Postcards

Gabriele Goldstone is one of Canada's finest authors of historical fiction set in eastern and central Europe. After Tainted Amber and Crow Stone (harrowing young adult books about Katya, a Russian-German character from Ukraine, inspired by Goldstone's mother), she returns with a middle-grade novel set in the 1960s in Canada.
Waltraut is an attention-grabbing story of the introverted but curious daughter of Katya, an 11-year-old Canadian who yearns to fit in but is marginalized and bullied. Like her literary hero, Nancy Drew, Goldstone's protagonist is resolute and adventurous—even when she is made fun of by her Canadian classmates for her unusual name and discriminated against by German immigrants critical of her father's unwillingness to become a born-again Christian. Readers of Goldstone's other books should recognize themes introduced in the Red Stone series, while fans of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys will appreciate the novel's inter-textual elements.

Mateusz Świetlicki, University of Wrocław, Poland



Waltraut

Gabriele Goldstone
Design by Setareh
Ashrofologhalai
Victoria, Canada: Heritage
House, 2024. 232 pp.
ISBN: 9781772035087
(Historical fiction, ages 11–14)

This is a charming picturebook that celebrates friendship, inclusion, and the beauty of embracing differences. The story follows a young boy who befriends his autistic neighbor and joins him on a beach adventure with his mother. Through a blend of humor and warmth, the author sensitively portrays the autistic child's unique way of connecting with others, offering young readers a valuable lesson in empathy and acceptance.
The illustrations, crafted with vibrant watercolor and collage, bring the characters and beach scenes to life with bright colors and lively details. The playful imagery perfectly complements the story, capturing the joy and magic of nature as the characters experience the thrill of "licking the wind." This book is a delightful and educational read, encouraging children to appreciate each other's uniqueness and the wonder of shared experiences.

Na Li, freelance illustrator, UK



The Boy Who Loves to Lick the Wind

Fiona Carswell
Illustrated by Yu Rong
Hereford, UK: Otter-Barry Books,
2024. 32 pp.
ISBN: 9781915659156
(Picturebook, ages 4–8)

This picturebook starts with a child who is lonely and has no one around. But one person comes and stays with the child. A branch from the one person's bag reaches the lonely child and flourishes. Another person comes and stays with the two of them, and now there are three people. Another person comes, then another and another and another. The lonely child is not lonely any more. The title is "One Person" but, as the publisher puts it, this book is about "us" and "the power of togetherness," and it will surely make young readers feel that they want to be there for someone too.
Yael Frankel's illustrations match Hae Jun Wee's poetic writing well and convey warm feelings to readers.

Jongsun Wee, Pacific University, USA


한 사람

[One Person]

Hae Jun Wee
Illustrated by Yael Frankel
Seoul, South Korea:
Sigong Junior, 2023. 50 pp.
ISBN: 9791169259217
(Picturebook, ages 5+)

In her debut novel, this young Bashkir author uses a fairytale-like tone and subtly includes archaic vocabulary, creating an expressive style that vividly depicts the life and manners of a Bashkir aul (a fortified village in Central Asia) from the inside. The plot starts with a Russian orphan, Sashka, finding a job with one of the villagers. Then several girls mysteriously die in the house, and Sashka becomes the main suspect. Everyone—from the village's beauty, Altynai, to forest spirits—gets involved in the investigation.
But this is neither an ethnographic essay nor a detective story set in the past. Folklore comes alive in this book: artaks, banniks, shurale, and other mythical creatures appear as protagonists along with Sashka and the mullah's daughter, Zainab. This is a multivoiced narrative, where the fantasy world merges with historical themes and the national flavor is juxtaposed with universal questions about love and justice.

Anastasia Moiseyeva, IBBY Russia



Аул (Aul)

Asiya Arslanova
Illustrated by Anastasia
Nikolayeva
Moscow, Russia: Volchok, 2024.
228 pp.
ISBN: 9785907567269
(Fantasy, ages 12–16)

"Terros...