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So, here are our most beloved readings that were published this year.
Enjoy!



























by Chris Dunn
Have you ever heard of a Christmas Dog before? Is a distant relative of the other Christmas animals: elfs, reindeers, santa’s helpers I cannot remember right now.
Of Chris Dunn I am sure you’ve heard before, he is one of the most talented illustrators that live and work among us. And one of my personal favourites, so I couldn’t wait to get his last book, the traditional Christmas Carol in the dog version. They are all so cute! , my daughter said after finishing the book. And with the white landscape of Central Park on the cover, you meet one of the most beautiful Christmas books you ever red. And one of the great books of 2025. So how else is counting the days until Christmas?







by Debbie Levy, illustrated by Boris Kuliakov
Winter was coming in Europe, after the World War II left only ruins and hunger in so many countries. In America, people was asking “How can we help?” And they did. They manage to collect food and clothes and toys for the children in Europe. The Friendship Train ran from the West Coast to the East, bringing along 50 wagons! Children all over America brought toys and books and clothes; they sold newspaper and donated their allowences to raise money and food for Europe’s children.
Their work and effort was kindly received. 59 boxes with “Thank you” letters from the children of Europe went back to America.
When we ask what we can do to make things great again, maybe what those kids did back then should be a lesson and a starting point. Kindness can make all things and countries great again.












by Brian Lies
Brian Lies is one of the most talented artists of our times. I don’t know if we are fully aware of how lucky we are to be able to share the same world and times with such an maestro. Ones, the luckiest of us, get to even know him in person. For us, living in the other part of the world is not so simple to met him at the grocery store or to invite him ar our daughter school. But we did invite all of his books in our home and are special guests there.
His latest masterpiece, Cat Nap. The story is somehow simple: in the quiet setting of an art museum, a brave or hungry enough mouse disturb the house cat’s siesta. What is follows? An explosion of colour and forms, of mixed media and art, a pure joy. Enjoy!










Over the years we managed to get quite a collection of picture books to read about fall amd autumn activities and celebration. Enjoy!
































Is it the beauty or the illusion of the freedom given by their flight that draw us to admire them so much? The singing or the fragility?
Whatever it is, their world is still magical and deserve all the admiration.
Because we also like them very much, we like to see them in the nature and to read about them. Or just admire beautiful art and illustration about them.
So, this is our collection of books about birds. Enjoy!


























































The White Ravens Catalogue 2025
International Youth Library a publicat editia 2025 a catalogului White Ravens in care 215 carti pentru copii au reusit performanta de a fi incluse. Printre ele se numara si singura selectie care reprezintă Romania in catalog, “Cozonacei cu stafide” de Diana Tivu, aparuta la editura Frontiera.
Am apreciat introducerea in catalog a catorva titluri pe care le avem deja in biblioteca, dar am descoperit si cateva nestemate noi rasfoind catalogul online.
Sa incep cu Gianni Rodari si a lui “The book of whys” aparuta anul trecut. O carte enciclopedie, dar si plina de magie 🙂
Alti doi autori apreciati si talentati, Matthew Burgess si Doug Salati. Si cartea lor “ Words with wings and magic things”.
Urmeaza fabulosul Neil Packer si a lui minune de carte “La parabola del panificio indipendente”. Pe care am cumparat-o si ma bucur nespus pentru asta, chiar daca nu stapanesc limba italiana atat de bine. Ilustratiile sunt la fel de magice in orice limba 🙂
Lauren Redniss este o artista vibranta si ilustratiile ei sunt pe masura: pline de culoare si de intensitate. Uneori poate prea pline de culoare si intensitate. Heatwave nu se dezminte de la stilul artistei si parca simti o caldura sufocanta venind dinspre paginile cartii. Mai ales ca si in Romania vara aceasta a fost una arzatoare si amintirea zilelor toride in care simteam ca ne topim de cald nu este inca foarte departe incat sa o fi uitat complet.
Anna Desnitskaya este si ea cunoscuta cititorilor din Romania, iar cea mai recent publicata carte a ei , “ A star shines through” este povestea emigrării in Israel a artistei care s-a nascut si a trait toata viata ei la Moscova. Pana dupa invadarea Ucrainei, cand a simtit ca este momentul sa plece. Ce m-a convins sa cumpar cartea a fost delicatetea si emotia cu care vorbeste autoarea despre acest moment de rascruce din viata familiei sale. Intr-o masura sau alta, fie ca realizam sau nu, suntem pregatiti sau nu prea, multi dintre noi migram. Parasim casa parintilor, orasul natal, tara in care ne-am nascut. Este un proces greu si lung, anevoios si deloc usor de parcurs. Cu atat mai mult atunci cand cultura in care emigram este una complet straina. Limba, oamenii, obiceiurile. Dar, incet , incet “life as we know it, comes back”. Cu o decoratiune de la Ikea sau un zambet din partea unui vecin.
La final am pastrat o explozie de curaj, perseverenta si culoare. “Touch the sky” ilustrata de Chris Park este povestea unui baietel simpatic si cu par lung, pe nume Vern, care isi doreste foarte mult sa isi poata face vant singur in leagan. Dar nu reuseste, oricat incearca. Pana cand o intalneste pe Gretchen, care stie deja cum sta treaba cu leganatul. Si cu esecul primelor incercari. De aceea il incurajeaza pe Vern sa incerce si sa aiba incredere pentru ca sigur va reusi. Si chiar asta se intampla. Va poate parea o poveste simpla si deloc deosebita. Dar nu este; pe langa culorile vibrante si ilustratiile extrem de atragatoare, mai ales pentru cei mici, aceasta provocare de a reusi singur ceva ce pare atat de simplu privit din afara, dar atat de greu de realizat cand ai doar cativa anisori este ceea ce copiii experimenteaza foarte mult. Si orice exemplu de experienta in care alt copil trece prin acel moment si poate nu i-a fost usor, insa dupa mai multe esecuri a reusit ceva ce părea imposibil, este binevenit cred eu. Pentru ca asa este viata, pentru a atinge cerul, mai intai trebuie sa inveti sa zbori. Si uneori, mai si cazi. Important este sa te ridici si sa tot incerci pana reusesti sa iti indeplinesti visul.






Enjoy!