February Reviews of the Latest Spanish-Language Titles for Children: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Bilingual Titles
-- Library Journal, 02/16/2010
These reviews, which will appear in the March 2010 issue of School Library Journal, were selected and evaluated by a team chaired by Freda Mosquera, Broward County Library, FL.
ALCÁNTARA, Ricardo.
La casa de los miedos.
illus. by Ximena Maier. 141p. Edelvives. 2009. pap. $11.95. ISBN 978-84-263-7269-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 3-5–Julián gets good grades, is neat and orderly, and is never angry or disobedient. What no one knows is that he is shy and lonely, and has many fears. Instead of visiting a friend like he tells his parents, he goes to the amusement park and wanders aimlessly, not daring to enter the Haunted House. One day he decides to go in and rides the tram with Alberto, whom he has always wished were a friend, along with Alberto’s little sister. Unexpectedly, all goes dark as the ride stops abruptly; this is the beginning of a very long day during which, overcoming his own fears, Julián protects the little girl, faces the seven-mouthed monster, and befriends Alberto. Now he is ready for his own baby sister who will soon arrive. The tender narrative, coupled with warm illustrations, invites readers to join Julián in his quest for strength, emotional growth, and courage.–Narda McCarthy, Para Los Niños, Broward County, FL
BRUNO, Pep.
Un loro en mi granja.
illus. by Lucie Müllerová. unpaged. Edelvives. 2009. Tr $0. ISBN 978-84-263-7341-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 1-3–This prize-winning picture book tells the story of a loro, or parrot, that lives on a farm. On each spread, readers encounter the other animals and the vast countryside that makes up his home. His role is to oversee the farm’s goings-on, which he discusses with the narrator, whose identity is only revealed at the end. The artwork resembles simplistic charcoal sketches at first glance, but upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the animals and scenery have been drawn, cut out, and affixed to the page in an impressive arrangement. The text is done in a pleasant, large black font placed atop the solidly colored spaces within the illustrations, with the word loro always in red. The clear narrative, intriguing artwork, and slightly mysterious story will appeal to children.–Rhonda Jeffers, Coweta Public Library System, Newnan, GA
CANETTI, Yanitzia.
El patito bello.
illus. by Maria Costa. unpaged. 2009. Tr $0. ISBN 978-84-241-7071-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 1-4–This reversal of “The Ugly Duckling” introduces a duckling who is beautiful from the beginning. Instead of being picked on, this handsome bird dishes out insults to others. The end result is the same as in the original: personal transformation and acceptance lead to happiness. The clever illustrations use mixed media in bright and bold colors, giving the animals real emotion and expression. The rhyming text flows lyrically and smoothly. The book is a great choice for discussions on bullying, or it can be paired with other classics rewritten with a twist.–Shannon Dye, Peoria Public Library, AZ
DANING, Tom.
Mitología China: Los Cuatro Dragones. ISBN 978-1-4358-8566-0. LC 2008054174.
––––. Mitología Egipcia: Isis y Osiris. ISBN 978-1-4358-8567-7. LC 2008054175.
––––. Mitología Mesoamericana: Quetzalcóatl. ISBN 978-1-4358-8569-1. LC 2008055415.
––––. Mitología Romana: Rómulo y Remo. ISBN 978-1-4358-8570-7. LC 2008055416.
HERDLING, Glenn.
Mitología Africana: Anansi. ISBN 978-1-4358-8565-3. LC 2008054173.
––––. Mitología Griega: Jasón y el vellocino de oro. ISBN 978-1-4358-8568-4. LC 2008055413.
ea vol: tr. by José María Obregón. 24p. (Historietas Juveniles: Mitologías Series). illus. Rosen/PowerKids Pr. 2009. PLB $23.95.
Gr 3-6–These titles feature condensed retellings of mythological stories from around the world. Anansi takes readers back to the time when no stories where told, so the spider decides to embark on a quest to win them all from Nyame. Quetzalcóatl and Los cuatro dragones describe the creation of the world. Isis and Osiris explains the origin of the battle between good and evil personified in Horus, Osiris’s son, and in Seth. Rómulo y Remo is about the upbringing of the two brothers by a wolf and how Rómulo kills Remo and creates Rome in his honor. In Jasón y el vellocino de oro, Jasón joins forces with the Argonauts to recapture the Golden Fleece and avenge his uncle’s death. The fast-paced texts are matched with colorful comic-style illustrations, with three to four frames per page. Each title begins with a profile of the main characters. Both the stories and dialogue will appeal to reluctant readers. Good selections for most collections.–Ana Rodriguez, Tamarac Elementary School, FL
FARRÉ, Lluís.
La leyenda de San Jorge.
adapt. by Carmen Gil. illus. by Mercê Canals. unpaged. Combel Editorial. 2009. Tr $18.95. ISBN 978-84-9825-337-5. LC 2009014194.
K-Gr 3–Farré brings this unique and childlike version of the 12th-century legend to life in tantalizing and humorous poetic prose. St. George, a courageous and virtuous knight, frees the land from a horrendous dragon that has been terrorizing the countryside, indiscriminately eating beasts and humans alike. He arrives just in time to save the princess and hence her people, gently declining the honor of marrying her on the grounds of his righteousness. Canals’s elaborate and colorful pop-up illustrations are the perfect complement to a creatively told story. Although it can be read in a group setting, it will be more effective if read individually or in a one-on-one situation so the illustrations can be fully appreciated.–Narda McCarthy, Para Los Niños, Broward County, FL
HIJUELOS, Oscar.
Dark Dude.
tr. by Alberto Jiménenz Roja. 430p. 2009. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-84-441-4316-3. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–This is the Spanish-language version of Hijuelos’s award-winning novel (S & S, 2009). Rico Fuentes, 15, escapes from his Harlem home, and, like his favorite character Huck Finn, embarks on a road adventure with his friend Jimmy. They end up “thousand miles away,” cleaning the outhouse toilet on a remote farm in Wisconsin. Although the novel is set in the ’70s, Rico’s compelling story will speak to teenagers who face the same contradictions in today’s public schools and in homes where parents and kids live between two cultural worlds. Rico was born in New York, to Cuban parents who migrated to the U.S. before the 1959 Cuban Revolution. Besides the violence in his high school, his father’s tiredness after long and exhausting working days, his mother’s anguish counting every single penny, and Jimmy’s heroine addiction, Rico is constantly harassed by his schoolmates and neighbors because he is white and mistakenly taken for an Anglo-Saxon. In Wisconsin, surrounded by white people, he discovers the true meanings of race and cultural identity that go beyond skin color. This is a great novel and an important addition to collections in libraries serving communities with significant Cuban-American populations.–Freda Mosquera, Broward County Library, Fort Lauderdale, FL
HINOJOSA, Francisco.
Un pueblo lleno de bestias.
illus. by Manuel Monroy. unpaged. Ediciones el Naranjo. 2009. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-607-7661-10-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 2-4–Leobardo lives in a boring town without children. He encounters only ladies and gentlemen, old men and women, five vagabonds, four police officers, three robbers, two taxi drivers, and a postman. The cover of the book shows the child’s sadness. Moved by the adventure stories he reads, he decides to go to Tierra Dulce (Sweet Land). He discovers that many children live there–pirate children who also escaped from his town. Their happiness is interrupted when their parents invade the island, bringing them back to Cerro Verde. This time the children challenge the authorities by becoming heroes and bringing a happy ending to the story. Hinojosa is one of the most popular poets in Mexico and his warm and familiar voice gives the narration an authentic flavor filled with humor. In his colors and sandlike textures, Monroy captures the emotions and sensibilities of childhood.–Irania Macias Patterson, Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, NC
HUSSON, Sèverin & Yvette Veyret.
Nuestro planeta, la Tierra.
tr. by Pau Joan Hernández. 173p. diags. illus. maps. photos. index. Combel Editorial. 2009. Tr $24.95. ISBN 978-84-9825-339-9. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-9–An introduction to the history of the Earth. The first section, “La Tierra, un planeta vivo,” outlines the beginning of our planet and its natural life. Each of the following chapters covers a different aspect of it; its energy, resources, diversity, human life, and exploration. The consistent layout of information in small sections along with stunning photographs, illustrations, diagrams, and maps makes the book easy to use and understand. Boxes throughout highlight subjects of special interest such as the formation of the continents, and several foldouts take a closer look at the solar system, the Himalayas, the rain forests, and the subterranean world. The final section offers some magnificent photographs of breathtaking places on our planet. This eye-catching resource will appeal to casual browsers as well as to researchers.–Ana Rodriguez, Tamarac Elementary School, FL
Jantti, Mariana.
La caja de las carcajadas.
illus. by Andrea Rodríguez Vidal. unpaged. Hardenville SA. 2009. pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-84-96448-30-8. LC number unavailable.
K-Gr 3–On a cold, gray day, a girl finds a box, opens it, and from its contents finds laughter that begins to change her and her surroundings. Written in the first person, the story allows readers to see how some simple “ja, jas” and “ji, jis” can become contagious. A genuine smile starts a domino effect, and a solitary, mundane bus ride becomes a joyful communal event. The imagery of the book is simple, focusing on the box and the laughter that is released from its interior. The muted fall colors not only reflect the season of the story but also become a canvas for the smiles and laughter that become the focal point of readers’ attention. The text is lengthy but will challenge those interested in building their vocabulary. In the end, the question children are asked to ponder is: Would you keep such a box, or share it and transform others with the power of laughter?–Veronica Corral, Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, NC
JARKINS, Sheila.
The Adventures of Marco Flamingo Under the Sea/Las aventuras submarinas de Marco Flamenco.
illus. by author. unpaged. Raven Tree. 2009. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-934960-66-0. LC number unavailable.
PreS-Gr 2–Marco Flamingo is back. This time the curious bird is determined to explore life under the sea. Many of the illustrations are laugh-out-loud funny. Marco plays peek-a-boo with an octopus, races a shark, and sails on the back of a stingray. One of the funniest scenes is when he plays a game the seals have named after him, Marco Polo. The words “Marco” and “Polo” appear almost exactly the same in English and in Spanish. Pair this with Stephen Huneck’s Sally Goes to the Beach (Abrams, 2000) and Eve Bunting’s Ducky (Clarion, 1997) for an ocean-themed storytime that is sure to make a splash. The Spanish, which appears under the English text, is grammatically correct with words that are easy to pronounce. A list of vocabulary words includes the Spanish articles so readers can tell whether the words are masculine or feminine. This book is also available in an English-only edition.–Rebecca Hickman, Alvin Sherman Library at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
KUDELA, Katy R.
My First Book of Spanish Words.
32p. photos. Capstone/A+ Bks. 2009. PLB $25.32. ISBN 978-1-4296-3298-0. LC 2009005518.
PreS-Gr 2–This attractive picture-book dictionary for English-speaking children features double-page layouts of clear, brightly colored photographs reminiscent of those in Margaret Miller’s Guess Who? (1994) and Tana Hoban’s Exactly the Opposite (1990, both HarperCollins). The look is modern, uncluttered, and inviting. Vocabulary words appear in an easy-to-see white bubble with the English first, then the Spanish with a pronunciation guide underneath. For example, a little boy is labeled “cousin–el primo–(PREE-moh).” The book starts with a table of contents and an explanation of how to use the dictionary. A bonus is that the Spanish words include the article.–Rebecca Hickman, Alvin Sherman Library at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
MAGALLANES, Alejandro.
Conversaciones y discusiones.
illus. by author. unpaged. Ediciones el Naranjo. 2009. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-607-7661-11-5. LC number unavailable.
Gr 3 Up–This black-and-white book fuses the power of words with the power of the art in a very clever way. It presents a disagreement that evolves into a dialogue and becomes an invitation for a conversation. A parallel image accompanies each thought, and each picture opens a world for readers to interpret. A butterfly that opens and closes its wings as a way to say “yes” and “no”; a guitar without strings as a way to say, “I need time to think about what you say,” and a shoe for “be in my place” are some of the examples presented in the conversation. This is an excellent book to use in programs with older children and adults to model ways of thinking, ways to ask questions, and ways to interpret and observe things. The story also makes it clear that there are no absolutes, which is why it is so important to talk and discuss. This book is a work of art, and a door for reflection and free thinking.–Irania Macias Patterson,Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, NC
MALPICA, Javier.
Para Nina: Un diario sobre la identidad sexual.
illus. by Enrique Torralba. 192p. Ediciones el Naranjo. 2009. pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-607-7661-03-0. LC number unavailable.
Gr 9 Up–Eduardo, a young man who knows he is a woman trapped in a man’s body, records in a diary everything that happens as he comes to discover, understand, and confront his sexual identity. Without his mother’s support and with an absent father, he finds love and understanding in his unconventional grandmother, Nina; a brilliant woman who believes in him and inspires him not only to write the diary, but also to pursue his dream of turning his male body into a feminine one. Written as a fragmentary personal text, the novel starts when he is a confused but courageous 14-year-old and he chooses a new name for himself, and ends when he is in his 20s, living as Victoria, in Mexico City. This story invites readers to contemplate the need to be true to oneself and to understand our contradictions as humans. Torralba’s ink sketches are shown like a dream where symbols of sexuality seem to float on the page. The drawings of Eduardo/Victoria are elongated and reveal the male body, yet suggest the feminine form. This is a powerfully written andthought-provoking story that raises awareness and empathy for teens coming to terms with their sexual identities and looking for acceptance.–Liliana Patricia Rocha, Teton County Library, Jackson, WY
PESCADOR, Pipo.
La campana bajo el agua.
illus. by Paulo Toto Blake. 101p. El Narrador. 2008. pap. $13.95. ISBN 978-987-1476-01-5. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6–What happens when a group of children from a school for the deaf take public transportation on a field trip? How does a family learn that their child is hearing impaired? Is it easy for someone with cochlear implants to learn how to communicate? Answers to these questions and others are found in this collection of funny and touching short stories and poems. Set in Argentina, each story introduces readers to a different child whose life is affected by deafness. Information about cochlear implants and sign language and descriptions of techniques used to teach children how to identify sounds are interspersed throughout. Readers will learn from the factual information while enjoying the stories and poems.–Rebecca Alcalá, San Mateo County Library, CA
SCUDERI, Lucia. Si oigo.... Tr $10.95. ISBN 978-84-263-7171-3.
––––. Si sabe a.... Tr $11.95. ISBN 978-84-263-7172-0.
––––. Si toco.... Tr $11.95. ISBN 978-84-263-7170-6.
ea vol: tr. by Celia Turrión. illus. by author. unpaged. Edelvives. 2009. LC number unavailable.
PreS-Gr 1–These beautifully illustrated titles help children to understand hearing, taste, and touch. The well-known Italian author and illustrator portrays animals and objects in the unfolding center page to demonstrate the senses through a series of simple clues. For instance, in Si oigo…, children guess what animal is behind the flap by its sound. In Si sabe a…, young readers learn words related to the sense of taste such as ácido, dulce, salado, amargo, and picante. In Si toco…, through simple clues children guess the hidden object. Each book ends with an activity to personalize the reading experience. Their size, appropriate for the small hands of children, with quilted textured covers, and Scuderi’s artistic approach will make these books a hit. Great for one-on-one or small group storytimes.–Diana Borrego Martinez, formerly at San José Public Library, CA
SHERMAN, Patrice.
What It’s Like to Be President Barack Obama/Qué se siente al ser el Presidente Barack Obama.
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. 2009. PLB $25.70. ISBN 978-1-58415-843-1. LC 2009029240.
K-Gr 3–This bilingual biography follows a day in the life of the president, including full-color photos. Smaller photos are layered on top of larger ones for further clarification. For example, a photograph of the president appears above a map of Hawaii, which is where he was raised. Other images and descriptions include a meeting with his cabinet, a press conference, as well as leisure time spent with his family and Vice President Biden. The last page includes an index and a list of articles, books, and Web sites in both English and Spanish. Unfortunately, only one item on this list is appropriate for this audience. Nevertheless, the book is informative and clear, and children will enjoy the photos of President Obama with his family and dog.–Rebecca Alcalá, San Mateo County Library, CA
SIERRA I FABRA, Jordi.
Sala de conflictos.
168p. Edelvives. 2009. pap. $14.95. ISBN 978-84-263-7272-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 6-10–It’s Saturday morning, and 30 middle school students are in the part of the library known as the “Sala de conflictos” or “Room of conflicts.” The group, led by a panel of three students, seeks to resolve a seemingly minor conflict. How was the love of Eric Padilla’s life, his very expensive cell phone, destroyed? The only information available initially is that Eric had encountered fellow student Gabriel with his ruined cell phone in his hands and is demanding that Gabriel pay him 300 euros to replace it. At first, it seems obvious. Gabriel had the motive. Or did he? As the story unfolds, readers learn that there are a few other students who are not happy with Eric or his cell phone and thus might also have had motives to ensure that it met a timely death. At some point during the session, Vanessa, Carlos, and Cristina are afraid they will never resolve the case, until an anonymous tip leads them in a new direction. While reluctant readers might find the vocabulary, writing style, and structure a bit daunting, Sala de conflictos is a fascinating mystery that will keep readers guessing until the end.–Jessica McClinton, King County Library System, Auburn, WA
SLEGERS, Liesbet.
Nacho.
tr. by Celia Turrión. illus. by author. unpaged. Edelvives. 2009. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-84-263-7256-7. LC number unavailable.
PreS–Beginning with being inside his mother’s womb, Nacho describes his birth and learning basic life functions. As he grows taller, he helps his parents, uses the toilet by himself, plays with friends and family, discovers the seasons, goes to preschool, spends a night in the hospital, discusses his favorite foods, and shows off his bedroom before going to sleep. Thick-outlined drawings; smiling, rounded faces; and a preschooler’s perspective create a simplicity that will appeal to young children. A mix of acrylic paintings, utilizing primary colors, purples, browns, and greens, is sometimes juxtaposed with photographic images. The Spanish translation is clear and concise. Slegers also integrates questions to stimulate children’s involvement in the story. The artwork and engaging text will definitely appeal to young readers.–Cristi Jenkins, Fort Vancouver Library District, WA
