Japan
Sato the Rabbit
By Yuki Ainoya, Michael Blaskowsky (Translator)
Sato the Rabbit. Yuki Ainoya. Translated by Michael Blaskowsky. Enchanted Lion Books, 2021. Originally published as うさぎのさとうくん (Usagi no Sato-kun) in Japanese by Shogakukan, in 2006. ISBN 9781592703180. 64 p. (Ages 4-7). Picture book.
A sweet and charming series of vignettes about a little boy named Sato who imagines himself a rabbit. Real life chores and activities are the background in the exploration of childhood imagination of catching stars, exploring the ocean and sky, and more. A 2022 Batchelder Honor Award winner, listed on several “best books” lists. [all]
Chirri & Chirra
By Kaya Doi, Yuki Kaneko (Translator)
Chirri & Chirra. Kaya Doi. Translated by Yuki Kaneko. Enchanted Lion Books, 2016. Originally published as チリとチリリ (Chiri to Chiriri) in Japanese in 2003. ISBN 9781592701995. 40 p. (Ages 3-8). Picture book.
A gentle and sweet story about identical girls who ride their bikes and have fantastical adventures along the way. The first book in an easy-to-read series with charming colored pencil drawings. Author and series are well-known in Japan, and the series has earned many starred reviews and “best of year” awards. [all]
Over the Ocean
By Taro Gomi, Taylor Norman (Translator)
Over the Ocean. Taro Gomi. Translated by Taylor Norman. Chronicle Books LLC, 2016. Originally published as うみのむこうは (Umi no Mukô wa) in Japanese by Ehonkan Inc., in Tokyo, in 1979. ISBN 9781452145150. 36 p. (Ages 3-6). Picture book.
A girl stands at the edge of the ocean and imagines what is over the ocean–from farms and cities to the people that may be across the ocean, wondering right back. Colorful and bold illustrations with a simple but timeless message. A 2017 Batchelder Honor Award winner. Author has published more than 450 books in Japanese, including Everyone Poops and the “Little” series. [all]
India
The Mountains of Mumbai
By Labanya Ghosh, Pallavi Jain (Illustrator)
The Mountains of Mumbai. Labanya Ghosh. Illustrated by Pallavi Jain. Karadi Tales Picturebooks, 2020. First published in Chennai, in 2019. ISBN 9788193654293. 40 p. (Ages 4-6). Picture book.
A story of two friends, Veda and Doma, who live in different parts of India accompanied with illustrations created using watercolors, that brings alive the coastal city, Mumbai. Would pair with Small in the City by Sydney Smith. The author lives in Mumbai and works as a copywriter and remedial educator. A Neev Book Award Winner (2020). Watch a book reading of The Mountains of Mumbai by Labanya Ghosh. [mi]
Korea
I Am the Subway
By Kim Hyo-eun, Deborah Smith (Translator)
I Am the Subway. Kim Hyo-eun. Translated by Deborah Smith. Scribble US, 2021. Originally published in Korean. ISBN 9781950354658. 52 p. (Ages 3-10). Picture book.
Narrated by the subway car itself, I Am the Subway brings to life the stories of the unknown people you see on the subway. It was rendered in English by star translator Deborah Smith, whose translation of The Vegetarian won the Man Booker International Prize. A recipient of six starred reviews. [dj]
The Middle East & North Africa
Palestine
Sitti's Bird: A Gaza Story
By Malak Mattar
Sitti’s Bird: A Gaza Story. Malak Mattar. Translated by Interlink staff. Crocodile Books, 2022. ISBN 9781623718251. 32 p. (Ages 4-8). Picture book.
Malak loved her life in Gaza, watching the fish in the sea, seeing her friends at school and feeding her grandmother's bird. When she questions if her family is trapped like the bird, her grandmother advises her to escape the confines of her life in her imagination. While sheltering during the 2014 bombings in Gaza, Malak heeds this advice and finds strength through painting. This book provides an entry point to discussion of life in Gaza or of war with children. The book is based on the experiences of its now teenage artist/author who grew up and lives in Gaza. Mattar's work has been exhibited around the world. [ea]
Iran
In the Meadow of Fantasies
By Mohammad Hadi Mohammadi, Sara Khalili (Translator), Nooshin Safakhoo (Illustrator)
In the Meadow of Fantasies. Mohammad Hadi Mohammadi. Translated by Sara Khalili. Illustrated by Nooshin Safakhoo. Elsewhere Editions, 2021. Originally published as Haft Asb Haft Rang in Farsi by the Institute for Research on the History of Children’s Literature, Tehran, in 2017. ISBN 9781939810908. 42 p. (Ages 3-7). Picture book.
Seven horses, six colorful and one mysteriously colorless, transport a young disabled girl from her bed to a dreamy world where she learns of the power of compassion and imagination. Winner of the 2022 Batchelder Award. [ea]
Latin America
Brazil
My Sweet Orange Tree
By José Mauro de Vasconcelos, Alison Entrekin (Translator)
My Sweet Orange Tree. José Mauro de Vasconcelos. Translated by Alison Entrekin. Candlewick, 2019. Originally published as O Meu Pé de Laranja Lima in Portuguese by Editora Melhoramentos, in Brazil, in 1968. ISBN 9781536203288. 272 p. (Ages 12 and up). Fiction.
A Brazilian classic that has never been out of print, My Sweet Orange Tree features a precocious but naughty five year old whose hard-scrabble family beats him severely when he gets into trouble. Through his mischief-making he finally meets someone who shows him what it means to truly care for somebody. Though this book is commonly taught at the elementary school level in Brazil, it has been categorized as young adult in the United States because of its dark themes including poverty, violence, and death. A 2012 film adaptation won the 2014 Cinema Brazil Grand Prize in the children’s film category. [dj]