Celebrating NYPL’s World Literature Festival 2022 with the Teen Reading Ambassadors

by Pato Mena
Ages 6-8
Recommended by Yesenia L., Washington Heights Library
En español | In Spanish 

La historia empieza con un Zorropintor muy artistico que tiene muchos amigos en la naturaleza que aman a sus dibujos. El Zorropintor tiene la abilidad de dibujar tan bien que todos los animales quieren ser parte de sus dibujos. Hasta los arboles y montañas quieren estar en sus dibujos. El Zorropintor no tiene ninguna interesa en los animales y tampoco la naturaleza. Quiere dibujar algo muy simple. Piensa que algo simple es lo mas hermoso. Cuando ya todos los animales, arboles, y montañas se van, es que realiza el Zorropintor que no hay nada interesante que pintar. Pero, cuando llama a sus amigos no vienen. Realiza que su comunidad es lo mas hermoso que tiene para dibujar. Hacerlos regresar no seria facil pero tampoco es imposible. El Zorropintor quiere dibujarles una entrada de regreso. Discubre si los animales regresaran o si se desaparecieron para siempre. 

The story begins with a very artistic fox whom all the nature friends love. Mr. Fox’s painting skills are so beyond amazing that all the animals want to see. Even the mountains and trees love his art. Mr. Fox, though, is not very interested in the animals or the trees. Mr. Fox just wants a simple plain background which he thinks is most beautiful. It isn’t until everything disappears that Mr. Fox realizes there’s not much to draw when the world around him has become as blank as the canvas. He rethinks the decisions and learns to love the community that he has always known. Bringing them back is not an easy task, but maybe he can paint their way back. Discover if the animals will return or if they will be gone forever.

written and illustrated by Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv, translated by Oksana Lushchevska
Ages 7-10
Recommended by Dewou M., Kingsbridge Library 
In English | Translated from Ukrainian

How War Changed Rondo is a realistic-fiction book made with collages of papers, cutouts, gears and more. In this book, we learn about how War changes a lot of things when it comes. Precious items are destroyed, lives are lost, and people change. The small town of Rondo is an example of the effects war has on people’s lives. Full of singing flowers, unique houses, and vibrant characters, the town is filled with joy everyday until War appears. Danko (a lightbulb), Fabian (a balloon dog), and Zirka (a paper bird) are three friends that love their home and would do anything to protect it, even coming face to face with War who was attacking everything in its path. Despite being fragile, the trio comes together to try and fight for Rondo. With a hard battle ahead of them, they will need all the help they can get because no effort is too small when it’s from your heart. 

by  রুকমিনি ব্যানার্জী (Rukmini Banerji), illustrated by Bindia Thapar, translated by Tapas Kumar Sen
Ages 7-10
Recommended by Jeba A., Parkchester Library
বাংলা  | In Bengali

কেউ কি কখনো তোমাকে গল্প বলছে? তোমার প্রিয়জনরা কি ঘরে বা বাইরে কাজে ব্যস্ত? যদি হ্যাঁ হয় তবে তোমার মনে হতে পারে যে তোমার গল্প বলার বা তোমার সাথে খেলা করার মতো কেউ নেই। তাহলে এই  বইটি তোমার পছন্দ হতে পারে কারণ আমাদের মতো ব্যস্ত শহরে বসবাসকারী একটি মেয়ে এমন একজন সঙ্গী চায় যে তাকে অনেক গল্প বলতে পারে। অবশেষে সে একজন বন্ধুকে খুঁজে পেলেন এবং তারা দুজনেই ব্যস্ত শহরটিকে গল্পের শহরে রূপান্তরিত করলো । চলো তাহলে গল্পের শহর সম্পর্কে জেনে নেওয়া যাক। তাহলে তুমি তোমার গল্পকারের সাথে গল্পটা শেয়ার করতে পারো ! 

Has anyone ever told you a story? Are your loved ones busy at work whether in or out of the house? If yes then you might feel like no one is there to tell you a story or play with you. Then here you may like this book because a girl who lives in the city like us wants a companion who can tell her a lot of stories. Finally she found a friend and they both converted the busy city into a story city. Let’s start to know about the story city. So that you can share the story with your storyteller! 

written by Pilar López Ávila and illustrated by Mar Azabal, translated by Jon Brokenbrow
Ages 6-8
Recommended by Sagar L., Hamilton Grange Library
In English | Translated from Spanish

Imagine taking a jungle path to school! Ayobami heads back to school after a war, but suddenly a paper boat sinks, and she is forced to go down a jungle path that is very dangerous instead. As she encounters the wild jungle animals, she figures a way to get out of the jungle while also learning to read and write. Throughout the book we get to join Ayobami and go through an adventurous path through the jungle. Through our path we immerse ourselves in an imaginative and gorgeous world. What new discoveries will you and Ayobami get to see?

by Taro Gomi
Ages 5-6
Recommended by Arlin R., Bronx Library Center
In English | Originally written in Japanese

In this book it talks about learning new things from others. A little girl learns how to walk, jump, climb, study, love, and more -- and she has learned all these things through her friends! Some of her friends have even been animals! The beauty of this is how she learns some of the most basic things from animals, meaning that anyone or anything can be your friend whether it teaches you something or not. It's also the way you look at it. The little girl in the book took everything she saw in a positive way, which then led to her to be able to do all the things she learned. 

by Julie Flett
Ages 5–6
Recommended by Muslimat O., Baychester Library
In English and Cree by a Canadian author/illustrator

Do you like to play? If the answer is yes, did you know that animals like to play as well? We All Play / kimêtawânaw by Julie Flett shows how we as humans are connected to animals. This book shows you beautiful illustrations of how different animals play. You get to see birds who chase and chirp, bears who wiggle and wobble, whales who swim and squirt, and owls who peek and peep, and how you might love to do the same. And you know what the best part is? You can play along with the characters when reading the book! You can sing, jump, and have a blast! Also, did you know that a rabbit is called wâpos in Cree? If not, then you are in luck! The book includes a glossary at the end so you can read the book to learn different words in Cree then share/teach it with your friends and family!! Don't forget kimêtawânaw! 

by Heena Baek, translated by Sophie Bowman    
Ages 5–10
Recommended by Jeba A., Parkchester Library 
In English | Translated from Korean

Have you ever wanted or had a pet? Even if you have a pet, have you ever felt you don’t have enough friends? Or that your family doesn’t understand you? Then, here is your signal to read this book. A Korean boy named Tong Tong feels lonely since he doesn’t have friends to play with. He has a dog named Marbles and a father who loves him but who sometimes can’t do what Tong Tong wants him to. Tong Tong doesn't realize all that he has until he eats the magic candies that give him the power of hearing others. Read this book and appreciate your loved ones! 

written by Malala Yousafzai and illustrated by Kerascoët
Ages 7-9
Recommended by Alicia N., Bronx Library Center
In English by a Pakistani author and French illustrators

In this book it shows a variety of different lessons and messages which many people don't know because they haven't been in the position. Without books like these we would never see how other children live. This book made me realize how many children are uneducated due to either environmental, financial, or family factors. They do not choose these factors at all but they are forced to deal with it even if they wish to be educated. This book is from a girl and her name is Malala. Malala spoke up for thousands of other girls and students who were forced to not go to school. When Malala stood up to the Taliban because she had enough they tried to silence her, but they couldn't. This is why we are hearing her story now and why this story is all over the world.