Estrella can run so fast that she burns up the air, leaving trails of flames wherever she goes. Her pets — a Kickle Snifter, a Sidehill Wowser, and a Rubberado puppy — are as untamed as California, and the pride and love of Estrella’s heart.When the greedy ghosts of old gold miners steal her pets, Estrella will need every bit of her pluck and nimble-footedness to rescue them from the ghosts of Luckless Gulch.
Ruthie loves Superman. Ruthie wants to be Superman. And when Ruthie is asked to go spend the afternoon with her aunt, who is about to have a baby any day day now and may need some help., Ruthie seizes the opportunity. It could be her chance to be a hero, should the baby come while she’s visiting! But when Ruthie is out fetching a snack for her aunt, she gets so distracted by a box full of kittens in the bodega that she doesn’t hear her aunt calling for her, nor does she notice the policemen running to the apartment or the ambulance pulling to the curb. When she realizes what’s happened, she’s devastated — she’s missed her one chance to be a hero! Or has she? Sonia Manzano, best known as “Maria” on Sesame Street, once again captures the warmth, love, and adventures of her childhood Bronx neighborhood.
Under a smooth gray rock on the outside windowsill of a home in Chimayo, New Mexico, sits la llave–the key–to the home of Grandpa and Grandma Ortega. The key has always been there for family, friends, and neighbors to use. When Grandma Ortega passes away, some things change and some things stay the same. Grandpa now lives alone, but his life is still filled with loving family and friends and la llave is still resting underneath its rock. Cristina Ortega’s latest children’s story represents life on a northern New Mexico plaza while highlighting the respect, friendship, trust, commitment, and love found in the community. Spanish phrases within the text and detailed illustrations by Cristina’s brother, Luis Armando Ortega, combine to demonstrate to children the importance of these timeless values.Reading level: grade 4 and up
Chato, the coolest cat in East L.A., and his buddy, Novio Boy, prepare to serve up a special housewarming party for their new neighbors, a family of mice, in which their guests are also the main course, but the mice bring along their own guest, Chorizo, the toughest dog in the barrio.
This bilingual fairy tale for children ages 4 to 8 relates the story of Benito, who runs away from home only to learn that the rest of the world isn’t nearly as friendly as his family’s farm.
Eve Bunting’s heartfelt story and David Diaz’s dramatic illustrations create a compelling child’s-eye view of urban violence. A young boy and his mother are forced to flee their apartment during a night of rioting in Los Angeles. Fires and looting force neighbors–who have always avoided one another–to come together in the face of danger and concern for their missing pets. David Diaz was awarded the Caldecott Medal for his bold acrylic paint and photo-collage illustrations.
The EGGerson family lives on a planet called NEGGarus in a galaxy far, far away. On NEGGarus, everything is either round or oval shaped. The people who live there Supersapien EGGbeings, or EGGbees come in different sizes and colors, but they re all shaped like, well, EGGs. The EGGerson family, like all EGGbee familes, has twelve members because they’re better by the dozen. In addition to Daddy, Mommy, Grandpa, and Grandma, there are GrEGG, JEGGsica, EGGward, EGGelbert, MEGGie, PEGGie, EGGmond, and EGGbeth. One day, Mommy EGGerson tells her children that their cousins from MEGGxico are coming for a visit. The kids are thrilled to meet the MEGGanas: LEGGticia, EGGuardo, PEGGlicia, DiEGGo, EGGnacio, MEGGuelito, MEGGarita, and EGGlida. But the EGGerson kids are surprised and confused by the MEGGanas’ appearance: their shells are a beautiful brown color, not white like the EGGersons’. As the cousins spend the next few days together, they come to realize that in spite of the difference in their shell color they have lots of things in common. Sure to generate giggles in children ages 4-8, this bilingual picture book focuses on family and daily activities to share an important concept with children about acceptance.
As he travels with his family of migrant farmworkers, Diego relies on his radio to provide him with companionship and help connect him to all the different places in which he lives.
Family Pictures is the story of Carmen Lomas Garza\’s girlhood: celebrating birthdays, making tamales, finding a hammerhead shark on the beach, picking cactus, going to a fair in Mexico, and confiding to her sister her dreams of becoming an artist. These day-to-day experiences are told through fourteen vignettes of art and a descriptive narrative, each focusing on a different aspect of traditional Mexican American culture. The English-Spanish text and vivid illustrations reflect the author\’s strong sense of family and community. For Mexican Americans, Carmen Lomas Garza offers a book that reflects their lives and traditions. For others, this work offers insights into a beautifully rich community.
See the review at WOW Review, Volume 3, Issue 2