Harare Review of Books

Here’s another post with lots of books for young readers. Thank you to publishers, Edelweiss and NetGalley for early access!

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One Little Word – Joseph Coelho, Allison Colpoys – August 2023, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
A very charming and heartwarming book about an argument at the playground between two best friends, and its effect on both them and their friend group, with gorgeous illustrations and lovely writing. Highly recommended!

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the DRC.

Little Whale – Anna Brett, Carmen Saldaña – August 2023, words & pictures
This is a beautifully illustrated and factual book on humpback whales, perfect for little explorers. It presents scientific information in an accessible and interesting way. Slightly older children can read it on their own, but it’s also suitable for reading with younger ones.

Highly recommended. Thank you to NetGalley and to words & pictures for this ARC.

The Origin of Day and Night – Paula Ikuutaq Rumbolt, Lenny Lishchenko – September 2023, Inhabit Media

It’s always a pleasure to read origin stories from around the world, and this Inuit one was lovely, with beautiful illustrations. The text size was a little small, and the text quite dense for a child reader, but thats my only criticism. My little one enjoyed the happy ending, and how the hare and fox learned to work together.

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Inhabit Media for access.

Flooded – Mariajo Ilustrajo – October 2023, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
A stunningly-illustrated book about only caring about a problem if it affects you, and the importance of community. Genius to use animals of all kinds to powerfully illustrate diversity. Absolutely deserves the awards.

Thank you to Frances Lincoln Children’s Books and to Edelweiss for the DRC.

All the Faces of Me – Laura Alary, Salini Perera – October 2023, Owlkids
In this sweet book, a self-aware and precocious little girl teaches her grandmother about different aspects of herself. I enjoyed the diversity and quirkiness in the illustrations, and the message of the story is important.

Thanks to Owlkids and to Edelweiss for the DRC.

African Icons – Tracey Baptiste, Hillary D Wilson – January 2024, Algonquin Young Readers
This wonderfully engaging and educational book is meant for children, but I couldn’t put it down. It lists ten Africans of note—from playwrights to generals, queens and kings—who changed history. Of course, this is far from a comprehensive list, and it skews quite heavily north-east African, but what is there is entertaining and well-written. It’s also important to note the book depends on existing written (and Western) sources, although Baptiste is clear throughout on how flawed and incomplete our knowledge of historical Africa is.

Not only is the writing engaging—the material is visually beautiful, with accompanying illustrations and graphics by Hillary D. Wilson, without which the book would be entirely different. African Icons is a wonderful project, highly recommended for all, and particularly for family libraries.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Algonquin Young Readers for access.

This Isn’t a Book – M H Clark, Katie Vernon – January 2024, Compendium
A very sweet book that isn’t a book (but a hug in disguise), with rhyme. Perhaps more suited to littler humans.

Thank you to Compendium and to Edelweiss for the DRC.

I Love Myself – Wai Mei Wong, Julia Vasileva – February 2024, Orca Books
A simple little book to encourage younger kids to love themselves, no matter what situation they find themselves in.

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Orca Books for this DRC.

How Dreadful! – Claire Lebourg – February 2024, Transit Children’s Editions
This is a cute and very artsy children’s book that teaches children about the subjectivity of art. The characters are delightful, and the illustrations that go along with the lesson are wonderful. Recommended.

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Transit Children’s Editions for the DRC.

COME OUT, COME OUT, CHAMELEON! – Jonty Howley – March 2024, Happy Yak
This delightful little book is also interactive for you and your little one, if you choose, which is fun. The illustrations are simple and colourful, and the text is minimal, which means you can read it quite easily with tots. Enjoyable.

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Happy Yak for access.

Kylie Minogue – Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Rebecca Gibbon – March 2024, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
A very charming read. My 8yo enjoyed learning about Kylie, someone who was a star in my own childhood ^,^. Also led us to a great chat about stardom and fame and the effects of that. Also, an uncomfortable chat about breast cancer (because I was not prepared).

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for access.

Windblown – Édouard Manceau, Sarah Quinn – March 2024, Owlkids
A very basic (minimalist) book about shapes and colours, probably suited to much younger children. Suggest activity: making the shapes and playing around with them to make animals (as in the book) or other things.

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Owlkids.

Do Hippos Brush Their Teeth – Etta Kaner, Jenna Piechota – March 2024, Owlkids

• Do hippos brush their teeth?
• Do frogs drink plenty of water?
• Do lizards exercise?
• Do lions comb their hair?
• Do badgers wash their hands after using the toilet?
• Do giraffes use tissues to wipe their noses?
• Do caterpillars take medicine?
• Do birds use insect repellant?

These are some of the questions this fantastically clever book answers about how animals care for their bodies. I learnt a lot, and it’s fun, too!

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Owlkids.

The Blue Bowl – Flo Leung – March 2024, Owlkids
A heartwarming book celebrating the uniqueness of life as a third-culture kid through food. Max loves both his family’s traditional Cantonese food and things like spaghetti, and sprinkles on cake. His family embraces Max’s loves on his birthday.

Thank you to Owlkids and to Edelweiss for access to this delightful DRC.

Everyday Brave – Colter Jackson – March 2024, Beaming Books
Took my breath away in so many ways, but I think it was mostly the amazing illustrations tying the girl and the lion together. As well as the ending, no matter how expected! Poetic, powerful, and a wonderful book to give all kids (and maybe adults). Highly recommended.

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Beaming Books.

What If Bedtime Didn’t Exist – Francine Cunningham, Mathias Ball – March 2024, Annick Press
A magical ride through the imaginations of two siblings. The story is cute, but it’s the illustrations that really bring the magic.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Annick Press.

The Egg Incident – Ziggy Hanaor, Daisy Wynter – April 2024, Cicada Books
One of my favourite books on this list. What a funny and sweet book this was! Humphrey’s parents are understandably fearful for his safety—there’s a bit of a family history. But Humphrey meets a friend who encourages him to step out of his comfort zone, with heartwarming results.

Very highly recommended. Thank you to Edelweiss and to Cicada Books.

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Beaming Books.

Sometimes I Am Hot Lava – Jody Jensen Shaffer, Amélie Videlo – April 2024, Beaming Books
A cute and very helpful book showing healthy ways for children to recognise and deal with their anger. Helped me remember too 🙂

Anxious – Luciana DeLuca, Natali Barbani – March 2024, Annick Press
Although this is supposed to be (I think) a therapeutic book, my 8 yo and I found it alarmingly dark 😦 We did have a chat about anxiety afterwards, as suggested, but I should have definitely have read this one beforehand; if I had, I wouldn’t have read it with him. Suggest parents read first and decide if it’s appropriate for their little one.

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Annick Press.

My Friend Tree – Dawn Casey, Genevieve Godbout – April 2024, Ivy Kids Eco
A beautiful book about trees, and what they give us. Also a wonderful bit at the end about how to plant and care for an oak tree. Beautiful soft (pastel) illustrations set this book apart from many others, too!

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Ivy Kids Eco.

A Big Juicy Earthworm – Katarina Macurova – April 2024, Albatros
A wonderful and fun book! Three adventurous friends—Kenny, Pipo and Bud— have different interests, and it’s okay. Pipo goes off on his own adventure one day, and discovers something very unusual. But he knows it would be much more fun to play with if he includes his friends—so they all team up.

Absolutely heartwarming, and highly recommended. Thank you to Edelweiss and to Albatros Media for access to this wonderful DRC.

Beyoncé – Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara – April 2024, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
A cute book about the Queen. Consistent in approach with the other books in the series: meant to be (I believe) a biography of a famous person that’s suitable for small humans, and that encourages and inspires them, and so does not deal with any controversial topics or go into much depth.

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.

Firefly Galaxy – Sarah Nelson, Estrellita Caracol – April 2024, Barefoot Books
I was drawn to this book by its stunning and magical collage illustrations, beautifully executed by Estrellita Caracol. Sofia and her siblings wait for nighttime so they can catch fireflies (and release them after). At the end of the book is a section on Fascinating Firefly Facts: what they are, how they make light, why they flash, their life cycle, their habitats, and how to protect them.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Barefoot Books.

Finding the Way to Faraway Valley – Cecilia Heikkila – April 2024, Floris Books
This is a tender and somewhat mystical book about a lost place—probably about lost nature through a magical realist lens. The illustrations are beautiful and lush, and the characters are cute.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Floris Books for the DRC.

Teaching Eddie to Fly – Katarina Macurova – April 2024, Beaming Books
Eddie may not be able to fly, but maybe he can do other cool things? A fun little book that I enjoyed very much. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Beaming Books.

Adnan: The Boy Who Helped His Mummy Remember – Mark Arrigo, Steven Chatterton –
May 2024, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
This is a rather sad little book about love, grief and loss. The illustrations are beyond beautiful! In terms of theme: although I understand little Adnan’s impulse and the context of the book (refugees, major trauma, etc), I would have an additional talk with my little one about the perils of trying to rescue a depressed/mentally ill loved one, as that felt like an unbearably heavy and unhealthy burden for Adnan 😦

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.

I Love My Bike – Simon Mole, Sam Usher – May 2024, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
This is a heartwarming book about a child and their bike, with subtext about their relationship with their dad. It encourages children to persevere even when they fall off 🙂

Lovely illustrations, and text isn’t complicated. Suitable for young children.

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.

In Time – Marina Ruiz – July 2024, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
A beautifully illustrated book that teaches children the value of time, patience, and waiting.

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.

Halima, Superhero Princess – Emily Joof, Asa Gilland –
September 2024, Floris Books
Little Halima wants to dress up as Elsa or Pippa Longstocking for a 6th birthday party she and her friends are going to; but her friends don’t think she can be Pippa, or Elsa, because she can’t look like them. I may have started crying at this point, because Halima is dark-skinned, with curls.
“Maybe with a mask and a wig?” her friend Astrid offers. 💔

Halima feels very very sad, and when she goes home, her mum sees this. “I want to go to the party as someone strong and brave,” Halima tells her mum. “But I can’t be a superhero princess like Elsa or Pippi because I don’t look like them or have the right hair. Are there any cool people who look more like me, Mama?”

At this point I was howling 😭 and called my sister in to be a witness and also to read this book.

The rest of the book is a heartwarming ode to Black and Brown womanhood and girlhood (superheroes!) and the magical things Afro-textured hair can do. And Halima gets to be a superhero ❤️

Thank you to Edelweiss and Floris Books for the best book I’ll read all year.