A collection of poems in English and Spanish discusses imagination, dreams, family, and growing up in California and in Mexico.
Poems to Dream Together / Poemas Para Sonar Juntos
Primary (ages 6-9)
Material appropriate for primary age groups
Let’s Salsa / Bailemos Salsa
Estella can’t help but giggle when she sees her neighbors, Dona Rosa and Dona Maria, shaking their hips while dancing and sweating at an exercise class at the community recreation center. A few days later, when her mother complains about gaining weight, Estella encourages her to join the class.
Let’s Salsa / Bailemos Salsa has been discussed in My Take/Your Take for September 2020.
Big Bushy Mustache
It’s almost Cinco de Mayo, and Ricky’s class is going to put on a play to celebrate the festive Mexican holiday. When asked to choose his costume, Ricky picks a big, bushy mustache, just like his dad’s. He’s tired of everyone telling him he looks like his mother. After all, he’s a boy–he wants to look like his Papi. Although he’s supposed to leave it in school, Ricky wears the mustache home, reveling all the way in how grown-up it makes him feel. But by the time he gets there, the mustache is gone, and Ricky dreads having to tell his teacher what happened.
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.
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.
Say Hola to Spanish, Otra Vez
Presents a humorous introduction to Spanish words through illustrations and rhyming text.
The Cucuy Stole My Cascarones/El Coco Me Rob Los Cascarones
Mighty Monster Mysteries! Roberto and his mother made thirty dozen confetti-filled eggs, or cascarones, for his birthday party. Roberto can’t wait to crack the hollowed, painted and confetti-stuffed eggs over his friends’ heads. But, when he goes to the kitchen to get the cascarones, they’re gone! The only clue they ever existed is a trail of confetti that leads to a shadow.
Marisol Mcdonald and the Clash Bash: Marisol McDonald y la fiesta sin igual (English and Spanish Edition)
A multiracial, bilingual girl plans a birthday party and hopes her abuelita (grandma) will be able to come from Peru to join the celebration.
Rubber Shoes / Los Zapatos De Goma: A Lesson in Gratitude / Una Leccin De Gratitud
This book is a bilingual picture book about a little girl who tries to destroy the ugly shoes her mother bought for her on sale. After many failed attempts, she finally learns a valuable lesson in gratitude.
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.