Margi Preus est une auteure de littérature jeunesse dont les œuvres sont reconnues pour leur narration captivante et leurs explorations perspicaces de l'enfance. Elle aborde des thèmes tels que l'amitié, le courage et la découverte de l'inconnu, en y mêlant souvent des éléments d'histoire et diverses traditions culturelles. Sa voix narrative distinctive donne vie à des personnages captivants et à des voyages d'aventure qui résonnent auprès des jeunes lecteurs. L'écriture de Preus invite les enfants à explorer le monde avec émerveillement et empathie.
The story revolves around Francie, who discovers that a small, engraved silver box holds the key to her identity and the mystery of her missing mother. As she deciphers cryptic clues, she realizes that the box is so valuable that it attracts dangerous individuals willing to go to great lengths to obtain it. The tension escalates as she navigates the threats surrounding her, all while seeking the truth about herself and her family.
A red squirrel stows away on a canoe to fulfill his dream of joining a group of voyageurs--men who paddle canoes filled with goods to a trading post thousands of miles away. A Finalist for the Minnesota Book Award It is 1792 and unbeknownst to a group of voyageurs traveling from Montreal to Grand Portage, an intrepid squirrel, Jean Pierre Petit Le Rouge, sneaks onto their canoe. Le Rouge is soon discovered because he can't contain his excitement--mon dieu he is so enthusiastic. The smells! The vistas! The comradery! The voyageurs are not particularly happy to have him, especially because Le Rouge rides, but he does not paddle. He eats, but he does not cook. He doesn't even carry anything on portages--sometimes it is he who has to be carried. He also has a terrible singing voice. What kind of voyageur is that? When they finally arrive at the trading post Le Rouge is in for a terrible shock--the voyageurs have traveled all those miles to collect beaver pelts. With the help of Monique, a smart and sweet flying squirrel, Le Rouge organizes his fur-bearing friends of the forest to ambush the men and try and convince them to quit being voyageurs. Written by a Newbery honor author, the book has over 20 black-and-white illustrations.
In 1841, a Japanese fishing vessel sinks, and its crew swims to a small, unknown island, where they are rescued by an American ship. With Japan's borders closed to Western nations, the crew heads to America, learning English along the way. Manjiro, a curious 14-year-old boy, is eager to absorb everything about this new culture. Eventually adopted by the ship's captain, he moves to New England, then travels to San Francisco to pan for gold. After many years, he returns to Japan, only to be imprisoned as an outsider. Armed with his knowledge of the West, Manjiro seeks to persuade the emperor to open Japan's borders and fulfill his dream of becoming a samurai.
This Newbery Honor Book is praised for its rich storytelling, blending gritty seafaring adventures with a poignant exploration of prejudice and promise. Manjiro's journey, illustrated with his own drawings and archival material, captures his wonder and willingness to learn, as well as the challenges he faces. The narrative highlights the similarities between cultures and the emotional reunions with his family. The author skillfully intertwines fact and fiction, creating an adventurous and heartwarming tale that reflects early anti-Asian sentiments while showcasing America through Manjiro's eyes.
