A fantasy tale about kindness and forgiveness is the debut picture book Umbrella by the Guatemalan-born author and illustrator Elena Arevalo Melville. This book review contains spoilers. Clara is a primary-age girl who feels lonely because of the absence of friends. Otherwise, ‘the park would have been perfect ….’ Until she discovers a magical umbrella that brings joy to her and…

Gina from Siberia is written by the American mother-daughter team Jane Bernstein and Charlotte Glynn. Jane Bernstein is the receiver of two National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships in Creative Writing, and Charlotte Glynn is a filmmaker. The spectacular pictures created by Anna Desnitskaya, a Russian illustrator nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, enhance the book’s assets. Gina from Siberia is…

The Secret Sky Garden (2018, Simon & Schuster) is the creation of the team Linda Sarah and Fiona Lumbers. A book about making a difference in the world by creating something beautiful – a garden that leads to unique friendship. Funni is a girl who loves to spend her time in ‘the old airport car park’. She goes there with her…

Kathryn Cave delivers a simple yet original story about Something Else, who lives “on a windy hill alone with nothing to be friends with.” He tries hard to be accepted but experiences disappointments until he meets Something – a creature even more peculiar than himself. Something Else  (1995, Puffin Books) brought much acclaim to the British children’s author, who was…