Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. I love books that bring me to a place I’ve never been…and today’s featured book definitely does. More than that, EGYPTIAN LULLABY provides us with a window on life in Egypt through the eyes of a young girl – and because of the fabulous text and gorgeous illustrations, we are immersed in the culture with every page turn!
EGYPTIAN LULLABY
Written by Zeena M. Pliska
Illustrated by Hatem Aly
Published by Roaring Brook Press (April 18, 2023)
Ages: 4-8
Themes: Culture of Cairo, multigenerational, family
Synopsis: From Amazon: A rich, beautifully layered ode to the great city of Cairo, Egypt, its people, and culture. Every night, my Ametti Fatma sings the sounds of Egypt to me as I fall asleep.
This is the Nile, that flows through the city. Swish, swoosh, swish. This is the boat, that glides on the Nile, that flows through the city. Swish, swoosh, swish.
Each night, a young girl’s Auntie Fatma puts her to bed, singing a lullaby filled with rich imagery of her home in Egypt. As Auntie Fatma sings, we are given a glimpse of modern Cairo, from boats making their way down the Nile to gentle calls to prayer from the mosques to young children joyfully playing soccer in the streets.
Join Zeena Pliska and Hatem Aly on a vibrant journey to Cairo in this gorgeous, layered song.
Why I Love This Book 1. The lyrical text – it wraps around me like a blanket – comfortingand warm. 2. The engaging illustrations give me a sense of being right there – this book serves as an important window and mirror and sliding glass door for every child reader. 3. I love the intergenerational aspect of the story that we see through the eyes of the child character and her grandmother.
No matter what language we use, it’s important to help new books to succeed. You can: Buy them Review them Place the title on your Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf Tell friends about them via social media – even sharing a book cover helps Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection.
Thank you for spending your precious time with us. Have a wonderful weekend!
Hip, hip hooray! Two more book babies are born! One is for our littlest story-lovers because…it’s a BOARD BOOK! I’m so excited to share COUNTING ON SHABBAT, written by my dear friend and long-time CP Nancy Churnin (who has six books that launched this year to add to her already huge pile of award-winning titles) and illustrated by Petronela Dostalova and published by Kar-Ben.
Here’s a little bit about the book from the Amazon sales page:
Shabbat brings 1 table, 2 candles, and 3 braids in the challah, kittens waiting to be fed, friends knocking at the door, smiles all around, and more. Count from 1 to 10 as you get ready for Shabbat.
And the other book is a nonfiction picture book biography: VALENTINES FOR ALL: Esther Howland Captures America’s Heart, illustrated by Monika Roza Wisniewska and published by Albert Whitman.
Here’s a little bit about VALENTINES FOR ALL:
How an enterprising woman helped establish a tradition that Americans still observe today.
When Esther Howland first saw the fancy valentine her father brought home from England, most Americans thought Valentine’s Day was a waste of time. But through the card, Esther felt how much her father loved her. Could she help others express themselves in the same way?
She won the 2021 National Jewish Book Award and 2022 Sydney Taylor Honor for Dear Mr. Dickens, a true story that is the subject of an educational program offered by The Charles Dickens Museum in London, and two Sydney Taylor Notables, for her 2021 A Queen to the Rescue, the Story of Henrietta Szold Founder of Hadassah and 2018 Irving Berlin, the Immigrant Boy Who Made America Sing. Born and raised in New York City, Nancy lives in the Dallas area. Among her other book honors: National Federation of Press Women First Place Award; Texas Federation of Press Women First Place Award; the South Asia Book Award; Sakura Medal finalist; Books for a Global Society Notable; two Junior Library Guild selections; multiple Social Studies Notable Trade books for Young People; multiple Kids Choice Awards finalists; multiple Silver Eureka Award-winners; multiple Bank Street College Best Children’s Book List books; multiple A Mighty Girl books; 10 books featured on socialjusticebooks and starred reviews from School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly. All her books come with free teacher guides, resources and projects on her website, nancychurnin.com
And here’s a little bit about illustrator Petronela Dostalova: Petronela was born in the former Czechoslovakia. She grew up in a little village called Borša, surrounded by woods and vineyards. From the age of 14 she studied at a boarding school in Košice.
When she was 18, Petronela decided to live and study in Suffolk, UK where she received her arts degree. Soon after graduation she decided to enroll in the MA Children’s Book Illustration course at the Cambridge School of Art. She currently lives in scenic Tattingstone with her partner Dan and dog Haribo. Petronela loves exploring the coasts and estuaries of Suffolk. Her client list now include Child’s Play International, Scholastic, CBeebies, Yeehoo Press, Lerner Publishing, Reycraft. Petronela is represented by Robbin Brosterman at The Bright Agency. You can find out more about her here: https://www.petroneladostalova.co.uk/
And here’s a little bit about illustrator Monika Roza Wisniewska from her website: I’m a freelance illustrator and character designer from Poland, based in Porto area in Portugal. I specialize in character-driven illustrations for young adult, romance, and fantasy. I have experience working in illustration with publishers from around the world. I’m also passionate about character design for animation and have experience working with cut-out animation. When I’m not drawing, I like to read books, watch TV shows, and admire the palm trees that don’t grow in my home country. If you want to work with me, you can reach me at monika.r.wisniewska@gmail.com Clients include: Scholastic, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Callisto Media, Magnard, Albert Whitman, Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, Polish Humanitarian Action, BluBlu Studios, Letko Links: LinkedinArtstationInstagramFacebook
Magic happens when there is a great combination of author and illustrator…and that’s what happened with both of these books. COUNTING ON SHABBAT is such a sweet book…and so is VALENTINES FOR ALL…and you might WIN a copy – just leave a comment on this blog post, tell me which book you would prefer to receive, and do at least ONE of these other things – which are all things that help new books become successful. 1. Buy the books 2. Review the books 3. Put the books on your Goodreads WANT TO READ shelf 4. Tell friends about the books by sharing this post on Social Media 5. Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection
By the way, Nancy and I will be at NCTE next week, on a panel with Kathy Halsey, Ellen Leventhal, and Pamela Courtney. Plus we both have book signings, so, if you are planning to be at NCTE, please stop by to say hello.
Thank you for spending your precious time with us. I hope you all have a beautiful week!
Another cover unveiling…and just wait till you see this one!! It’s AMAZING!!
Written by Ritu Anand – Illustrated by Maaz Farzaan – Published by
Zowie!!! What an awesome cover!!! Kids are definitely going to be picking up this book from the shelf!
Here’s a little bit from author Ritu Anand who stopped by to share what inspired her to write this book. ME: Welcome, Ritu! Thank you for making time to visit Picture Books Help Kids Soar!
RITU: Thank you, Vivian. I’m so grateful to be able to share the cover of this very important book. By burning Punjabi qaidas (books) during the mutiny of 1857 in India, British colonizers suppressed the Punjabi language and works of Sikh scholars – who were greater in number in Punjab, than anywhere else in the world, according to British linguist G.W. Leitner. Colonizers were attempting to “cleanse” the Punjabi race. Their wrongs subjugated the cultural heritage of Punjabis for centuries and we still feel its adverse effects today.
But some seeds linger, until they are germinated. A seed had to have been planted within me while I was still in my mother’s womb. It ached not to know my own language. So my inner voice made me seek tools, artfully summon help and learn the language of my heart, the Punjabi language. Like a monarch that feels compelled to undertake an arduous journey, I traversed the path and reached the finish line.
I AM MY LANGUAGE is a picture book about a seven-year-old teaching herself her own language and inspiring her friend to do the same. It is my earnest desire for young boys and girls to undertake their journeys sooner rather than later in life and sing and dance to their own language, whether Hebrew, Spanish, Italian, or another.
ME: Thank you so much for writing this important book, dear Ritu!
And here’s a little bit about Ritu: As a little girl, Ritu wrote on walls, furniture, old books, and new ones too. A total menace, her Mom bought her a slate and chalk – to write and erase, write, and erase, write and erase. A logophile attracted to the sound and musicality of words, she always read aloud (with expressions), no matter the length of the book. And still does. A reader by habit, if words appear before her eyes, she gobbles them.
Little did she know this adoration with words would one day lead to the formation of an idea of her own book. As a writer who writes everyday, presently, Ritu is working on two picture books and a women’s historical fiction novel.
Ritu leads an active life with her husband – hiking, golfing, meeting people and just ‘being’. You can reach her through her website or through social media.
We don’t have Pre-Order links for this book yet, dear friends. But please keep your eyes and ears on the lookout for it. It launches from Pathbinder Publishing in Spring 2024.
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 