Elisa Kleven – illustratör

A young girl and her grandmother celebrate their home and relationship in this magical story. Winner of the Parents' Choice Award!Come join Rosalba and her grandmother, her abuela, on a magical journey as they fly over the streets, sights, and people of New York City which sparkles below. The story is narrated in English, and sprinkled with Spanish phrases as Abuela points out places that they explore together. The exhilaration in Rosalba’s and Abuela's story is magnified by the loving bond that only a grandmother and granddaughter can share.Also available in a Spanish-language edition (ISBN: 978-0-14-056226-2)"A book to set any child dreaming...any reader can handle it, whether familiar with Spanish or not. It's just joyful."-The New York Times* "A marvelous balancing of narrative simplicity with visual intricacy...the city is transformed into a treasure trove of jewels, dazzling the eye, uplifting the spirits."–The Horn Book (starred review) * "Each illustration is a masterpiece of color, line, and form that will mesmerize youngsters...The smooth text, interspersed with Spanish words and phrases, provides ample context clues...a jewel."–Booklist (starred review)"Dorros's text seamlessly weaves Spanish words and phrases into the English narrative, retaining a dramatic quality rarely found in bilingual picture books"—Publisher's Weekly An ALA Notable BookAn NCSS-CBC Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social StudiesA Library of Congress Children's Book of the YearAn American Booksellers Pick of the Lists selectionA Booklist Editor's ChoiceA Horn Book Fanfare ListingWinner of the Parent's Choice AwardA Hungry Mind Review Children's Books of Distinction List selectionA New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing selection

Young children usually think of their home as the structure in which they live. In Our Big Home, the author and illustrator present a much larger vision of home as the planet Earth. Linda Glaser''s beautiful poem is a wonderful way to gently lead children toward the all-important understanding of caring for our environment. In her lyrical, child-oriented style, she presents the idea that our big home is shared not only with all people but with all plants and animals as well. She shows that we share the air, the water, the soil, and other elements that affect and sustain all of us who live on Earth. Elisa Kleven''s vibrant art enhances the concept as she takes young readers to an African plain, a Caribbean island, a South American mountain, and around the world to see people and animals reveling in the beauty and abundance of our shared home.

When Grete and Julius fell in love, they planned to build a new life together in Germany, near their families. They never thought they’d be forced to wear yellow stars for everyone to identify them as Jews, use forged papers with fake names, or hide in a stranger’s attic in Holland—with their newborn baby just downstairs, in plain sight of the Nazis. Author Marion Seidemann Fredman chronicles the story of her parents’ experience through the horrors of World War II and how they survived by taking life into their own hands. Each page weaves a story of its own through historical papers, photographs, documents, and other pieces saved and passed down from one generation to the next. Combined with gorgeously painted artwork by nationally acclaimed author and illustrator Elisa Kleven, the effect renders a uniquely poignant depiction of Jewish life during the Holocaust. Also included at the back is a glossary and an author’s note. From leaving home for temporary safety in Holland, finding help from brave, self-sacrificing individuals, and defying incredible danger to have a baby when surrounded by enemies, Seidemann’s story serves as a powerful reminder of a past not too long ago and the importance in keeping stories and memories alive.