Hello Parents,

I can hardly believe it is December. This time last year, Atlas Book Club had just launched! What a year it has been. And we could not have done it without you. Thank you! 

I want to take a moment to tell you about our work with United For Kids Foundation (UFK). UFK is a non-profit organization based in Nigeria focused on providing educational resources to children in need. As you may know I grew up in Nigeria and books were my windows to an outside world; they fueled my imagination and allowed me to dream big! Because of your support, last month we donated hundreds of books to UFK’s Library on Wheels program. These books will reach children in impoverished parts of Lagos, Nigeria and will, hopefully, allow them to dream big, too. You can learn more about UFK at http://unitedforkidsfoundation.org/.

On to this month’s books – we are exploring Poland! Our intention for this month is to showcase the diversity of Poland and Jewish stories outside of the “single story.” Our Hatch book is a beautiful picture book translated from Polish to English. I just love this simple story about an unlikely friendship. Our Nest Jr. book is absolutely fantastic and easily my favorite this month. This book represents intersectionality at its best and brings together two people from completely different backgrounds to make history. I know that is such a teaser! Next, our Nest book provides a window into the lives of an Orthodox Jewish family in the 1920s, before World War II. I love that we get to be a part of their family traditions and relationships, unmarked by the tragedies to come. And lastly we get a beautiful love story with our Soar book! This book weaves romance, magical realism, time travel and history all in one, and it is FANTASTIC!

I am super proud of these selections and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Drop us a line at info@atlasbookclub.com or send us a message on IG or Facebook.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season! <3

-Bunmi

WHILE YOU WAIT FOR THE DECEMBER BOX CHECK OUT THIS BOOK LIST OF POLISH STORIES! LET US KNOW WHAT BOOKS YOU’RE MOST EXCITED ABOUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

Locomotive by Julian Tuwim, Lewitt and Him (Illustrator)

In the late 1930s renowned Polish poet Julian Tuwim, was asked to write three poems for children. The publisher Przeworski connected the three poems into one book, Locomotive, and commissioned illustrations from celebrated Polish illustration duo Lewitt and Him. Locomotive was the beginning of a creative partnership that lasted many years.

Featuring the original three poems, Locomotive, The Turnip, and The Bird’s Broadcast, children learn what’s inside each train carriage as it chugs along, how many people, animals, and friends it takes to pull a turnip from the ground, and what happens when birds of all kinds gather for a meeting in the woods.

After its original publication in 1939 in Polish, Locomotive was swiftly translated into French and English the next year, appearing at a time when it would have been a surprise and a joy to encounter bright colors and modernist- inflected imagery. Both classic and modern, its imaginative storytelling and appeal has endured and will delight children today as much as it did eighty years ago. (Thames & Hudson) Great for Hatch readers.

Marie Curie by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara, Frau Isa (Illustrator)

When Marie was young, she was unable to go to college because she was a woman. But when she was older, her scientific work was respected around the world. Her discoveries of radium and polonium dramatically helped in the fight against cancer, and she went on to win the Nobel Prize for Physics! This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the scientist’s life. (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books) Perfect for Nest Jr. readers.

The Mermaid of Warsaw: and other tales from Poland by Richard Monte, Paul Hess

The 8 colourful tales in this collection of enchanting, wicked and often very funny Polish folk tales include The Mermaid of Warsaw and other stories gathered from cities, salt mines, lake and mountain regions, with stylish illustrations by Paul Hess. (Lincoln, Frances Limited)

Great for Nest readers.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Berlin, 1942: When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move to a new house far, far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people in the distance.

But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different from his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences. Great for Soar readers.

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