A young boy describes what life is like when his dad comes home — how he fries up chicken samosas for dinner, how he makes jokes and fools around, and how he carries him off to bed when he is sleepy. His dad also tells wonderful stories of his adventures in far-off lands, often inspired by his many, many exotic tattoos. His letters to his son are also full of great stories about the past — what the first date with his mother was like (it included a visit to a fortune teller and a bizarre circus) and about how the boy’s life was saved twice by this very same dad — once when he was stolen from his baby basket by a dog and once when he flew out the car window. But as his mother says, his dad has ants in his pants, which means he’s often not around.Still, life rolls along with one fantastical tale after another, in good times and bad. And this is this extraordinary father’s gift to his child — the life of the imagination — which is always with him, even when his father is not.The illustrations have a nostalgic, underground graphic-novel style feel to them that perfectly complements the very original text.
Spain
Materials from Spain
My Best Friend is as Sharp as a Pencil
When her grandma asks her about school, a girl draws a class portrait, adding details that show what makes each person special.
This Little Bunny Can Bake
In this picture book, there are eight students in Chef George’s School of Dessertology. And only one—a studious little bunny—has any interest in following the rules. While bunny is busy baking a masterpiece, everyone else is busy making a mess. And even though only bunny actually learns to bake, all the students—from Dog with his shoe-fly pie to Mouse with her Swiss cheese surprise—are happy with how their desserts turn out in the end.
Tom
Tom, a huge and adventurous dinosaur, makes an entertaining trip to New York City, where he makes an indelible impression on the Big Apple.
El Machinchar
The true story of a girl and her father who can’t match his clothes well. To help him, she makes him a “Matching chart” that tells him which colors go with which.
Pascual and the Kitchen Angels
Pascual, a boy blessed by angels at his birth, receives divine help when the Franciscan monks make him their cook.
Paper Bird
A drawing of a bird tries without success to learn to fly, until the artist completes his original design and makes flight possible for it.
My Havana: Memories of a Cuban Boyhood
Relates events in the childhood of architect Secundino Fernandez, who left his beloved Havana, Cuba, with his parents, first to spend a year in Spain, and later to move to New York City.
Anno’s Spain
The imaginative Anno takes us through Spain in his newest journey book, depicting the enchanting cities and eras of this intriguing country. Wordless book.
Muu, Moo!: Rimas de animales/Animal Nursery Rhymes (Spanish Edition)
This bilingual collection of traditional animal nursery rhymes from Spain, Latin America, and the United States is sure to delight readers young and old. Includes 17 poems handpicked by Ada and Campoy, along with five of their own original poems.