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Great Elizabethans: HM Queen Elizabeth II and 25 Amazing Britons from Her Reign – Inspiring Lives by Imogen Russell Williams ill. Sara Mulvanny

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The reign of HM Queen Elizabeth II has been long and eventful. Over the past 70 years, Great Britain has seen incredible changes in the ways we live, think and feel, shaped by the inspiring people who were born in Britain or arrived on its shores. As we approach the Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, learn about the Queen’s life and 25 other amazing history-makers – from modern pioneers, leaders and scientists to writers, athletes and activists – in this beautifully illustrated special edition paperback. Each page spread is devoted to the tale of an incredible Briton, told by children’s book critic Imogen Russell Williams and brought to life by Sara Mulvanny’s vivid colour illustrations.

The book also features a gloriously illustrated timeline, showing key events from Queen Elizabeth’s long reign. Discover the life-changing events of the last 70 years, from the foundation of the NHS by Aneurin Bevan to the creation of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine by Sarah Gilbert. Learn about how amazing activists like Paul Stephenson and Malala Yousafzai fought hard for equal rights for all, and scientists like Stephen Hawking and Tim Berners-Lee made incredible advances that allowed us to know more about the universe, or communicate in a whole new way via the Internet. The diverse tales include key figures from all areas of British life — science, medicine, entertainment, sports, activism and more.

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I Begin with Spring: The Life and Seasons of Henry David Thoreau by Julie Dunlap ill. Megan Elizabeth Baratta

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“[Dunlap] anchors the book solidly in primary-source material, following Thoreau’s copious recorded observations of nature, including his classic work Walden, crafting an insightful and vivid portrait for readers.” Horn Book
“[A] richly detailed field guide to Thoreau that offers older readers ample inspiration for outdoor exploration. Back matter includes further resources, notes on climate change, and instructions for creating a nature calendar.” Publishers Weekly
“The book’s layout approximates a nature journal; the pages are riddled with labeled watercolor sketches and handwritten field notes. Facsimiles of primary documents are interspersed throughout, bringing 19th-century Concord to life. A marvellous life survey of a perennially relevant historical figure.” KIRKUS

This illustrated biography weaves natural history around Thoreau’s life and times in a field notebook format that can be opened anywhere and invites browsing on every page. Beginning each season with quotes from Thoreau’s schoolboy essay about the changing seasons, Early Bloomer follows him through the fields and woods of Concord, the joys and challenges of growing up, his experiment with simple living on Walden Pond, and his participation in the abolition movement, self-reliance, science, and literature.

The book’s two organizing themes—the chronology of Thoreau’s life and the seasonal cycle beginning with spring—interact seamlessly on every spread, suggesting the correspondence of human seasons with nature’s. Thoreau’s annual records of blooms, bird migrations, and other natural events scroll in a timeline across the page bottoms, and the backmatter includes a summary of how those dates have changed from his day to ours and what that tells us about the science of phenology and climate change.

Megan Baratta’s watercolours are augmented with historical images and reproductions of Thoreau’s own sketches to create a high-interest visual experience. The book includes a foreword from Thoreau scholar Jeffrey Cramer, Curator of Collections for the Walden Woods Project.

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Beautiful Useful Things: What William Morris Made by Beth Kephart ill. Melodie Stacey

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 11 Apr 2022

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“The nature elements that appear as motifs throughout the artwork, coupled with detailed close-ups of the processes of whittling, sewing, and bookbinding, reveal just how much Morris’ art was connected to his appreciation of the beauty of the natural world. A harmonious picture book whose poetic text and delicate illustrations befit its subject.” KIRKUS

A poetic story about the life and work of William Morris, maker of beautiful, useful things, sure to engage young dreamers and artists.

William Morris is best known for his colourful wallpapers and textiles, inspired by English forests and wild foliage. But  this icon of the Arts and Crafts Movement was also a poet, a painter, a preservationist, an activist, an environmentalist, and a maker of many other beautiful useful things, like books.

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The Rise (and Falls) of Jackie Chan by Kristen Mai Giang ill. Alina Chau

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 31 Mar 2022

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“Vibrant and fun.” Simon Smith
“Vivid, fine-lined watercolors by Chau offer sweeping, energetic cartoon-style scenes. Chinese calligraphy appears throughout, while plentiful onomatopoeia and staccato sentences successfully evoke the action in this dynamic profile of a living legend.” Publishers Weekly

An action-packed picture book biography about Hollywood actor, stuntman, and beloved superstar Jackie Chan! A great read for Chan fans hoping to share their love of Rush Hour, Supercop, and Jackie’s original brand of martial arts with their ready-to-tumble tyke.

sample spread

Pow! Bam! Wow! Jackie Chan has been making movies and amazing audiences with his original and comedic stunts for decades.
Pow! Bam! Ow! But before he was an international star, Jackie grew up in relative poverty in China, studied martial arts at the gruelling China Drama Academy, and worked for years trying to find his way in film.
Pow! Bam! How? Twist, tumble, and train alongside martial arts hero Jackie Chan in this picture book biography from  Kristen Mai Giang and illustrator and Hong Kong native Alina Chau. Discover how Jackie used his goofball acrobatics to make a name and a style all his own.

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Ashoka the Fierce: How an Angry Prince Became India’s Emperor of Peace by Carolyn Kanjuro ill. Sonali Zohra

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 16 Dec 2021

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“This lushly illustrated picture book cleverly alternates between dark and light palettes to reflect Ashoka’s transformation. The text is clear, straightforward, and compelling, emphasizing Ashoka’s humanity and fragility in child-friendly language. A compelling treatment of the life of an important South Asian ruler and religious leader.” KIRKUS

The story of an angry young boy who becomes an arrogant, violent man and then has a change of heart. He transforms himself through the teachings of the Buddha into a compassionate, tolerant emperor in service to all living beings.

A lesson to the young that our lives are determined by the nature of our thoughts and that we can move at any time to living life on the path of love as opposed to one that brings harm to ourselves and others.

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Spectacular Sisters: Amazing Stories of Sisters from Around the World by Aura Lewis

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Sisters  can be your biggest cheerleaders, your most trusted confidants, and your much-needed fashion advisors (as long as they’re not stealing your clothes!).

But sisterhood can also be complex: full of rivalry, jealousy, and not-so-friendly competition. From pop culture sensations like the Kardashians/Jenners to civil rights activists Coretta Scott King and Edythe Scott Bagley to tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams, these sisters-and so many others throughout history-have not only impacted art, culture, and society, but also illustrate the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.

At the end of the day, whether you’re mortal enemies or best friends, spectacular sisters will always have your back. Share this book at home or in the classroom. It’s a great source for capsule biographies of a wide variety of powerful women.

Song for Jimi: The Story of Guitar Legend Jimi Hendrix by Charles R. Smith ill. Edel Rodriguez

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 1 Dec 2021

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“Following Hendrix through his difficult childhood, military service, and stints in Nashville, New York, and London, blocks of text emphasize the figure’s complicated parental relationships, disinterest in conformity, and dedication to his craft. Digitally enhanced oil-based woodblock ink art centers images of Hendrix’s face and form amid abstract, warm-hued backgrounds that recall band posters and psychedelia.” Publishers Weekly
“Rodriguez’s gritty, oil-based woodblock paintings effectively capture Hendrix’s passion, drive, and genius. Smith describes wanting to conclude with a “moment of triumph…to celebrate the unique individual who inspired me.” And he does: With his “show-stopping tricks / …behind-the-back, between-the-legs, / teeth-plucking licks,” Hendrix set his guitar on fire and “showed the world / how to kiss the sky. This creative, impassioned, in-your-face biography is as on fire as Jimi Hendrix’s guitar.” KIRKUS

Jimi Hendrix’s talent was epic, and so is this fifty-six-page lyrical account of his life, with spectacular artwork by Edel Rodriguez.

Let me tell you a story, a story ’bout a boy, who became a man, a git-tar man, named Jimi.

From his turbulent childhood through his epical appearance at the Monterey and Woodstock festivals, Charles R. Smith Jr. covers it all in this rich and rhythmic account of a singular life, accompanied by the psychedelic splendour of Edel Rodriguez’s acid-tinged artwork. Written as a series of verses beginning with intro and ending with outro, this unique mix of rhythm and rhyme captures the essence of rock icon Jimi Hendrix and his struggle to live life on his own terms.

A YouTube portrait of the Cuban-born illustrator:

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Faith Ringgold: Narrating the World in Pattern and Colour – What The Artist Saw by Sharna Jackson ill. Andrea Pippins

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Have you ever wondered exactly what your favourite artists were looking at to make them sculpt, sew, or paint the way they did? In this book, created in collaboration with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, meet inspiring American artist and activist Faith Ringgold. Step into her life and learn what led her to mix different media and craft powerful stories into quilts. Travel with her to the places that influenced her and see the causes she fought for.

In this charming illustrated series, follow the artists’ stories and find intriguing facts about their environments and key masterpieces. Then see what you can see and make your own art. Take a closer look at landscapes with Georgia O’Keeffe, or yourself, with Vincent van Gogh. Try printmaking at home with Hokusai. Every book in this series is one to treasure – perfect for budding young artists to explore exhibitions with, then continue their own artistic journeys.

Child of the Flower-Song People: Luz Jimenez, Daughter of the Nahua by Gloria Amescua ill. Duncan Tonatiuh

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“An important window into the ravages of colonialism and the plight of the Indigenous peoples of Mexico.” KIRKUS
“Tonatiuh’s hand-drawn, digitally collaged images mix motifs from Indigenous Mexican art with modern textures, celebrating the endurance and resilience of treasured traditions in a changing world.” Publishers Weekly

This moving, beautifully illustrated biography tells the remarkable story of how model and teacher Luz Jimenez became “the soul of Mexico”-a living link between the indigenous Nahua and the rest of the world. Through her deep pride in her roots and her unshakeable spirit, the world came to recognize the beauty and strength of her people.

Award-winning illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh brings to life debut author Gloria Amescua’s lyrical biography of an indigenous Nahua woman from Mexico who taught and preserved her people’s culture through modeling for famous artists.

She was Luz Jimenez,
child of the flower-song people,
the powerful Aztec,
who called themselves Nahua-
who lost their land but who did not disappear.

As a young Nahua girl in Mexico during the early 1900s, Luz learned how to grind corn in a metate, to twist yarn with her toes, and to weave on a loom. By the fire at night, she listened to stories of her community’s joys, suffering, and survival, and wove them into her heart. But when the Mexican Revolution came to her village, Luz and her family were forced to flee and start a new life. In Mexico City, Luz became a model for painters, sculptors, and photographers such as Diego Rivera, Jean Charlot, and Tina Modotti. These artists were interested in showing the true face of Mexico and not a European version. Through her work, Luz found a way to preserve her people’s culture by sharing her native language, stories, and traditions. Soon, scholars came to learn from her.

The book includes an author’s note, timeline, glossary, and bibliography.

She Persisted: Maria Tallchief by Christine Day ill. Alexandra Boiger & Gillian Flint

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 17 Nov 2021

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“Day clearly shows that even as Tallchief became a star in the world of ballet, she never forgot her roots and gives readers necessary history and context to understand their importance. Flint’s black-and-white illustrations excel at depictions of Tallchief in motion. Inspiringly shows how Maria Tallchief persisted and made her dreams come true.” KIRKUS

The latest in an American chapter book biography series about women who stood up, spoke up and rose up against the odds inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton.

Maria Tallchief loved to dance, but was told that she might need to change her Osage name to one that sounded more Russian to make it as a professional ballerina. She refused, and worked hard at dancing her best, becoming America’s first prima ballerina.

Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Maria Tallchief’s footsteps and make a difference.

This extremely affordable series is highly recommended for primary school libraries and book corners.

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