The Sky of Afghanistan - Ana A. de Eulate

Illustrated by Sonja Wimmer

2012 FSC, (all proceeds to Cometa Fdtn., wwww.fundacioncometa.org)

24 pages 

$15.95

TPPL

Goodreads rating: 3.60

My rating: 4

Endpapers: fluffy clouds on a brown paper-baggy paper showing fibers

Title Page: one kite, flying

Dedication:  "To the children who live in conflict zones, so that they can see their kite of PEACE flying high in the sky."

Illustrations: Beautiful.  They include subtle bits and pieces of Afghanistan - clothing - terrain - faces - children in daily life - simple drawings. They are done in browns with touches of color and fill the entire page - all are two-page spreads with the words in a cool font incorporated into the illustrations somewhere.

1^st line's:  "I look at the sky, I close my eyes, and my imagination begins to soar....

I fly between the clouds of the country i love: Afghanistan."

Ending:  "A place where harmony reigns, a place of togetherness...A place - please forgive me if my eyes fill with tears -- that leads us towards PEACE."

My Goodreads review:  "The sky can be full of kites, I think to myself, but it can also be full of dreams..."  This book is about the dreams a young Afghani girls has for peace in the country she loves.  It's more a piece of writing about hopes and dreams than a story, but that's more-than okay. It's really a simple wish, eh?  (And, I love the author's use of elipses!)

Goodreads summary:  Beautifully illustrated and undeniably moving, this is the story of a little Afghan girl’s dreams of peace. As her country is wracked by war, a girl’s imagination drifts toward the idea of peace for her people and for her country. Her powerful dreams soon take wing and fill the homes and hearts of those around her, uniting a people in their common desire for peace.

The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School - Laurie Halse Anderson

Illustrated by Ard Hoyt
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009
$16.99
Rating: 5
For: ages 4-8
PERFECT for first grade
Endpapers: Bright purple

"Zoe Fleefenbacher had one blue eye and one green eye and bright red hair that went on...forever."

Zoe's hair had a life of its own, and everyone lived happily with that, right through kindergarten. But first grade was another matter. Ms. Trisk didn't fool around, and couldn't stand Zoe's hair doing what it wanted. "School ha rules!" she insisted. The hair must be tamed. They tried. They really did. But when all the scrunchies, barrettes, pins, and holders exploted from her hair during science, everyone discovered how helpful and handy Zoe's hair could be.

A happy ending (of course): "Zoe Fleefenbacher had one blue eye and one green eye and handy, helpful, amazing hair...that found a place in first grade.

Great font.
Illustrations are pen and ink with watercolors. Beautifully curling, twirling; bountifully floating, cuddling; orange-red hair!