Books with author Margriet Ruurs

Do you get books from a public library in your town or even in your school library? In many remote areas of the world, there are no library buildings. In many countries, books are delivered in unusual way: by bus, boat, elephant, donkey, train, even by wheelbarrow. Why would librarians go to the trouble of packing books on the backs of elephants or driving miles to deliver books by bus? Because, as one librarian in Azerbaijan says, "Books are as important to us as air or water!" This is the intriguing photo essay, a celebration of books, readers, and libraries.

In this beautifully illustrated book, one busy family finds lots to do from sun up to sunset. At the campsite, there’s wood to chop for the fire and fish to catch. And there’s lots of time to explore, climb rocks, splash in the lake, and discover animals in the shadows of the woods. As afternoon turns to evening, supper needs to be made, and just before bed, stories are told around the campfire.When We Go Camping is as instructional as it is delightful. Each painting highlights the tracks of one animal, which curve from the text into the illustration. Readers can turn to the glossary for more details about the wildlife depicted on each page.When We Go Camping is a perfect way to preserve summer memories all year long.

At a school that sits on the edge of the Sahara, students are learning to speak English from a teacher who stands in front of a Webcam in North America. These students are learning in a virtual classroom. In another part of the world, kids aren't waiting to ride the bus to school—they are waiting to hop in a boat that will take them to a school that floats on a river. And some kids don't mind heights, especially those who attend a school on the slope of a mountain in the Himalayas, in one of the most remote corners of the earth. Margriet Ruurs contacted teachers and volunteers, many of whom took cameras in hand to photograph their schools and students. In this lively photo-essay, readers get to know students—from the arid plains of southern Afghanistan to the rain forests of Guatemala—who are pursuing their dreams of a brighter future.

Do you get books from a public library in your town or even in your school library? In many remote areas of the world, there are no library buildings. In many countries, books are delivered in unusual way: by bus, boat, elephant, donkey, train, even by wheelbarrow. Why would librarians go to the trouble of packing books on the backs of elephants or driving miles to deliver books by bus? Because, as one librarian in Azerbaijan says, "Books are as important to us as air or water!" This is the intriguing photo essay, a celebration of books, readers, and libraries.

Cuando pensamos en una biblioteca, nos imaginamos un edificio en una calle o tal vez una sala en una escuela. Pero algunas bibliotecas no están encerradas entre paredes. Algunas se mueven de un lugar a otro de formas increíbles: en autobús, barco, elefante, burro, tren o incluso en carretilla. Estas innovadoras bibliotecas móviles suelen ser la única manera de llevar libros a la gente que vive en lugares remotos, como las montañas de Tailandia, el desierto Gobi de Mongolia o las zonas rurales de Zimbabue. En lugares como estos, la llegada de las bibliotecas es un gran evento muy anticipado. Sin embargo, los libros nunca llegarían a la gente sin el duro trabajo y la dedicación de los bibliotecarios y voluntarios. Margriet Ruurs, escritora y educadora, se puso en contacto con bibliotecarios de todo el mundo y les pidió que compartieran historias de sus bibliotecas. En muchos casos, los voluntarios y los bibliotecarios tomaron sus cámaras fotográficas y retrataron las caras felices de los niños al recibir los libros. El resultado es este ensayo fotográfico inspirador que celebra los libros, a los lectores y a los bibliotecarios. ¿Por qué los bibliotecarios se toman la molestia de empacar libros en el lomo de un elefante o manejar durante millas para llevar los libros en autobús? Porque, como dice un bibliotecario de Azerbaiyán, “la biblioteca móvil es tan importante como el aire o el agua”.

When teenaged Aaron discovers a baby elephant nearly drowning in the swimming pool at the guest lodge where he works, he acts quickly and manages to save the animal just in time. The rescued baby is brought to an elephant orphanage for care, and given the name Zambezi. Though Aaron has been raised to think of elephants as dangerous to humans and their crops, on a visit to the orphanage, he learns that illegal poaching of these animals is threatening them with extinction, and the orphanage is trying to prevent that from happening. And when Aaron is offered a job at the orphanage, his life is suddenly transformed, as he discovers a bond of friendship with Zambezi and his lifelong vocation as an elephant keeper.Inspired by the real-life Aaron and Zambezi at the Lilayi Elephant Nursery in Zambia, author Margriet Ruurs has created a moving story that powerfully demonstrates the plight of endangered animals everywhere. Pedro Covo's stunning illustrations add a level of depth and haunting beauty to the story and the animals. Three nonfiction spreads interspersed throughout the story explore facts about elephants, ivory poaching and elephant orphanages. The back of the book contains ways children can help endangered wildlife. Useful tools include a table of contents and a glossary. This beautifully illustrated nonfiction book spans the curriculum, from life sciences to global awareness to environmental stewardship. It also offers a unique perspective for character education lessons on empathy, caring and responsibility on a larger scale.

At a school that sits on the edge of the Sahara, students are learning to speak English from a teacher who stands in front of a Webcam in North America. These students are learning in a virtual classroom. In another part of the world, kids aren't waiting to ride the bus to school—they are waiting to hop in a boat that will take them to a school that floats on a river. And some kids don't mind heights, especially those who attend a school on the slope of a mountain in the Himalayas, in one of the most remote corners of the earth. Margriet Ruurs contacted teachers and volunteers, many of whom took cameras in hand to photograph their schools and students. In this lively photo-essay, readers get to know students—from the arid plains of southern Afghanistan to the rain forests of Guatemala—who are pursuing their dreams of a brighter future.

In this beautifully illustrated book, one busy family finds lots to do from sun up to sunset. At the campsite, there’s wood to chop for the fire and fish to catch. And there’s lots of time to explore, climb rocks, splash in the lake, and discover animals in the shadows of the woods. As afternoon turns to evening, supper needs to be made, and just before bed, stories are told around the campfire.When We Go Camping is as instructional as it is delightful. Each painting highlights the tracks of one animal, which curve from the text into the illustration. Readers can turn to the glossary for more details about the wildlife depicted on each page.When We Go Camping is a perfect way to preserve summer memories all year long.

From the top of Alaska to the tip of Mexico, the Pacific Coast of North America comes to life in this vividly illustrated alphabet book. From albatrosses and orcas to Zodiac boats, children can identify objects that start with each letter and read along with the lilting text. In addition, each illustration has the featured letter hidden within the colorful artwork, creating a challenge for older readers, too. Featuring forests full of fairies, singing seashells, and persnickety pirates, this is an alphabet adventure for the young and young at heart.