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Children's Nonfiction Skateboarding

Les planchistes aux pieds nus

by (author) Rina Singh

illustrated by Sophie Casson

translated by Rachel Martinez

Publisher
Orca Book Publishers
Initial publish date
Sep 2024
Category
Skateboarding, Asia, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781459841710
    Publish Date
    Sep 2024
    List Price
    $21.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781459841734
    Publish Date
    Sep 2024
    List Price
    $27.99

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Where to buy it

Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels

  • Age: 3 to 5
  • Grade: p to k
  • Reading age: 3 to 5

Description

The remote village of Janwaar in Northern India has been the same for a long time, with the community strictly divided into castes. It's a quiet village… until the construction project begins.

Ramkesh can't tell what it will be—it's all ramps and hills. When it's done, he sees kids playing on it, on strange boards with wheels... Soon, he's invited to try, and he's hooked—practicing tricks and soaring on his skateboard. At first, it's all boys, but Ramkesh invites his sister, and other girls join too. Word gets out that the tiny village is a hotbed of skateboarding talent, and people flock from all over to see it, and to teach the kids new tricks. Ramkesh and his friends even get invited to travel, gaining the first-ever passports for their village. But most important, they come back home to tell of their journeys...and to lead the way for Janwaar into the future, with a newfound sense of joy and unity.

Available in French as Les planchistes aux pieds nus.

About the authors

Rina Singh has published several critically acclaimed books for children inspired by her Indian Canadian heritage, including Diwali Lights, Holi Colors and Diwali: A Festival of Lights, which was nominated for the Red Cedar Award. Rina’s own grandmother never got the chance to go to school. Grandmother School is dedicated to her memory. Rina lives in Toronto with her family.

Rina Singh's profile page

SOPHIE CASSON has illustrated The Artist and Me by Shane Peacock, a finalist for the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, Quelle pagaille! by Danielle Marcotte and Laurence-Aurélie Théroux-Marcotte, a finalist for the Governor General’s Award, and Helen’s Birds by Sara Cassidy. Her highly acclaimed illustrations are inspired by Japanese woodblock prints and World War II–era posters. Sophie’s award-winning work has also appeared in the Globe and Mail, the New York Times, Financial Times, Los Angeles Times and Nature, as well as in the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Sophie lives in Montreal, Quebec.

 

Sophie Casson's profile page

Depuis une vingtaine d’années, Rachel Martinez a publié plus de quatre-vingts traductions dans des domaines variés pour des éditeurs francophones réputés : roman, arts visuels, récit, biographie, essai et littérature jeunesse. Elle a fait partie du conseil consultatif du Centre international de traduction littéraire de Banff de 2017 jusqu’à sa dissolution en 2019, et a siégé plusieurs années au conseil d’administration de l’Association des traducteurs et traductrices littéraires du Canada. Une mention sur la Liste d’honneur 2014 de l’International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) et le Prix des libraires du Québec 2017 (catégorie 12-17 ans, hors Québec) figurent parmi les marques de reconnaissance qu’elle a reçues. Elle a remporté en 2005 le prix du Gouverneur général du Canada en traduction française pour Glenn Gould, une vie de Kevin Bazzana et a été finaliste en 2013 et 2015.

 

Rachel Martinez's profile page

Awards

  • Commended, Junior Library Guild (JLG) Gold Standard Selection

Editorial Reviews

“Bright, cheerful illustrations highlight first the differences and then the commonalities between the two village groups, effectively capturing the joy of the soaring skaters.”

Booklist

“The potential of children to become changemakers even in the most stratified societies is the driving message of Barefoot Skateboarders, and Sophie Casson’s playful illustrations bring Ramkesh’s tentative first steps, and high-flying ollies, into full colour….Tells the true story of how sport can help bridge caste and gender divides.”

Montreal Review of Books (MRB)

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