El Lorito Pelon

PreS-Gr 3—A multicolored parrot comes to Chicago to live in the Smith's apartment. He desperately misses the fresh air and green trees of Puerto Rico, but he can't tell the Smiths what is wrong because he can only say the two phrases he was taught in Puerto Rico, "Buenas noches, Oquendo" and "Buenos dias, Oquendo." When the parrot tries to escape, he's put in a golden cage for protection. Becoming more sad and lonely, he begins to pluck out his beautiful feathers one by one. The Smiths ask a zookeeper for advice. He explains that the parrot is lonely, so the Smith's get a female parrot from Puerto Rico. Before long an egg is laid in the parrots' nest. The parrots decide that their offspring will never grow up in a cage, so they begin to pluck out their feathers one by one. This time the Smiths know what they must do and send the parrots back to Puerto Rico where they raise their chick happily in the fresh air and greenery. Hilda Perera's simple story is expressively told in Spanish by Gabriella Cavallero who employs different voices for each character. Sound effects and background music supplement the telling. The introduction is in English. The accompanying book features lovely full-page pen-and-watercolor illustrations on a white background. Animal lovers will enjoy this story of compassion and the importance of love and freedom.—Teresa Wittmann, Westgate Elementary School, Edmonds, WA