December Reviews of the Latest Spanish-Language Titles for Children: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Bilingual Titles
Dec 15, 2010ADA, Alma Flor & F. Isabel Campoy. Ten Little Puppies/Diez perritos. tr. by Rosalma Zubizarreta. illus. by Ulises Wensell. unpaged. glossary. HarperCollins/Rayo. Mar. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-147043-1; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-147044-8. LC number unavailable.
PreS-In one of the most popular counting rhymes in Spanish folklore, 10 adorable puppies decrease by one with each page turn. Enticements such as snow, pastries, fireworks, a new home, theater, sickness, and fun cause the puppies to move on, until only one remains as a beloved companion for a child. Vibrant colored-pencil and watercolor illustrations are done in deep hues of green, pastels, and earth tones to create realistic images that capture the spontaneous, playful, and affectionate nature of the pups. The text can be sung or spoken in Spanish or English. The English translation skillfully utilizes rhyme to maintain the story’s authenticity while accurately reflecting the original poem. The back section contains musical notation of the melody, guitar chord symbols, the bilingual verses in their entirety, and a glossary with information about the 10 dog breeds featured. Large, appealing illustrations will make this a favorite for storytime presentations; an excellent source in helping children to develop prereading skills, and a fun way to introduce them to early math concepts such as addition and subtraction.–Cristi Jenkins, Fort Vancouver Library District, WA
ALIAGA, Roberto. El camión de papel. illus. by Claudia Ranucci. 45p. (Librosaurio Series). Macmillan Iberia. 2010. Tr $11.95. ISBN 978-84-7942-388-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 2-4–When a mysterious little man asks the mayor of Villasilla if he can take all of the town’s paper away, the official scoffs and sends him off empty-handed. Uriel vows to get what he’s come for, so he drives around at night in his vacuum truck, sucking up all kinds of discarded paper. The next day, the mayor finds the town sparkling clean, so he puts on his detective hat and goes about finding the super sweeper. Readers will find the story gets more complicated even before discovering that Uriel is not who he seems. Although not a chapter book, this story is good for beginning readers; it combines fantasy and mystery with whimsical mixed-media illustrations. While managing to stoke young readers’ imaginations, it offers an important lesson on recycling in the process.–Shannon Dye, Peoria Public Library, AZ
BARANDA, María. Sol de los amigos. illus. by María Wernicke. unpaged. Ediciones el Naranjo. 2010. pap. $20.95. ISBN 978-607-7661-13-9. LC 650217539.
Gr 2-5–A bird and a dog roam together throughout the seasons and encounter a variety of other creatures. As they commune in harmony and friendship, they sing about their experiences. The poetic story’s unifying force–the sun–nourishes all living things. The reverent and celebratory tone of the writing is reminiscent of indigenous peoples’ sun and earth worship. The complex imagery calls to mind Latin American vanguard poetry, such as works by Chilean Vicente Huidobro. Wernicke’s fanciful double-page illustrations capture the characters as they wander through natural landscapes. While children are sure to be charmed by the joyous artwork, they are apt to be frustrated by the ambiguous free verse, which contains rich metaphors and symbols and may be too complicated for most young readers. A lovely book with a limited audience.–Gisela Norat, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA
BATRES, Ethel. Pin Pon. illus. by Elizandro de los Ángeles Ramírez. 16p. Piedra Santa Editorial. w/CD. 2010. pap. $13.95. ISBN 978-99922-1-351-3. LC number unavailable.
PreS-Gr 1–A traditional Latin American children’s song has been made into a book and CD kit. The text and illustrations are used to teach children hygiene and good manners from a gentle and positive perspective. Pin Pon, a doll made out of cardboard, begins a typical day by showering, brushing his teeth, going to school, and finally ending by brushing his teeth before going to bed. The illustrations are simple, capturing the rhythm of the song and daily life. Children will enjoy seeing the youngster’s amusing antics while following the flow of the story/song. The last page offers group activities for before, during, and after reading the book, including a recommendation for teachers on the importance of creating a stimulating, relaxed, and trusting environment for students. The CD offers a lovely version of the traditional song and the instrumental version. A good opening and closing selection for bilingual storytimes.–Diana Borrego Martinez, formerly at San José Public Library, CA
CERVANTES, Miguel de. Don Quijote de la Mancha. illus. by Fernando Sáez. 269p. Susaeta. 2010. Tr $24.95. ISBN 978-848-426596-2. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-8–This beautiful rendition of the beloved novel includes the first and second parts of the story, and a prologue tells about the author. Although the language has been simplified for younger audiences, the narrative maintains its integrity and includes all the important adventures of Don Quixote, such as the encounter with the windmills. Lively watercolors are expressive and capture the story’s sense of adventure. This book is a suitable first experience with Cervantes.–Ana Rodriguez, Media Specialist, Tamarac Elementary School, FL
FERNÁNDEZ, Bernardo. Soy el robot. illus. by Patricio Betteo. 47p. Almadia. 2010. pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-6-07411-031-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 2-4 –Yomero is tired of his parents ordering him around so he decides to make a huge change in his life. He finds an advertisement for a website where customers can purchase robotic duplicates of themselves. His chat buddy, Karen, thinks this is a great idea and suggests that he purchase a used one since the originals are so expensive. Fortunately, he finds one in a local garage sale and puts it to work right away. Things go well for human Yomero since he can now leave cleaning, bathing, and going to school to his robot. All is well until he notices that people prefer robot Yomero over him, including the cute girl he has a crush on. Children will relate to Yomero’s laments about his chores and understand his frustration when things don’t go as planned. Reluctant readers who enjoy Jeff Kinney’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” books (Abrams) and Dav Pilkey’s “Captain Underpants” series (Scholastic) will appreciate this humorous tale of a boy trying to circumvent the establishment, and the bright and edgy illustrations will appeal to children who love graphic novels.– Rebecca Alcalá, San Mateo County Library, CA
GAGNE, Tammy. What It’s Like to Be América Ferrera/Qué se siente al ser América Ferrera. ISBN 978-1-58415-854-7. LC 2010006531.
–––– . What It’s Like to Be Sonia Sotomayor/Qué se siente al ser Sonia Sotomayor. ISBN 978-1-58415-853-0. LC 2010006532.
MURCIA, Rebecca Thatcher. What It’s Like to Be Marta Vieira/Qué se siente al ser Marta Vieira. ISBN 978-1-58415-852-3. LC 2010006526.
–––– . What It’s Like to Be Shakira/Qué se siente al ser Shakira. ISBN 978-1-58415-851-6. LC 2010006527.
ea vol: tr. by Eida de la Vega. 32p. (What It’s Like to Be.../Qué se siente al ser... Series). photos. bibliog. further reading. index. Mitchell Lane. 2010. PLB $25.70.
Gr 2-4– These titles cover the lives of contemporary women who excel in very different fields. Each book chronicles the individual’s childhood, education, and current achievements. For instance, children learn about Sonia Sotomayor’s birth in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents, her studies at Princeton and Yale, and her work for the New York State Court System before being appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. In Shakira readers discover how a childhood memory of homeless kids wandering in a park moved the superstar to help needy children in her native Colombia. Each book treats women with the same attention to detail and relevant photos, and child-friendly bilingual texts illustrate each point. Youngsters will enjoy learning about these personalities.– Rhonda L. Jeffers, Coweta Public Library-Central, Newnan, GA
GARCÍA, Elizabeth. El viaje de Lucita. illus. by Plinio Tánchez. unpaged. (Colección Pica Pica Series). Piedra Santa Editorial. 2010. pap. $13.95. ISBN 978-99922-1-343-8. LC number unavailable.
PreS-Gr 1–Lucita and her father journey from their Guatemalan village to New York City. They begin their trip on horseback and continue by bus and taxi until they reach the airport. The child is afraid of flying but carries a red envelope with an important item that gives her strength to continue her adventure. Lucita’s arrival in the city reunites her with her mother where she rides a train and boat. The back of the book has a picture dictionary page with all the modes of transportation used and a reading guide for parents and educators. Tips include making predictions, asking questions, and having children retell the story after it is read. The illustrations are vivacious and large, and the story is short and appropriate for young children learning about transportation and traveling. This is an engaging book to share with a small class.–Angélica Sauceda, Anaheim Public Library, CA
GARZA, Xavier. Kid Cyclone Fights the Devil and Other Stories/Kid Ciclón se enfrenta a el Diablo y otras historias. tr. by Gabriela Baeza Ventura. illus. by author. 176p. Pi ñ ata. 2010. pap. $10.95. ISBN 978-1-55885-599-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6-10–A compendium of scary short stories featuring popular characters from Mexican folklore. Characters such as La Llorona and El Chupacabras are sure to give readers the chills. In “The Witch Owl,” a witch wants to steal a baby from her 14-year-old sister to have as a meal. In another selection, Maya and Vincent, Kid Cyclone’s niece and nephew, say that no one could defeat their uncle. The Devil himself takes the challenge and decides to fight Kid Cyclone. “The Saints” is one instance where Garza uses a common superstition among Latin elders. In this story a star football player gets injured and can’t play anymore. His grandmother promises that he will feel better if he prays to the Saints every day. However he forgets his promise and faces bad consequences. These short stories can be helpful in a bilingual classroom where reluctant readers will learn new vocabulary. They could also be used as read-alouds to illustrate the constant struggle between good and evil characters. The black-and-white illustrations complement each story and add to its dramatic appeal. The Spanish translation is accurate and smooth.–Patricia Bashir, The Brentwood Library, TN
GEIS, Patricia. Alexander Calder. unpaged. (¡Mira qué artista! Series). Combel Editorial. 2010. Tr $21.95. ISBN 978-84-9825-375-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 3-7–This paper-engineered biography is a tribute to Calder’s creativity. The artistic cover has a sphere-shaped opening that shows one of the artist’s works, Sin título . As the author retells Calder’s life, the vibrant artwork changes to include flaps with pictures of the subject or of his work, toys, sculptures, and mobiles; pull tabs that create movement; pop-ups; a chain for readers to shape; and two sheets of paper figures. These figures allow children to create a circus function on one of the pop-ups. From beginning to end, the hands-on presentation allows readers to interact with Calder’s works. Readers experiment, play, and create while learning about the life of the American sculptor. A great addition to special collections.–Ana Rodriguez, Media Specialist, Tamarac Elementary School, FL
GEIS, Patricia. Las Meninas. unpaged. (¡Mira qué arte! series). Combel Editorial. 2010. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-84-9825-487-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 2-6–This extraordinary pop-up book offers an interactive exploration of the life and art of the 17 th -century Spanish painter Diego Velázquez. The artist was invited to live in the palace of King Felipe IV and served as the official royal painter. His most famous work, Las Meninas, depicts the young princess Margarita surrounded by her attendants. The piece is one of the most enigmatic in art history, mostly because the artist features himself twice in the painting–posing in the front with his palette in hand, and in the back of the scene, painting what he sees in front of him. One thing that is remarkable is that in the pop-up version, readers are able to see the back view as well as the front. To explore the theme of mirrors, there is a foldout mirror board and a miniature book that features pictures of other famous paintings that have mirrors. Punch-out figures from the paintings and an elaborate foldout pinhole camera are included for children to further explore the ideas of composition, placement, and point of view. The book is illustrated with color reproductions of famous works of art and peppered with retro-style cartoon pictures of children commenting and asking questions about the art. The tone of the all-Spanish text is friendly, engaging, and informative. This would be an excellent addition to art-history lessons or units on Spanish history and culture.–Rebecca Hickman, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
MCALLISTER, M. I. La heredera de Mistmantle: Libro III. tr. by Helena Salazar. illus. by Iván Chacón. 315p. (Crónicas de Mistmantle Series). Editores Villegas. 2010. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-958-8293-47-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-7-There is peace and trust in the animal kingdom of Mistmantle when Catkin, its heiress, is born. The harvest has been plentiful and the residents prepare for Catkin’s baptism. The night before this big event, a shower of shooting stars captivates all of the inhabitants of this enchanted island and a series of events starts to unfold, the two most important of which are the kidnapping of the heiress by a mentally unstable squirrel and a devastating flood. The happenings are aggravated by malicious rumors about the queen. Three young heroes step up to the plate, fighting their apprehension and sorrow to save the realm from its worst enemy: fear. This is a great book full of suspense that culminates in personal triumph and happiness. Its imaginative black-and-white illustrations, coupled with an excellent narrative, will charm readers.–Narda McCarthy, Broward County Library Consultant, FL
MUDD-RUTH, Maria. Insectos. tr. by Cálamo & Cran. unpaged. (Ciencia en 3D Series). Combel Editorial. 2010. Tr $29.88. ISBN 978-84-9825-493-8. LC number unavailable.
K-Gr 3–This pop-up science book is illustrated with close-up color photographs. Although the book contains only 12 pages, most of them feature mini-books that are chock-full of interesting facts. One of the most striking illustrations is of a huge three-dimensional fly with clear plastic wings, red eyes, and an open mouth. The book contains interactive elements such as movable wheels to illustrate the life cycle from egg to adulthood. While the paper-engineered illustrations are stunning, early readers might be intimidated by the lengthy text and tiny type. A brief glossary is provided in the form of a mini-book.–Rebecca Hickman, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
ORTIZ DE ZÁRATE, Marisol. La canción de Shao Li. 153p. Editorial Bam Bu. 2010. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-84-8343-058-3. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–After three years living at a shelter, 12-year-old Natalia returns to live with her careless and unscrupulous mother, Yuribe; her brother, Airon; and her mother’s boyfriend. Yuribe enters Natalia in a contest for a reality TV show called One Minute of Glory. When the family arrives in London to appear on the program, Natalia and Airon get separated from the adults. After waiting at a train station for a long time, they decide to find their mother. They are hungry and cold and their only hope is to find the TV studios before 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Throughout the ordeal, Natalia remembers snippets of advice that she gained from a girl at the shelter. The two shared a great friendship and even though Shao Li was very young, her words are a source of strength and courage to Natalia. Ortiz de Zárate uses the third-person voice of a fictional children’s writer to tell Natalia’s story of friendship, loyalty, responsibility, and unconditional love.–Patricia Rocha, Teton County Library, Jackson, WY
PERRAULT, Charles. Cuentos de Perrault: cuentos maravillosos para antes de dormir. illus. by Eduardo Trujillo & Marcela Grez. 219p. Susaeta. 2010. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-84-8426-134-6. LC number unavailable.
Gr 2-6 –Children will enjoy this brightly illustrated book of classic tales. The 24 stories include “Blue Beard,” “Puss in Boots,” “Cinderella,” and “Thumbkin.” Most scenes are spreads with simple watercolor illustrations. Many pages have beautifully painted borders reminiscent of old-fashioned handmade books. Regrettably, a thin font is used and placed over the illustrations throughout, making the text hard to read. This book is a good start for those who are ready to introduce children to the trials of life represented in Perrault’s witty and charming stories. They will lead to interesting conversations about topics such as magic, witches, murder, and death. Some may find “Piel de Asno,” or “Donkey Skin,” disturbing. This compendium may be more appropriate for reading one-on-one than in a group setting. The downside is its elevated vocabulary; adults might need to keep a dictionary on hand.– Angélica Sauceda, Anaheim Public Library, CA
PRICE, Mara. Grandma’s Chocolate/El chocolate de abuelita. tr. by Gabriela Baeza Ventura. illus. by Lisa Fields. unpaged. CIP. Pi ñ ata. 2010. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55885-587-8. LC 2009053975.
Gr 3-5-Sabrina recalls a visit from her Mexican grandmother. Abuelita tells her about the history and culture of the Mayans and Aztecs through such activities as unpacking her suitcase with “surprises from México,” shopping at the market, eating ice cream, and taking the girl to school. Children will enjoy reading about their own customs or learning about new ones, such as making hot chocolate with a molinillo , braiding colorful ribbons into their hair, wearing a huipil, and playing with traditional Mexican toys. Fields does a wonderful job of blending images from the pre-Columbian past with Sabrina’s modern present. The emphasis on the characters through the use of warm colors set against dark yellow backgrounds helps to convey the caring relationship between the main characters. The English text is printed on the top of the page with an excellent Spanish version at the bottom. Both languages are enjoyable reading and easy to understand. A spot illustration dividing the two texts highlights important elements from the story. Pair this book with Braids/Trencitas (Lectorum, 2009) for a family storytime honoring abuelas .–Rebecca Alcalá, San Mateo County Library, CA
RODRÍQUEZ, Antonio Orlando. Cuento del sinsonte olvidadizo. illus. by Enrique Martínez. unpaged. Ediciones el Naranjo. 2010. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-607-7661-16-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 1-4 – This lyrical tale follows a mockingbird that has forgotten its song and is looking for a new one. Along the way, it comes across various things with songs, such as a creek, and each one offers to share its tune. After testing them out, the mockingbird finally settles on the song of the young children, which encompasses many elements such as love and laughter. This unique story has a charming ending. The songs interspersed throughout help readers understand the difficult decision that the bird needs to make. The vocabulary might be challenging for younger children, but it does not get in the way of the heart of the tale. Martínez’s impressive depictions of the bird’s journey highly complement the poetic prose and add character to the sinsonte olvidadizo. This story will strike a chord with many readers.–Roberto Zapata, San Antonio Public Library, TX
VILLAR LIÉBANA, Luisa. El misterio del dragón de ojos de fuego. illus. by Emilio Urberuaga. 99p. (Librosaurio Series). Macmillan Iberia. 2010. Tr $12.95. ISBN 978-84-7942-392-6. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6 –Something strange is going on in the forest. Villa Cornelia’s beautiful lake, which once broke records for visitors, is completely empty. The word is that a dragon is lurking around, wreaking havoc and driving people away. However, according to legend, dragons are quite amiable and only become aggressive when acting in self-defense. Will Cloti, a detective hen, and her assistant and admirer, the rabbit Matías Plun, be able to discover what’s really happening in the forest? The creative team behind El misterio de los huevos de oro (2008) and El misterio de la momia locatis (2008, both Macmillan Iberia) weave another enjoyable mystery in this novel with a message about the lengths to which people (or in this case, animals) will go deceive one another. At the same time, it is also about the lengths to which they will go ensure that justice is done. Cloti and Matías’s investigative process goes on a bit and might cause reluctant readers to lose interest without actually appreciating the final ecological message. However, Urberuaga’s cartoonlike watercolors are sweet and humorous, and may their hold attention in parts where the story lags.– Jessica McClinton, King County Library, Auburn, WA
