Spanish
RSSChaired by Freda Mosquera, Broward County Library, FL
BACA, Ana. Tía’s Tamales. tr. by Noël Chilton. illus. by translator. unpaged. glossary. Univ. of New Mexico. 2011. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8263-5026-8. LC 2010043209.
Gr 1-3–School is canceled due to snow, so Luz gets to spend the day with her Abuelita. Her modern, young-looking grandmother arrives on the doorstep carrying a big, flowered box and tells the child that they are going to make tamales just like the ones her great Tía taught her great-grandfather Diego to make. The book flashes back to that frosty day. Tía resembles Mary Poppins with her overcoat, boots, and hat adorned with flowers, buttons, and feathers. Magical things happen when Diego can’t get any eggs or fish for the tamales, and Tía puts on her hat. After telling the tale, Abuelita presents Luz with Tía’s magical hat. This cheerful picture book is illustrated in cool tones of almond, pistachio, and pumpkin. The people in the drawings are silhouetted in white and seem to be placed upon each scene. Each page of text is divided into two blocks of color with English on one block and Spanish on the other. The story reads equally well in both languages, and the English is peppered with Spanish words that are included in a brief glossary. This is a delightful tale about how family recipes and stories are handed down from generation to generation.– Rebecca Hickman, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
BRIDGES, Sarah. Yo manejo una niveladora/I Drive a Bulldozer. illus. by Derrick Alderman & Denise Shea. 24p. (Vehículos de trabajo/Working Wheels Series). diags. glossary. index. Web sites. Picture Window. 2010. PLB $25.99. ISBN 978-1-4048-6300-2. LC 2010009868.
PreS–A bulldozer driver named Noah narrates this series entry. He describes the gear he wears to stay safe, and how he maintains his vehicle. He explains what a bulldozer does and outlines a typical day of work. One spread demonstrates the machine’s power by showing how it can take down a large tree. Some of the focus is on Noah himself–how he is outside and subject to the weather and how he can heat his sandwich on the bulldozer’s hood at lunchtime. Factoids are included in small text boxes on each page. End matter includes a diagram of a bulldozer and a glossary. The best thing about this book is the artwork. Created digitally, it feathhhhhures bold colors and simple stylized lines, which will have enormous appeal for youngsters who can’t get enough of big rigs and heavy equipment. Despite some challenging vocabulary, this title is sure to be popular.– Tim Wadham, Children’s Literature Consultant, Fenton, MO
BROWN, Monica. Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match/Marisol McDonald no combina. tr. by Adriana Dominquez. illus. by Sara Palacios. unpaged. Children’s Book Press. Sept. 2011. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-0-89239-235-3. LC 2011012713.
PreS-Gr 2 –Marisol McDonald has brown skin, freckles, and hair the color of fire. She pairs polka dots with stripes and eats peanut butter and jelly burritos. She’s a Peruvian-Scottish-American who is perfect just the way she is. Why not have a game of soccer-playing pirates or mix cursive with print? That makes sense to Marisol. But others seem to see things differently. When another student issues a matching challenge to Marisol, she has to decide if she will conform simply to show that she can. In this lively bilingual book, Marisol is brought to life in both English and Spanish through Brown’s dynamic prose, Palacios’s vibrant illustrations, and Dominguez’s outstanding translation. This fun book allows readers to meet a wonderful character. Children get a glimpse of what it means to grow up in a biracial family and have other people trying to define what is “normal.” The story encourages readers to embrace their uniqueness and be exactly who they are.– Verónica Corral, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, NC
BRUZZONE, Catherine & Louise Millar. Spanish-English Picture Dictionary. illus. by Louise Comfort & Steph Dix. 48p. (First Bilingual Picture Dictionaries Series). Barron’s. 2011. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-7641-4661-9. LC 2010939981.
Gr 2-4 –This beginner dictionary includes more than 350 words and 35 themes. Its design is eye-catching and easy to use. The Spanish alphabet is listed inside the book cover with a guided pronunciation. Each page contains a picture of the entry along with the word in both English and Spanish, as well as the Spanish phonetic spelling. There are nine entries per page except for the numerical entry, which contains the numbers one through 20. The contents page lists the themes in both Spanish and English, from fruits and vegetables, family, storybook words, colors, and more. “Storybook” ( Los Libros de Cuentos ) lists words like “dragon,” “fairy,” and “castle.” The terms are in bold typeface, and the phonetic version is presented in a smaller font along with a quaint illustration that matches the word. This is a fun and colorful picture dictionary primarily for early grade English speakers to learn Spanish and build a basic Spanish vocabulary.–Cindy Moreno, San Antonio Public Library,TX
DE ANDA, Diane. The Monster in the Mattress/El monstruo en el colchón y otros cuentos. tr. by Josué Gutiérrez-González. 98p. Piñata. 2011. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55885-693-6. LC 2010054220.
Gr 3-5 – With the word “monster” in its title, this book is sure to be picked up by children looking for scary stories. However, the six short stories are more about everyday mysteries than monsters or ghosts. In “Abuela’s Mystery Footprints in the Flour,” a grandmother is perplexed by small footprints that appear across the surface of the flour she will use to bake a cake. It is later discovered that her grandchildren have been dipping frogs in the flour tin to better see them hopping in the grass. The title story is about two brothers who hear sounds coming from their mattress. It turns out that their pet rabbit has dug a hole in it and is trying to get out. Other stories involve puzzling mysteries with simple explanations and resolutions. The selections are short and will hold the attention of children who struggle with longer chapter books. The Spanish translation maintains the sense of mystery in the English version. Children may be disappointed by the lack of real monsters and ghosts, but the scenarios are amusing and universal and should have wide appeal. – Roberto Zapata, San Antonio Public Library, TX
EL LIBRO DE LAS FÁBULAS. adapt. by Concha Cardeñoso. illus. by Emilio Urberuaga. 156p. (Tiempo de clásicos Series). Combel Editorial. 2011. Tr $22.95. ISBN 978-84-9825-499-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 1-5–Every page of this smartly illustrated collection of 64 fables is a quick adventure. The volume includes such as favorites “The Tortoise and the Hare,” “The Lion and the Mouse,” and “The Monkey and the Crocodile.” Most selections are accompanied by small, simple pen-and-watercolor illustrations. Pictures are straightforward and animated in muted colors. This book is a good start for those who are ready to explore the trials of life represented in fables. The tales are not necessarily intended to contain morals, and some are practically outlines in their adaptation. Cardeñoso writes in concise language. The “The Owl and the Eagle” describes the pact the two birds have made to protect each other’s chicks. Unfortunately for Owl, she boasts that her chicks are clever and smart and easy to recognize. When Eagle unwittingly finds them and sees them as dumb and fragile, she eats them not knowing they belong to Owl. Eagle quickly replies, “If you had told the truth and not let yourself be blinded by love they may still be alive. Learn for next time!” This book may be more appropriate for reading one-on-one or to a small group where discussion can follow the adaptations.–Angélica Sauceda, Anaheim Public Library, CA
FINN, Carrie. Comportamiento y modales en la biblioteca/Manners in the Library. illus. by Chris Lensch. 24p. (¡Así debemos ser!/Way to Be! Series). Picture Window. 2011. PLB $25.99. ISBN 978-1-4048-6697-3. LC 2010041030.
PreS-Gr 2 –This book illustrates many different ways that good manners make a library visit a pleasant one and ensure that everyone has a positive experience. Some of the suggestions include keeping quiet, being careful with library materials, asking for help, and returning books on time. Lensch’s digital illustrations are fun and expressive and re-create various library settings. This book is a great resource to teach library etiquette.– Liliana Patricia Rocha, Teton County Library, Jackson, WY
GONZALEZ, Maya Christina. My Colors, My World/Mis colores, mi mundo. illus. by author. unpaged. Children’s Book Press. 2011. BD $7.99. ISBN 978-0-89239-234-6. LC 2010036392.
PreS–This gorgeous adaptation of Gonzalez’s picture book (Children’s Book Press, 2007) is now available in a board-book format. Youngsters will meet curious and playful Maya and, through her vivacious dark eyes, will discover the colors in her world. Sentences are short and simple, yet poetic, placed at the bottom of each page, on a contrasting bold banner. Spanish text on the left and English text on the right, in black fonts, with the color names highlighted on the hue featured on each page, reinforce the concepts and provide elements for early discussions about Maya’s exploration of her surroundings: the garden, the park, and the street. Gonzalez’s full-color, realistic illustrations take on a surrealistic dimension on the last page as Maya flies up through the sky, flanked by the velvet blue of the night that falls and the sunset that makes the street look pink. A beautiful and much-needed edition, in a format that youngest patrons will enjoy.–Freda Mosquera, Broward County Library, Fort Lauderdale, FL
LECHERMEIER, Philippe. El diario secreto de Pulgarcito. tr. from French by Elena Gallo Krahe. illus. by Rébecca Dautremer. 192p. Edelvives. 2010. Tr $41.95. ISBN 978-84-263-7676-3. LC number unavailable.
Gr 3-5–In the same vein as the Grimms’ “Hansel and Gretel,” Pulgarcito and his six brothers are abandoned in the forest, left to fend for themselves, and picked up by a strange old woman and her ogre of a husband, who, as it turns out, have quite the habit of making children into their next meal. Pulgarcito, being the smallest but also the most courageous, quickly uncovers the couple’s intentions and works out a plan of escape, which then leads to discoveries that bring an end to his village’s great famine. Pulgarcito’s heroism also has the added advantage of uniting him with his great love, Marimota Matarile. In the tradition of a really great graphic novel, the pictures tell most of the story. The illustrations are odd, intriguing, and beautiful in a bold and spooky way. While reluctant readers may be challenged by the advanced and lyrical prose, the illustrations are sure to capture the imagination of fairy-tale lovers of all ages.–Jessica McClinton López, King County Library System, Auburn, WA
LOS HERMANOS QUE SE VOLVIERON MICOS. adapt. by Nerei. illus. by Carlos Piedrasanta. unpaged. (Las historias del Popol Vuh Series). Piedra Santa Editorial. 2010. pap. $13.95. ISBN 978-9929-562-23-3. LC number unavailable.
Pres-Gr 2–This story of sibling rivalry and envy is from Guatemala’s Popol Vuh folklore and is a great addition to any library. Twins Junajpu and Xbalamke have two older stepbrothers who don’t like them. They lay the younger boys on an anthill, don’t feed them, and won’t share anything with them. As the boys grow older, they think of ways to get rid of their older brothers. One day, Junajpu and Xbalamke tell Jun Batz’ and Jun Chowen that some birds they are hunting are caught in a tree. They trick the older boys into climbing up in the branches and, once there, they are turned into monkeys for mistreating their brothers. The colorful spreads are full of expression and detail. The rain forest and its characters seem almost lifelike. A family tree and a pictorial character list are included.–Ana Rodriguez, Tamarac Elementary School, FL
MULLINS, Rosemary. Benny Bear Visits the Hospital/Benny Bear visita el hóspital. tr. by Julia Mercedes Castilla. illus. by Susan Mullins Brisbane. unpaged. ABC’s. 2011. RTE $17.95. ISBN 978-0-9800061-0-0. LC 2010934284.
K-Gr 3–Benny the Bear falls off his tricycle and ends up in a hospital emergency room. As the story progresses, readers witness doctors and nurses providing him with continual care. The cub is soon his normal self again and is allowed to go home. This simple tale is easy to understand and has the potential to serve as a teaching tool as it provides an opportunity for children facing hospitalization to get a glimpse of what to expect. Illustrations are basic computer-generated images. The English text has a nice, clear block font while the Spanish text is in italics. The realistic, relevant story line and appealing bear characters will be appreciated by young audiences.–Rhonda Jeffers, Coweta Public Library System, Newnan, GA
SANTOS, Care. La luna de Sam. illus. by Issa Sánchez-Bella. 84p. (El genio ifigenio). Macmillan Iberia. 2011. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-84-7942-630-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 3-5 –In this installment in the series, Ifigenio, a genie, materializes through Sam’s cup of milk. Once the boy realizes who has appeared, he makes the greatest wish he can think of: to have the Moon. Ifigenio grants his wish and warns Sam about what may occur. Mayhem ensues as scientists try to figure out what happened and the public laments over the loss of the celestial orb. Sam shares his secret with his love interest, Bianca, who in turn reveals it to others. Sam shows the Moon to his mother one night, to her delight, and finally decides it’s time to return it. This is a slight, but sweet story about a son who wants to make his mother smile. The illustrations are fun and vibrant in color although they don’t always match the text on the page. Punch out pictures and stickers are included. This book is recommended for libraries in which Ada, la genia; Quiero ser una planta; and Un ratón llamado Elefante (all Macmillan Iberia, 2010), are popular.–Rebecca Alcalá, San Mateo County Library , CA
VALVERDE, Mikel. Antología de cuentos con música. music by Koldo Uriarte. illus. by author. 60p. w/CD. Macmillan Iberia. 2011. Tr $26.95. ISBN 978-84-7942-611-8. LC 690088864.
Gr 1-3 –This whimsically illustrated book includes two CDs. Children can listen to the animated narrations, and strong readers can read along with the original music tracks that accompany each story. The six stories and single poem weave valuable life lessons that children can discover best with the guidance of an adult. Youngsters learn that pride can make them inflexible and isolate them from others. Beating the odds is a recurrent theme throughout. In one story, a little girl from an underprivileged and dysfunctional family seizes the chance to turn a dire situation into a happy one. A fable depicts how the instinct for survival inspires desert animals to paint stripes to distinguish the tiger that threatens their existence. The poem and a couple of other stories urge children to be themselves and dare to break away from the flock mentality that may stifle their self-identity. One boy, initially ecstatic to walk in someone else’s shoes for a day, rejoices when he is finally free to wear his own. The concluding story can serve to teach children to be mindful of predators that lurk in familiar places and may even fool adults with their clever disguises. Strongly recommended for all institutions serving children.–Gisela Norat, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, GA
VERDICK, Elizabeth. Germs Are Not for Sharing/Los gérmenes no son para compartir. illus. by Marieka Heinlen. unpaged. Free Spirit. 2011. pap. $11.95. ISBN 978-1-57542-368-5; BD $7.95. ISBN 978-1-57542-369-2. LC 2010045439.
PreS–Each page gives a tip in English and in Spanish on how to deal with germs–for instance, what to do when a child has a cough, has a runny nose, uses the bathroom, etc. The page that shows children washing their hands also features musical notes along with the text to suggest the singing of a hand-washing song. The colorful spreads are appealing and support the information in the text. The figures and furniture are outlined with bold black ink and filled in with bright colors. The characters are of different ethnicities and are easy for children to relate to. A “Tips for Parents and Caregivers” is appended. A valuable resource for public, school, and home libraries.–Cindy Moreno, San Antonio Public Library, TX
WEILL, Cynthia. Colores de la vida: Mexican Folk Art Colors in English and Spanish. Bk. 3. illus. by Artisans from Oaxaca. unpaged. (First Concepts in Mexican Folk Art Series). Cinco Puntos. 2011. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-933693-82-8. LC number unavailable.
PreS-Gr 1–This beautifully illustrated work by the author of ABeCedarios (2007) and Opuestos (2009, both Cinco Puntos) makes learning colors fun. Bright sculptures by Oaxacan artists capture the folkloric ambiance of the area, infusing the pages with whimsical animals splashed with color. Pink cattle eat hay while a calf nurses from its mother. Two pigs sport vibrant flowers interspersed with flying white birds on their hides. A huge, black, metal spider looks curiously at readers. Golden fish donning bows and hats swim across the yellow page. Figures correspond with the same-colored backdrop, giving young readers the chance to explore varying shades between the illustrations and colored text naming the target pigment. This book will delight old and young alike as they explore colors. Suitable for use with toddler and preschool storytimes and in beginning Spanish classes.–Cristi Jenkins, Fort Vancouver Regional Library System, WA
WIMMER, Sonja. La coleccionista de palabras. illus. by author. unpaged. Cuento de Luz. Sept. 2011. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-849382406-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 1-3–Luna is a sprightly young girl who lives in a lighthouse in the sky and collects words of all colors, shapes, and sizes. Her fanciful world changes when she learns that the people living down below have lost many of the beautiful words she so passionately loves. From her hot-air balloon, she decides to sprinkle words of brotherhood and tolerance among the violent and hateful people and words of friendship and compassion among the sad and lonely. By the time her suitcase is empty and she has dispersed all of the positive words, she has helped people realize their magic and power. The text is scattered on the pages like concrete poetry and is at first hard to follow. Fortunately the last pages have the poetic story written out so that readers can go back and absorb it more easily. The illustrations reveal steampunk-type cartoon characters and settings fashioned from rich acrylics. What is most impressive is how the illustrations and text are seamlessly woven together to reinforce the fablelike notion on the power of words. This superior effort is best for one-on-one sharing in order to navigate the scattered text and to fully appreciate the artistry.–Shannon Dye, Children’s Services Librarian, Sno-Isle Libraries, Monroe, WA
Recommended Translation
REY, Margaret & Hans Augusto Rey. A Treasury of Curious George/Colección de oro Jorge el curioso. tr. into Spanish by Carlos E. Calvo. illus. in the style of H. A. Rey by Vipah Interactive and Martha Weston. 192p. Bilingual edition. Houghton Harcourt. Oct. 2011. Tr $11.99. ISBN 978-0-547-52310-1.
PreS-Gr 2–This translation of A Treasury of Curious George (Houghton, 2004) contains eight stories: “Curious George Takes a Train,” “Curious George Visits a Toy Store,” “Curious George and the Dump Truck,” “Curious George and the Birthday Surprise,” “Curious George Goes Camping,” “Curious George Goes to a Costume Party,” “Curious George Visits the Library,” and “Curious George in the Big City.” The English text appears in black type followed by the smooth Spanish text in blue, for an easy transition between the languages and a flowing reading experience.–Freda Mosquera, Broward County Library, FL
