World Book Day

7th March 2024

We wanted to share some international childrens story books for you to read and enjoy with your children.

Eyes That Kiss in the Corners

by Joanna Ho (Author) &
Dung Ho (Illustrator)

This lyrical, stunning picture book tells a story about learning to love and celebrate your Asian-shaped eyes, in the spirit of Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, and is a celebration of diversity.

A young Asian girl notices that her eyes look different from her peers’. They have big, round eyes and long lashes. She realizes that her eyes are like her mother’s, her grandmother’s, and her little sister’s. They have eyes that kiss in the corners and glow like warm tea, crinkle into crescent moons, and are filled with stories of the past and hope for the future.

Drawing from the strength of these powerful women in her life, she recognizes her own beauty and discovers a path to self-love and empowerment.

Cinnamon

by Neil Gaiman (Author) &
Divya Srinivasan (Illustrator)

In a hot, hot country, ringed with mountains on one side and jungle on the other, lives a princess called Cinnamon. Her eyes are made of pearls, which means that she is blind. And, for reasons her parents the Rajah and Rani cannot fathom, she will not talk.

So they offer a reward to anyone who can teach Cinnamon to speak. People travel from far and wide to attempt it, but nothing works. Until a mighty tiger, huge and fierce, prowls into their palace and announces that he is here to teach the girl-cub to talk …

Zonia’s Rain Forest

by Juana Martinez-Neal

This call-to-action story is dedicated to Peru’s Indigenous people (and thousands of animal species) impacted by deforestation and development. Zonia wakes up in her home every morning, surrounded by a lush forest of greenery and growth. She follows the gentle glide of a blue butterfly into the beckoning, wild rainforest. Wandering through vines and swamps, she encounters giant anteaters, two-toed sloths, blooming lotus flowers, and a family of coati (her favourite). Headed home from her morning adventure, she halts, mystified by a barren portion of land. Zonia applies paint to her face and reaches for courage as she prepares to fight for her beloved natural habitat.

The Mitten

By Olha Tkachenko

A traditional Ukranian folktale

“The Mitten” is the folklore story well known in Ukraine and Canada. The story tells about a mitten lost in a forest. Wild animals come to the mitten trying to find shelter inside. Space is very tight but still can accommodate everyone who needs a home.The book is the fourth in the series of bilingual books with traditional Ukrainian folk tales retold and illustrated by the artist Olya Tkachenko.The story is retold and illustrated by artist Olha Tkachenko. The book includes brilliant modern illustrations and dialogues. An English-Ukrainian bilingual version of this book provides kids with an opportunity of learning both languages and exploring Ukrainian culture.

Water Princess

By George Badiel

With its wide sky and warm earth, Princess Gie Gie’s kingdom is a beautiful land. But clean drinking water is scarce in her small African village. And try as she might, Gie Gie cannot bring the water closer; she cannot make it run clearer. Every morning, she rises before the sun to make the long journey to the well. Instead of a crown, she wears a heavy pot on her head to collect the water. After the voyage home, after boiling the water to drink and clean with, Gie Gie thinks of the trip that tomorrow will bring. And she dreams. She dreams of a day when her village will have cool, crystal-clear water of its own. Inspired by the childhood of Burkina Faso-born model Georgie Badiel,