**Update – Thanks to Mariana Ruiz who commented on this post, we now know it’s very unlikely this story is set in Bolivia, so I’m going to have to keep looking. Luckily she did have a lead, which I’m going to check out very soon (I just put it on hold at my library). I’m leaving this post up for now however, because The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet is a fun story and I think it’s important to show that I have, and will continue to learn from other people.** I have had a very hard time finding stories from Bolivia. I came across one on Kids Travel Books, but there is some question. Bolivia is ..read more

Today I have a few backlist titles I’ll be adding to the growing country lists already on my site. Many of them were included in special holiday or collection posts on Instagram, so the reviews are not as long as usual. If you read any of these I’d love to hear what you think! Wangari Speaks Out (Kenya) The third book in the Speak Out Series from Groundwood Books, Wangari Speaks Out, came out last September, and features a speech given by Kenyan Wangari Maathai, the first African woman and the first environmentalist to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Following th ..read more

The spring publishing season is in full swing now with new releases coming out every week. You can see the ones I’ve reviewed below. A lot of the April releases are about gardening and nature, which is no surprise because Earth Day was on April 22nd. There was also a family story and a story of friends trying to do the impossible. Books this month are fiction, nonfiction, and there’s even a wordless book. Please let me know which ones your enjoy! Jose Speaks Out (April 2) Uruguay The fourth book in the The Speak Out series from Groundwood Books was released April 2. José Sp ..read more

We were able to find one story from El Salvador to share with you, and it’s a beautiful one. I remember seeing it on Instagram and must read lists when it first came out, but we somehow never got to it. I’m so glad we did now! You can read all about it below. If you know of any other great stories set in El Salvador, or by a Salvadorian author, please let me know so I can add them to our list! Kid Reads Itzel and the Ocelot Based on a traditional Salvadorian story, Itzel and the Ocelot tells the story of Itzel and her grandmother who live at the edge of the jungle.  They re ..read more

Last weekend I shared the new releases I reviewed in March. Today I have a few backlist titles I’ll be adding to the growing country lists already on my site. If you read any of these I’d love to hear what you think! Robot, Unicorn, Queen (Canada) Right now a unicorn and a genie are running around my house. The unicorn has on a rainbow heart dress, a headband, and unicorn slippers. She’s blowing a pitch pipe which apparently calls genies to her. The genie is granting wishes (which means the playroom is getting cleaned). I love when my girls play like this, and I try my best not to distur ..read more

The spring publishing season is in full swing now with new releases coming out every week. You can see the ones I’ve reviewed below. There’s a little something for everyone on this list. A picture book biography, some nonfiction, some fiction featuring lovable animals. Have you read any of them? Rumi: Poet of Joy and Love (March 5) Persia Are the thoughts and words of a 13th century poet and mystic still relevant today? Rumi was born in 1207. He spent his boyhood days dancing with the butterflies and birds in the garden. As he grew he read books, and as an adult became a respected teacher. Ho ..read more

The new releases for spring are starting to pop up! Let me know if you check any of these out. There are some great ones. Dear Muslim Child – (February 6) Religion “Your life matters, Your faith matters, Your story matters.” These powerful words are at the end of a new picture book about Islam that’s coming out next week.  Dear Muslim Child is beautiful in its simplicity. The lyrical text introduces readers of any faith to aspects of Islam including its roots in peace, Nur, the importance of names, forgiveness, the adhan, and the hijab. All are explaine ..read more

I started out the New Year a little slow, but have TONS of new titles to share with you in the next few months, while trying to keep up with our country-by-country reading, and fantastic back-list titles. If you read any of these I’d love to hear what you think! Shapes (Italy/Czech Republic) After returning to school after an 11-day break, I was trying to find a way to ease my students back into our daily routine, how to reacquaint ourselves with the classroom environment, and how to reconnect with each other, I remembered two books sitting in my office that I knew would inspire some crea ..read more

I know the Caldecott Medal and Newbery Awards are kind of a big deal, and they should be! But did you know there’s also an award for a children’s book originally written in another language outside of the US that a publisher thought was so amazing people in the US should be able to read it in English? It’s called the Mildred L. Batchelder Award and it’s given each year to “an outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States.” T ..read more

We read one book that takes place partially in Kuwait. The beginning of the story paints a picture of a beautiful vibrant place teeming with life. You can read more about it below. If you know of any other great stories set in Kuwait, or by a Kuwaiti author, please let me know so I can add them to our list! Kid Reads Where Butterflies Fill the Sky paints a beautiful picture of life in Kuwait as author Zahra Marwan was growing up. Boats sailing, loving family gathering and protecting each other, and butterflies filling the sky. When young Zahra learns she must leave, she is upset ..read more