Quisiera ser fuerte como Manuel/I Wish I Was Strong Like Manuel.
Reviewed by Roxanne Landin, the Fremont Area District Library, Fremont MI -- Críticas, 5/1/2008
Heling, Kathryn.
U.S.: Raven Tree Press. 2008. 32p. ISBN 978-0-9770906-7-9. $16.95.
K-Gr 1–Willie wants to be strong like his friend Manuel, but no matter what he tries, nothing seems to work. The youngster wears his younger brother’s water wings under his shirt “but the air leaked out of one of them.” He carries a heavy log to show off his strength but it fell on his big toe. Everything he tries backfires, with humorous results. While he wishes to be strong like Manuel, the end reveals that Manuel wishes he were tall like Willie. Useful for any young reader, the message of the story does not seem contrived. The watercolor illustrations fit the comical tone and appropriately show Willie’s desire to be strong. Recommended for all bilingual collections.
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