By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: September 19, 2011
Celebrate the universal love for reading, and Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), with WAITING FOR THE BIBLIOBURRO, by the award-winning team of Monica Brown and John Parra. Enter to win one of three (3) hardcover copies of this heartwarming tale that every child will enjoy. Giveaway begins September 19, 2011, at 12:01 A.M. PST and ends October 15, 2011, at 11:59 P.M. PST.
Reading level: Ages 4-6
Hardcover: 32 pages
Book overview: Inspired by the heroic efforts of real-life librarian Luis Soriano, award-winning picture book creators Monica Brown and John Parra introduce readers to the mobile library that journeys over mountains and through valleys to bring literacy and culture to rural Colombia, and to the children who wait for the Biblioburro.
Critical acclaim: “The book is perfect for read-alouds, with occasional, often onomatopoeic Spanish words such as “quiquiriquí,” “tacatac” and “iii-aah” adding to the fun.” –Kirkus Reviews
About the author: MONICA BROWN’s Peruvian-American heritage has inspired in her a desire to share Latino/a stories with children. Her books have garnered starred reviews, The Américas Award, and a Pura Belpré Honor. In addition, she received the prestigious Rockefeller Fellowship on Chicano Cultural Literacy from the Center for Chicano Studies at the University of California. Monica is currently Professor of English at Northern Arizona University in U.S. Latino and Multicultural Literature.
About the illustrator: JOHN PARRA is an award-winning illustrator, designer, teacher, and fine art painter whose work is avidly collected. John’s books have received starred reviews and have appeared on the Texas 2×2 Reading List. He has received the SCBWI Golden Kite Award for illustration, the 2006 International Latino Book Award for Best Children’s Book Interior Illustrations, and the 2010 Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Award for Gracias/Thanks, written by Pat Mora.
A note from Monica: I love librarians. Like me, (and I’ll bet you too if you are reading this), librarians are book people. Book people find joy between the pages of a book, but their passion doesn’t stop there. True book people must share books with others. They believe that placing books in young hands and sharing stories with young minds is meaningful. Luis Soriano is a book person… When I wrote WAITING FOR THE BIBLIOBURRO, I didn’t want to presume to tell Luis’s story for him, so I created a fictional story inspired by his, from the perspective of a little girl whose life he changes.
Giveaway is Closed
- Thank you to all who entered!
Sponsored* by Random House Children’s Books.
5 Comments
Thanks for the review and the giveaway!
Please enter me to win a copy of this adorable book. I love to encourage children to learn about all the wonderful cultures in the world.
Great story for building cultural competence.
I love to hear about stories where books are championed. They are so important for developing imagination. This is another wonderful example where people find a way to get books into the hands of children – from camels to donkeys to mobile trucks. Great!
Sounds like a great book for both of my grandchildren.