Brainstorm 291: Stories from Every Continent

Today is International Day at our school, so I thought I would bring you a book set in each continent today. Click on the titles to see my full reviews of each book including any content notes/trigger warnings. Enjoy your world tour!

Africa

The Elephants Come Home: a True Story of Seven Elephants, Two People, and One Extraordinary Friendship by Kim Tomsic, ill. by Hadley Hooper

A picture book history of Lawrence Anthony, Françoise Malby-Anthony, their nature reserve called Thula Thula in Zululand, South Africa, and how a group of troubled elephants came to live there and the relationship they have with Lawrence and Françoise.

Adults can check out a longer version of this story in Lawrence Anthony’s The Elephant Whisperer of which there is also an adaptation for younger readers.

Target Readers:

Picture Book Biography Fans, Elephant Lovers, African Setting Fans, Animal Rescue & Conservation Story Fans, Nonfiction Fans, Picture Book Readers

Antarctica

Ember and the Ice Dragons by Heather Fawcett

Ember is the last of the fire dragons. Or so she thinks. Her adopted Stormancer father found her as a baby and though fire dragons have a fierce personality, he couldn't bear to kill her. Instead he put a spell on her so she appears as a normal human child (with invisible wings that didn't fully cooperate with the spell). Though she can easily fool most people that she's a normal human, she doesn't like to get too close just in case. Also, she has a tendency to burst into flame, especially during the summer. And this summer, she is having a horrible time controlling her flames. Worried that she's going to burn her father to a crisp by accident, Ember gets her scientist Aunt Myra in Antarctica to invite her to stay for the summer. Ember arrives in Antarctica along with a whole crowd of dragon hunters eager to join Prince Gideon's hunt for ice dragons. Ember can't stand the idea of dragons being killed, so she and two other kids from the research station come up with a plan to join the hunt and sabotage it in as many little ways they can think of that won't get them caught. But can three kids really stop greedy adults from their prey and save the dragons?

This is one of the few fictional books I’ve ever read set in Antarctica. It’s a lot of fun thanks to Ember and friends, the penguins who get ahold of a magical artifact and can shoot lightning, and Ember’s grumpy cat who sneaks along on the adventure.

Target Readers:

Fantasy Fans, Adventure Fans, Humor Fans, Antarctica Setting Fans, Dragon Lovers, Penguin Lovers, Cat Lovers, Middle Grade Readers

 

Asia

Tamamo the Fox Maiden and Other Asian Stories: a Cautionary Fables & Fairytales Book edited by C. Spike Trotman, Kate Ashwin, Kel McDonald

A collection of adapted folktales and fairytales from all over Asia. The stories range from humorous to light horror, and fantastical to realistic. All are just a few pages long and illustrated in black and white. 

Target Readers:

Folktale & Fairytale Fans, Asian Setting Fans, Graphic Novel Fans, Short Story Collection Fans, Young Adult & Adult Readers

Australia

Wombat by Christopher Cheng, ill. by Liz Duthie

Take a walk with a wombat and learn what daily life is like for these Australian marsupials.

Stunning illustrations! There are extra text boxes for the readers who can’t get enough wombat facts, so this can be read quickly or you can take a little longer and read all the information.

Target Readers:

Animal Lovers, Australian Setting Fans, Curious Readers, Nonfiction Fans, Picture Book Readers

Europe

The Paris Betrayal by James R. Hannibal

Ben Calix is sure he did nothing wrong in his latest assignments, even if the mission did go south, he was possibly exposed to the plague, and his contact turned out to know his real name... But it wasn't anything bad enough for the Company to sever ties with him. Right? But that is clearly what is going on as Ben goes from one contact to the next and finds out there's a price on his head. People he considered to be on his side are now trying to kill him, he's been framed for murder, and he is on the run trying to get answers with a neighbor who is too friendly for her own good and got caught up in his mess. Can Ben prove to the Company that he is still on the good guys' side and clear his name by figuring out what the Leviathan corporation has planned?

This read like a Bourne movie minus any swearing. It was only after reading the author’s note that I realized the parallels to the biblical story of Job. The parallels are so artfully done they don’t jump out unless you know to look for them. The action takes Ben all over Europe, so that’s why I picked this one for this continent.

Target Readers:

Spy Story Fans, Action & Thriller Fans, Europe Setting Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Adult Readers (though approachable to YA) 

North America

The American Bison: the Buffalo’s Survival Tale (History Comics) by Andy Hirsch

A graphic novel history of the American bison in North America, the golden centuries when the Native Americans and bison lived in a well-balanced ecosystem, and how and why the population became threatened to the point of near extinction 100 years ago, and efforts to help bring the wild population in North America back up since then.

A very readable history of not only an animal but also the people and land around it. Hirsch writes and illustrates his graphic novels in such a way that you forget you’re learning things.

Target Readers:

Animal Lovers, Animal Conservation Story Fans, History Fans, Graphic Novel Fans, Reluctant Nonfiction Readers, Nonfiction Fans, North American History Studiers, Middle Grade & Young Adult Readers

South America

New Shoes by Sara Varon

Francis the shoemaker is known for the best shoes. He takes great pride in the high quality and fair trade materials he uses. When he gets an order from a famous singer, Francis is eager to get to work but his friend Nigel is late with his delivery of tiger grass. With his friend Rhoda’s help, Francis sets out into the South American jungle to find tiger grass himself and hopefully Nigel too.

The plot allows readers to meet many different South American animals and plants, and it also brings up fair trade in a way that kids will easily grasp.

Target Readers:

Graphic Novel Fans, Animal Lovers, South American Setting Fans, Friendship Story Fans, Smart Consumers, Sara Varon Fans, Lower Middle Grade Readers