Book picks similar to
Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky by Elphinstone Dayrell
picture-books
caldecott
folklore
picture-book
Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad
Ellen Levine - 2007
Nobody keeps records of slaves' birthdays. All the time he dreams about freedom, but that dream seems farther away than ever when he is torn from his family and put to work in a warehouse. Henry grows up and marries, but he is again devastated when his family is sold at the slave market. Then one day, as he lifts a crate at the warehouse, he knows exactly what he must do: He will mail himself to the North. After an arduous journey in the crate, Henry finally has a birthday -- his first day of freedom.
The Seven Chinese Brothers
Margaret Mahy - 1990
"Exceptional." - School Library Journal, starred review
Fables
Arnold Lobel - 1980
. . . The droll illustrations, with tones blended to luminescent shading, are complete and humorous themselves.' -- Association of Library Service to Children, ALA.
Time Flies
Eric Rohmann - 1994
an entirely absorbing narrative made all the more rich by its wordlessness." Kirkus Reviews hailed it as "a splendid debut."
Stone Soup
Jon J. Muth - 2003
Embittered and suspicious from the war, the people hide their food and close their windows tight. That is, until the clever strangers suggest making a soup from stones. Intrigued by the idea, everyone brings what they have until-- together, they have made a feast fit for a king! In this inspiring story about the strength people possess when they work together, Muth takes a simple, beloved tale and adds his own fresh twist.
Ashanti to Zulu: African Traditions
Margaret Musgrove - 1976
"Another virtuoso performance. . . . Such an astute blend of aesthetics and information is admirable, the child's eye will be rewarded many times over."--Booklist. ALA Notable Book; Caldecott Medal.
Working Cotton
Sherley Anne Williams - 1992
“With its restrained poetic text and impressionist paintings, this is a picture book for older readers, too.”--Booklist
The Lion and the Mouse
Jerry Pinkney - 2009
After a ferocious lion spares a cowering mouse that he'd planned to eat, the mouse later comes to his rescue, freeing him from a poacher's trap. With vivid depictions of the landscape of the African Serengeti and expressively-drawn characters, Pinkney makes this a truly special retelling, and his stunning pictures speak volumes.
A Chair for My Mother
Vera B. Williams - 1982
After their home is destroyed by a fire, Rosa, her mother and grandmother save their coins to buy a really comfortable chair for all to enjoy.
Little Red Riding Hood
Trina Schart Hyman - 1983
On her way to deliver a basket of food to her sick grandmother, Elisabeth encounters a sly wolf.Book Details:
Format: Library Binding
Publication Date: 6/1/1982
Pages: 32
Reading Level: Age 5 and Up
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
Carole Boston Weatherford - 2006
Taking with her only her faith, she must creep through the woods with hounds at her feet, sleep for days in a potato hole, and trust people who could have easily turned her in. But she was never alone. In lyrical text, Carole Boston Weatherford describes Tubman's spiritual journey as she hears the voice of God guiding her north to freedom on that very first trip to escape the brutal practice of forced servitude. Tubman would make nineteen subsequent trips back south, never being caught, but none as profound as this first one. Courageous, compassionate, and deeply religious, Harriet Tubman, with her bravery and relentless pursuit of freedom, is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. This is a unique and moving portrait of one of the most inspiring figures of the Underground Railroad. Kadir Nelson's emotionally charged paintings embody strength, healing, and hope.
The Paperboy
Dav Pilkey - 1996
Human and canine both struggle to rouse themselves, eat breakfast from bowls, and have an intimate knowledge of their route. Pilkey paints their shared experiences with a graceful economy of language.
When I Was Young in the Mountains
Cynthia Rylant - 1982
Growing up in the mountains is depicted with a spare, lyrical text and beautiful, tender illustrations by Diane Goode. The book was awarded a Caldecott Honor Medal.
Chanticleer and the Fox
Barbara Cooney - 1958
When a fox bursts into his domain, dupes him into crowing, and then grabs him in a viselike grip, Chanticleer must do some quick thinking to save himself and his barnyard kingdom.
Coming on Home Soon
Jacqueline Woodson - 2004
It's war time, and women are needed to fill the men's jobs. As winter sets in, Ada Ruth and her grandma keep up their daily routine, missing Mama all the time. They find strength in each other, and a stray kitten even arrives one day to keep them company, but nothing can fill the hole Mama left. Every day they wait, watching for the letter that says Mama will be coming on home soon. Set during World War II, Coming On Home Soon has a timeless quality that will appeal to all who wait and hope.