustrations reflect some of Li Bai's favorite images for poems - trees, running water, and the moon at night.  

Jafa, Manorama.  Tiger Call.  Illus. Ajanta Guhathakurta.  New Delhi: Khaas Kitaab, 2001.  Curric. E. J231t

Jurka, Branka.  Ko Nina Spi [While Nina Is Asleep].  Illus. by Marjanca Jemec-Bozic .  Ljubljana, Yugoslavia: Mladinska Knjiga, 1988.  LANGUAGE: Slovenian.  Curric. 491.84 J95k
What happens while Nina sleeps at home in Yugoslavia?  Hospital workers, police, and fire fighters remain busy throughout the night.  Workers deliver milk, fishermen catch fish, and trains deliver goods to Nina's city for tomorrow's shoppers.  Best of all, her cousin Tom and his family board a plane for Yugoslavia and arrive the next day.  The full-color illustrations reinforce the story's lighthearted tone. 

Kantey, Mike.  Some of Us Are Leopards, Some of Us Are Lions.  Illus. by Nelda Vermaak.  Cape Town, South Africa: Human & Rousseau, 1988.  Curric. Easy K159s

Kerjean, Daniel.  Ar Pigos Bras [The Great Pigos].  Kemper (Quimper), France: An Here, 1988.  LANGUAGE: Breton.  Curric. 398.2 K39a
This story set in Brittany, a region of France famous for its picturesque landscapes and scenic small towns, conveys the mysterious atmosphere of the area.  In the land of pastures near Kristivell everything goes wrong - the water runs backwards, trees are tied in knots, the houses are spooked.  When a giant screech owl appears, the people know they've been bewitched.  Pigos, the kindly giant, finally sets everything right.  The illustrator successfully uses the technique of continuous narrative to capture the storyline visually.   

Khadijah Hashim..  Sayang Anakku Sayang.  Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan: K Publishing, 1999.  LANGUAGE:  Malay.  Curric. 499.28 K451s  

Kuroi, Ken.  The Mississippi.  Essay by Timothy Lanning.  Trans. by Chikako Kohyama.  Tokyo, Japan: Kaisei-sha, 1988.  LANGUAGE: Japanese/English.  Curric. 917.704 K96
Ken Kuroi, one of Japan's most popular illustrators, depicts his journey down the Mississippi River from Late Itasca to St. Louis in breathtaking, luminous paintings.  Poetic phrases in English introduce the book's three parts: "Wilderness," "Small Town," and "Big Country."  Don't miss the endsheets which provide a map of the journey with humorous cartoon drawings of the travelers' escapades.   

Kurusa.  Le Calle es libre.  Illus. Monika Doppert.  Caracas: Ediciones Ekaré, 1981.  LANGUAGE: Spanish.  Curric. 468 K9697c

Lambrechts, Maggie.  Mientjie se offer [Little Mien’s Sacrifice].  Illus. by Alita Bothma.  Cape Town, South Africa: Tafelberg, 1988.  LANGUAGE: Afrikaans.  Curric. L226m

Larminat, Max-Henri de.  Vassily Kandinsky: Bleu de ciel [Vassily Kandinsky: Sky-Blue].  Paris, France: Centre Georges Pompidou, 1988.  LANGUAGE: French.  Curric. 448 L324v
Part of a series to encourage children to playfully interpret paintings of important artists of the 20^th century, this book introduces Sky-Blue by Vassily Kandinsky.  The painting, completed during the artist's Paris period, expresses Kandinsky's assertion that an artist has the right to express what he imagines in his inner world.  Creating the sensation of looking at the painting through a telescope and then a microscope, cutouts and flaps focus attention on particular aspects of the work. 

Levinsen, Anders.  Hvis der ikke var krig - sa kom jeg ikke her [If There Were No War I Wouldn’t Be Here].  Copenhagen, Denmark: Dansk Flygtningehjaelp, 1988.  LANGUAGE: Danish.  Curric. 306 L665h
The child Tedros gives his own account of how the people of Eritrea fought to regain their independence from Ethiopia.  Photographs and children's drawings further describe the hardships and horrors of war, including six years of life in different tent-camps.  Finally, the Danish government accepts Tedros and his family as refugees.  Though Tedros life in Denmark is not perfect, he feels lucky to have a safe home. 

Li, Shuo-hsiang.  K'an T'u Nien T'ang Shih [Look at Pictures to Read the Poetry of the T'ang Dynasty].  Illus. by Ch'ien Ch'iu.  Hong Kong: Sun Ya Publications, 1986.  LANGUAGE: Chinese.  Curric. 495.1 K16 vol. 2
These brief Chinese poems capture a moment of experience by preserving an image caught in time.  Subjects vary from children's fascination with the moon, "a mirror used in the heavens," to an appreciation of the autumn maple trees with leaves "redder than the flowers of February."  Full-page paintings cause the reader to pause and contemplate the beauty of the Chinese landscape.

Liljensře, Jřrgen.  Elisa: en grřnlandsk pige [Elisa: A Greenlandic Girl].  Illus. by Jorn Mathiassen.  Denmark: Mallings, 1987.  LANGUAGE: Danish.  Curric. 439.81 L728e
Elisa and her family live in Isortoq, Greenland, an isolated Inuit village.  The pictures and text describe typical chores, customs, and amusements during the summer months.  A clear division of labor exists.  Father provides food for his family by fishing or seal hunting.  Mother cleans, skins, and dries the seal or fish Father has killed.  Elisa feeds her father's sled dogs leftover fish or seal guts.  However, life for Elisa is not all work. 

Lluisot.  Quiero Una Medalla [I Want a Medal].  Barcelona, Spain: Destino, 1988.  LANGUAGE: Spanish.  Curric. 468 L793q
In this satire, the author uncovers the true purpose of war - the General craves another medal.  When the General fails to get his medal through war, he turns to a new occupation, concert director.  The bizarre illustrations use caricature to point out the ridiculous nature of war. 

Lochner, Margret.  ...  ŭnd siehe, es war sehr gut [And Behold, It Was Very Good].  Buxtehude, West Germany: Verlag an der Este, 1988.  LANGUAGE: German.  Curric. 430 L812u
Beginning with the Biblical account of creation, this book graphically shows the beauties of the earth and humans' role in polluting our planet.  Occasional lift-up flaps invite reader participation.  The author/illustrator, a free-lance graphic artist living in Nuremberg, ends with the question "and tomorrow?" 

Lunn, Janet.  Amos's Sweater.  Illus. by Kim LaFave.  Toronto, Canada: Douglas & McIntyre, 1988.  Curric. Easy L9636a  

Mac Uistín, Liam.  An Táin.  Illus. by Michael MacNamee.  Baile Átha Cliath [Dublin]: Oifig an tSoláthair, 1979.  LANGUAGE: Irish.  Curric. 491.62 M1759t

Mac Uistín, Liam.  Deirdre.  Illus. by Kathy Moore.  Baile Átha Cliath [Dublin]: Oifig an tSoláthair, 1982.  LANGUAGE: Irish.  Curric. 491.62 M1759d

Machado, Ana Maria.  Nińa Bonita.  Illus. Rosana Faría.  Caracas, Venezuela, 1994.  LANGUAGE: Spanish.  Curric. 468 M1491n

Maekawa, Kazuo.  Emaki Ehon: Kawa [Fold-out Picture Book Series: River].  Tokyo, Japan: Koguma-sha, 1981.  LANGUAGE: Japanese/Wordless.  Curric. 495.6 M184k
You don't need to know Japanese to enjoy this one-picture story.  There are no words used to explain the exciting life of a river.  Unfold the picture, and follow the river through mountains and valleys, cities and farms.  The river provides so much to the people who work and play near it. 

Martí I Pol, Miquel.  En Joan silencis [Quiet Johnny].  Illus. by Carme Solé Vendrell.  Barcelona, Spain: La Magrana, 1988.  LANGUAGE: Spanish.  Curric. M378e
Adopting the motto, "noise is wonderful," the mayor of a thoroughly progressive town joins a competition to win the honorary title of the world's loudest town.  Only Johnny rebels.  When he wants quiet instead of noise, his mother worries about whether he's normal.  After Johnny helps his parents enjoy a few moments of peace, the family decides to escape from the town's deafening din. 

Norregaard, Karen.  Grine-Til-Middag [Pimpernel].  Illus. by Tord Nygreen.  Denmark: Mallings, 1985.  LANGUAGE: Danish.  Curric. Easy N853g
On the warmest day of summer, Ida takes her young brother, Ole, on a trip to the inner part of Africa (the neighbor's wheat field).  Inchworms become snakes, sparrows parrots, and mice elephants.  When sister and brother reach the deepest part of the jungle, they discover a bit of magic, the pimpernel, a flower that only opens when the sun shines directly above it.  The illustrator captures Ida's fantasy, transforming the wheat field into a lush jungle filled with tropical plants and animals. 

Pabst, Jutta.  Zehn Kleider Für Mantombi [Ten Dresses for Mantombi].  Esslingen, Germany: Verlag J.F. Schreiber, 1993.  LANGUAGE: German.  Curric. P111z

Paré, Roger.  L'Alphabet [Animals' Alphabet].  Montréal, Canada: La Courte Échelle, 1985.  LANGUAGE: French.  Curric. Kit 448 P227L
This alphabet book depicts animals or humans behaving ridiculously.  Each page introduces a new letter and includes a sentence with three words printed in boldface beginning with the letter cited.  The book is part of an activity set with a game, two puzzles, and a guide.  The detailed illustrations in soft colors contain surprises. 

Paso, del Fernando.  De la A a la Z por un poeta [From A to Z by a Poet].  Illus. by Ignacio Junquera.  Madrid, Spain: Montena, 1988.  LANGUAGE: Spanish.  Curric. 468 P283d
This alphabet book, one of the best in the Spanish language, uses humor and poetry to introduce the letters of the alphabet.  Each double-page spread includes an animal or object and a poem that begins with a particular letter.  For example, dolphins swim through the capital letter "D."

Poland, Marguerite.  The Wood-Ash Stars.  Illus. by Shanne Altshuler.  Cape Town, South Africa: David Philip, 1987.  Curric. 398.2 P762w
Through literary tales, the author introduces the cultures of four southern African people: the San, the Xhosa, the Tsonga, and the Zulu.  Readers learn about many aspects of these cultural groups, including the male's role as hunter of food and the female's as gatherer, games played by the children, and the dilemma of being the only wife of the headman who cannot bear children.  Carefully researched illustrations depict family groups, the African landscape, the animals, and the plants. 

Poncelet, Béatrice.  Je, le Loup et Moi......[I, the Wolf, and Me].  Geneva, Switzerland: La Joie de Lire, 1988.  LANGUAGE: French.  Curric. Easy P793j
As a girl becomes a teenager, she spends time lost in daydreams.  Memories from her childhood take on the appearance of reality.  For example, the folktale Little Red Riding Hood seems to come to life as the girl travels to Grandmother's on the streetcar.  A passenger becomes the wolf, who, in fact, resembles her father.  The collage illustrations depict the intertwining of daydreams and reality in this complex psychological drama, which mirrors the emotions and feelings that surface during adolescence. 

Poulin, Stephane.  Benjamin and the Pillow Saga.  Toronto, Canada: 1989.  Curric. Easy P874b

Pressler, Mirjam.  Bär Brumm Bär.  Illus. by Gitte Spee.  Ravensburg, West Germany: Otto Maier, 1988.  LANGUAGE: German.  Curric. Easy P935b
The egg that Brumm Bear finds on the beach cracks open and out hatches a strange bird, which Brumm Bear names Mr. Easter Animal.  Despite the fact that the bird refuses to talk, the two of them become fast friends.  When Mr. Easter Animal becomes homesick, Brumm Bear builds a boat, which he and the bird then sail to Easter Island in the South Pacific.  The watercolor and ink illustrations depict the special friendship between the animals. 

Raddall, Thomas.  Courage in the Storm.  Illus. by Are Gjesdal.  Porters Lake, Nova Scotia, Canada: Pottersfield Press, 1987.  Curric. R125c
Greta, a Nova Scotia woman, shows great courage when she and her mare become lost on the La Have River during a blizzard.  The black and white illustrations show Greta's farmstead, a small village, including the general store, and her incredible journey on the river.  The illustrator skillfully uses hatching and crosshatching to create texture and contours.

Rasmussen, Halfdan.  Fem sma trolde-břrn [Five Little Trolls].  Illus. by Ib Spang Olsen.  Copenhagen, Denmark: Schřnberg, 1984.  LANGUAGE: Danish.  Curric. 439.81 R225f
Like most troll children, the five young trolls in this story are noisy and rambunctious.  While walking in the forest, they meet a man and eat him.  Later, they get indigestion, spit him out, and put him back together again.  When they accidentally put his head on backwards, they nearly die from laughing.  Pen and ink drawings with shades of green accompany the ghoulish rhyming text.   

Riha, Susanne.  Mein erster Vogel-Führer [Guide to Birds].  Vienna, Austria: Carl Ueberreuter, 1993.  LANGUAGE: German.  Curric. 598 R572m

S., Svend Otto.  Les Noëls D'Antan.  Copenhagen: Gyldendal, 1982.  LANGUAGE: Danish.  Curric. 448 S9685n
This Christmas story is based on a popular 19th century Danish Christmas song.

S., Svend Otto.  Stormfloden [The Tidal Wave].  Copenhagen, Denmark: Gyldendal, 1988.  LANGUAGE: Danish.  Curric. 439.81 S968s
Svend Otto S. has a penchant for creating picture books about catastrophes.  Here he captures the energy and drama of the tidal wave that struck the Danish islands of Lolland and Falster in 1872.  Readers view the storm through the eyes of nine-year-old Martin and twelve-year-old Inger, who, caught in the floodwater, finally join others who have sought refuge in a schoolhouse.  Full-page paintings in watercolor and charcoal vividly show people's determination to save others despite the power of the storm.

Seed, Jenny.  Ntombi's Song.  Illus. by Anno Berry.  Johannesburg, South Africa: Ravan Press, 1988.  Curric. Easy S4498n
Ntombi, a young South African girl, feels grown up when her mother gives her money to go to the store to buy sugar.  When Ntombi spills the sugar, she must find a way to earn money to replace it.  The pen-and-ink illustrations with watercolor washes reflect Ntombi's culture.  Readers see women selling goods at a roadside stall, the country store where Ntombi's buys the sugar, and the tropical forest with its tall trees and long trailing creepers. 

Sekiya, Toshitaka.  Uma no gonta tabi nikki [Gonta’s Travel Diary].  Original text by Yasuhisa Shimazaki.  Tokyo, Japan: Shogakukan, 1984.  LANGUAGE: Japanese.  Curric. Easy S463u
A Japanese student, who traveled on horseback 1560 miles across Japan from the northern point of Hokkaido to the southern point of Kysushu, recorded his experiences in a diary.  Print artist Sekiya has produced this picture book based on that diary but has added one unusual twist.  Gonta, the horse, tells about the difficulties and pleasures of the journey.  The vivid, naive style prints show the people and the variety of landscapes of the Japanese islands.  Note the map on the endsheets, which serves as a summary of the journey.  

Sellier, Marie.  My Little Orsay.  Paris: Réunion des Musées Nationaux, 2001.  Curric. 708.94 S4677m

Sellier, Marie, and Catherine Peugeot.  A Trip to the Orsay Museum.  Paris: Réunion des Musées Nationaux, 2001.  Curric. 708.94 S4677t  

Shingu, Susumu.  Ichigo [Strawberries].  Tokyo, Japan: Bunka Publishing Bureau, 1975.  LANGUAGE: Japanese/English/French/German/Italian.  Curric. 495.6 S556s
This vividly colored book by an internationally known sculptor is written simply and gracefully in five different languages, including English.  It traces the development of strawberries through all four seasons. 

Stinson, Kathy.  Teddy Rabbit.  Illus. by Stephane Poulin.  Toronto, Canada: Annick Press, 1988.  Curric. Easy S859t

Thom, A.M. Fullarton.  Mpho: A Child of Lesotho, Africa's Mountain Kingdom.  Maseru, Lesotho: FEP International Lesotho in association with Lesotho National Commission for UNESCO, 1983.  Curric. Easy T452m
Published for Basotho children learning English as a second language, this easy-to-read book introduces the seasonal changes in the mountain country of Lesotho.  Text and pictures also describe Mpho's family, including his mother, father and sister Palesa.  The story describes Mpho at work, helping with the sheep and cows, and at play, fishing with his friend Kati. 

Thomson, Ruth and Neil.  The Perfect Present.  London, England: A & C Black, 1988.  Curric. Easy T4845p
Text and color photographs describe Okolo's search for the perfect Christmas present for his Aunt Vera.  Readers will learn much about Okolo's life on Barbados - his love for the beaches, his shopping trip to the city, and his favorite refreshments, water coconuts and sorrel. 

Thornhill, Jan.  The Wildlife ABC: A Nature Alphabet.  Toronto, Canada: Greey de Pencier Books, 1988.  Curric. Easy T512w
Framed gouache and ink paintings and a rhyming text introduce wildlife of North America.  "Nature Notes" at the end of the book provide more information on each animal.  Don't miss the detailed border designs.

Trezise, Percy.  The Cave Painters.  Sydney, Australia: Collins, 1988.  Curric. Easy T818c
Nonda and Mayli, children of the Bullanji clan, go with their parents to visit their mother's people in Quinkin Country.  As they move from family to family, the children spend their evenings listening to stories about the cave paintings.  By studying cave paintings and hearing about Gooranji, their Emu ancestor, Goorialla, the Rainbow Serpent, or Bulimnore, the echidna, the children learn about family history and Dreamtime myths.  The cave paintings illustrated in earthen-tone oils reflect the author's own discovery and exploration of Australian-Aboriginal cave galleries.

Trezise, Percy and Dick Roughsey.  The Magic Firesticks.  Sydney, Australia: Collins, 1983.  Curric. Easy T818m
In a variant of Prometheus, the Yalanji people search for a way to produce fire whenever it's needed.  Two young men, Banicoot and Curlew, journey to Fire Mountain to visit Didmunja, a wise man who owns magic firesticks.  After they learn how Didmunja creates fire, Bandicoot and Curlew steal his firesticks and race for home.  Didmunja reacts with a thundering volcanic eruption of Fire Mountain. 

Tusvik, Marit.  Kua som fraus [The Cow That Was Cold].  Illus. by Jan-Kare Oien.  Oslo, Norway: Aschehoug, 1988.  LANGUAGE: Norwegian.  Curric. Easy T965k
Dagros, the cow, is cold and threatens to stop giving milk if the farmer's wife doesn't knit her a horn cap, pink booties for her hooves, and a mitt for her udder.  Finally, Dagros figures out what she really needs, a companion to talk to in the barn and walk with in the pasture.  The watercolor paintings successfully capture the beauty of the Norwegian countryside and the details inside the farmhouse and barn.  

Ungerer, Tomi.  Otto: Autobiographie d’un ours en peluche.  Trans. Florence Seyvos. Paris: L’école des loisirs, 1999.  LANGUAGE: French. Curric. 448 U57

Vale, Mario.  O Almoco [The Mid-day Meal].  Brazil, Belo Horizonte: Formato Editorial, 1987.  LANGUAGE: Portuguese/Wordless.  Curric. Easy V149a
The carefully arranged photographs of brightly colored cardboard cut-outs tell the story in this wordless picture book.  A man captures a rabbit and carries him home.  We notice all the preparations for cooking that the man makes.  A surprising ending will satisfy young readers.

Wagener, Gerda.  Der Klitzekleine Hase und der Fuchs [The Tiny Hare and the Fox].  Illus. by Marie-José Sacre.  Zurich, Switzerland: Bohem Press, 1994.  LANGUAGE: German.  Curric. Easy W131k

Wheatley, Nadia and Donna Rawlins.  My Place.  Burwood, Australia: Collins Dove, 1987.  Curric. 994 W557m
Twenty-one Australian children introduce themselves, their families, and their favorite activities.  Each child, though living in a different decade, beginning with 1988 and stretching back to 1788, is closely linked with the others because they have all grown up on exactly the same land.  A favorite spot for each of the children is the big fig tree on the hill, a place for gaining a few moments of solitude.  The tree becomes the major clue to help readers discover that "my place" turns out to be one place.  This book introduces Australian history in an interesting and innovative way. 

Worthington, Phoebe.  Teddy Bear Boatman.  London, England: Viking Kestrel, 1988.  Curric. Easy W934t
Teddy Bear Boatman and his sister Suzy live on a barge pulled up and down an English canal by their faithful horse Daisy.  Phoebe Worthington recaptures the past as she shows the teddy bears delivering goods, navigating the locks, and pushing the boat through a tunnel with their paws.  Delicate watercolor illustrations detail life along the canal.   

Zheleznova, Irina, reteller and translator.  Fenist the Falcon.  Moscow, USSR: Goznak, 1977.  Curric. Easy F333
A mistreated youngest sister must wear out three shoes of iron, break three iron staffs, and eat three stone loaves before she finds her true love, Fenist the Falcon, who, at will, can turn himself into a handsome youth.  The young maid succeeds in regaining her love because of the help of three Baba-Yagas, witches who each live deep in the woods in a hut on chicken feet.  Readers will particularly enjoy the repetitive language of the text.  Note the many beautiful Russian designs included in the people's clothing, decorations on buildings, and borders framing the illustrations.

Zheleznova, Irina, reteller and translator.  Vassilisa the Beautiful.  Moscow, USSR: Goznak, 1976.  Curric. Easy V339
In this Russian variant of Cinderella, Vassilisa receives help from the magical doll her mother leaves her before she dies, and from Baba-Yaga, the witch.  One of the most haunting scenes in the tale is the illustration of Vassilisa holding the human skull with its glowing eyes.  Readers will notice the dark, dense forest and Baba-Yaga's hut on chicken feet in the background.  The story ends happily ever after with the stepmother and stepsisters scorched by the glowing eyes of the skull and Vassilisa properly rewarded for her goodness.

Books for older students

Baquedano, Elizabeth.  Aztecas, Incas y Mayas.  New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2004.  LANGUAGE: Spanish.  Curric. 972 B22a

Jafa, Manorama.  Golden Tales from India.  New Delhi: Khaas Kitaab Foundation, 2002.  Curric. 398.2 J231g

Sánchez-Silva, José María.  Marcelino Pan y Vino.  Copenhagen: Aschehoug, 1975.  LANGUAGE: Spanish.  Curric. 468 S2118m

Stories from Across the Globe.  Gurgaon, India: Scholastic India, 2002.  Curric. S8846i

Compiled by Carol H. Sibley, Curriculum Librarian, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, Minnesota, 2/05.

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