Brief overview:In the remote mountains of Nepal, electricity, running water, and access to healthcare are difficult to find. When Chandra's and Deena's little brother gets sick from the smoke of their family's indoor lantern, they learn about a lantern that won't make anyone sick—
a solar lantern. This solar lamp costs more money than their family has so the girls launch a plan to earn money to buy it.
Recommended age range: 5-8 years old
Strengths:- Sweet story to pull young readers into the life of village kids in Nepal and show the love of siblings to care for another.
- Beautiful illustrations to engage little ones.
- A simple ways to introduce kids to Nepali culture.
Additional Notes: - The story references two Hindu gods that the girls pray to, a moon god and a sun god. These pages could be skipped (in the middle and at the end) without missing the heart of the story. Or could be a point of discussion about how Hindus don't know Jesus is the one true God.
- Wordy for a picture book. Many picture books are between 500-1,000 words. This one is close to 1,400 words.
- The back of the book provides some basic information about Nepal.
- The book includes an activity to make a pizza box solar oven.
- Could be a tool for a unit study on Nepal since it provides a glimpse into village life.
Brief overview:
The year is 1841. A sea storm strands a Japanese fisherboy named Manjiro and his friends on an island. The group can't return home because of the country's rule that once you leave, you can't come back. Manjiro starts a new life on board a whaling ship, learns more about cultures he once feared, and wonders if one can ever become a samurai.
Recommended age range: 8-12 years old
Strengths:- Based off the life of Manjiro Nakahama, a Japanese teenager shipwrecked in 1841.
- Includes Manjiro's actual pencil drawings throughout the book.
- An interesting look into how different cultures perceive one another and the importance of overcoming our suspicions to engage on a deeper level.
- A glimpse into life during that time period (1840s/1850s).
Additional Notes: - With a slower moving pace, reading it aloud can be a good option.
- Not written as a fast-paced adventure, but fine as a historical biography.
- Story covers Manjiro's entire life and can skip over chunks of time making it harder to track.
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