Homeschooling Downunder
Asia - A Rookie Geography -Allan Fowler
A large print photgraphic book covering various aspects of Asia: landscapes, peoples, some animals and landmarks. Ages 5 - 8 yrs
Royal Diaries: Lady of Ch'iao Kuo - Laurence Yep
Set in Southern China in 531 AD, this is a fictionalised diary based on the facts known about this princess of the (Southern) Hsien Chinese. The Chinese historian, Wei Chien, recorded that this princess commanded armies and developed military strategies. HB Ages 12 - 16 yr
The Heavenly Man - Paul Hattaway
Chu Ju's House - Gloria Whelan
Chu Ju is a brave Chinese girl from the provinces. When a sister is born, Chu Ju runs away from home, leaving her parents free to have a son if possible, to help on the farm. Her adventures lead to her working on a sampan on a great river, on a silkworm farm, in a rice paddy where she finds a happy, permanent home, and visiting the city. A moving look at different aspects of modern Chinese society. Five stars! Ages 8- 14 yrs
Anacaona is the Golden Flower of Haiti
A princess in 1490 when the Spaniards arrive. Ages 12 - 18 yrs
Chinese Cinderella - Adeline Yen Mah
This is an amazing true story set in South-East China in the mid 1900's. The author's mother dies and she is brought up largely unloved, despite her family's wealth. Through the foreign concessions, Japanese rule, Chiang Kai Shek, the Communist Revolution and the family's flight to British Hong Kong, Adeline's hopes plummet, right up to a dramatic happy ending. The children's version of Failing Leaves, this is a vivid portrayal of the human capacity for meanness, malice and love. And did you know that the Cinderella story we all know actually was a Chinese story to start with! Ages 14 - 18 yrs
China Coin - Allan Baillie
Grandfather Tang's Story - Ann Tompert
Little Soo asks Grandfather Tang for a story. To tell it, he arranges tangram pieces whihc change shapes quick as a wink as it progresses. Ingenious. The last page shows a tangram square you can make, and then you can make the figures from the story also. Ages 6 - I I yrs
The Ch'i-Lin Purse - Linda Fang
A wonderful collection of nine ancient Chinese stories, filled with warmth and kindness. Ages 7 - 13 yrs_
RedScarf Girl - Ji Li Jiang
Mao's Last Dancer - Li Cunxin
Under Chairman Mao's reign, the author is chosen from a farm commune to train in Beijing as a ballet dancer. Under a gruelling regime of exercise, he succeeds and eventually defects to the West. He now lives in Australia. This is a classic and moving rags to riches story. Adapted for younger readers, because a little of the content in the original version was unsuitable. Ages 12. 17 yrs
The Royal Diaries: Jahanara
A story about the childhood of an Indian Princess - not American Indian. Ages 11 — 16 yrs
Homeless Bird - Gloria Whelan
A young girl in an arranged marriage in India. Her husband dies within days of their wedding and the girl becomes a household servant to the husband's family - as is not uncommon. Eventualoly thrown out, she goes to a refuge and rebuilds her life. The plight of young widows in India. Simply wonderful story. Ages 10 — 17 yrs
Daughter of the Mountains - Louise Rankin
Momo has always wanted a Lhasa terrier--a dog like the ones the Tibetan Buddhist priests hold sacred in their temples. When a trader brings Pempa to her parents' teahouse, Momo's dream comes true. Then a band of robbers steals the valuable dog, and to recover him, Momo must make a dangerous journey from Tibet right through India to Calcutta to find him. Newbery Honor Book. Ages 7 —14 yrs
Amy Carmichael: Let the Little Children Come - Lois Hoadley Dick
The Hidden Jewel - Dave & Neta Jackson
A fictionalised story drawing from the life of Amy Carmichael. In the early 1900's Amy went to India and discovered girls being sold to the temples as infants, spending their lives in frightful servitude of the gods. She formed a refuge and a mission to rescue as many of these as she could, and raised them to know and love the true God who valued them. Wonderful story for younger children whom the more sinister aspects of her rescues may frighten. Ages 8 - I2 yrs
Teresa of Calcutta - Jeanene Watson
An informative and moving biography of Mother Teresa. Sower series. Ages 8 — 16 yrs
Celebrate! Stories of the Jewish Holidays - Gilda Berger
Snow in Jerusalem - Deborah da Cost
Picture book story about a Jewish boy and a Muslim boy both living in their respective quarters in Jerusalem, who both befriend the same cat. Lovely illustrations of the distinct quarters of Jerusalem. Happy ending. HB Ages 7 — 9 yrs.
One More River - Lynne Reid Banks
The Dog of Knots - Kathy Walden Kaplan
Nine year old Mayim moves from Jerusalem to Haifa in northern Israel just as the Yom Kippur War in 1973 is about to start. This story is about how a curly haired dog helps her discover the courage within herself to cope with the war. Ages 9 - I5 yrs
Light Force - Brother Andrew
A stirring account of the church caught in the Middle East crossfire. Leaving ministry in Eastern Europe, Brohter Andrew moved to work in the Middle East, particularly helping Christians in Palestine and Lebanon who are undergoing dire hardship because of the political situation and their faith. An inside look at the side not usually understood by Westerners.
Gripping and relevant. Ages 15 yrs — adult
The Breadwinner - Deborah Ellis
Shabanu - Suzanne Fisher Staples
Shabanu lives in Pakistan's Cholistan Desert. Her family are nomadic camel herders. Life is hard and Shabanu learns that a Muslim girl's duty comes before the desires of her heart. Based upon stories the author heard from women she knew when working on a literacy project in Pakistan. Note: Some brief details about a girl entering puberty and preparing for an early arranged marriage are discussed, which may make this book inappropriate for boys or younger girls. Newbery Honour Book. Ages 12 - 16 yr
The Librarian of Basra - Jeanette Winter
A true story of the work of the librarian of Basra, Iraq, as she works to save the books, some centuries old, from the encroaching United Nations army in the War Against Terror. Ages 5 -12yrs
A Stone in My Hand - Cathryn Clinton
A story about one Palestinian girl in the Gaza strip. Her father is killed by a terrorist bomb while traveling to work. Her brother is now planning to join Islamic Jihad out of hatred for the Israelis who rule their land. Malaak and her mother and older sister must find how to deal with the constant stress of their life and how to sway Malaak's brother away from terrorism. A good look at daily life in the occupied territories. Ages 10 - 16 yrs
Sami and the Time of the Troubles - Florence Heide
A moving and hopeful story about a boy growing up in Beirut, Lebanon, during the "time of the troubles" in the late 1 900's. His grandfather teaches him how to have hope and courage in what looks like a time to despair and his mother makes a basement into a home. Very worthwhile story. Great illustrations. Ages 6 - 12 yrs
Goodbye, Vietnam - Gloria Whelan
Killing Fields, Living Fields -Don Cormack
Little Brother - Alan Baillie
Anna and the King - Margaret Landon
In the 1860's the king of Siam (Thailand) hires an English governess to teach his children English manners and academics. Anna Leonowens encounters a society where all must grovel before the king whose word is ,aw. She sees a part of society no Westerner had ever seen and ae.eops an understanding of the sys of the king Her work with e young prince hastens the modernisation of this kingdom. Incredible true story. Adapted for ages 8 - 14 yrs.
Land That I Lost — Adventures of a Boy in Vietnam - Nhuong, Huynh Quang
The author lived in a hamlet in the central highlands of Vietnam, before the Vietnam War. Surrounded by jungle on one side and a river on the other, he and the villagers encountered animals daily--some easily tamed, others, like tigers and wild hogs, which were terribly dangerous. Full of life! Also available: the sequel with more wonderful tales from the author's childhood: Water Buffalo Days. Ages 6 - 14 yrs
Torches of Joy - John Dekker
A chapter from a present-day book of Acts. In the 1960's John and Helen Dekker go to bring the message of Christ to the Dani, stone age tribespeople hidden away in a remote part of Irian Jaya. A remarkable transformation takes place that could only be directed by the hand of God. Ages 8 yrs - adult
Sadako and the 1000 Paper Cranes — Eleanor Coerr
Based on a true story, young Sadako faces the battle of her life when she is diagnosed with "atomic bomb disease" (leukemia). She turns to an old Japanese legend that says if she makes one thousand paper cranes she will be well. Ages 8 — 12 yrs
So Far From the Bamboo Grove - Yoko Kawashima Watkins
This is one of those very worthwhile books. The author as a young girl, and her family, flee North Korea and their beautiful home in a bamboo grove, ahead of the Russians and North Korean Communists, and the Americans too. Because they are Japanese and it is WW2. Unsupportive of their own government's role in starting the war in the Pacific, they are nevertheless caught up in the results. They survive through amazing difficulties and make the trip across the strait to Japan where the struggle continues in a nation trying to rebuild itself. Presents a perspective of WW2 rarely seen. Riveting. Ages 13 -18 yrs
Shipwrecked! The True Adventures of a Japanese Boy - Rhoda Blumberg
A biography of Manjiro, the first Japanese person to visit the West, and an important advisor to the Japanese during Commodore Perry's visit to Japan. Well illustrated with artefacts and realistic drawings. Ages 8 — 15 yrs
Royal Diaries: Kazunomiya, Prisoner of Heaven
The youth of the princess of Japan, 1858. A fictional diary based on known facts about Kazunomiya's life. Ages 11 - 16 yrs
The Old Man Mad About Drawing - Francois Place
This biography brings to life the famous Japanese illustrator and printmaker, Hokusai, also the inventor of the manga. The Japanese-style coloured illustrations bring the reader into 19th century Edo. All of his techniques are explained and clearly illustrated in this special story. HB Ages 8 - 16 yrs
A Single Shard - Linda Sue Park
A story of a twelfth century Korean boy who comes to work in a potters village. Sent to the king's court to show his master's pottery, little does he know that this difficult and dangerous journey will change his life forever. Newbery Award winner. Ages 8 -I5 yrs
The Year of Impossible Goodbyes
When My Name Was Keoko -Linda Sue Park
A true story of a Korean family living under the Japanese occupation before WW2. As Japan begins to lose the war, the Korean colony is affected. Sun Hee's family members go to sacrifice much to keep the Korean flag flying in their hearts, while not offending their oppressors. Tells a lot about Korean customs and family life, from the point of view of 13 year old girl Kim Sun Hee, who had to take the Japanese name, Keoko, during the occupation. Inspirational. Ages 10 - 16 yrs
I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade - Diane Lee Wilson