Author: The Book Monitor team Page 19 of 39

Maya Angelou – Little People, Big Dreams

On July 13, 2017

In 6+ Years, All Ages, Books go Walkabout, New titles, Non Fiction

Buy this book on-line here…

Maya Angelou, is a remarkable story of the woman and the girl.

Born in St Louis, Missouri, she faced much unfairness about the colour of her skin. At eight years of age she was attacked by her mother’s boyfriend and stopped speaking for 5 years!

She became many things… dancer, singer, writer, producer, teacher and an activist for civil rights, as well as a mother and grandmother. She wrote a book called I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, with memories from her childhood. She read from her collection of poems at both the White House and United Nations and she is remembered for her message of hope for all people.

The book, Maya Angelou, is written by Lisbeth Kaiser and illustrated by Leire Salaberria. It is part of the Little People, Big Dreams series from Frances Lincoln, part of QuartoKnows, discovers the lives of outstanding people,from designers and artists to scientists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream.

Other books we have featured in this great series: Agatha Christie and Marie Curie…read more here

Beautiful hard back books, written in a highly illustrated copy, to engage readers of all ages and for children who want to find out more and explore without thousands of words. Good for older children with ESOL too.

Sue Martin

What on Earth? Bees

By The Book Monitor team

On July 5, 2017

In 6+ Years, Books go Walkabout, Featured authors, Featured children's book, Featured illustrators, Non Fiction

Buy the book here…

Explore, create and investigate with this wonderful book written by Andrea Quigley and illustrated by Paulina Morgan.

Are you busy as a bee? Bees are the hardest working insects on our planet and without them the world would be a very different place. From looking at the different types of bees to making honey flapjacks, this book takes you on a journey into the life of the bee, bees around the world, making honey, life in the hive and being a bee keeper.

It is packed with facts in this very intriguing style of text and illustration, both working cleverly to enhance the interest and develop a real sense of enjoyment, understanding and learning.

As part of the What on Earth series published by QED this is a great book to have in your home or in the library. I can think of many children from ages 6 -10 who would enjoy finding out more about bees using this book as a guide.

At Books GoWalkabout, we are working with schools in Hong Kong. For students who are learning English, this is a wonderful resource to use for students from 11 and upwards. We will be promoting this book in Asia.

Sue Martin

All the Wild Wonders Poems of our Earth

By The Book Monitor team

On July 3, 2017

In All Ages, Featured authors, Featured children's book, Featured illustrators, Poetry

Buy this book from BgW here…

An amazing anthology of poems from Wendy Cooling, beautifully illustrated by Piet Grobler. The poems are compiled to do two things; to celebrate the beauty of the world and to notice the dangers.

Wendy Cooling, MBE, is well known in the world of children’s books, in the UK and beyond. She has contributed enormously to supporting the provision of books for young children and is also a celebrated anthologist.

She hopes that at least one of the poems lingers in the readers mind.

Poets are taken from different periods of time, and space, from Christina Rosetti to Benjamin Zephaniah.

Two of my favourites are; The Prayer Tree, Anon, ‘I am the beam that supports your house, the board of your table, the bed on which you lie... and The Old Windmill by Paul Bright, Catch the wind, just for an instant,Catch the wind , then let it go…

The illustrations are superb and involved in the words and lines of the poems, cleverly created by Piet Gobler in watercolour washes of subtle colours which support the poems in thought and feeling.

A recent release from Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and an excellent addition for any library, home or school.

You can buy the book now from Books Go Walkabout..

Sue Martin

Books Go Walkabout

Brian Alderson donates rare children’s book collection to Newcastle University and Seven Stories

By The Book Monitor team

On June 22, 2017

In Book events, Books go Walkabout, History, Libraries

Brian Wouldhave Alderson, a Freeman of the City of Newcastle and a renowned children’s literature scholar, is donating his extraordinary collection of children’s books to Newcastle University and Seven Stories: The National Centre for Children’s Books. Believed to be the largest privately-owned children’s literature collection in the UK, it is made up of more than 20,000 books, dating from the 17th century to the present day.

Source: Press Release – Newcastle University

Books Go Walkabout is delighted to be visiting Seven Stories in Newcastle upon Tyne and sharing this good news with our contacts in different countries. The collections will be a wonderful resource for children around the world.

Works come from the United States, France, Germany and Britain, and the collection includes original illustrations and papers related to Brian’s diverse career. Brian is a respected author, editor, critic, and scholar who has curated many exhibitions and is a former children’s books editor of The Times (1967 – 1996).

”His interest in children’s books soon became a passion. The donation is a mark of Brian’s long-standing and ongoing support for both Newcastle University and Seven Stories. He was awarded an honorary degree by the University in 2016.

He said: ‘With the University’s scholarly interests in children’s literature and historic children’s book collections, and with Seven Stories being the national home of contemporary children’s books, I am delighted to be able to augment the City’s prominence in fostering interest in what is an unduly neglected subject.”

Jill Taylor-Roe, Acting University Librarian at Newcastle University, said: “The Alderson Collection enhances and extends the University Library’s unique and distinctive holdings in Children’s Literature, and together with Seven Stories’ holdings, will create an incredibly rich resource for anyone interested in the history and further development of children’s literature.”

Sarah Lawrance, Collections and Exhibitions Director at Seven Stories: The National Centre for Children’s Books, said: “We are immensely grateful to Brian Alderson for the generous gift of his collection, which includes many rare and unique books – now to be made publicly accessible for the first time – and complements the holdings of Seven Stories and the Philip Robinson Library perfectly.”

The donation of the Collection jointly to the two organisations is a key outcome of Seven Stories’ and Newcastle University’s Vital North Partnership, funded by Arts Council England.

The two organisations are marking Brian’s generous donation with a free exhibition of some of the highlights from the Collection at Newcastle University’s Philip Robinson Library, opening in June 2017 and running throughout the summer”.

Sue Martin

Taking Flight by Adam Hancher

By The Book Monitor team

On April 23, 2017

In 7+ years, All Ages, Featured authors, Featured children's book, Featured illustrators, History, New titles

Taking Flight cover image and purchase link

Buy this book from BgW here…

Take Flight is the courageous and true story of the Wright brothers, the pioneers of flight!

Two brothers of humble origins who never gave up their childhood dream of being able to fly. In Dayton, Ohio in 1878, two boys stood in their backyard, mesmerised by their new toy; a helicopter that can hover in the air. “One day, I’m going to fly like that,” they agreed.

Written by Adam Hancher, an illustrator from London, Taking Flight tells in detail in words and images how two people followed their dream and managed to conquer problems and create a new way of travel. The book is a real insight into discovery, and although many years ago, this new experience is now part of so many peoples lives.

It is the first title in a new biographical series on inspirational figures called Dare to Dream, published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Publishers. The series will be dedicated to inspirational figures throughout history who can teach children that with courage and determination you can make dreams a reality.

We thoroughly recommend this book for children, especially for ages 6-9 years.

Sue Martin

Tiny Owl

By The Book Monitor team

On April 23, 2017

In 7+ years, All Ages, Books go Walkabout, Featured authors, Featured children's book, Featured illustrators, Tiny Owl

The Elephants Umbrella cover image and web link

View, review or buy this book here…

Tiny Owl is an independent publishing company committed to producing beautiful, original books for children.

They were established in 2015, and believe in global children’s books and about building bridges across our world. Two of their latest books are The Elephant’s Umbrella and Alive Again, are both full of vibrant illustrations and intriguing text.

The Elephant’s Umbrella is a tale of generosity, and full of opportunities for conversation and reasons to smile. The elephant has an umbrella and his friends join him where it is cosy and dry. One day the umbrella blows away and the other jungle animals try to use it themselves, but don’t feel like sharing!

” If I become yours, where will you take me when it rains?” asks the umbrella to the bear. But the bear only wants the umbrella to help him get the honey!

Laleh Jaffari is the author, born in Iran she has written over 25 children’s bookss and is also a TV director.

Ali Khodal has illustrated over 80 books and won national awards in his home country of Iran.

View, review or buy this book here…

Alive Again explores what it means to be alive and how words can express the meaning of ‘alive’, but yet they don’t hold the quality of being alive only. This book has lots of hidden depths and the illustrations will help teacher, parents and children to think and puzzle and wonder.

Ahmadreza Ahmadi is the author and is an Iranan poet and children’s story writer. In 2010 he was shortlisted for the Hans Christian Anderson Award. Nahid Kazemi is the illustrator.

Books Go Walkabout enjoys Tiny Owl books and shares values in vision of creating bridges through children’s books across the world.

Sue Martin

Bologna Children’s Bookfair 2017

By The Book Monitor team

On April 17, 2017

In Book events, Books go Walkabout, Events, Exhibition

First impressions on arriving at Bologna Children’s Bookfair in April are of a truly global event.

If this is the world of children’s books then there is a huge potential for working together, for creativity, sharing stories, making connections, discovering new places, new authors and new illustrators.

Much of the fair is given to the mechanics of creating books, the publishers, the printers, the translators, the agents, the IT and digital media, the new way of creating apps and stories and much more.

Bursting out of this were displays of creative illustrators, authors, story tellers, and these show just a tiny glimpse of the work and inspiration that enable stories, ideas, art and technology to be shared across the world.

After looking at the map and guide for the Bookfair we became completely immersed in the Illustrators’ Wall, which became a focal point for our team. It was full of cards, illustrations, concepts; and behind the wall were more displays and galleries.

It became a meeting point for the team as we wandered through the halls and were diverted through stands, work, coffee points and people. It became a resting place too, just to take a glance at the other Bookfair people, wandering, gazing and finding their way.

Books Go Walkabout is rather like the glue between the book spine and the pages. We hold stories together and send them out across the world.

We didn’t need a stand to meet people, to share thoughts or ideas and to find ways of working together. Our style of working is to be adaptive and free from the ‘inside of the box’ approach. And the people we met seemed to share that vision and keen to be involved.

Some of the highlights for us are below, although there were many more thoughts and contacts, which will support our work in the next year.

Bridging Worlds Reaching Out to people through books and stories - image

Discover more here…

IbBy – International Board on Books for Young People

‘The International Board on Books for Young People is a unique international alliance of everyone interested in children’s literature: academics, librarians, writers, illustrators, publishers, teachers, literacy workers, booksellers, parents and others.

IbBy UK is just one of IBBY’s 70+ national sections in countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe‘.

See more of IbBy UK here…

A world of book production and creativity too…

The Hong Kong Pavilion at Bologna

The Hong Kong Publishers Association is one way to explore books in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Printers Association had a wonderful display of books published within the HK Printers eco-system. A feast to the eye…

Discover more here…

Lithuanian Publishing Company – tikra knyga

• Lithuanian authors design the books – the original text and illustrations.
• Coloring, mandalas, study books that are not only fun, but help develop the reader.
• Interesting hero adventure series of books telling, “growing” with the child.
• Positive, educational books that help a child to get to know the world around, conveying values.

Discover more of the work here…

Books in Catalonia and the Balearics

”Catalonia and the Balearic Islands were exhibiting in Bologna with the theme Sharing a Future: Books in Catalan, in a clear reference to the importance of children and young people for the future of literature, with a programme that includes over forty activities with more than sixty participants for the fair and around the city”.

Read more here…

Discover more here…

Allen and Unwin, Australia

‘Allen & Unwin is Australia’s leading independent publisher and has been voted “Publisher of the Year” thirteen times including the inaugural award in 1992 and eleven times since 2000.

They publish around 250 new titles each year including literary and commercial fiction, a broad range of general non fiction, academic and professional titles and books for children and young adults. Their imprints include Allen & Unwin, Arena, Crows Nest, House of Books, Inspired Living (MBS), Murdoch Books and Pier 9′. Read more about this dynamic publisher here…

Leigh in session at Bologna

Australian Children’s Laureate Leigh Hobbs

‘Leigh Hobbs grew up in the Australian country town of Bairnsdale.

From childhood he had two burning ambitions, to be an artist and to go to England…’ He achieved them.

See more here…

Books Illustrated, Australia

‘…they have a unique view of the picture book industry, seen from many angles – librarian, bookseller, gallery director, writer and illustrator.
Books Illustrated is a centre celebrating Australian children’s literature, in particular picture books and their creators. It has an interesting history that has culminated in a program of exhibitions promoting the work of Australian book illustrators throughout Australia and in international venues’. Discover them on-line here…

Global children’s literature on-line…

Tiny Owl – publishers and translators of stories from Iran

‘Tiny Owl is an independent publishing company committed to producing beautiful, original books for children.

Established in 2015, our energy and passion stems from our belief that stories act as bridges – providing pathways to new experiences whilst connecting us to here and there. Our stories are visually rich and conceptually meaningful. They give children unique perspectives on universal themes such as love, friendship and freedom and a greater awareness of the diverse and colourful world we live in’.

See more of this beautiful Tiny Owl output here…

Quarto – the world of books

Quarto – Home of Quarto Kids

‘Ever since QED’s inception in 2003, each book has been specifically designed to make learning exciting, stimulating and fun for children. Our diverse range of titles covers everything from entertaining, innovative facts for the classroom to beautifully illustrated fiction that kids will want to take home. Get inspired and get learning – the fun starts here!’

Unesco – education, science, culture and communication

Unesco – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation

… is responsible for coordinating international cooperation in education, science, culture and communication. It strengthens the ties between nations and societies, and mobilises the wider public…

Discover the Unesco Education for the 21st Century theme here…

Books Go Walkabout team have written more about the event in Bologna, Books and Bigliette at Conversations East. Another insight and a focus on the art and illustration of good books.

Bologna Children’s Bookfair 2017, was a great event for Books Go Walkabout and a wonderful occasion which demonstrates the importance of children’s books, which is not diminishing, and is more than a commercial value.

There is real benefit for children and our shared world in the power of children’s stories and ideas across the world.

Sue Martin

Adelaide’s Secret World by Elise Hurst

By The Book Monitor team

On March 17, 2017

In 7+ years, 9 to 10 years, All Ages, Books go Walkabout, Featured authors, Featured children's book, Featured illustrators, New titles

Adelaide's Secret World - cover image and purchase link

Buy this book from BgW here…

A very special book, a tale of love, loneliness, longing and dreaming. Adelaide’s Secret World is inspirational. It is a beautifully illustrated book about how the world changes around you and how sometimes it’s hard to change yourself.

Each page has a wonderful illustration of a world beyond Adelaide’s little shop, and into finding herself back in the city. The hustle and bustle which she was used to may have gone but there is still life out there.

From her favourite place on the roof of the little old shop with the red curtains she watches the sun rise and fall, she tries to write stories, but there is always something missing.

One day she finds a book left near a puddle, and in the rain and growing storm she finds its owner and a surprising companion, well surprising for a rabbit!

Adelaide’s Secret World has been short listed for the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards in Australia. Published by Allen and Unwin on 9th March 2017, it would be a lovely book to share across the world, the illustrations are so evocative that the words could be made up in any language.

Elise Hurst is an illustrator and author of childrens’ books as well as a traditional artist. She lives in Melbourne, Australia and has illustrated over 50 books.

Allen and Unwin are publishers based in Australia with some brilliant titles and an ethos and committment to their authors and readers, which is inspirational.

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‘Highly recommended book’

Sue Martin

Revolutions – Moments in History, from The British Library

By The Book Monitor team

On March 9, 2017

In 7+ years, 9 to 10 years, All Ages, Featured authors, Featured children's book, History, Libraries, The British Library, Dolphinbooksellers

Moments cover image and web purchase link

Buy this book from BgW here…

A brand new series of books from The British Library, which bring collections of materials to children. Moments in History is the first book in the series and is newly published on 9^th March 2017.

It is a brilliant book to pick up and read from cover to cover or to just delve into and have an adventure of learning. I spent ages on The Battle of Little Bighorn and became totally engrossed! The nuggets of information and beautiful images make it a very compelling read as well as a starting point for further exploration and research. It will be a ‘must have’ book for teachers to embark on a history project.

Moments in History spans the dawn of civilisation to the Second World War,and is aimed at children from 8-11 years who are interested in the past, and want to find out more about people who made history – artists and architect, soldiers and explorers, politicians and religious leaders.

The author is Clare Hibbet who has written and edited over 200 books. She specialises in natural history, art and culture and is published with DK, QED Heinemann and others.

The British Library is one of the worlds greatest research libraries. It publishes a large number of books and publications and children’s books are a recent addition to the list of publications.

Their collections of materials is huge, 150 million items with 10 million people accessing online material each year.

Gathering evidence for research will be enhanced enormously by this book and future books in the series; using secondary evidence sources such as images and materials from The British Library will help young learners become historians of the future.

Revolutions, A Moment in History, very much enjoyed and recommended.

[plasso id=”CGRDcjrzDs” text=”Buy this book from BgW here…”]

Sue Martin Books Go Walkabout

Little People, Big Dreams

By The Book Monitor team

On February 21, 2017

In 7+ years, 9 to 10 years, All Ages, Books go Walkabout, Featured authors, Featured children's book, Featured illustrators, History, Dolphinbooksellers

The Little People, Big Dreams series is published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.

Agatha Christie - cover image and web purchase link

Purchase this book from BgW here…

The books tell the lives of outstanding people who went on to achieve incredible things,yet all of their ideas began life as a dream.

The two newest books in the series follow Marie Curie and Agatha Christie. Marie Curie who loved learning in science, when women were not usually scientists, and Agatha Christie, who taught herself to read at the age of 5, and went on to be one of the most well known crime writers

The books are written by Isabel Sanchez Vegara, from Barcelona, Spain and she brings a fresh approach to learning for life.

The books are superbly illustrated in syles which fit the era of the characters. Frau Isa is from Vienna and has a dreamy nostalgic style which fits well with the Marie Curie book.

Marie Curie cover image and web purchase link

Purchase this book from BgW here…

Elisa Munso is from the University of Barcelona and illustrated the Agatha Christie book in amazing black, white and red sketches.

Each of these inspiring and informative little biographies comes with extra facts about Marie and Agatha’s lives as an addition to the story and creates a timeline of the period to base the story.

It would be ideal for linking to International Women’s Day on March 8th and also 2017 is the 150th anniversary of Marie Curie’s birth, so some brilliant timing.

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Recommended for ages 7 plus.

Sue Martin

Books Go Walkabout

The Fierce Little Woman and the Wicked Pirate by Joy Cowley & illustrated by Miho Satake May 12, 2025
I loved this book from the moment I saw the front cover! The fierce little woman lived in a house at the end of the jetty. She knitted socks in blue and green wool to sell to sailors who got their feet wet. She played bagpipes to the seagulls, swam in the sea, and fished […]
The Dolphin
The Best Garden in the World by Alice Courtley April 19, 2025
A chucklesome story from author-illustrator Alice Courtley that celebrates diversity in nature, and shows that what's "best" is a matter of perspective. Steve is a city squirrel. He's got style, he's cultured, he knows what he likes. But for a while now he's felt a call to the wild . . . So Steve packs […]
The Dolphin
I’m Building a Nest by Saskia Gwinn and Adam Ming April 5, 2025
Follow Bird as she discovers how animals make their homes in this clever creature caper, packed with oodles of facts and a spoonful of silliness! Caves, holes, hills, hives and especially nests – they all make GREAT homes for animals but there are SO many MORE. From snow drifts, webs and shells to logs, pebbles and tunnels and even […]
The Dolphin
Twigs by Joy Cowley and Gavin Bishop March 25, 2025
Snake and Lizard live together in a burrow in the desert. They are such good friends that Lizard decides to display their names above the burrow entrance. But three small words can cause trouble between friends. They must decide whose name should appear first. Then Lizard makes an unfortunate spelling mistake—he thinks it’s very funny […]
The Dolphin
Little Rhino Lost By Candy Gourlay & Jamie Bauza March 17, 2025
When little Maya meets a lost baby rhino in the city, it's the start of wonderful happenings. Little Rhino is lost in the big city – no plants or jungle greenery. Little Maya befriends him, but what can she do to help? She finds a wonderful answer – the city can be transformed into a […]
The Dolphin
Easter by Nancy Dickmann & Illustrated by Emma Randall March 11, 2025
A super new book about Easter and why it is an important Christian Festival from Words & Pictures, part of the Quarto Group. Sam and his siblings are inviting you to celebrate with them! Join in as they prepare in the lead-up to the festival, bake Easter treats, dye eggs, attend Church, spot Spring flowers and […]
The Dolphin
So Tired, So Wide Awake by Susanne Strasser March 8, 2025
The trouble with getting to sleep with so many distractions is beautifully described in words and illustrations. Super little story for tired little ones( and bigger too!) It's bedtime. Hedgehog, Fox, Donkey, Pelican and Crocodile are so tired! But Seal needs to use the bathroom--slip slap slip, out the door. Crocodile forgot to clean those […]
The Dolphin
Little Gwen, Rescue Hen, Written and illustrated by Carol Thompson February 18, 2025
A beautiful story of rescue and recovery in the hands of kindness. A sad, exhausted little hen is rescued from the crowded cages of the chicken farm and discovers the joys of freedom. It's a hard life for the hens forced to lay eggs in crowded cages. But one sad, exhausted little hen is […]
The Dolphin
My Mum by Susan Quinn and Sarah Mathew February 14, 2025
My Mum is a beautifully illustrated, stereotype-busting celebration of all the everyday things one child's mum does to make her so wonderfully awesome! My Mum says that when I arrived I was like a star drifting down from the sky and into her life. The story follows mother and child from before the child is […]
The Dolphin
Free as a Bird By Barroux October 29, 2024
A story of love, care and rescue from internationally acclaimed picture book creator, Barraux. It is the story of fleeing... from all you have known and landing into the unknown. But on the way you may need some help! One day Jonas the lighthouse keeper and his friend Blue the whale rescue a tired, bedraggled […]
The Dolphin