Reviews of the Latest Spanish-Language Books for Children: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Bilingual Titles
English-language reviews of the latest Spanish-language books for children
-- Library Journal, 06/15/2009
These reviews, which will appear in the July issue of School Library Journal, were selected and evaluated by a team chaired by Freda Mosquera, Broward County Library, FL.
FICTION/NONFICTION | PROFESSIONAL READING
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FICTION/NONFICTION
CAMPOY, F. Isabel. Mi día de la A a la Z. illus. by Sandra Lavandeira. 32p. Alfaguara. 2009. pap. $13.95. ISBN 978-1-59820-942-6. LC number unavailable.
PreS-Gr-2–In this charming story, a young elephant tells how he spends his day, taking children through the alphabet and teaching them to tell time as they enjoy his amusing adventures. The elephant wakes up at 7:15 a.m. and starts his daily routines with an Arriba to get ready for school. Each page features a gorgeous illustration, accompanied by a digital and an analog clock, a letter of the alphabet, a corresponding word, and a simple sentence. Readers see the elephant at home, at school, in the park, and at the supermarket before he returns home with his mother. His father gives him a present: a book about a unicorn; and at 8:19 p.m., when he is ready for bed, he asks his parents to read it to him. Campoy’s exceptional command of the Spanish prose, Lavandeira’s dazzling illustrations, the book’s large format, and the variety of themes covered make this a unique title that offers multiple storytelling possibilities for teachers, librarians, parents, and caregivers. An original English version of the story is also available.–Freda Mosquera, Broward County Library, FL
CORPI, Lucha. The Triple Banana Split Boy/El niño goloso. illus. by Lisa Fields. unpaged. CIP. Piñata. 2009. $15.95. ISBN 978-1-55885-504-5. LC 2008034628.
K-Gr 3–Enrique’s grandmother has introduced him to Mexican pastries, and all he can think about are sweets, sweets, and more sweets. His parents scold him: “No sweets at all.” Looking to satisfy his craving, he discovers a way to buy them secretly. In this bilingual book, Corpi presents the consequences of his obsession by introducing El Coco, who is a well-known children’s ghost popular in Latin American folklore. El Coco shows up at night or in mirrors, reflecting Enrique’s exaggerated love for sweets. The child’s mother teaches him a lesson by taking him to Fenton’s Ice Creamery where she invites him to indulge in the most amazing triple banana split he has ever eaten. Later, Enrique’s obsession becomes a passion as his grandmother teaches him the secrets of baking pastries. Children will enjoy this warm story full of vibrant colors, predominantly yellows, with good close-ups and great facial expressions. While the title is not a literal translation, it maintains the sentiment of the author in both languages.–Irania Macias Patterson, Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, NC
CRONIN, Doreen. Pum, cuac, muu/Una loca aventura. tr. by Alberto Jiménez Rioja. illus. by Betsy Lewin. unpaged. Lectorum. 2009. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-933032-53-5; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-1-933032-54-2. LC 2008035879. Original title: Thump, Quack, Moo: A Whacky Adventure (S & S, 2008).
K-Gr 2–The annual Corn Maze Festival is quickly approaching, and all of the animals on the farm, including the mice, have been recruited by Farmer Brown to help make this year’s festival a great success. All of them are enthusiastic about it except Duck, who is reluctant to help. While Farmer Brown is busy working on his maze, fashioned after the Statue of Liberty, Duck is secretly working on a project of his own. Wrapped up in his own project, the man neglects to supervise what others are doing, resulting in unexpected and amusing results. Once again, Cronin and Lewin, with the aid of Rioja’s excellent translation, have created a humorous and entertaining story that will capture children’s imaginations. Lewin’s vividly colored illustrations and clever representations of the characters will make young readers go back to this book again and again. It’s a great read, and it also emphasizes the importance of clear directions and effective communication.–Narda McCarthy, Para los Niños’ Consultant, Broward County, FL
DEMOLAY, Jack. Amityville: La casa encantada. ISBN 978-1-4358-2537-6. LC 2008012419.
____. Atlántida: El misterio de la ciudad perdida. ISBN 978-1-4358-2534-5. LC 2008010145.
____. Bigfoot: La leyenda del hombre-monstruo. ISBN 978-1-4358-2536-9. LC 2008010144.
____. El monstruo del lago Ness: Una misteriosa bestia en Escocia. ISBN 978-1-4358-2538-3. LC 2008012962.
____. El Triángulo de las Bermudas: La desaparición del vuelo 19. ISBN 978-1-4358-2535-2. LC 2008010192.
____. Ovnis: El caso Roswell. ISBN 978-1-4358-2539-0. LC number unavailable.
ea vol: tr. by José María Obregón. illus. by Q2A. 24p. (Historietas Juveniles: Misterios Series). glossary. index. Web sites. Buenas Letras. 2008. PLB $23.95.
Gr 3-5–Nicely illustrated, well translated, and entertaining, this high-interest series gathers mysteries from all over the world. The stories, formatted in a graphic-novel style, start with a delightfully creepy account of one of the most famous ghost stories in America. In Atlántida, readers are given a glimpse of various geographic locations where the famed lost city might have existed. Unfortunately, the depictions of Minion civilization and costumes make the inhabitants look more Mesoamerican than Mediterranean. The single Web site listed is not user-friendly and is unimpressive. This series might appeal to Spanish readers and help them find an interest in the supernatural.–Eric Gómez, Broward County African-American Research Library, Fort Lauderdale, FL
FOREMAN, Michael. El jardín del niño: Una historia de esperanza. tr. by Alberto Jiménez Rioja. illus. by author. unpaged. Lectorum. 2009. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-933032-56-6. LC 2008035878.
Gr 3-5–In this great translation of Foreman’s original, a boy finds a small plant amid ruin and ruble. With his tender care, it grows big and strong, attracting birds, butterflies, and other children while covering the barbed wire fence that separates him from the hills where his father used to take him. A beautiful garden grows and becomes a friendly place where all can play and rest. One day, some soldiers on the other side of the fence tear it apart, leaving the boy with a broken heart. Then spring arrives, and, with the help of a girl on the other side of the fence, the plant grows again, intertwining its branches. The illustrations, with hues imaginatively and cleverly brought together, are the perfect match for the text. Perfect as a read-aloud, the book will also be enjoyed by independent readers.–Narda McCarthy, Para los Niños’ Consultant, Broward County, FL
GARZA, Xavier. Zulema and the Witch Owl/Zulema y la bruja lechuza. tr. by Carolina Villarroel. illus. by author. unpaged. CIP. Piñata. 2009. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-55885-515-1. LC 2008034629.
Gr 1-4–Nine-year-old Zulema is about to lose her reputation for being the meanest girl in the whole wide world. From throwing rocks at people who did not buy her Girl Scout cookies to making dogs and kittens swing around until they spin like airplane propellers, she is a terror. Then a visit from her grandmother changes her behavior. Sabina advises her that if she does not mend her ways, the Witch Owl will take her away. Garza effectively portrays this threat in his artwork by bringing the characters closer and closer to readers’ faces. His whimsical illustrations create a feeling of being inside the scenes. As in his other books, his passion for heroes, wrestling, and creepy creatures is in evidence. The transformation of Sabina into the Big Owl helps create suspense. The end of the story remains open: an owl feather is falling from Grandmother’s hair. Could she be the Witch Owl? This title offers suspense, fun, and surprise.–Irania Macías Patterson, Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, NC
GORDON, Sharon. Animales del desierto. ISBN 978-0-7614-3427-6. LC 2008018211.
___. Animales del mar. ISBN 978-0-7614-3431-3. LC 2008018212.
____. Animales de la montaña. ISBN 978-0-7614-3429-0. LC 2008018206.
____. Animales de las planicies. ISBN 978-0-7614-3430-6. LC 2008018210.
____. Animales de la selva tropical. ISBN 978-0-7614-3428-3. LC 2008-018221.
ea vol: tr. by Victory Productions, Inc. 24p. (Animales Salvajes Series.) Marshall Cavendish/Benchmark. 2009. PLB $22.79.
Gr 1-3–What makes these series titles different from other animal books is the rebus format. Perfect for early Spanish readers, the combination of colorful pictures and simple words will help to build a child’s vocabulary. Beginning readers will enjoy decoding printed symbols that stand for words within their oral vocabulary. The section “Words to learn/palabras para aprender” is a useful feature. The design of these books sets them apart and makes them pleasurable to children.–Eric Gómez, Broward County African-American Research Library, Fort Lauderdale, FL
GRIBEL, Christiane. No voy a dormir/I Am Not Going to Sleep. illus. by Orlando. unpaged. Lectorum. 2009. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-1-933032-51-1. LC 2008024561.
K-Gr 1–This hilarious bilingual story is told in pictures and six short sentences. The book opens with a cartoonlike picture of an angry redheaded girl trudging along with a teddy bear in tow. At first glance, the blue shadow that follows her looks like a security blanket. As she ascends the stairs, her shadow is projected onto the wall behind her like a monstrous storm cloud. Viewers next see her foaming at the mouth as she brushes her teeth. The rebellious youngster announces that even though she’s been made to go to bed, her mother can’t make her go to sleep. As the girl tries to fight it, her eyelids get heavier and heavier and the horizontal illustrations of her dark, cell-like bedroom get thinner and thinner until they become black. On the last page, the slumbering child and teddy bear are pictured in a tiny spotlight on a black, full-page layout. The book reads equally well in Spanish and English. To achieve the graphic-novel-style pictures, Orlando used ink for the outlines and PhotoShop for colors. Outstanding.–Rebecca Hickman, Sherman Library at NSU, Fort Lauderdale, FL
JARKINS, Sheila. Marco Flamingo/Marco Flamenco. tr. by Eida de la Vega. illus. by author. 32p. Raven Tree. 2008. bilingual full-text English and Spanish edition Tr ISBN 978-0-9794462-5-2; pap. ISBN 978-0-9794462-6-9; LC 2008920928; Spanish-only edition Tr ISBN 978-0-9794462-7-6; pap. ISBN 978-0-9794462-8-3; LC number unavailable. ea: $16.95; $7.95.
PreS-Gr 2–Marco the flamingo is a southern bird who is curious about the north. He anxiously awaits the arrival of the snowbirds—migrating ducks and geese—to ask them about their homes but they just tell him that he doesn’t want to know. But Marco does want to know, so he heads north to experience the cold for himself. As he soars farther and farther, the tropical background fades into snow and Marco magically acquires earmuffs, a brightly striped scarf with matching socks, jeans, and a parka. Although some of the humor (complaining about snowbirds, for example) is aimed at adults, children will enjoy the comical illustrations of the spindly legged flamingo snowboarding, ice skating, and skiing. Although the Spanish is grammatically correct, it doesn’t always match the reading level of the English. For instance, even for Spanish-speaking children, “regresaron” is much more difficult to pronounce than “they’re back.” A small picture at the end shows a melting snowman and Marco returning south. Pair this book with Janet Morgan Stoeke’s A Hat for Minerva Louise (Dutton, 1994) and David Shannon’s Duck on a Bike (Scholastic, 2002) for a rollicking storytime about oddball birds.–Rebecca Hickman, Sherman Library at NSU, Fort Lauderdale, FL
MCCAFFREY, Anne. La búsqueda del dragón. tr. by José María Aroca. 400p. (Los jinetes de Pern Series). Roca Editorial. 2009. Tr $21.95. ISBN 978-84-92429-86-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6 Up–This epic story tells of a human colony and its struggles to save the magic world of its planet Pern. The menace of the Red Star and its lethal threads, the brave dragonriders and their powerful and well-engineered flying dragons, and the strong characters of Lessa, F’lar, and F’nor are all well captured in this outstanding translation of Dragonquest (1971). Despite the use of European Spanish, Aroca’s impeccable translation will introduce teens to the fantastic and prolific literary universe of one of the most celebrated science-fiction writers.–Freda Mosquera, Broward County Library, FL
PERERA, Hilda. El lorito pelón. illus. by Rapi Diego & Martha Flores. unpaged. Lectorum. 2009. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-930332-56-0. LC 2008004154.
PreS-Gr 3–A multicolored parrot is flown from his native Puerto Rico to his new home in a luxurious apartment in Chicago. His new owners, the Smiths, are an elderly couple who try everything to help him adjust to his new environment. Nothing about this urban home suits him, especially not the rain, the snow, and the dull gray carpet. His disastrous attempt to fly freely inside the apartment lands him in a luxurious cage, where he is overcome with even more sadness, loneliness, and feeling of entrapment. In the end, the little parrot uses a clever form of protest to outwit the Smiths in his quest to return to the beloved open space and greenery that is his native island. Pen and watercolor illustrations juxtapose the pastel colors of urban city life with the bright, cheery colors of the parrots and their natural environment in this modern-day ecological story that serves as a metaphor for freedom. Pair this title by a renowned Cuban children’s writer with Alma Flor Ada’s La jaula dorada (The Golden Cage) (Del Sol Books, 1999) for a rich comparison and exploration of the themes of flight and freedom.–Oralia Garza de Cortés, Latino Children’s Literature Consultant, Pasadena, CA
PIERZ, Hugo. El único árbol/The One Tree. tr. by Mariana Bonetto & Jonathan Kidd. illus. by Richard Perrolt. 48p. SeaSquirt. 2009. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-1-905470-25-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6 Up–One tree is left after man has destroyed all of the others. A lonely boy sits under it crying while the tree comforts him; a friendship grows. When his family moves away, he goes to say good-bye and finds that the tree has been uprooted; keeping a stick from it, he leaves. The boy, now a man, wonders about his tree; he has a dream that tells him to go back. After many travels, he finds the place where the tree was and notices a small leaf, which becomes a tree and grows to be a forest. This bilingual story is based on the theory of evolution and told in easy poetic prose that will motivate youngsters to cherish Earth’s resources, and the terrific illustrations will trigger their imaginations. Unfortunately, the translation is somewhat lacking. For example, the first paragraph of the introduction, “El sol se levanta por trás de una roca” should read “Detrás de una roca.” There are also a couple of verses repeated throughout the text that do not strike the senses in a negative way but are not strictly accurate.–Narda McCarthy, Para los Niños’ Consultant, Broward County, FL
RAU, Dana Meachen. Guess Who Grunts/Adivina quién gruñe. ISBN 978-0-7614-3481-8. LC 2008014534.
____. Guess Who Hunts/Adivina quién caza. ISBN 978-0-7614-2907-4. LC 2008018165.
____. Guess Who Jumps/Adivina quién brinca. ISBN 978-0-7614-3482-5. LC 2008018168.
____. Guess Who Stings/Adivina quién pica. ISBN 978-0-7614-3485-6. LC 2008018170.
____. Guess Who Swims/Adivina quién nada. ISBN 978-0-7614-3483-2. LC 2008018171.
ea vol: tr. by Victory Productions, Inc. 32p. (Bookworms: Guess Who/Adivina quién Series). photos. glossary. index. CIP. Marshall Cavendish/Benchmark. 2009. PLB $22.79.
Gr 1-3–These emergent-level bilingual titles are excellent introductions to the physical characteristics, behavior, and habitat of animals. Though the topics are serious and sensitive, the bright colors, large type, engaging illustrations, and guessing-game format will appeal to young readers. These early readers are ideal as supplementary material about the animal kingdom or to spark classroom discussions about animal behaviors, life cycle, and habitats.–Eric Gómez, Broward County African-American Research Library, Fort Lauderdale, FL
SMITH, J. D. The Best Mariachi in the World. tr. by Eida de la Vega. illus. by Dani Jones. 32p. Raven Tree. 2008. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-887744-99-7; pap. $7.95. ISBN 978-1-887744-98-0. LC number unavailable.
K-Gr 3–Miguel, who wants to be a mariachi singer, goes to different lengths to face his fears. He can’t play the trumpet, the violin, or guitar like everyone else in his family. Not finding the support he needs, he finally wanders for answers in the desert. Here the story finds its turning point. The beauty of the sound of nature, and the singing of the owl and the coyote give Miguel the strength to become a real mariachi. Moved by this magical moment, he becomes a great cantante, singer. This book sprinkles Spanish words into the English text. The target words are in red and only refer to the vocabulary related to the mariachi’s world. Yet the story and illustrations stand on their own and could be used in cultural programs or for parents to experiment and learn some Spanish vocabulary and cultural traditions. The wonderful gouache, oil, and colored-pencil illustrations show the landscape of the Southwestern desert. The bold graphic style and the colorful and whimsical characters create an upbeat feeling throughout.–Irania Macias Patterson, Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, NC
TAFOLLA, Carmen. What Can You Do with a Paleta?/¿Qué puedes hacer una paleta? illus. by Magaly Morales. 32p. CIP. Tricycle. 2009. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-58246-289-9. LC number unavailable.
PreS-Gr 2–A paleta is a traditional Mexican frozen treat on a stick sold by busy, wagon-pushing vendors. Children can paint their tongues purple and green with one, give themselves big, blue mustaches, cool off on a hot day, and more. The story takes readers on a tour of a vibrant Latino neighborhood where sweet accordion music plays, velvet roses bloom, delicious smells of buttery tortillas and juicy fruit float from windows, and children gather to buy paletas on a hot day. The lyrical prose is equally beautiful in both languages. Morales uses broad, curvy brushstrokes of contrasting bright and fruity colors to capture the look of Mexican folk art. The characters’ faces are round with slightly slanted eyes and rendered in golden shades of burnt sienna. Along with the author’s What Can You Do with a Rebozo? (Tricycle, 2007), this joyful celebration of barrio life is a must-have for children’s collections.–Rebecca Hickman, Sherman Library at NSU, Fort Lauderdale, FL
TIBO, Gilles. ¡Corre, Nicolás, corre! tr. from French by Alberto Jiménez Rioja. illus. by Bruno St-Aubin. 32p. Lectorum. 2009. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-1-933032-57-3. LC 2008043848.
Gr 1-4–Nicolás’s family makes sure that he is busy all the time. Even the weekends include organized, learning activities with no time to rest. With so many activities after school every day, he becomes exhausted and sick, eating and breathing with difficulty while running a high fever. His parents take care of him for a few days, allowing him to relax. When he gets better, they apologize for his jam-packed agenda and proudly announce an innovative and surprising change in his schedule. This humorous story will capture readers’ hearts. The beautiful illustrations make it easy for young children to follow the story without reading the text, while more accomplished readers will be delighted by the animated cadence. This book can easily become a favorite for storytimes, bedtime sharing, or independent readers.–Narda McCarthy, Para los Niños’ Consultant, Broward County, FL
ZEPEDA, Gwendolyn. Sunflowers/Girasoles. tr. by Gabriela Baeza Ventura. illus. by Alisha Ann Guadalupe Gambino. unpaged. CIP. Piñata. 2009. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-55885-267-9. LC 2008034623.
K-Gr 1–Seven-year-old Mirasol tells about planting a garden with her grandfather and shares those moments with others in her neighborhood, seed by seed: squash, onions, carrots, cabbage, garlic, tomatoes, cilantro, chili peppers, and sunflowers! Her love for these flowers spreads across town with each new bloom and allows her to find both independence and pride in her skills and newfound knowledge while she teaches friends at school about sunflowers and gardening. Although the paintings favor adult faces and tend to age Marisol, the warmth and richness of the palette highlights expressions of loving friends and family in this child’s world, and her impatience until the young plants finally appear. This book is most effective as a read-aloud in both Spanish and English; a small image of the growing sunflower helpfully divides the languages on succeeding pages.–Mary Elam, Learning Media Services Plano ISD, TX
SCHON, Isabel. Recommended Books in Spanish for Children and Young Adults, 2004-2008. 414p. index. CIP. Scarecrow. 2009. Tr $55. ISBN 978-0-8108-6386-6. LC 2008033390.
In her latest compilation, Schon evaluates 1231 reference books, fiction, and nonfiction, mainly published in the last five years. Entries are arranged alphabetically by author and include a grade level for each book. The majority of the fiction are translations of titles by popular and well-known American authors and classics and award-winning juvenile titles by authors from diverse cultures, genres, times, and languages. Schon also includes a number of original titles by Spanish writers, some of them contemporary, such as Carlos Ruiz Zafón and Jordi Sierra Fabra, and others from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Underrepresented are works by Mexican, Caribbean, and South American writers as well as materials by Latino writers living in the United States. Schon examines and recommends materials based on the quality of the Spanish language, literary appeal, and the versatility of the translators, paying special attention to the effective use of Peninsular Spanish or the Spanish from the Americas. This annotated bibliography will help selectors in public libraries and media centers to develop existing Spanish-language collections. However, those interested in building a new collection must consider this resource in conjunction with other selection aids that provide a more extensive number of original Spanish titles and that reflect the flourishing of the publishing industry in countries like Colombia and Venezuela, barely represented in this volume.–Freda Mosquera, Broward County Library, FL
Treviño, Rose Zertuche. Read Me a Rhyme in Spanish and English. Léame una rima en español e inglés. 155p. illus. appendix. bibliog. index. discography. CIP. ALA. 2009. pap. $45. ISBN 978-0-8389-0982-9. LC 2008045379.
This essential collection of Latino rhymes, songs, finger plays, and riddles offers a variety of flexible program ideas for babies, toddlers, prescholers, and school-age children “for whom Spanish is the language spoken in the home.” Programs were developed by an experienced children’s librarian who fully understands the needs of her colleagues serving Latino populations. In the first chapter, the author shares tips on how to reach the audience and to promote the programs, with instructions in English and Spanish. An appendix includes a list of the resources for each program, an annotated bibliography, a discography of music for children, and craft ideas. This volume can easily become a basic reference resource for English-speaking and bilingual librarians and teachers. Librarians who follow Treviño’s recommendations can not only present successful bilingual storytimes, but also fulfill the educational and recreational needs of Latino parents and children who are trying to adjust themselves to a different culture.–Freda Mosquera, Broward County Library, FL
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