Japan
Yours Sincerely, Giraffe
By Megumi Iwasa, Cathy Hirano (Translator), Jun Takabatake (Illustrator)
Yours Sincerely, Giraffe. Megumi Iwasa. Translated by Cathy Hirano. Illustrated by Jun Takabatake. Gecko Press USA, 2017. Originally published as ぼくはアフリカにすむキリンといいます (Boku wa Africa ni Sumu Kirin to Iimasu) in Japanese by Kaisei-sha Publishing Co., Ltd., in Tokyo, in 2001. ISBN 9781927271889. 104 p. (Ages 7-10). Fiction.
A bored giraffe decides to write a letter and see who answers. Penguin becomes his pen pal and a charming friendship develops as they get to know each other. Winner of 2018 German Children's Literature Award and a 2017 NYPL Top 10 book. [all]
India
Gobble You Up!
By Gita Wolf, Sunita (Illustrator)
Gobble You Up!. Gita Wolf. Illustrated by Sunita. Tara Books, 2013. Originally published in Chennai, in 2013. ISBN 9788193984154. 40 p. (Ages 3-6). Picture book.
A story written in rhyme about a lazy Jackal adapted from an oral Rajasthani trickster tale with traditional finger painting art from Meena tribe artist Sunita. The art style is popular in Rajasthan and used by women to paint walls and floors of their homes. The book was handmade using silkscreen printed in two colors by hand and craft paper. Would pair with The Magicians by Blexbolex. The author is one of the founders of Tara Books.The book has traveled to several other places and has also been translated into Korean. Here is a video about Gobble You Up! With some background about how the book was created and the inspiration behind it. [mi]
Tiger on a Tree
By Anushka Ravishankar, Pulak Biswas (Illustrator)
Tiger on a Tree. Anushka Ravishankar. Illustrated by Pulak Biswas. Tara Books, 2014. Originally published by Tara Books, in Chennai, India, in 1997; first US edition by Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers, in 2004. ISBN 9789383145065. 40 p. (Ages 5 and up). Picture book.
A tale of a wild tiger who wanders into an Indian village and his encounters with the astonished inhabitants. Written in nonsense verse with unique illustrations depicting the essence of village life. Would pair with Elephants Never Forget by Anushka Ravishankar. The author is referred to as the Indian Dr. Seuss and was an editor for Tara Books. She is also the co-founder of Duckbill Books, a publishing house. The late illustrator received many awards for his work, including the Grand Prix from the Biennale of Illustrations, Bratislava. Tiger on a Tree is inspired by real life events. Watch an interesting read aloud of Tiger on a Tree from a young reader. [mi]
Korea
Moon Pops
By Baek Heena, Jieun Kiaer (Translator)
Moon Pops. Baek Heena. Translated by Jieun Kiaer. Owlkids Books, 2021. Originally published as Dal Sha-bet in Korean by Bear Books, Inc. ISBN 9781771474290. 36 p. (Ages 3-7). Picture book.
The first title to appear in English by 2020 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award winner Baek Heena (also the first Korean to win that prize). It is a creative and whimsical retelling of the Korean legend of the rabbit in the moon. A story perfect for hot summer nights, it is illustrated with cartoon-like figures that overlay deeply-detailed dioramas of city life. Baek’s earlier Magic Candies was included on the IBBY Honour List in 2018 and adapted as a musical in South Korea; it has been released in English by Amazon Crossing Kids. [cr/dj]
When Spring Comes to the DMZ
By Lee Uk-Bae, Chungyon Won and Aileen Won (Translators), Lee Uk-Bae (Illustrator)
When Spring Comes to the DMZ. Lee Uk-Bae. Translated by Chungyon Won and Aileen Won. lllustrated by Lee Uk-Bae. Plough Publishing House, 2019. Originally published in Korean. ISBN 978-0874869729. 40p. (Ages 5-8). Picture book.
A Batchelder honor book, When Spring Comes to the DMZ was a Korean contribution to the Peace Picture Book Project, a cross-national collaboration among picture book writers and illustrators from Japan, China and Korea. Lee’s book invites readers to view the amazing natural beauty that has developed in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the narrow strip of land between North and South Korea where people are still not allowed to go. Landscapes are punctured by rusting tanks and barbed wire, subtly reminding the reader of the war that separated and continues to separate the two Koreas. [dj]
China & Taiwan
China
White Fox
By Chen Jiatong, Jennifer Feeley (Translator), Viola Wong (Illustrator)
White Fox. Chen Jiatong. Translated by Jennifer Feeley. Illustrated by Viola Wong. Chicken House, 2019. First published by People’s Literature Publishing House, in China, in 2014. ISBN 9781912626083. 288 p. (Ages 8-12.) Fiction.
This is the first of two volumes to be translated of the best-selling Chinese middle-grade White Fox fantasy series to appear in English. It is the story of an orphaned arctic white fox who wants to become human, and searches for a magical moonstone that will give him that power. Translator Jennifer Feeley is winner of the 2017 Lucien Stryk Asian Translation Prize and a 2019 National Endowment for the Arts translation fellowship. [dj]
The Middle East & North Africa
Israel
Room for Rent
By Leah Goldberg, Jessica Setbon (Translator), Shmuel Katz (Illustrator)
Room for Rent. Leah Goldberg. Translated by Jessica Setbon. Illustrated by Shmuel Katz. Gefen Publishing House, 2018. Originally published as Dira Lehaskir in Hebrew by Sefarim Poalim in Tel Aviv, in 1983. ISBN 9789652299208. 24 p. (Ages 3-8). Picture book.
The animal inhabitants of an apartment building advertise for a new tenant. Each prospective renter finds fault with one of the neighbors, until the peace-loving Dove arrives. A modern classic of Israeli children’s literature. [ayg]
Turkey
The Red Apple
By Feridun Oral
The Red Apple. Feridun Oral. minedition, 2015. Originally published as Kirmizi elma in Turkish by YKY, in Istanbul, in 2008. ISBN 9888240005. 28 p. (Ages 3-5). Picture book.
Forest animals work together to pick an out-of-reach apple for a hungry rabbit in the cold of winter. Pairs well with The Mitten by Jan Brett, a well-loved winter story about collaboration between forest animals. On USBBY’s 2016 list of Outstanding International Books. [ea]
Latin America
Argentina
Jungle Tales
By Horacio Quiroga, Jeff Zorrilla (Translator), Bert van Wijk (Illustrator)
Jungle Tales. Horacio Quiroga. Translated by Jeff Zorrilla. Illustrated by Bert van Wijk. Brigham Distributing, 2013, c2012. Originally published as Cuentos de la Selva in Spanish, in Argentina, in 1918. ISBN 9780615708072. 87 p. (Ages 9-11). Fiction.
There are many translations of this classic collection of eight short stories well known to schoolchildren in Argentina: this one, a large-format paperback, marries an engaging tone with bright, stylized artwork by Dutch illustrator Bert van Wijk. The stories revolve around human-animal and animal-animal alliances and incursions. There is an original pourquoi story about how the flamingos got their red legs. And a story of great heroism and self-sacrifice in which a giant tortoise walks hundreds of kilometers to carry his sick friend, a man, from the jungle to safety in Buenos Aires. The illustrated glossary of jungle animals is an especially nice touch. [ayg]