In tribute to Universal Children’s Day, to do my bit in promoting the welfare of children in the world by posting books which focus on multicultural/multiracial issues, human rights, and/or children who have helped to change the world in some way, I decided to post a link to a review I did last year for a Book Reading Challenge. I had been to Cambodia before for a wedding a couple of years earlier, and was returning for a short visit, before going on to Laos and Vietnam, so dedicated a couple of blog posts to Cambodia in the Reading Challenge…
A Song for Cambodia
Author: Michelle Lord
Illustrated by: Shino Arihara
Published by: Lee and Low Books, March 2008
Ages: 8 years and up.
Synopsis: This is a compelling, moving story of survival, courage and strength.
A true story in the Picture Book, of a nine year old boy, Arn, surviving four years under the Khmer Rouge. I won’t go into detail here about his life and about the book. One cannot believe what he must have gone through, his escape, and his amazing believe in forgiveness. Please click on the following link to read the review and here some of his interviews, and to learn more…. https://thepatientdreamer.com/2011/05/29/book-reading-challenge-book-no-24/
Arn now spends half his year in Cambodia and half in the USA, reviving traditional Cambodian music which saved his life, and helping in humanitarian work. He was also awarded the Spirit of Anne Frank Award.
Resource/Findings: Patricia McCormick’s novel, “Never Fall Down” is a truly gripping insight into Arn’s life. Here is a link to an interview she gave on spending time with Arn, as he openly shared the years of terror and his eventual trip to the USA and safety, as she researched for her book to tell his story. http://patriciamccormick.com/never-fall-down/
As we aren’t having another PPBF before Christmas and I had gathered a couple of Christmas books already, I couldn’t help but post at least one beautiful Christmas book…
The Christmas Angels
Author: Claire Freedman
Illustrated by: Gail Yerrill
Published by: Good Books, Intercourse 2008
Ages: 3 – 7 years
Theme: Christmas, Friendship, angels, joy
Opening Lines: Hush now, can you hear the angels singing, high up in the frosty midnight air? Voices ringing, singing songs of Christmas, Happiness for all the world to share.
Synopsis: It’s Christmas! As we count the days until that happy celebration, the angels share our special times of gladness, from blessing the falling snow to lighting up the starry sky. With lyrical rhymes and atmospheric illustrations, this beautiful book shares the songs of the angels and sends their messages of friendship and joy, celebrating the true meaning of Christmas.
Why I like it: From cover to cover each page is illustrated in beautiful soft colourful hues etched in glitter. Fairies dot each page flying about while our furry creatures, such as rabbits, porcupines, mice, squirrels and skunks, wrapped up warm against the snow, prepare for Christmas. This quiet, soothing lyrical story, celebrating the blessings of peace, laughter and love, would be a joy to read as we tuck the little ones in on Christmas Eve. A beautiful bedtime story just for Christmas! Just look at that cover and tell me you are not in love with it!
Resources/Findings: Christmas angel crafts…. http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/christmas/angels/
Merry Christmas my PPBF friends.
For more books with resources please head on over and visit the lovely author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and find the tab for Perfect Picture Books. Her blog is full of resources links and activities associated with the books reviewed by many authors.
Writer and Dreamer at work 
They both sound wonderful, Diane! Merry Christmas!
Thankyou, Catherine. Glad you like them, Merry Christmas, to you and your family.
I also did 2 picks this week!! You went to a wedding in Cambodia? – That sounds like a good plot for a PB in itself. And I love the Christmas Angels. I just read that this week at the library.
LOL… yes I did Laura. It lasted 3 days. Yes I have a couple of PB ideas from Cambodia. Cool you already read the Christmas Angels story. It is sweet.
Wow, you have given us a double-treat today. Am so glad you reposted A Song for Cambodia – very appropriate. Lee and Low is one of my favorite publishers!
Would you believe I had our Cambodian friends around for dinner out on our deck last night. Thankyou Joanna for your comments.
Such a moving review of Arn and his biography in your last posted review. What a courageous child turned adult now. Thanks for sharing this book. It was definitely worth showing twice as I had missed it the first time.
And your Christmas pick is lovely. Yes, I am in love with the jacket cover. Sounds so sweet for kids on Christmas eve. 🙂
I am happy you enjoyed the review Clar. I have a couple of other posts on Cambodia you might be interested in. It is a very interesting place and Arn is an amazing person. I am also glad you liked the Christmas story to.
Am so happy you reposted the story about Arn as it is such an important story. I never read “The Song of Cambodia” picture book, and should since I’ve read McCormick’s YA novel. And a added treat with your Beautiful Christmas story. Lovely choice — also universal.
LOL… Thankyou Pat. I thought you would like to see this review again. The Christmas story is so sweet, I couldn’t resist.
Can’t get the Christmas Angels at my library, but I just put another Christmas story of here on hold. I also had no idea it is Universal Children’s Day today. In light of what has happened, it makes me even more sad.
Yes dear Julie, it is very sad what has happened. I could not believe my ears when I heard this morning. How poignant it should be Universal Children’s Day. Hope you get a Christmas story out sometime soon.
My heart is so heavy. My friend’s daughter went to that elementary school; she’s in college now.
Great reviews, Diane. That first one sounds amazing – what a story!
Thankyou Carrie, so pleased you liked it.
Both of these books are new to me. And both look very unique. I will have to check them out. Thanks for sharing!
glad you like them Rhyme. I think you will like A Song for Cambodia very much.
Both books look wonderful – in very different ways.
My nephew went to the killing fields when he was travelling in SE Asia. I don’t know if I could do that. The strength that survivors of atrocities have amazes me. It is hopeful.
Your Christmas pick has a lovely cover. Reminds me of Little Grey Rabbit’s Christmas that I loved as a child.
Thankyou Sandi for your lovely comments. Yes I have walked through the Killing Fields. It is a sad place and one people will never forget. S21 is also another place one would visit to remind us of what should never have happened.
Glad you liked the Christmas pick, it is sweet I agree.
Your first book sounds interesting, Diane. It’s important for children to be aware of others who are less fortunate than themselves. And the Christmas book sounds delightful!
Thankyou Jarm, I think you will find A Song for Cambodia very interesting. At the back of the book are some interesting interviews with Arn. Patricia McCormick also met up with Arn and wrote a novel about his life. Amazing guy, he has given back by helping young street kids in the USA use music, instead of fighting to heal anger. Yes I loved the Christmas book very much, glad you liked it.
Wow, Diane, two perfect picks for PPBF. Thanks for introducing me to these two must-reads.
Thankyou Kirsten, so glad you liked them. Happy reading.
Nice double-whammy! 😉 The first book talks about an important topic.The second has a very cute cover!
Thankyou Erik for your comment.