Books by Horseback by Emma Carlson Berne - Illustrated by Ilaria Urbinati

Set in 1930's eastern Kentucky, Books by Horseback follows the journey of a librarian as she delivers books to the people living among the Appalachian Mountains. It was at a time of the Great Depression, the US government needed to create jobs and boost morale. Some of those jobs were traveling libraries. Teenagers and young women were hired to carry books to people's homes on specially trained horses. Traveling by horseback was the only option as the trek along the slopes of the Appalachian Mountains made it impossible for motor vehicles to cross.

Edith, a packhorse librarian and her trusty horse Dan prepare to deliver some much anticipated books. The way is long and a storm is approaching but Edith is determined and Dan is faithful. Join in this swift and exciting read as Edith and Dan make their way through wind and rain. Fully illustrated in momentum with the text, displaying exuberance and optimism. This bit of history shines a light on the hardworking women who helped to promote literacy during the trying times of the Great Depression. Recommended for ages 5+.

Amazon

little bee books 2021

Hardcover 32p

11" x 8.5"

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An Anthology of Intriguing Animals by Ben Hoare - Illustrated by Daniel Long, Angela Rizza, Daniela Terrazzini

This mini encyclopedia of animals is a nonfiction book but it was too gorgeous to pass on. More than a hundred animals are featured, ranging from all six groups: mammals, fish, reptiles, birds, amphibians and invertebrates. Each animal is displayed in a spread with a paragraph or two of descriptions accompanied by a close-up photograph and smaller illustration. Did you know that king cobras don't hiss but growl like dogs do? Or that a newborn koala is the size of a jelly bean? This is some of the information presented and while short, the text is fun to read and focuses on the most interesting facts. Ben Hoare keeps readers engaged with his light and humorous writing, holding interest in this thick book until the last page.

The animal illustrations by Daniel Long are vector based graphics. It's clean crisp look juxtapose nicely with the accompanying photographs and visually aids in the guide where all the animals are displayed together. Angela Rizza's delicate illustrations of foliage and patterns decorate the end pages and background with quiet charm, adding elegance and softening the overall look. Daniela Terrazzini illustrates the covers with ornate images consisting of animal shapes and foliage. The image is stamped in gold on a teal background; the result is striking. This technique is carried along to the spine and often neglected back cover which includes a different illustration. To match the cover, the edges are gilded in gold. There are two different covers available for this book. The image on the left is US and Canada versions. The image on the right is for the UK version-I prefer this one.

Extras in the back include an illustration showing how the animals are related to one another, a glossary and a handy visual guide. Use the guide to search for a favourite animal or simply open the book to any page to be pleasantly surprised. A ribbon marker is included. This is essentially a reference book for children but can also be a coffee table book. Recommended for ages 7+.

Amazon
DK Children 2018
Hardcover 224p
8.8" x 11.2"