Books for Exploring World Languages Archives - Page 4 of 7

Summer is around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with a book and an ice cold paleta?

What Can You Do with a Paleta? by Carmen Tafolla and illustrated by Magaly Morales is a playful tribute to the fruit-flavored icy treats so popular with Mexican-American children.

Probably the best way to get the “flavor” of the book is to listen to the marvelous Carmen Tafolla read it.

Things to love:

The over-sized paper paleta prop the author uses when reading the book. Too cute!
All the Spanish words incorporated in English text: tortillas, fruta, paleta, sarape, barrio, Tio, senora
The yummy acrylic illustrations in warm colors to complement the “cool” topic.

It is obvious that What Can You Do with a Paleta? is as much delicious fun as the treat itself. Help yourself to a copy today!

Paletas are easy to make because all you need is some fruit, ice pop molds, a blender and a freezer. These watermelon paletas are some of our family favorites, made of seedless watermelon chunks, 1/3 cup orange juice, and a few Tablespoons of sugar (the sugar gives the pops a smoother texture, but may be omitted). Puree all the ingredients in the blender and pour into the paleta molds. Freeze for about four hours.

Looking for more paleta recipes? Visit our paleta Pinterest board for icy goodness!

Age Range: 3 – 7 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 2
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Tricycle Press (April 14, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1582462216
ISBN-13: 978-1582462219

Look for 2014 Latin@s in Kid Lit Reading Challenge books on the third Wednesday of each month. Interested in multicultural children’s books? Follow the our Multicultural Children’s Books pinterest board.

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April 16, 2014April 16, 2014

Latino/a Kid Lit Challenge: Iguanas in the Snow/Iguanas en la nieve

For the April 2014 Latin@s in Kid Lit Reading Challenge,

and to honor National Poetry Month, we have the Magical Cycle of the Seasons Series by poet Francisco X. Alarcón and illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez.

Starting the year is the Pura Belpre Honor Award book Laughing Tomatoes: And Other Spring Poems / Jitomates Risuenos: Y Otros Poemas de Primavera. As with the other books in the series, poems in the book have both an English version and a Spanish version. Can you imagine how difficult it must have been to get the ideas and sounds/rhythm down pat in two languages? In the downloadable Teacher’s Guide (link at bottom) at Lee & Low books, Alarcón explains that some of the poems came first in Spanish, some in English and some he wrote in both languages at the same time.

Next, in From the Bellybutton of the Moon: And Other Summer Poems / Del Ombligo de la Luna: Y Otros Poemas de Verano Alarcón takes a slightly different track than the first book by revisiting a trip to Mexico that occurred during his childhood.

The third in the series, Angels Ride Bikes: And Other Fall Poems / Los Angeles Andan en Bicicleta: Y Otros Poemas de Otoño (The Magical Cycle of the Seasons Series), explores the city of Los Angeles and activities families do there.

Winding up the year is Iguanas in the Snow/Iguanas en la nieve: And Other Winter Poems/Y otros poemas de invierno. In this book Alarcón moves to northern California. The Spanish poems are generally presented first except for the title poem, “Iguanas in the Snow.” In this intriguing poem, children experience snow for the first time. Their mother laughs, saying that their green cold-weather clothing makes them look like iguanas.

The books in this series would be useful for poetry units, as well as for learning languages.

The downloadable Teacher’s Guide (link at bottom)

Age Range: 6 and up
Grade Level: 1 and up
Series: The Magical Cycle of the Seasons Series
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Lee & Low Books Inc; First Trade Paper Edition edition (March 10, 2005)
ISBN-10: 0892392029
ISBN-13: 978-0892392025

Look for 2014 Latin@s in Kid Lit Reading Challenge books on the third Wednesday of each month.

Interested in multicultural children’s books? Follow the our pinterest board.

March 19, 2014March 19, 2014

Latino/a Kid Lit Challenge: Me, Frida

For the 2014 Latin@s in Kid Lit Reading Challenge:

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we have Me, Frida by Amy Novesky and David Diaz, a picture book biography about Frida Kahlo’s time living in the city of San Francisco during the 1930s.

Frida Kahlo’s trip to San Francisco with her husband, artist Diego Rivera, turned out to be a pivotal time in her life. At first she was out of her element because she had never been away from Mexico before and Diego was busy painting a series of murals. She used the time to stretch out of herself and practice her art, however, so that she grew and developed her own unique painting style.

The illustrations by Caldecott-winning artist David Diaz positively glow. The dramatic look was created using charcoal, acrylic paint and varnish on a linen background. The linen gives the illustrations a wonderful texture.

Me, Frida is a lively snip-it from Frida Kahlo’s life that is sure to inspire children to want to find out more about the artist. As well as useful for Women’s History Month, it could also be a jumping off point for many exciting art projects.

Do you remember the earlier book Latino/Latina challenge book, What Can You Do With a Rebozo? This would be a wonderful book to accompany it, as many of the illustrations show Frida wearing a rebozo.

For an art activity, kids enjoy creating their own artwork with fabric paint on cloth (see The Artful Parent, for example). Also, see Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera: Their Lives and Ideas, 24 Activities by Carol Sabbeth for more ideas.

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 3
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (October 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0810989697
ISBN-13: 978-0810989696

Look for 2014 Latin@s in Kid Lit Reading Challenge books on the third Wednesday of each month.

Interested in multicultural children’s books? Follow the our pinterest board.

February 19, 2014February 17, 2014

Latino/a Kid Lit Challenge: Biblioburro

Today we are reading for the 2014 Latin@s in Kid Lit Reading Challenge:

and for our ongoing Library Week.

The story of Luis Soriano Bohórquez and his quest to bring books to inaccessible areas of Columbia via burros is inspiring. We are featuring two picture books that share his story with children: Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown and illustrated by John Parra, and Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia by Jeanette Winter.

Waiting for the Biblioburro is told through the point of view of Ana, a child who loves to read books. Ana has read her few books many times, so she is excited when the librarian who carries his library on the backs of donkeys visits her. She has new books to read!

Brown uses a touch of magical realism and a sprinkling of Spanish words to give the story a sense of place. There is a glossary of the Spanish vocabulary in the back matter.

Monica Brown has a curriculum guide to accompany her book (see left sidebar at website).

Age Range: 5 – 8 years
Publisher: Tricycle Press (August 9, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1582463530
ISBN-13: 978-1582463537

Told from Luiz’s point of view, Biblioburro: A True Story from Colombia reveals the details of how Luiz conceived of his idea for the traveling library and some of the challenges he faces. It is filled with bright, colorful illustrations.

This video shows real life Luiz and his library:

PBS has a film about Luiz and his Biblioburro, plus a plethora of background information for educators.

It was interesting to read some of the criticisms of these two books when preparing for this post. Some people criticized Monica Brown’s book for not exposing the truth about the hardships Luiz faces in Columbia (for example, here). In fact, Brown does not identify Luiz by name in the text. In contrast, Winter’s version specifically mentions that Luiz has been threatened by a robber, which some parents have thought was too disturbing for their children to read.

What do you think? Should children’s picture books reflect harsh political realities or should the back stories be left to the individual parents or educators to supply?

Age Range: 6 – 9 years
Publisher: Beach Lane Books; 1 edition (June 8, 2010)
ISBN-10: 1416997784
ISBN-13: 978-1416997788

Also available in Spanish:
Biblioburro: Una historia real de Colombia

Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Juventud (October 2010)
Language: Spanish
ISBN-10: 8426138160
ISBN-13: 978-8426138163

Look for 2014 Latin@s in Kid Lit Reading Challenge books on the third Wednesday of each month.

Interested in multicultural children’s books? Follow the our pinterest board.