Sashiko by Barbara Ciletti
When I saw the lovely cover of Sashiko, with a child and the delightful colors surrounding them, I assume that the title was the name of the child. As a slight spoiler for those who do not know sewing, it is a type of sewing stitch that came about in the 1600s during the Edo period that is not just a practical piece of sewing but has come to represent the culture it came from. I know this only because of the afterwards by the […]
Jhupli’s Honey Bee Box by Achintyarup Ray
CBR15Passport country (India) With a title like Jhupli’s Honey Bee Box I assumed there would be bees and a honey box. I did not expect tigers. And no, it is not a story where the tigers like honey, but one where they like the people who go into the jungle to harvest the honey. In fact, they like them so much the people never return to the village. Well, there is a twist for ya! Bet you didn’t see that coming either! Joking aside, this […]
Student Ambassador V01 The Missing Dragon by Ryan Estrada
I must have been the right frame of mind because Student Ambassador V01 The Missing Dragon was what I was looking for, and I knew that any other time had I read it, I would not have enjoyed it half as much. This is a cute story that is humorous, has a nice message, and at first the hyperbolic tone and actions was a bit much to take, but once I said, “Go for the ride,” it worked out fine. And I actually learned a […]
A Taste of Honey: Kamala Outsmarts the Seven Thieves ( by Rebecca Sheir
The Tale of the Unwelcome Guest: Nasruddin Teaches the Town a Lesson by Rebecca Sheir
A few reviews back I wrote about another A Circle Round Book by Rebecca Sheir. Each one has been illustrated by different people. Therefore, that change might help you enjoy one over the other. But also, the flow and tone of the story is slightly different and that can help one’s enjoyment of them. The Great Ballgame was illustrated by Joshua Pawis-Steckley and is based on Native American mythology and culture. A Taste of Honey: Kamala Outsmarts the Seven Thieves (illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat) has […]
The Best Kind of Mooncake by Pearl Auyeung
There are several books about kindness, and The Best Kind of Mooncake by Pearl Auyeung includes that lesson, plus ones about family, friendship, community, and culture, too. One morning in Hong Kong, a young girl and her siblings are promised a mooncake that was the best of the best. But they will have to wait, and the long day in her family’s spot in the market drags. Soon it is time to eat, but there is an odd thing that happens, making it so the […]
Anni Dreams of Biryani by Namita Moolani Mehra
Anni Dreams of Biryani has a bittersweet ending. And that colored my feelings about the story Namita Moolani Mehra tells. I was on board with our young hero, Anni, as she tries to figure out how to make biryani as well as Uncle (as the man who owns the café across the way is called) does. But no matter what she does, she cannot get the secret from this grumpy (but eyes shining) man. Oh, her biryani comes close, but is not exactly right. And […]
