July Reviews of the Latest Spanish-Language Titles for Children: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Bilingual Titles
-- Library Journal, 07/15/2009
These reviews, which will appear in the August 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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ALVAREZ, Julia.
El mejor regalo del mundo: La leyenda de La Vieja Belén/The Best Gift of All: The Legend of La Vieja Belén.
tr. by Rhina P. Espaillat. illus. by Ruddy Núñez. 32p. Alfaguara Infantil. 2008. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-60396-325-1. LC number unavailable.
K-Gr 3–This bilingual picture book is an original story about the Dominican folk character who delivers toys to poor children in the Dominican Republic the week after Three Kings Day. La Vieja Belén is an old woman who is always busy doing housework and caring for guests. One evening, three kings arrive at her doorstep on their way to find a king who was born in a stable a few days earlier. The Vieja feeds them a wonderful dinner of empanadas, fruits, and tamales. Although the story mentions that the men are looking for the king of the poor, the story is not religious and only hints at the Nativity tale, and Jesus’s name is never mentioned. The gentle colored-pencil and watercolor illustrations depict an authentic Dominican country home complete with a straw shopping basket hung on the wall, a table with a popular tablecloth pattern, a big manual coffee grinder, and a wood-burning stove. The story is told in rhymes similar to that of Clement Clarke Moore’s The Night Before Christmas. The poetic verses flow equally well in Spanish and in English, and the Spanish vocabulary is authentic to the region. The book concludes with an interesting essay about the origin of the folk character. A fine addition to any collection, but particularly a boon to Dominican-American communities.–Rebecca Hickman, Sherman Library at NSU, Fort Lauderdale, FL
BULLARD, Lisa.
Largos, cortos y pequeños/Long and Short.
ISBN 978-1-4296-3250-8. LC 2008034645.
Mojados y secos/Wet and Dry.
ISBN 978-1-4296-3251-5. LC 2008034668.
OLSON, Nathan.
Chicos y altos/Short and Tall.
ISBN 978-1-4296-3253-9. LC 2008034665.
Pesados y ligeros/Heavy and Light.
ISBN 978-1-4296-3252-2. LC 2008034644.
ea vol: tr. by Martín Luis Guzmán Ferrer. 32p. (Animales opuestos/Animal Opposites Series). photos. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Capstone/A+ Bks. 2009. PLB $23.99.
PreS-Gr 2–These bilingual titles are highly effective due to the combination of full-color photographs and simple sentences that help listeners and beginning readers understand the texts and concepts introduced through animal opposites. The photographs contribute to the books’ appeal. Fascinating Did You Know?/Sabías que? sections provide fun facts about key animal traits to entice readers into further learning. Librarians, teachers, or caregivers can attract reluctant, early, or emergent readers with these offerings.–Eric Gómez, Broward County African-American Research Library, Fort Lauderdale, FL
CONTRERAS, Kathleen.
Braids/Trencitas.
illus. by Margaret Lindmark. 32p. Lectorum. Aug. 2009. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-933032-27-6. LC number unavailable.
K-Gr-3–Isabela enjoys every waking moment that she spends with her abuela when she comes to visit. She marvels when her grandmother combs out her long braid that “flowed in soft ripples down to her waist.” Braiding Isabela’s hair, she weaves colorful ribbons matched by equally colorful tales of all types, inspiring the child to write her own. Each time Isabela asks Abuela to read a story she has written, the woman finds an excuse until Abuela finally confesses that she is “a storyteller, not a reader,” and Isabela cleverly uses the lotería (a bingo-like game from Mexico) to teach her how to read. Lindmark’s colorful acrylic illustrations capture the unique bonds of an abuela-nieta relationship as well as the love and warmth of a young girl nurtured by a loving Latino family in modern-day America. Children familiar with the lotería game will enjoy Rene Colato’s Playing Lotería/El juego de la lotería (Luna Rising, 2009). For a similar “grandmother learning to read” story, also see Eve Bunting’s The Wednesday Surprise (Clarion, 1989).–Oralia Garza de Cortés, Latino Children’s Literature Consultant, Pasadena, CA
COTTIN, Menena.
El libro negro de los colores.
tr. by Elisa Amado. illus. by Rosana Faría. unpaged. Ediciones Tecolote. 2008. Tr $17.95. ISBN 978-970-825-019-1. LC number unavailable.
K-Gr 5–Tomás explains that although he cannot see with his eyes, he can experience colors with his other senses. He poetically describes each one by how its smells, feels, sounds, and tastes. The pages of this unique picture book are pitch black with white text and shiny, slick-textured, black-on-black raised-line drawings created by a special printing process called spot uvi. A Braille translation is printed at the top of each page of text. Children will enjoy tracing their fingers over the illustrations of swirling hair, splashing water, and freshly cut blades of grass. The Braille alphabet, complete with Spanish characters, is printed on the last page. Include this book in a lesson about the senses, colors, understanding disabilities, or even a poetry unit about similes and metaphors. This unique title was originally published in Spanish, but is also available in English.–Rebecca Hickman, Sherman Library at NSU, Fort Lauderdale, FL
EDWARDS, Roberta.
Barack Obama: Presidente de Estados Unidos.
illus. by Ken Call. 64p. photos. reprods. Santillana. 2009. pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-1-60396-623-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 2-5–Edwards’s clear and concise style is well reflected in this Spanish edition of Barack Obama: United States President (Grosset & Dunlap, 2009). Her research is supported by full-color photographs from well-known press agencies that have documented Obama’s remarkable ascent, from his speech on February 23, 2007, in Austin, TX, to his inauguration on January 20, 2009. Call’s illustrations depict a traditional village in Kenya where his African father was born; a representation of his white mother, as a child, in a small town in Kansas; a scene with his maternal grandparents in Honolulu; his daily life as a student at Punahou School; and his job as a community activist in Chicago, among others. An attractive and accessible addition.–Freda Mosquera, Broward County Library, Fort Lauderdale, FL
GARCÍA, Nasario.
Rattling Chains and Other Stories for Children/Ruido de Cadenas y otros cuentos para niños.
tr. by author. illus. by Giovanni Mora. 160p. CIP. Piñata. 2009. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55885-544-1. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-8–Junie López’s great imagination and active mind capture elements of New Mexico’s folklore as he introduces readers to the mysterious and supernatural in his world. A magical river bed fills up with torrential waters; an enchanted owl is hit with a stick and a woman shows up with the splinters on her face; and plenty of witches and ghosts make an appearance. Striking black-and-white illustrations accompany the energetic, down-to-earth narrative that takes readers through the stories while delineating relationships among different family members and neighbors. García’s Spanish version of these stories is rich in expressions and added details that enhance its charm.–Narda McCarthy, Para los Niños’ Consultant, Weston, FL
HARRISON, Lisi.
La invasión de las roba-chicos. Bk. 4.
tr. by Patricia Porras-Ballard. 328p. (Clique Series). Alfaguara. 2009. pap. $12.99. ISBN 978-1-60396-323-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-8–Harrison’s series follows the adventures of four pampered, self-centered middle schoolers whose antics affect not only their own lives but those of others as well. In this story, Alicia has a visit from her flirtatious cousin Nina, who has just arrived from Spain. She is beautiful and is ready to move in on all of the Briarwood boys, including Massie’s crush. Even if they’ve read the book in English, Hispanic girls will enjoy reading it in Spanish and being able to connect with either Alicia or her cousin. Girls who do not read in English will be excited to have the chance to meet these members of “The Clique.”–Minerva Diaz, Western Regional Library of Broward County, FL
JEFFERS, Dawn.
Beautiful Moon/Bella Luna.
tr. by Eida de la Vega. illus. by Bonnie Leick. unpaged. Raven Tree. 2009. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-932748-87-1. LC 2008932223.
K-Gr 3–Through the voice of a girl, readers see the breathtaking transformation from dark to dawn, from light back to night. The child is restless in the darkness and wishes that the day would never end. Magically, the Moon smiles and disappears. The Sun comes back and after she has plenty of opportunity to play, the girl gets too hot, making her tired and aware that all things need to rest and start over. This is a good picture book to introduce children to the concept of cycles in nature. The illustrations predominantly focus on the child’s thoughts and feelings. Readers are always connected to the sky through a great range of blues, indigos, and sunset colors. Though there are interesting descriptions in the narration, the reading in both languages can be flat at times. A quiet, reflective read, perhaps best shared at bedtime.–Irania Macías Patterson, Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, NC
LÁZARO, Georgina.
Federico García Lorca.
illus. by Enrique S. Moreiro. ISBN 978-1-933032-39-9. LC 2009010215.
Jorge Luis Borges.
illus. by Graciela Genovés. ISBN 978-1-933032-40-5. LC 2009008491. ea vol: 32p. (Cuando los grandes eran pequeños/When the Grown-ups Were Children Series). Lectorum. Sept. 2009. Tr $14.99.
Gr-5-8–Lázaro re-casts the lives of the great Latin-American literary masters through poetic verse in this exciting series. In the first book, her poetry is particularly acute in capturing the symbols from García Lorca’s childhood that he later wrote about in his poems for children: the lizard, the red bird, the cricket, and the frog, as well as the games and songs of early childhood growing up in small agricultural towns in the province of Granada, Spain. Moreiro’s vibrant tempera paints on panels and illustration boards convey the tranquility of place as well as the calm and gentle nature of Spain’s beloved poet. This is an excellent introduction to Lorca’s life and a perfect companion to Federico García Lorca para niños (Susaeta Ediciones, S.A. 1999), issued for the García Lorca’s centennial. In the second title, Lázaro’s poetry is eloquent and dramatic and provides essential elements of Borges’s childhood immersed in a world of fantasy and imagination. Privately tutored at home in his native Argentina until the age of nine, he also spent countless hours engaged in free play and listening to stories read in English by his British grandmother. Genovés’s glowing watercolors complement Borges’s eccentric nature, particularly his obsession with tigers, a leif motif used in some of his short stories.–Oralia Garza de Cortés, Latino Children’s Literature Consultant, Pasadena, CA
MEYER, Stephenie.
Amanacer.
ISBN 978-607-11-0033-7.
Crepúsculo.
ISBN 978-970-770-994-2.
Eclipse.
ISBN 978-1-60396-022-9.
Luna nueva.
ISBN 978-970-58-0023-8.
ea vol: tr. by José Miguel Pallarés and María Jesús Sánchez. Alfaguara Infantil. 2009. Tr $15.99. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–Spanish readers will devour Meyer’s vampire love saga. When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. The language is fast paced, realistic, succinct, and easy to follow. The índice de vampiros in Amanacer, the final book in the series, allows readers to follow the history of the various vampire clans. The effective use of Latin-American Spanish will introduce readers who are fluent in Spanish to a series that has captivated America.–Eric Gómez, Broward County African-American Research Library, Fort Lauderdale, FL
PESCETTI, Luis María.
Bituín, bituín Natacha.
2009. ISBN 978-970-58-0450-2.
Chat Natacha chat.
2009. ISBN 978-970-58-0449-6.
Natacha.
2008. ISBN 978-970-58-0494-6.
Padrísimo, Natacha!
2008. ISBN 978-970-58-0495-3.
ea vol: illus. by Pablo Fernández. 128p. (Natacha! Series). Alfaguara Infantil. pap. $12.95. LC number unavailable.
Gr 3-5–In these stories, Natacha goes about her daily life like any other schoolgirl while having encounters with her classmates, her dog, and her parents. These chapter books are an excellent introduction to the themes of friendship, family, and school socialization. The humorous tales revolve around the child as she tries to make friends, get good grades, and help others. Pescetti really knows his audience. This series will especially appeal to girls from Latin-American Spanish-speaking countries where his books are well known and popular.–Eric Gómez, Broward County African-American Research Library, Fort Lauderdale, FL
SAKI.
El contador de cuentos.
tr. by Verónica Canales & Juan Gabriel López Guix. illus. by Alba Marina Rivera. unpaged. Ediciones Ekare. Aug. 2009. pap. $20.99. ISBN 978-84-936504-3-8. LC number unavailable.
Gr 5-8–Three restless and inquisitive children are trapped in a train compartment with an aunt who lacks imagination and an impatient, unpleasant stranger. It becomes evident that the aunt does not have the answers to the children’s questions, or at least none that will satisfy them, when she tells them a story that fails to capture their attention. The man, reaching the end of his tolerance, tells them a story of a “horribly” good girl who, to the delight of the children, is eaten by a hungry wolf after hearing the rattling of the three good-behavior medals she so proudly exhibits. The vibrant illustrations bring this fantastic, if sarcastic, English classic to life with all its force and beauty. The translators have managed to capture the author’s masterful ironic cynicism in a magisterial way. To all of the above, add the remarkably attractive graphic presentation, and the result is a work of art that will be a great addition to any library.–Narda McCarthy, Para los Niños’ Consultant, Weston, FL
SALDAÑA, René, Jr.
The Case of the Pen Gone Missing: A Mickey Rangel Mystery, P.I.//El caso de la pluma perdida: Colección Mickey Rangel, Detective Privado.
tr. by Carolina Villarroel. illus. by Giovanni Mora. 96p. CIP. Piñata. 2009. pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55885-555-7. LC number unavailable.
Gr 3-5–Mickey is a real, honest-to-goodness private detective; he has his diploma, badge, and several solved crimes to prove it. His skills and judgment are tested when Toots Rodríguez, the prettiest girl in his class, asks him to help her clear her name, which has been tainted by the disappearance of a collectible pen that was presented at show-and-tell that morning. Mickey has to fight his inclination to immediately assume her innocence and has to make constant mental notes to remain objective. Mickey and his mysterious letter-writing “angel” are pretty sure that Toots and her boyfriend, Bucho, the school bully, have conspired to leave with the pen in their pockets; proving it is another matter. Lively and entertaining narrative coupled with attractive illustrations will make this book a favorite among young mystery readers. Although the Spanish translation keeps the charm of the English original, anglicized phrase construction and close word repetition interfere with the fluidity of the text.–Narda McCarthy, Para los Niños’ Consultant, Weston, FL
SOLOMON, Sharon K.
A Walk with Grandpa/Un paseo con abuelo.
tr. by Eida de la Vega. illus. by Pamela Barcita. 32p. Raven Tree. 2009. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-932748-91-8. LC 2008932221.
K-Gr 3–As Daniela and her grandfather take a walk in the woods, they play a poetic word game that shows how much they mean to one another. First, the author creates a dialogue between the characters using opposite meanings: “You are my question,” “You are my answer.” On the way back, after they stop to contemplate a tranquil river, they start the game over using synonymous words and thoughts: “You are my hope,” “You are my wish.” The visual narration begins with an inviting road that takes readers to a world of amazing trees, green prairies, a circle of mushrooms, exotic animals, and calm waters. The richness of the pastel colors is perfectly combined with a creative and tender word game that makes the story significant for a wide audience. The translation flows like a song in both languages.–Irania Macías Patterson, Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, NC
URBIGKIT, Cat.
Brave Dogs, Gentle Dogs: How They Guard Sheep/Perros guardianes, perros valientes: Cómo pastorean las ovejas.
tr. by Aída E. Marcuse. photos by author. 32p. CIP. Boyds Mills. Aug. 2009. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-746-5; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-59078-317-4. LC 2004016855.
K-Gr-3–In this attractive bilingual book, Urbigkit takes readers into the world of sheep and the dogs that so valiantly protect them. Surprisingly, they are not specially trained, but are raised among the sheep as one of their own. At birth, the puppies’ beds are made with fleece so they get used to the smell of sheep. A few weeks later they go out to meet their flock, and in a process called socialization they become protective of the animals they must defend. With her appealing photography and easy, though somewhat abrupt, narrative, this book is a solid source for readers and report writers. The Spanish translation is good, although there are a few words missing that would make sentences more cohesive, such as “tales como su gran….” Also, the use of “mansos” (literal translation of gentle) coupled with “valientes,” instead of “guardians,” is a better description of these animals: courageous, yet affectionate and obedient.–Narda McCarthy, Para los Niños’ Consultant, Weston, FL
VAN DER HEIDE, Iris.
Intercambio mágico.
tr. by Goedele De Sterck. illus. by Marije Tolman. 28p. Fondo de Cultura Economica. 2008. Tr $13.99. ISBN 978-968-16-8565-2. LC number unavailable.
PreS-Gr 1–Sara is bored, and all she has to play with is a measly piece of chalk. She talks Alex into trading his marbles for her chalk with the promise that anything he draws with it will come to life. As Sara leaves to play with her new marbles, readers see Alex riding along on top of his newly drawn magic dragon. When Sara discovers that she is not very good at shooting marbles, she bamboozles Sam into trading her lollipop for the marbles by describing them as perlas del inmenso mar, and children see that Sam has been transformed into a mermaid enchanting the sea creatures with her beautiful new acquisitions. Sara continues to trade up–the lollipop for a yo-yo, the yo-yo for a toy flute. The full-page illustrations are drawn in ink with washes of mostly muted shades of oranges, yellows, browns, and blues. Readers will enjoy discovering tiny details in the art. The Spanish text flows nicely and most of the words are easy to read aloud. Possible confusion may rise from the use of the word “avioncito” for “hopscotch” because it usually refers to a toy airplane. Although the book originated in Europe, the Spanish translation was published in Mexico, where the popular playground game is called avioncito.–Rebecca Hickman, Sherman Library at NSU, Fort Lauderdale, FL
VAZ, Mark Cotta.
Crepúsculo: El libro oficial de la película.
144p. Alfaguara. 2009. pap. $19.99. ISBN 978-84-204-2196-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 8 Up–Just in time to celebrate the “Twilight” saga, this Spanish language edition is designed as the official guide to the film. The book introduces Spanish-speaking adolescents to the fantasy genre with behind-the-scenes full-color photographs of the cast, sets, and locations, as well as interviews and reports of the special effects used. The segments that never made it into the movie are the book’s strongest hook.–Eric Gómez, Broward County African-American Research Library, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Essential Guide to Spanish Reading for Children and Yourn Adults.
206p. index. America Reads Spanish. Editores de España (FGEE), Instituto Español de Comercio Exterior (ICEX), Fundación Germán Sánchez Ruipérez. 2009. dist. free of charge at info@americareadsspanish.org. ISBN 978-0-9821418-8-5.
This annotated bibliography evaluates more than 500 titles selected by professionals in the fields of education and librarianship from the U.S. and by experts from the Reading Orientation Service (SOL) in Spain. Arranged alphabetically, it highlights a wide spectrum of fiction and nonfiction originally written in Spanish, bilingual titles, and a reasonable number of translations. They reflect a diversity of authors, publishing houses, genres, themes, geographical locations, and cultural identities. Out-of-print materials are included. Selectors can find this practice frustrating but other professionals offering reading programs and readers themselves should be able to locate these titles in existing collections. Another aspect that can disappoint selectors is the lack of consistency in the citations. Some titles are recommended by grade level and others by age level. Some citations specify the genre and others do not. Nonetheless, the information provided is accurate. With its pros and cons, there is no doubt that this guide is a valuable reference resource that expands the selection options for librarians and teachers.–Freda Mosquera, Broward County Library, FL
For more English-language coverage of Spanish-language books, go here.
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