Current Titles
JOÃO BY A THREAD
Written and Illustrated by Roger Mello
Translated from the Portuguese by Daniel Hahn
A fisherman’s young son lies in bed at night, tucked into his homespun bedcover. As he drifts off to sleep, he dreams that the bedcover comes to life, weaving and re-weaving itself into whimsical shapes and figures. Mello brings João’s nocturnal flights of fancy to life with intricate line drawings that pay homage to Brazilian folk art and embroidery.
Published on October 25th, 2022
WHAT FEELINGS DO WHEN NO ONE’S LOOKING
By Tina Oziewicz
Illustrated by Aleksandra Zając
Translated from the Polish by Jennifer Croft
An unruly cast of emotions come alive in this romping dreamworld.Tina Oziewicz’s words hum with truth, and Aleksandra Zając’s illustrations bloom and burst with charming details like a sail constructed out of a pair of billowing long johns or a red slipper falling from a contented paw. Taking in the perfect harmony of this book is like taking a long gulp from a trusty thermos and filling up with warmth.
Published on July 5th, 2022
BLAZE AND THE CASTLE CAKE FOR BERTHA DAYE
By Claude Ponti
Translated from the French by Alyson Waters & Margot Kerlidou
This isn’t just any other day for Blaze and his friends: today is Bertha Daye’s birthday, and they have decided to bake her a magnificent castle cake. The friends travel far and wide, gathering chocolate from chocolate mines, flour from the slopes of Flour Mountain, and sugar from the Sea of Sugar. Claude Ponti’s lush illustrations immerse children in a magical story led by the charming, unforgettable Blaze.
Published on May 3rd, 2022
IN THE MEADOW OF FANTASIES
By Hadi Mohammadi
Illustrated by Nooshin Safakhoo
Translated from the Persian by Sara Khalili
A young girl lies in bed, gazing up at a mobile of spinning horses. The snout of a real-live horse peeks through her bedroom door, and soon enough, our bright protagonist is off on a joyous solo adventure with seven majestic horses.
Published on November 2nd, 2021
SLEEPY STORIES
By Mario Levrero
Illustrated by Diego Bianki
Translated from the Spanish by Alicia López
Each story drifts deeper into a beguiling dream world, telling of an elastic gentleman who stretches his body across town to slip effortlessly into bed, or of another sleepy man who curls inside an upside-down umbrella to take a snooze. In the magical universe of Sleepy Stories, the waking world is made small, while the dream world waltzes across the page.
Released on July 6, 2021
JUAN HORMIGA
By Gustavo Roldán
Translated from the Spanish by Robert Croll
Juan Hormiga, the greatest storyteller of his entire anthill, loves to recount his fearless grandfather’s adventures – including his escape from an eagle’s talons and the time he leapt from a tree with just a leaf for a parachute. With whimsical illustrations, Juan Hormiga affirms the joy of sharing stories, and of creating your own out in the world.
Released on May 4, 2021
MY LITTLE ONE
By Germano Zullo
Illustrated by Albertine
Translated from the French by Katie Kitamura
A mother, welcoming her tiny son into the world, tells him the story of their lives. With each successive page, he grows while she shrinks, until she is being held by the man he has become.
Released on October 27, 2020
I WISH
By Toon Tellegen
Illustrated by Ingrid Godon
Translated from the Dutch by David Colmer
2021 NCTE Notable Poetry Book for Children
In thirty-three delightful poems by Toon Tellegen, paired with luminous portraits by Ingrid Godon, children wish for courage, a sudden miracle, an extremely unusual pet, or the ability to become a song, hummed by all those in love.
Published: March 31, 2020
CHARCOAL BOYS
By Roger Mello
Translated from the Portuguese by Daniel Hahn
Beautifully illustrated by Roger Mello with textural paper cutouts, Charcoal Boys is a poetic and sensitive portrait of a young boy working in Brazil’s charcoal mines, whose strength and resilience shine through in a moving condemnation of child labor.
Published: October 8, 2019
SERAPHIN
By Philippe Fix
Translated from the French by Donald Nicholson-Smith
Seraphin works as a ticket seller in an underground metro station, but he dreams of sunny avenues, gardens, birdsong, and flowers. One day he learns that he has inherited an old, dilapidated house. Overjoyed by the possibilities, he and his friend Plume set about building the home of their dreams.
Published: July 9, 2019
THE GOTHAMITES
By Eno Raud
Illustrated by Priit Pärn
Translated from the Estonian by Adam Cullen
In a faraway land live a bright, industrious people called the Gothamites. Tired of being model citizens, they hit on a solution: they’ll become the most foolish people around. Chaos ensues, brilliantly captured by Eno Raud’s wordplay and Priit Pärn’s crowded illustrations. From one of Estonia’s most cherished children’s authors comes the spirited tale of a town that decides to wreak havoc in hilarious fashion.
Published: June 11, 2019
HIZNOBYUTI
By Claude Ponti
Translated from the French by Alyson Waters
When he is born, Hīznobyūtī is not exactly handsome. He hides himself away from other people, until one day he receives a message from the stars and embarks on a beautiful adventure. Through his travels, he learns the secrets of the universe: how to communicate with trees and birds, how to wake up the sun, and how to see himself for who he truly is.
Published: May 22, 2018
GOODNIGHT MR. CLUTTERBUCK
By Mauri Kunnas
Translated from the Finnish by Jill Timbers
From the award-winning Mauri Kunnas, a hilarious and colorful picture book that tells the story of Mr. Clutterbuck, a man who is blissfully unaware of his reputation as the busiest and loudest sleepwalker in town.
Published: November 28, 2017
FEATHER
By Cao Wenxuan
Illustrated by Roger Mello
Translated from the Chinese by Chloe Garcia Roberts
A single feather is swept away on a journey of discovery and belonging. Encountering a variety of birds, from a kingfisher to a magpie, Feather is hoping to meet the bird she belongs to. Cao Wenxuan’s moving plot and Roger Mello’s dynamic illustrations will delight readers of all ages.
Published: October 18, 2017
QUESTIONS ASKED
By Jostein Gaarder
Illustrated by Akin Düzakin
Translated from the Norwegian by Don Bartlett
In Questions Asked, Jostein Gaarder invites his readers to consider age-old questions about life and meaning. Where does the world come from? Can anyone know what I think? How do my legs go where I want them to go while my mind is elsewhere? Can I love another person as I love myself? These open-ended reflections merge with beautiful illustrations by Akin Düzakin, two-time winner of the Brage Prize, to create a tale of friendship, love, and grief.
Published: May 9, 2017
YOU CAN’T BE TOO CAREFUL!
By Roger Mello
Translated from Portuguese by Daniel Hahn
Brazilian writer and illustrator Roger Mello gained international recognition when he won the coveted Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2014. In You Can’t Be Too Careful!, Mello explores an idea he had as a child: one small action can have marvelous consequences.
Published: April 4, 2017
MY VALLEY
By Claude Ponti
Translated from the French by Alyson Waters
Claude Ponti is one of France’s most celebrated children’s writers. Ponti has said of his works, “My stories are like fairytales, always situated in the marvelous, speaking to the interior life and emotions of children.” My Valley immerses readers in the enchanted world of the Twims (tiny, lovable, monkey-like creatures), a world where trees keep secrets, magic seeds grow into huge ships, and singing stones make children’s wishes come true.
Published: March 7, 2017
