graphic novel - TIE BLOG : Teaching Your Way Around the World

All of these fun, new titles deal with animals. And all of them were created with lots of imagination, stories that kids will love. Have fun sharing these tales with your students!

Kiss Me! (I’m a Prince) by Heather McLeod, illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan, is a fun twist on the story of the frog prince. This prince is trying hard to get kissed. With puckered lips he challenges Ella to go ahead and kiss him so he can continue living at the court and study international law and etiquette… But Ella knows there are more fun things to life and show him to the joy of jumping in a pond and playing hopscotch. Until the royal frog is collected by a carriage.. An unexpected ending makes for a fun book to share aloud and discuss different life styles. ISBN 978-1554556625, Fitzhenry & Whiteside

Keiki, the Little Fish with a Spectacular Wish, written and illustrated by Yuko Green is the story of a little wrasse fish in Hawaii who wants to be big as a whale and strong as a shark. But after looking at many different inhabitants of the ocean and the coral reefs, Keiki decides that the best thing would be to be a little wrasse fish, who clean the other fishes teeth and make them happy. A lovely story to share with young readers when studying coral reefs and oceans. ISBN 1-59700-603-3, Island Heritage Publishing

Beyond The Burrow by Jessica Meserve is a funny picture book about one rabbit who has had enough of always the same rabbits around her, always the same routine in a world she know well. It’s time to explore so Rabbit sets off into the world. Right away, everything was different, dangerous and scary. But Rabbit was brave. She discovered new foods, new skills, new places to sleep and best of all, new friends. Things get even better when she can lead all of her new friends to her old home. A story that is about more than just rabbits… ISBN 978-1-5098-6662-5, Macmillan UK

Who’s Walking Dawg? by Marie Prins, with art by Leanne Franson, is a wonderful story for all doglovers (or even those not yet convinced). Dawg really has to go out but everyone in his family is too busy to take him for a walk. Dad is making pizza for dinner, mom is working on a deadline, the kids are listening to music or chatting with friends. Only the little one sees Dawg leave. Dog has a wonderful time exploring the neighborhood, playing with friends ánd doing his business. But when the family realizes he’s missing, they all go out to search, just as Dawg is headed home for dinner. A fun story to share aloud in the classroom or to share with pet owners. ISBN 978-0889957114, Red Deer Press

Cats and Us: A Ten-Thousand-Year Fascination

Cats and Us by Marta Pantaleo is a colourful picturebook about humans’ ten-thousand year fascination with cats. From early history when cats were wild, free-roaming creatures, to how they traveled and settled around the world thanks to ships who took them to hunt rodents. It shows us how cats added to legends and myths and even superstitions. But mostly it shows how we fell in love with cats and their still mysterious habits. Backpages are devoted to many cat breeds.

ISBN 978-1-77946-039-4, Groundwood Books

Paisley & Peck, Jurassic Farm is the newest graphic novel for young readers by J. Torres and Mike Deas. The fabulous cartoon-y art is hilarious as Paisley Pig decides to be a food critic and Peck wants to be a dinosaur when he grows up. Their barnyard antics make for a fun read in a popular format.

ISBN 978-1-77147-640-9, Owl Kids Books

Margriet Ruurs is a Canadian children’s book author. She conducts author presentations at schools around the world.

www.margrietruurs.com

The beginning of a new school year is a good time to share books about school, making new friends and adapting to new circumstances. These (brand new) titles are great to read aloud and help students to settle into a new school year, a new class or even a new country.

See You Later, Alligator by Lana Button, illustrated by Noémie Gionet Landry is the perfect picture book to share with young students at the beginning of a new school year. Flora knows that she can do it. Just one hug before she leaves her moms at the door to school. One hug and one more kiss. But it’s reassuring to go back and make sure, just for one more kiss. It takes Flora several tries but eventually her teacher and classmates welcome her to their classroom and Flora is relieved that she had the courage to say goodbye. Just one more wave through the window and one more fun ‘See you later, alligator’ variety.

ISBN978-1-4431-9885-1, Scholastic Canada

Out of The Blue by Wallace Edwards is illustrated in a very different styles from most of Edwards’ other books but created with the same rich imagination. Ernest is flying his kite when it gets stuck in a tree. He will need help getting it out. Then a loud sound and a crash make him wonder what happened. He climbs a steep mountain and discovers… a terrible monster! Ernest and the monster are equally scared and hide from each. Until they realize that maybe there’s no need to be afraid. Even though they each speak a different language, they laugh and make friends. Ernest helps his new, alien friend to fix his spaceship. And his new friend helps Ernest to retrieve his kite. A story that shows you can make friends even if you don’t know each other’s language.

ISBN 978-1-4431-4872-6, North Winds Press

You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What) by Taraji P. Henson is the story of Lil TJ as she goes to school for the first time. Lil TJ has a magnificent dog and a loving Grandma who lives far away but whom she talks to every day. And Lil TJ can’t wait to start school, learn new things and make a million new friends. But when school starts, all she seems to do is annoy people. Beau, a boy in her class, does not like her art or her music. He says she talks too loud and that her lunch is weird. Poor Lil TJ becomes sad about school and having a bully instead of a friend. But Grandma explain just what she needs to do to be a good friend no matter what. And soon she and her classmates make music together, as friends. A good story to share at the beginning of a new school year.

ISBN 978-0-310-16059-5, Zonderkidz

The New Girl by Cassandra Calin is a graphic novel based on the artist’s own life. Lia does not want to move from her home country, Romenia, to live in Canada where she won’t have any friends nor speak the language. But her family is relocating and she has to say goodbye to friends and grandparents. Lia is not happy at her new school and having to learn French. On top of it all she gets her first period and struggles with all her problems. But slowly, Lia makes new friends who also came from other countries. Sometimes she has no idea what the teachers are saying but her new friends help her and she gradually finds her way in school and in life. She also pursues her passion of drawing when she is allowed to work on the school newspaper. This is a well executed books where both text and art tell the story of a teenager coping with a big move and the challenge of making new friends and learning a new language. Perfect for international students!

ISBN 978-1-338-76245-7, Scholastic Graphix

Please note that I will be working as a volunteer for The Book Bus in Zambia during August and may not be able to share new book recommendations until I return home to Canada.

www.margrietruurs.com

TIE BLOG : Teaching Your Way Around the World

Tag Archives: graphic novel

GLOBAL BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

GLOBAL BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS