A collection of poems in English and Spanish discusses imagination, dreams, family, and growing up in California and in Mexico.
Age
Catalog sorted by age group
Calling The Doves/El Canto De Las Palomas: El Canto De Las Palomas
In this bilingual autobiography, the Mexican American poet Juan Felipe Herrera describes his childhood in California as the son of migrant workers. The author recalls his childhood in the mountains and valleys of California with his farmworker parents who inspired him with poetry and song. A rich, personal narrative about growing up as a migrant farmworker. Herrera relates how he learned to love the land from his father, and poetry from his mother. He uses lyrical passages to portray everyday life, e.g., the ritual of breakfast: The sky was my blue spoon – the wavy clay of the land was my plate. The colored-pencil and acrylic illustrations are bright and at times fanciful. Simmon’s artwork brings to life Herrera’s words, which are printed in both English and Spanish.
Pepita Talks Twice / Pepita Habla Dos Veces
Pepita, a little girl who can converse in Spanish and English, decides not to “speak twice” until unanticipated problems cause her to think twice about her decision.
The Mystery Of The Mischievous Marker
Pink Fire Trucks / Los camiones de bomberos de color rosado
My Very Own Room/Mi Propio Cuartito
With the help of her family, a resourceful Mexican-American girl with two parents, five little brothers, and visiting relatives realizes her dream of having a space of her own to read and to think. Based on the author’s own childhood.
Say Hola to Spanish, Otra Vez
Presents a humorous introduction to Spanish words through illustrations and rhyming text.
Mountain Dog
When his mother is sent to jail in Los Angeles, eleven-year-old Tony goes to live with his forest ranger great-uncle in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where Tony experiences unconditional love for the first time through his friendship with a rescue dog.
Senor Pancho Had a Rancho
The barnyard animals on Old MacDonald’s and Senor Pancho’s farms have a hard time communicating. MacDonald’s rooster says cock-a-doodle-doo! While Senor Pancho’s gallo says quiquirquí. The English-speaking chick says peep, peep, but el pollito says pio, pio. Then the cow says moo and la vaca says mu! Maybe they’re not so different after all! So all the animals come together for a barnyard fiesta, because dancing is a universal language.