By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: January 23, 2012

Author Award Winner

Illustrator Award Winner

Author Honor Book

Author Honor Book

illustrator Honor Book

Illustrator Honor Book

“The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate.” ~ALSC

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Add this book to your collection: The Outcasts (Brotherband Chronicles)

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©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Author Showcase

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: September 30, 2011

F. Isabel Campoy

F. Isabel Campoy is a scholar devoted to the study of language acquisition. She is a well-known author of numerous children’s books in the areas of poetry, theatre, folktales, biographies, and art. She is the recipient of many notable awards, including the Reading the World Award 2004, for “Cuentos que contaban nuestras abuelitas;” and the Junior Library Guild Premier Selection Award, 2006.

TCBR: As a writer, you have a strong focus on the culture and civilization of the Hispanic world. Can you share a little on your background and how you became a children’s book writer?

F. Isabel Campoy: I cannot remember a time in my life in which I wasn’t part of the world of children’s literature. As soon as I learned to read I became the person that teachers chose to read out loud to the rest of the class while they did art, or sewing. I had a good voice and I couldn’t hold a thread and needle for more than two seconds, so it was a perfect match to keep everyone busy. That practice stimulated the writer in me and when I was eleven-years-old I published my first tale in a local magazine. I continued writing throughout my childhood. When I came to the U.S. for the first time at age fifteen in 1963, writing kept me alive through the difficult moments of missing my family (I was here as an AFS exchange student), and conquering my fears after the tragic assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy on November of that year.

My first job after college was as an assistant editor in Madrid. I applied to the position because it was my way to be part of the publishing world. Later I was offered the opportunity to co-author with Phillip Locke a series for the teaching of English, my responsibility being to provide the literary texts. I left publishing many years later. At the time, I was a Senior Acquisitions Editor for College publications in a company in Boston. I realized then that the joy of publishing others was hiding my fear to publish my own manuscripts… so I finally quit everything and became a full time writer.

I love to travel. I am interested in the places, the people, and their histories. When I began writing for children I wanted to contribute to present the cultural richness of Latino history, art, and literature for readers in this country. There is much to be written about our culture.

Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection is one of the many books you have written with Alma Flor Ada. Why do you think so many readers are drawn to your retellings of these particular folktales?

Authors love all their books, but there are some that connect with you in a very personal way. “Tales Our Abuelitas Told” was published the year I lost my mother. She was the greatest storyteller, imaginative, soft spoken, and these were tales she had told us growing up. I wrote some of the stories for this book by her side. At the time I was the one who would read to her, to make her forget pain, to keep a smile in her beautiful face.

I remember each line in that book and how she reacted to my reading of the stories I was writing. Because she knew the storyline so well, she would frequently interrupt me to say: “That is not exactly how I told you that story” …when I was using some literary freedom in my re-telling. Those moments are my greatest treasure of her memory, now.

I have given readers the echo of my mother’s voice through the beauty of our folklore. I am sure she is enjoying the success of her tales…now in a fourth hardcover reprint.

Does there appear to be a favorite folktale amongst the readers of your book?

I could probably say that all of them, but “The Story of the Not-So Small Animal” is one that I like to tell when I visit schools because I love the landscape and the people of the Basque country. I tell children how so many of them brought their skills as shepherds to the mountains of Idaho. I like this story also because it is one in which the little creatures, together, win the battle against the big animals. I like that!

Four leading Latino artists created the stunning artwork in the book: Felipe Dávalos, Viví Escrivá, Susan Guevara and Leyla Torres. How do you feel about the illustrations and the extra dimension that they bring to the tales?

Our friendship with these artists has created more than one collaboration that resulted in great published books. But here they are all together, each one bringing their talent, point of view of the story and energy, and the result is magnificent. It is an honor to have them all in here.

Viví Escrivá has been a frequent collaborator with us. Together we published “Pio, Peep! and !Muu, Moo!, two of our first Nursery Rhyme collections with HarperCollins. Felipe Dávalos put wind underneath important books such as “The Quetzal’s Journey”, “On the Wings of the Condor”, and “Eyes of the Jaguar”.

You have many published books. Which book from your own esteemed list of published titles would you consider to be the most personally rewarding?

I love art, sometimes I try my hand at painting and sculpting, and having had the opportunity to present to children the richness of Hispanic art has given me great satisfaction. “ Blue and Green”; “Brush and Paint”; ”Artist’s Easel”; and “Canvas and Paper” are four of our art books (written with Alma Flor Ada). But I find writing biographies a very special challenge that I welcome. When I fall in love with a character, I want my readers to love him/her too. For that to happen, every word must be chosen carefully. In our series “Gateways to the sun” we wrote about twelve very special personalities from the world of science, leadership, media, art, and literature.

Alma Flor Ada and yourself have a forthcoming book Yes! We Are Latinos, which combines free verse portrait of Latino and Latina children of very different backgrounds living in different parts of the country. When should we expect to see this book on the shelves?

It is in the hands of the illustrator. The publisher’s goal was 2012. I hope we make it on time!

That is an important book in our careers. We opened our heart and we wrote with passion about who we are, all of us, Latinos in this country.

Which books from your own childhood have most influenced your life?

I continue to find “Platero y yo” by Juan Ramón Jimenez a source of inspiration. I go back to its pages when I want to remember my childhood.

I never understood “Don Quixote” by Miguel de Cervantes until I grew up, but when I did, I realized I have been Don Quixote half of my life and Sancho Panza, the other half.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I want to express my gratitude to them. I wrote a haiku to say precisely that:

Gratitude is a golden bird

Perched in the branches of your heart

May its voice be heard!

Add this book to your collection: Tales Our Abuelitas Told: A Hispanic Folktale Collection

For more information, visit: http://www.isabelcampoy.com/ and  http://almaflorada.com

The Author Showcase is a place for authors and illustrators to gain visibility for their works.Learn more …

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Author Showcase

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: September 22, 2011

F. Isabel Campoy and  Alma Flor Ada recently published Ten Little Puppies/Diez perritos, a bilingual bonanza!

F. Isabel Campoy

F. Isabel Campoy is a scholar devoted to the study of language acquisition. She is a well-known author of numerous children’s books in the areas of poetry, theatre, folktales, biographies, and art. She is the recipient of many notable awards, including the Reading the World Award 2004, for “Cuentos que contaban nuestras abuelitas;” and the Junior Library Guild Premier Selection Award, 2006.

Alma Flor Ada

Alma Flor Ada is an internationally published children’s book author. She is the recipient of several prestigious honors, including the Pura BelprÉ Award, the Christopher Award, the JosÉ MartÍ World Award, and the Museum of Tolerance Award.

TCBR: Hispanic culture and bilingual education are both topics that are important to you. Can you share a little on your background and how you became a children’s book writer?

Alma Flor Ada: Culture prepares us to understand the world around us. All cultures evolve, and no culture is perfect, but knowing our roots gives us a sense of community and belonging. The Hispanic culture, a product of multiple heritages, is very rich and has contributed much to the world and to the US society. Latino children have much to learn about their culture. We hope that as they do they will feel enriched by it. When non-Hispanic children learn about our culture they can develop a better understanding of their Latino peers.

Being bilingual has been one of the greatest assets I have enjoyed in life. I wish the same benefit for all children.

I have a strong belief on the importance of family. When children do not acquire, or lose, the ability to speak the language their parents know best, the language they can share feelings, experiences, dreams and beliefs, the parents’ role as educators is eroded and children miss out what should be a valuable part of their heritage.

Ten Little Puppies/Diez perritos is a vibrant rendition of the classic Spanish nursery rhyme, co-authored by F. Isabel Campoy and yourself. Can you tell us about your writing partnership and what connected you both to Diez perritos?

Both of us sang and enjoyed this nursery rhyme as children, Isabel in Spain, and I in Cuba. Later I sang it with my children who enjoyed singing along. At some point my son Miguel made me aware that sad things happened in many nursery rhymes.

Both Isabel and I believe that young children have a right to joy and happiness so, when we decided to adapt Ten Little Puppies for publication we made sure to find better, and not tragic reasons, for the puppies to disappear. And certainly we refused to end the book leaving the protagonist with no puppies and in stead made one of the puppies remain with her.

What age group is it intended for?

There is really no set age for children’s books. We see adults enjoying them as much as children. While, as a reverse counting book, one could imagine it geared to very young children, older children with a love for dogs can delight in Ulises Wensell’s illustrations and the non-fiction information about dog breeds in the back matter.

Illustration by Ulises Wensell

The musicality of the rhyme and the use of counting seem as though they would lend themselves to a positive learning experience for those crossing over from Spanish to English and vice versa. Would you agree?

Definitely. We already know of children who have learned to recognize numbers in both languages thanks to this rhyme.

Poetry, rhymes, and songs are powerful tools in the acquisition of a second language. This is why we have created Música amiga, a set of 10 CDs with a total of 120 songs, in the voice of Suni Paz; and the reason for our books Mamá Goose, Pío Peep, MuuMoo and Merry Navidad.

Are there any special considerations that must be made when creating a bilingual book?

One of the greatest mistakes made when producing bilingual books is to try to have both languages look as similar as possible. The truth is that a good translation is a new version in another language. Similarities frequently end up in false cognates, words that look similar in two languages but do not have quite the same meaning or are not used in the same situations.

Each language version of a bilingual book should be an excellent version in its own right that could be published as a monolingual book.

You have many published books. Which book from your own esteemed list of published titles would you consider to be the most personally rewarding?

Books can be rewarding for many different reasons.

The Gold Coin gave me the reward of the first national award I received, the Christopler award medal, but furthermore I have received, and continue to receive, extraordinary letters for children who have been moved by this book.

My Name is Maria Isabel touches on a problem of great significance for many immigrants, whether to retain or not their original name or change or Anglicize it. People of all ages continue to tell me that this book reflects their personal story, or the story of someone they know well. And according to teachers is one of the books children enjoy most discussing in class. Since it appears in several reading series many children have had access to it.

Under the Royal Palms and Where the Flame Trees Bloom are books of childhood memories and have given me the opportunity to honor my family. Having children and teachers get to know the story of my extraordinary grandparents has been most meaningful.

How much influence would you say your families have on the books that you create?

A great influence. My grandmother awoke in me the love for poetry, folktales, Greek myths and legends; my father the love for everyday stories as well as stories to explain civilization achievements. My mother provided me with as many books as she could, beginning with her own beloved copy of Heidi.

My children became the great inspiration for stories. Many of the books of the collection Stories the Year ’round were inspired by things they said or did. They have been, and continue to be, my best supporters.

And, of course, my nine grandchildren have been a motivation to continue writing, if nothing else to have enough books to dedicate to each and every one of them.

Which books from your own childhoods would you say have most influenced your life?

So many it would be hard to mention. As an only child, among many adults, Heidi was a constant companion. We share a passionate love for nature and trees, she cherished Peter’s blind grandmother, and I my blind great-grandmother. It made me feel we were soul mates. Then I read, and re-read, and memorized Little Women, convinced Jo was my alter ego. Corazon [Heart] by Edmundo D’Amicis made me cry and dream of heroic deeds, as it did for a large number of Latin Americans my age. I was inspired to not give up ever by Story of a Little Princess and was ready to discover my own Secret Garden and make it beautiful beyond what anyone could dream. Nicholas Nickle taught me compassion, while The Three Musketeers, Treasure Island, Ivanhoe, and Salgari’s series on Sandokan, Prince of Malaysia, encouraged me to live life audaciously always striving to bring about justice. At twelve, held in bed by chicken pox and with no new books available, I read an unabridged version of Don Quixote. Unaware of the mystic and the scholarly analysis around the book, I read it for the mere pleasure of it. Laughed a great deal but also cried in earnest and probably discovered, even if not totally aware then, a new alter ego.

Can you give us any hints as to what you’re working on next?

Isabel and I have a forthcoming book Yes! We Are Latinos, which combines free verse portrait of Latino and Latina children of very different backgrounds living in different parts of the country. The non-fiction essays that accompany the portraits tell the history of Latinos.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Books are wonderful friends and their friendship lasts a lifetime. One may lose many things in life, but as long as our memory is intact, nothing will make us lose the friendship we have developed with books.

Books enrich us and give us the opportunity of understanding ourselves, and others, better. From them we can also gain the strength to be more courageous, more generous, kinder, more caring, more authentic… they are tools to learn to live life to its fullness and to be the better person we want to be.

All my best wishes to all who read these words.

Happy readings… Happy trails.

For more information, visit: http://www.isabelcampoy.com/ and  http://almaflorada.com/

Add this book to your collection: Ten Little Puppies/Diez perritos

The Author Showcase is a place for authors and illustrators to gain visibility for their works. Learn more …

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

Author Showcase

By F. Isabel Campoy and Alma Flor Ada, for The Children’s Book Review
Published: September 16, 2011

Ten Little Puppies/Diez perritos

by Alma Flor Ada (Author), F. Isabel Campoy (Author), Ulises Wensell (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 4 and up

Hardcover: 32 pages

Publisher: Rayo; Bilingual edition (March 8, 2011)

Oh, I had ten little puppies,
Ten little puppies had I . . .

Count along in Spanish and English as each one of the ten adorable puppies disappears from the pages—it’s a bilingual bonanza! Colorful and playful illustrations by artist Ulises Wensell, a vibrant rendition of the classic Spanish nursery rhyme by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy, and a delightful English adaptation by Rosalma Zubizarreta will make this edition an instant family favorite. And you can find more information at the back of the book about the puppy breeds featured. Puppies have never been so irresistible!

Yo tenía diez perritos,
diez perritos tenía yo . . .

Ahora puedes contar, en inglés o en español, cada uno de los diez adorables perritos mientras van desapareciendo de las páginas. ¡Una verdadera joya bilingüe! Las originales y divertidas ilustraciones del artista Ulises Wensell, la vibrante versión de la rima clásica de Alma Flor Ada y F. Isabel Campoy, y una excelente adaptación en inglés de Rosalma Zubizarreta harán que este libro sea indispensable en todos los hogares. Puedes encontrar más información acerca de las razas de los cachorros en la parte posterior del libro. ¡Nunca has visto perritos más irresistibles!

Illustration by Ulises Wensell

Vibrant colored-pencil and watercolor illustrations are done in deep hues of green, pastels, and earth tones to create realistic images that capture the spontaneous, playful, and affectionate nature of the pups. … The English translation skillfully utilizes rhyme to maintain the story’s authenticity while accurately reflecting the original poem. … Large, appealing illustrations will make this a favorite for storytime presentations; an excellent source in helping children to develop prereading skills, and a fun way to introduce them to early math concepts such as addition and subtraction. —Cristi Jenkins, Fort Vancouver Library District, WA (School Library Journal)

Add this book to your collection: Ten Little Puppies/Diez perritos

A note from F. Isabel Campoy

As I reflect on my life as an author I realize that the 100[+] books I have published have all been a statement of what it means to be Latino. In a poem  (Suni Paz composed music for it) I say:

Mia es la historia                                 Mine is a history

culta, honrada y valiente.                  honest, educated, fearless.

Mío el orgullo                                        Mine is the pride,

de ser Latina y suficiente.                  of being Latina, no less.

I realized that there are no Latinos in México or Guatemala, El Salvador or Cuba. There are no Latinos in any of the 20 Hispanic Countries. There, there are Mexicans and Guatemalans, Salvadorians or Cubans. The name Latino has been adopted in the US by English speakers to refer to the Spanish-speaking population in this country. Latinos are then a new culture, separate from that of their countries of origin, wider, more complex and in many ways richer. And I wanted our Latino children to know that.

So, in co-authorship with Alma Flor Ada, we created a plan to furnish young readers with tools that would help them choose their own identities as Latinos in the U.S. When we wrote books about Hispanic lands we talked about the new frontiers of our identity, no longer just México or Guatemala, Cuba or Puerto Rico, but also Bolivia and Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, Spain and Honduras. We invited readers to meet poets born in all ages and all countries from the Mayan A’Kabal to, Octavio Paz, Gabriela Mistral or Federico García Lorca. To read the biographies of Benito Juarez and Fernando Botero, José Martí and César Chavez and to broaden their horizon towards inclusion, to add a second language, not substitute their heritage language by English.

A few years ago, as the third generation of our families was born in the U.S. and abroad, we realized that they needed a common past and we published books such as ¡Pío Peep!, Mamá Goose, Merry Navidad, and Animal Nursery Rhymes. They are all bilingual books because some of these children speak only English, others only Spanish and we hope that they will master both languages sometime soon. Our surprise has been that it is the mothers of young Latino children, the ones that wait in line for our signature in Conferences. They want to keep the memory of their own mothers and the joy of their own childhood, as contained in the pages of those nursery rhyme books. Hopefully, they will sing to their children those same songs, and will teach them the games they played, and will realize that children can learn two languages simultaneously without much problem.

For more information, visit: http://www.isabelcampoy.com/

The Author Showcase is a place for authors and illustrators to gain visibility for their works. This article was provided by the author. Learn more …

A version of F. Isabel Campoy’s note originally appeared on Paper Tigers, an internet magazine.

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 4, 2011

To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, take a look at the bilingual books that we’ve been reading …

The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred
by Samantha R. Vamos (Author), Rafael Lopez (Illustrator)

Mama and Me
by Arthur Dorros (Author), Rudy Gutierrez (Illustrator)

Ten Little Puppies/Diez perritos
by Alma Flor Ada (Author), F. Isabel Campoy (Author), Ulises Wensell (Illustrator)

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

By Luisa LaFleur, The Children’s Book Review
Published: November 30, 2010

On overcoming your fears…..

Lobo and the Rabbit Stew: El lobo y el caldo de conejo

by Marcia Schwartz (Author), Brent Campbell (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 4 to 8

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: Raven Tree Press (2010)

Source of book: Publisher

In this story about a mean old wolf who longs for rabbit stew, a little rabbit faces his fears with his cunning and savvy intellect. He thwarts the wolf’s attempts to turn him into stew and in the process discovers a little bit about himself. The text is sprinkled with key words in Spanish and there is a glossary of terms for easy translation.

Add this book to your collection: Lobo and the Rabbit Stew: El lobo y el caldo de conejo

Bedtime Monster: ¡A Dormir, Pequeno Monstruo!

by Heather Ayris Burnell (Author), Eida de la Vega (Translator)

Reading level: Ages baby to 3

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: Raven Tree Press (2010)

Source of book: Publisher

Many of us have had to deal with a toddler that doesn’t want to go to bed. Bedtime Monster illustrates the drama quite nicely, providing us with the visual we often imagine when our toddlers descend into tantrums and chaos. A very charming tale with an equally lyrical Spanish translation.

Add this book to your collection: Bedtime Monster: ¡A Dormir, Pequeno Monstruo!

Running with the Bats / Corriendo con los murciélagos

by Chris Holaves (Author), John Goomas (Illustrator), Candace Medina (Translator)

Reading level: Ages 9 to 12

Paperback: 64 pages

Publisher: Astakos Publishing (2010)

Source of book: Publisher

In Running with the Bats, we encounter a young boy who’s stepped out on the wrong night. Young Joe was out playing baseball with his friends but as the sun set and the moon rose, the bats came out to feed on fireflies. Joe has a rough time getting home but he does so safely and loses his fear of bats in the process. This story is geared to older readers as it does have some scary moments but in a clever move, the author includes interesting facts about bats as well as topics for discussion to get young readers to face any fears they might have after reading the story. Simultaneously translated into Spanish—the translation is certified by a professional translator.

Add this book to your collection: Running with the Bats / Corriendo con los murciélagos

On finding your place….

The Little Weed Flower: La florecita de maleza

by Vicky Whipple (Author), Pamela Barcita (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 4 to 8

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: Raven Tree Press (2010)

Source of book: Publisher

In this new bilingual fable about finding your place in the world, a little weed flower strives to belong in the flower garden. The other weeds don’t like her for trying to leave the weed patch and the flowers in the garden don’t like her because she’s a weed. The weed flower finds a way to make her dream come true with the help of a caring gardener. Simultaneously translated into Spanish.

Add this book to your collection: The Little Weed Flower: La florecita de maleza

A Sweater for Duncan / Un sueter para Duncan

by Margaret Gay Malone (Author), Lorraine Dey (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 4 to 8

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: Raven Tree Press (2010)

Source of book: Publisher

In A Sweater for Duncan, little Duncan is a penguin with soft, gray fur. He enjoys being different from the adult penguins with their sleek black and white tuxedo attire, but things start to change when Duncan starts losing his fur. This adorable story about growing from child to adult easily illustrates the changes that take place over time. With simultaneous translation in Spanish.

Add this book to your collection: A Sweater for Duncan / Un sueter para Duncan

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

By Luisa LaFleur, The Children’s Book Review
Published: November 30, 2010

Dinosaur Name Poems/Poemas De Nombres De Dinosaurios

by Steven C. Cunningham, M.D.; translated by Miriam Gorospe, Ph.D.

Reading level: Nine to twelve

Paperback: 70 pages

Publisher: Three Conditions Press (2010)

Source of book: Publisher

Have a budding paleontologist, poet or linguist on your hands? Then the bilingual Dinosaur Name Poems is the book for you! Author Steven C. Cunningham has written a clever book of poems describing dinosaur names and/or attributes. In some cases, the witty verses capture the literal meaning of the dinosaur’s name; in others, they paint a picture of how the dinosaur lived and died.

Dinosaur Name Poems won the 2009 Moonbeam Award in two categories, Children’s Poetry and Spanish Language Books. The poems have been expertly translated into Spanish by Myriam Gorospe. Further adding to the tome’s credentials, its scientific accuracy is guaranteed by the Paleontological Research Institution in Itaca, NY. The vivid and accurate illustrations are by Valeska M. Populoh.

Add this book to your collection: Dinosaur Name Poems/Poemas De Nombres De Dinosaurios by Steven C. Cunningham

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©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

By Luisa LaFleur, The Children’s Book Review
Published: July 29, 2010

A new batch of stories have recently been translated into Spanish. Following are some interesting tales:

Mr. Groundhog Wants the Day Off

by Pat Stemper Vojta (Author), Esther Szegedy (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: Raven Tree Press (2009)

Source of book: Publisher

Mr. Groundhog Wants the Day Off by Pat Stemper Vojta follows the travails of a poor groundhog in the run-up to Ground Hog Day. He’s tired of all the pressure and tries to get his friends to step in for him instead. But his friends help him find ways to cope.

Add this book to your collection: Mr. Groundhog Wants the Day Off

Nathan Saves the Summer

by Gerry Renert (Author), Carrie Anne Bradshaw (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: Raven Tree Press (2010)

Source of book: Publisher

Nathan Saves Summer by Gerry Renert tells the tale of a hippo that wants to be a life guard. His animal friends try to dissuade him–the pond they’re swimming in just isn’t big enough for Nathan. But Nathan perseveres and proves that size shouldn’t be a determining factor, drive should be.

Mom’s Choice Award (Gold Recipient: Adventure, Adventurers & Heroes)

Add this book to your collection: Nathan Saves the Summer

Grandma’s Pear Tree

by Suzanne Santillan (Author), Atilio Pernisco (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Paperback: 32 pages

Publisher: Raven Tree Press (2009)

Source of book: Publisher

In Grandma’s Pear Tree by Suzanne Santillan, Jessie disobeys his grandmother’s order to not play near her pear tree. He gets a ball stuck in the tree and asks his grandfather for help. But his grandfather is busy, so he gives him an idea instead….Jessie ends up in bigger trouble than before. This amusing tale isn’t fully translated into Spanish but some key terms are and it makes for a very lyrical reading!

Add this book to your collection: Grandma’s Pear Tree

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.

By Luisa LaFleur, The Children’s Book Review
Published: July 26, 2010

I’ve recently read a few new books that aim to teach our children Spanish the old-fashioned way: with songs and nursery rhymes. There are a plethora of computer programs that can be used to learn foreign languages but many language teachers will tell you that vocabulary and practice are the only real ways to learn a foreign language. What better way to learn new words and practice them over and over again, but by learning catchy songs and nursery rhymes?

Following are some recently published books that caught my eye:

Buenas Noches, Amigos

by Heide “Pina” Madera (Author), Christina Spangler (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 0-3

Paperback: 14 pages

Publisher: Sing-A-Lingo (2009)

Source of book: Publisher

Buenas Noches, Amigos by Heide “Pina” Madera is a “singable” book that can be incorporated into a child’s bedtime routine easily since it follows a little boy, his cat, and a mouse on their journey from bath to bed to sleep. The book comes with printed music and words for two songs and–in a more modern twist–these can be downloaded from the publisher’s website to accompany the bedtime routine.

Muu, Moo!: Rimas de animales/Animal Nursery Rhymes

by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy (Authors), Rosalma Zubizarreta (English versions) and Vivi Escriva (Illustrator)

Reading level: Ages 2-7

Hardcover: 48 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins (2010)

Source of book: Publisher

Muu, Muu! Animal Nursery Rhymes by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy is a collection of traditional Spanish nursery rhymes and their English translations. The book is full of beautiful Latin American-inspired illustrations with lots of colorful images.

©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.