A Mango In The Hand

Francisco is finally old enough to journey to the mango grove all by himself to gather the mangoes for a special dinner. But bees swarm the fruit, and Francisco has trouble picking them from the tree. He returns to his father several times, and each time his father shares a different proverb to inspire Francisco to continue trying. “Querer es poder. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!” Finally, Francisco is able to gather some mangoes, and on his way home he stops to visit his uncle, grandmother, and aunt. Francisco shares his mangoes with them, and by the time he gets home he no longer has any! “Es mejor dar que recibir. Sometimes it’s better to give than to receive.” Luckily for Francisco, his generosity does not go unnoticed. “Amor con amor se paga. Love is repaid with love.” Readers are sure to be charmed by this humorous story about problem solving and sharing. The book includes a glossary of Spanish words.

Apricots Tomorrow

To understand a people, acquaint yourself with their proverbs’ runs an Arab adage, and here are the books that do just that. The popular Apricots Tomorrow, a selection of sayings from the Gulf region, is joined by sister titles The Son of a Duck is a Floater and Unload your own Donkey which draws on sayings from the Maghreb and Levant. Paralleling age-old Arabic sayings with English equivalents, the proverbs highlight the uncanny similarity of inherited wisdom in both East and West.

This book has been featured in our Middle East and South Asia Arabic Language and Culture Kit.

Dichos: Proverbs and Sayings from the Spanish

Sayings and proverbs are priceless verbal traditions for all to share. And everyone has a favorite. They are unique because in a few words, a deeply serious message can be woven. It is impossible to read proverbs and sayings without learning something important, and perhaps feeling that each one was written especially for you. The proverbs and sayings in this book cause a glow that makes you want to return to them again and again. Also included are rhymes (chiquillados), riddles (adivinanzas), beliefs (creencias) and a bibliography. The Spanish/English text is set in dictionary format for easy reading.