Adivinario de diccionanzas. (Dictionary of Riddles)
Reviewed by Maureen Beristain, formerly Winspear Business Reference Lib., Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada -- Críticas, 5/1/2008
Zambrano, Alicia, Ed.
illus. by Patricia Acosta. Colombia: Intermedio: Círculo de lectores, dist. by Random House. 2002. 44 p. ISBN 978-958-28-1298-0. $10.95.
Gr 1-3–This collection of entertaining riddles written in rhyme will stimulate young students’ thinking skills. Organized alphabetically by their answers, most riddles refer to familiar objects, such as a paintbrush or a window, while others are certainly more challenging, such as the South American cousin of the ostrich, a ñandú (rhea). The text appears on one side of the page with the answer written backwards below the question, which adds another twist to solving the riddle. Acosta cleverly frames the text to resemble a turning page, which allows her to show a small hint of the answer in that corner where the page is folding. On the opposite page, a full-page, brightly colored watercolor-and-ink illustration provides more clues and sometimes the answer. A riddle about the neck, for example, shows a fish (pez) wearing a necktie around what could be considered its neck (pescuezo). This title will be enjoyed by old and young readers alike, in group settings or individual readings. The riddles can be easily translated to aid Spanish-language learners, and they may be used to encourage students to write their own riddles. Recommended for elementary school libraries that support Spanish-language programs and public libraries serving young Spanish-speaking patrons.
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