Skip to main content

Walker Stories from the UK


The Valentine's Day concert is just a few days away. Ruby Rai is part of the Loveheart Dance. Unfortunately, when Ruby stands on tiptoe and turns circles, she wobbles and falls over. When she jumps, her feet hardly leave the ground. When she tries to wave her heart-shaped balloon gracefully, it gets caught between her knees. Ruby wants to dance just like her Auntie Pooja who won a Bollywood dancing competition! Auntie Pooja gives Ruby a heart made of rubies for good luck. Will it help Ruby dance gracefully during the concert?

A Heart for Ruby, written by Franzeska Ewart and illustrated by Lauren Tobia (Walker Books, 2009), is a really quiet book with three connected short stories for children, but I like it. I like how it handles the ideas of luck and self-confidence in a very gentle and natural way. I like how above all it is a touching book about the relationship between an aunt and her niece.


Tariq Chaudury simply adores his funny dad. But when his teacher invites his dad to school to speak about his job as a taxi driver, Tariq puts the invitation in the dustbin. Tariq's dad speaks Bengali. He has a strong accent when he speaks English. Tariq's classmate Tom Morley says that Tariq's dad sounds "stupid" when he speaks English. How can Tariq's dad give a talk at school in front of someone like Tom Morley?

I love My Dad, the Hero, written by Stella Gurney and illustrated by Katharine McEwen (Walker Books, 2008)! It has three very realistic and connected short stories for children with just the right amount and mix of tension, drama, sweetness, and tenderness. It also has perfect pace. Wow. I highly recommend this entertaining book.


[I bought my own copies of A Heart for Ruby and My Dad, the Hero.]
Labels:

Comments

  1. GoomieApril 18, 2010 at 5:03 PM

    Hi Tarie, I nominated you for a Sunshine Award!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tarie SabidoApril 18, 2010 at 10:26 PM

    Thanks, Goomie!! =D

    ReplyDelete
  3. Playing by the bookApril 21, 2010 at 9:27 PM

    I love the sound of My Dad the Hero - I want to find out how the story ends!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Tarie SabidoApril 22, 2010 at 12:31 AM

    Zoe, My Dad, the Hero is wonderful! :o)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ako'y Isang Mabuting Pilipino (I Am A Good Filipino) by Noel Cabangon and Jomike Tejido

This one is a real crowd pleaser: Ako'y Isang Mabuting Pilipino , Lampara Books ' 2012 picture book adaptation of Noel Cabangon 's song, with Cabangon's original Filipino lyrics, functional English translations by Becky Bravo , and illustrations by Jomike Tejido ! Cabangon's inspiring lyrics remind children of the ways they can be good Filipinos, such as doing their best in school and obeying their parents. There are plenty of reminders for adults too, such as following traffic rules and not selling their votes during elections. Tejido's illustrations are warm and wholesome, acrylic paintings on hand-woven mats that depict different ways to be good citizens.    You just can't go wrong with Ako'y Isang Mabuting Pilipino ! Children and adults will understand and appreciate the lyrics and paintings. The chords of the song are provided, so music lovers can play and sing along. There are notes and guide questions for educators. There is even
3 comments
Read more

Author Interview: Edna Cabcabin Moran

This was originally posted at Into the Wardrobe on May 28, 2009. Today, I am SO PROUD to present my interview with Filipino American author illustrator Edna Cabcabin Moran . *bursts with pride* Welcome, Edna!! Author/Illustrator, Edna Cabcabin Moran. Photo by Mark Moran. Can you tell us a bit about your Asian American heritage? My parents are from Eastern Samar, Philippines, an historic island in the Visayan island chain. My father was a U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer who brought my mom and older siblings to this country. I am the first American-born child in the family. Growing up, I always felt like I straddled two cultures. I'm very American in the way I dress, speak and carry myself. I don't know Tagalog and I lost touch with my parent's dialect, Waray Waray. However, I have strong cultural roots and have retained much of my Filipino-ness which includes a deep, abiding respect for the elders and their stories. Perhaps the family meal is a good indicator of how one is ra
Post a Comment
Read more

Bugtong Bugtong 2: More Filipino Riddles by Daniel Palma Tayona

Bugtong Bugtong 2: More Filipino Riddles By Daniel Palma Tayona Tahanan Books, 2013 A tribute to Rene O. Villanueva's 1998 classic book Bugtong, Bugtong Riddle: Sariling-sarili mo na, ginagamit pa ng iba. Answer: Pangalan ! This illustrated collection of 57 Filipino riddles is fun for everyone. I can definitely see a parent or child reading aloud from this book, trying to stump the rest of the family. I can see bored teens reading these riddles to each other too! I read some of the riddles to my teen students and some to my adult friends and there's just something so satisfying about seeing one triumphant face shout out the correct answer from among a group of confused faces. I can also see a child poring over this book by his or herself. Everything about Bugtong Bugtong 2 's book design is kid friendly: Everything from the type size and face to the book's size and the thickness of the paper make the book very inviting and easy to read. The ink and gouache
Post a Comment
Read more