Spanish Books: January 2012
RSSChaired by Freda Mosquera, Broward County Library, FL
ANAYA, Rudolfo A. La Llorona/The Crying Woman. tr. by Enríque Lamadríd. illus. by Amy Córdova. unpaged. Univ. of New Mexico. 2011. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-0-8263-4460-1. LC 20110045987.
Gr 3-5–This revised edition of Maya’s Children: The Story of La Llorona (Univ. of New Mexico, 1997) is infused with new life, mainly due to Córdova’s colorful illustrations. The story follows Maya, who was born with a birthmark on her shoulder that appears to be the sun. The chief priest sees it and knows that she will live forever. He also warns her parents that Señor Tiempo , or Father Time, will not like this and will try to find a way to end her gift of immortality. As Maya grows older and yearns for children, her wish comes true but her happiness is short-lived. Ultimately, Señor Tiempo tricks her, and her children disappear in a storm. Maya is condemned to roaming the land in search of them forever. While unnecessary, the final paragraph spells out a lesson for readers, but the rest of the text succeeds. The translation, which is side by side with the English text, is easy to understand. The illustrations will keep readers interested with the deep, earthy hues employed throughout. This child-friendly story is an excellent addition to the folklore that already exists concerning La Llorona and will no doubt create many new believers.–Roberto Zapata, San Antonio Public Library, TX
HAYES, Joe, retel. The Coyote Under the Table/El coyote debajo de la mesa. illus. by Antonio Castro L. 136p. Cinco Puntos. 2011. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-935955-21-4; pap. $12.95. ISBN 978-1-935955-06-1. LC 2010011430.
Gr 5 Up–In the title story, a dog makes friends with his former enemy, Coyote. Thinking that he is no longer useful, the canine is about to be put down by his masters. But Coyote has a plan for him to prove his worth, and the dog is later able to repay the favor. Some of these stories have visible roots in European folklore, but they are all distinctly Hispanic. In a version of “Puss in Boots,” Gato Pinto, a spotted cat, saves a young man from the treachery of his jealous brothers. In another, a boy gets the power to turn into an ant, an eagle, and a lion, and uses his skills to rescue a fair maiden. Hayes has a perfect storyteller’s voice, and the words flow on the page as though children were listening to the tale in person. The Spanish versions are equally readable and tellable. These tales are a gift to librarians and others who are looking for Latino folktales to share. The illustrator finds the most memorable moments in the stories and brings them to life with feeling. The action is delightful, as are the sometimes hilarious facial expressions. Hayes includes source notes about the provenance of these tales and the changes that he made in his retellings.–Tim Wadham , Children’s Literature Consultant, Fenton, MO
WILSON, Zachary. Un círculo en el cielo/A Circle in the Sky. illus. by JoAnn Adinolfi. ISBN 978-0-531-26123-1; ISBN 978-0-531-26791-2. LC 2011010727.
ea vol: 32p. (Rookie Ready to Learn en español Series). Children’s Press. 2011. RTE $22.; pap. $5.95.
PreS-Gr 2–Written by different authors and illustrated by various artists, these titles focus on numerous topics: “I Can,” “Everything About Me,” “Numbers and Shapes,” and “Animals.” Each book tells a stand-alone story. In Matthias’s Demasiados globos, a child visiting the zoo purchases a cumulative number of balloons for different animals. Pearson’s Puedo hacer de todo tells about a child who has many skills, such as piloting an airplane or traveling through space. The style of the art varies, but it accurately depicts the action and is appealing. The books are well written, using simple language suitable for emerging readers. Welcome additions to most collections.–Ana-Elba Pavon, Elmhurst Branch Library, Oakland, CA
PAVÓN, Mar. ¿Puede pasarle a cualquiera? illus. by Sonja Wimmer. 32p. Cuento de Luz. 2011. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-84-938240-7-5. LC number unavailable.
PreS-Gr 2 -How boring it is to be stuck in a store and told “DON’T TOUCH!” when the adults surrounding you are touching and grabbing at everything in sight. What’s a boy to do? Balzo uses his imagination to make the excursion more bearable, which gets him into trouble–big trouble. He imagines himself transformed into a caterpillar that slides along the floors of a store before becoming a butterfly that flies. His creativity allows readers to see the inner working of a child confronted with the rules of adults. The contrast of muted and bright colors allows youngsters to focus on what or who is really important in the story. The text and surrealistic illustrations work harmoniously to further create this contrast in both worlds. Children will identify with Balzo’s plight, while adults can learn an important lesson about patience and tolerance.–Verónica Corral, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, NC
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