The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau
Written by Michelle Markel
US Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-8028-5364-6
Year of publication: 2012
34 pages
Ages 5-9
Awards & Selections
- Winner of the PEN/Steven Kroll Award for Picture Book Writing for an exceptional story illustrated in a picture book published in 2012
- Winner of the Parents’ Choice Gold Award Spring 2013 Picture Books
- Storytelling World Resource Awards: Stories for Pre-Adolescent Listeners honors selection 2014
- Vermont Red Clover Award Nominee 2013 – 2014
- Capitol Choices 2013
- Bank Street College Best Children’s Books of 2013
- Society of Illustrators “The Original Art” Annual Exhibition 2012
- New York Public Library: Children’s Books 2012: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
- Junior Library Guild selection 2012
- About.com: Best Illustrated Children’s Books of the Year 2012
- Fuse # 8: 100 Magnificent Children’s Books for 2012
- Booklist: Top Ten Arts Books for Youth
Reviews
“Hall’s evocation of Rousseau’s lush jungles captures the artist’s child-friendly work; Markel’s text is both accessible and likely to awe.”
— New York Times
“Rousseau’s spirit has inspired Amanda Hall: this book is a captivating homage to a lavish, playful, painterly world…Meanwhile, Markel tells his story, and lets us know how art eventually won out against establishment ridicule. – this book is the freshest of breezes”
— Observer
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The Barefoot Book of Jewish Tales
Written by Shoshana Boyd Gelfand
US / UK Publisher: Barefoot Books
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-84686-884-9
Year of publication: 2013
80 pages
Awards & Selections
- The 2014 Sydney Taylor Book Awards: Notable Books for Older Readers
Reviews
“There is a considerably lighter feel to the equally handsome but thematically jollier pages of “The Barefoot Book of Jewish Tales”, written by Shoshana Boyd Gelfand, an English rabbi. Here, eight stories drawn from sources that range from the Bible to 19th-century Poland are told in eventful, stand-alone chapters that make for excellent reading aloud to children ages 6 and older … Amanda Hall’s inviting illustrations of rabbis, palaces, fruits and challah loaves have such soft edges and delicious colors that they might be made of marzipan.”
— Wall Street Journal / Meghan Gurdon
“Judaism’s long tradition of teaching through storytelling is affirmed in these eight tales … each tale’s tenor is individually enhanced through intrinsic borders and paintings …
A lovely collection that will inspire both discussion and contemplation.”
— Kirkus Review
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The Lion Classic Aesop’s Fables
Retold by Margaret McAllister
UK Publisher: Lion Children’s Books
Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-7459-6200-9
Year of publication: 2011
126 pages
Rock House Publishers (China h/b) ISBN: 978-962-399-216-9,
Editorial Trillas (Mexico p/b) ISBN: 978-607-17-1774-0,
Awards & Selections
- Highly Commended in the Junior Design Awards best classic picture book 2012
Reviews
“Amanda Hall’s beautifully textured use of crayon is particularly successful in her depiction of animals where the light and shade suggests the weight or suppleness of their bodies.Her artworks are framed tableaux in which elements break free to dramatic effect.”
— Books for Keeps – Book of the week
“this collection is set apart by its sensitive illustrations from Amanda Hall, whose graceful depictions of people and animals bring these fables alive.”
— lovereading4kids
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Robi Dobi: The Marvellous Adventures of an Indian Elephant
Written by Madhur Jaffrey
UK Publisher: Pavilion Books
Hardcover ISBN: 1-85145-409-8
Softcover ISBN: 1-86205-160-7
Year of publication: 1997
80 pages
Awards & Selections
- Winner of the Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award 1997 ‘A 1997 Illustrated Book Honor’
Reviews
“A sparkling, imaginative tale in the Indian tradition”
— The Times
“It’s Hall’s delicious illustrations, both colour and black and white, that breathe life into these characters.”
— Publishers Weekly
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In Andal’s House
Written by Gloria Whelan
US Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-58536-603-3
Year of publication: 2013
40 pages
Ages 7-10
Awards & Selections
- Storytelling World Resource Awards: Stories for Pre-Adolescent Listeners honors selection 2014
- Bank Street College Best Children and Young Adult Books of 2014.
- Highly Commended Book title for the 2014 South Asia Book Award (SABA) for Children’s and Young Adult Literature.
Reviews
“Amanda Hall’s illustrations are exquisite. The double page picture of Kumar walking through a festive city all covered with lights, bedecked in ribbons and crowned with sparkling fireworks is a celebration in pink and green. Andal’s grandmother is shown wearing a white sari. As she floats down the staircase to shush Kumar out the front door she looks very much like a ghost from the past—which she is.”
— The Children’s Bookshelf / Sue Ann Martin ~ Read whole review
“Hall’s illustrations echo traditional Indian folk art, while Whelan deftly explains that the persistence of the caste system is mostly because of older individuals who won’t change. This book raises big questions about society and its norms that will challenge readers’ intellectual curiosity.”
— Booklist Online / Amina Chaudhri ~ Read whole review
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