2 comments about The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh.

1. A very sweet story with a lovely message about traditions and remembering your heritage even as changes through the generations blur the past. Well written in a style that respects both the subject and the readers, and lovely illustrations as well. Hope to see more from this author!



2. Excellent story that is beautifully written and illustrated. It captures an important part of our heritage while emphasizing the importance of family tradition and roots. My 8 year old just loved it and I can see my self reading this to her over and over again. The story teaches U.S. history on one level and family sharing on another. The illustrations are beautiful. I strongly recommend this book.

1 comments about Mijos: Digest #1: The Fiesta Face-off (Mijos).

1. Can't keep these books in our middle school library--they are constantly checked out by our Latino boys--super popular.

5 comments about D Is For Dragon Dance.

1. 
   It's a given that we can learn a great deal from other cultures, other customs, and there's not a better time to start than when we're young. "D Is For Dragon Dance" is both entertaining and educational as it tells about the Chinese New Year with all its color and unique traditions (my favorite is how youngsters greet the New Year by honoring their parents!)
   
   An alphabet book, it begins with "A is for Acrobats," takes us through to K and L for Kites and Lanterns, then concludes with "Z is for Zodiac," explaining that the Chinese calendar is a 12 year cycle with each year represented by a different animal.
   
   Yongsheng Xuan has created boldly colored full page illustrations in watercolor, acrylic and latex. They're all eye-poppers.
   
   Also included is an author's note with tips to ensure good fortune in the New Year (clean the house before the New Year starts and light firecrackers to scare off evil spirits, etc.) Plus, there's a recipe for dumplings called "New Year's Dumpling Delight."
   
   "D is for Dragon Dance" is a sure kid pleaser bound to elicit lots of interesting dinner table conversations.
   
   - Gail Cooke



2. D is for Dragon Dance is an absolutley beautiful book that has information on the Chinese New Year done so in an A to Z fashion.
   
   Each page is a work of art because if you look at it you will notice that underneath each drawing is Chinese Characters, some represent a single word and others a saying. The characters where done in 4 different calligraphy styles 3 from the dynasty they where from and 1 in the cursive or grass style. On the last page of the book in the author's note, under the artist note you will see the word Dragon and how it looks in each of the 4 styles. With the characters underneath each painting, it give each page a textured look that makes fools your eyes and makes your hands go to feel each page, only to be disappointed that it feels paper smooth and not textured as you see. I love the way the artist draws, his children are beautiful!
   
   Here is the break down of what each letter stands for.
   A - Acrobats
   B - Balls (shows a acrobat in a 2 person Fu dog / lion dancers balanced on a ball)
   C - Calligraphy
   D - Dragon Dance
   E _ Evil Spirits
   F - Firecrackers
   G - Grandma & Grandpa
   H - Haircut ( the author probablty didn't have the space to mention it, but one should only get their hair cut before the New Year and not during the New Year Celebrations because you'll be cutting off all of your good luck)
   I - Incense
   J - Jade
   K - Kites
   L - Lanterns
   M - Moon
   N - Noodles
   O - Oranges
   P - Peking Duck
   Q - Quiz
   R - Red Envelopes
   S - Steamed Dumplings ( Yum!!)
   T - Tradition
   U - Unity
   V - Veneration
   W - Wish
   X - Xylograph
   Y - Yo - Yos
   Z - Zodiac ( 12 year cycle) This one starts in the year 1981 the year od the rooster and ends in 2016 in the year of the monkey.
   
   On the last page is both the author's and artists notes on the book as well as a receipe for New Year's Dumplings Delight and Soy-Garlic Dipping Sauce, which I can't wait to try.



3. D Is For Dragon Dance is an alphabet picturebook about the theme of Chinese New Year's festivities, from the importance of connecting with family ("G is for Grandma and Grandpa") to New Year's customs ("O is for Oranges" - they are given as a sign of good fortune) to protections against evil spirits ("X is for Xylograph", a wood carving on the door meant to keep evil spirits out). Full-color illustrations by Yongsheng Xuan blend a feel for traditional Chinese art with vibrancy and energy bursting off of the page. A fun way for young readers to learn about Chinese culture and their ABC's at the same time.



4. From Acrobats to Zodiac, this is a book that uses the alphabet to introduce many different aspects of Chinese New Year to preK-K-aged kids (though my 8-year-old liked this one, too). Instructional for adults is the last page which contains notes from the author, such as "tips to ensure good fortune in the New Year," information about the Chinese characters that appear in the book, and a recipe for dumplings. A fun read!



5. My daughter just received this book as a gift for her 3rd birthday. She loves the book. My husband and I also enjoy the book.
   
   A good book to add to your 'international' book collection.

3 comments about Quinceanera Means Sweet Fifteen.

1. I try to read books that I give my goddaughter beforehand to make sure the story is worth the read and not too racy. This is the second book in the Marisol and Magdalena series, and I read it with as much fevor as the first one. I wished it was around when I was fourteen, figuring out if I wanted a quince or not! But besides the quincenera issue, the issue of growing pains between best childhood friends is very real and beleivable. Highly recommend for girls in the age range of 10-14, especially if they are hispanic (even moreso if they are Panamanian;-) ). Any adult that reads this will go right back to those uncertain days of teenagedom.



2. I try to read books that I give my goddaughter beforehand to make sure the story is worth the read and not too racy. This is the second book in the Marisol and Magdalena series, and I read it with as much fevor as the first one. I wished it was around when I was fourteen, figuring out if I wanted a quince or not! But besides the quincenera issue, the issue of growing pains between best childhood friends is very real and beleivable. Highly recommend for girls in the age range of 10-14, especially if they are hispanic (even moreso if they are Panamanian;-) ). Any adult that reads this will go right back to those uncertain days of teenagedom.



3. Marisol is back from Panama. Magda and her are getting redy for their Sweet Fifteen. The door into womanhood for Latina girls. Marisol's mom,Inez,can't afford a quince. But Marisol dreams about it everyday. While this is going on Marisol's mom has a new boyfriend,which Marisol finds goofy. Another problem is about Magda hanging out with Marisa and Elizabeth(snobs) who make her shoplift. As all of this drama is going on Francisco, a juinor, talks to her after Spanish class. They make a date where she learns more about him. He's Panamanian and he doesn't know his father. At the end she gets her Quinceanera that she's been hoping for.(With Francisco as her date.) Marisol still talks about her memories in Panama and in Nueva York. Like she talks about Ruben and Ana.(Ruben her novio and Ana her amiga in the first book. This book was great. I recommend it to all girls!

No comments about Snow Party.

1 comments about I Like Noisy Mom Likes Quiet: A Mother's Day Story.

1. Written by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Lydia Halverson, I Like Noisy Mom Likes Quiet is a lighthearted picturebook about a racoon mother and son. The mother likes quiet activities, such as drying the cat on the porch, and the son loves nothing more than making lots of noise! But one day the noisy boy does his best to tiptoe and whisper all day long, because he wants nothing more than for his mother to enjoy Mother's Day just as she wants. The playful, humorous and finely detailed color illustrations bring this charming family story to life.

No comments about Lilly's Big Day (Spanish edition): El gran dia de Lily.

1 comments about Too Many Leprechauns: Or How That Pot o' Gold Got to the End of the Rainbow.

1. Dan Andreasen provides whimsical, fun drawings for TOO MANY LEPRECHAUNS, OR HOW THAT POT O' GOLD GOT TO THE END OF THE RAINBOW. Leprechauns may be lucky on St. Patrick's Day, but on every other day they are noisy neighbors and they are causing chaos in the town of Dingle. But Finn has plans for curing the trouble, making TOO MANY LEPRECHAUNS a pick not just for March but for year-round fun leisure reading.

No comments about It's MY Birthday!.

5 comments about Gift For Abuelita / Un regalo para Abuelita: Celebrating the Day of the Dead/En celebracion del Dia de los Muertos.

1. This coming together of a writer's story & the visions of an illustrator is perfect. A simple tale of sorrow, change, love & healing. There are skills & ideas tucked away inside this gift: of a child's grief over the death of her grandmother & of the everyday things they did together & how her people celebrate their loved ones memories with gifts & prayers.

   A Gift for Abuelita/Un regalo para Abuelita is a treasure to be read again & again not just for the story. It is rich in detailed illustrations & the marriage of two languages telling the same story is a fine addition. For my full review do check out: [my website]




2. I purchased this book because of the outstanding, noteworthy illustrations and fell in love with the sensitivity of the text. I live in a community where the Day of the Dead is celebrated locally. I own several fiction and non-fiction books on the topic, which I use in my primary grade classroom. While other non-fiction children's books on the Day of the Dead do a better job of explaining what happens during this celebration, this is the only book I have found that explains on an emotional level why one would want to celebrate one's dead relatives.
   
   Although the relationship between Rosalita and her grandmother is established too quickly to cause the reader any distress when she dies on the third page of the text, Rosalita's dilemma is made clear. She works through the process of remembering and grieving her "abuelita" (grandmother). She thinks about what she can place on the family altar to symbolize her relationship with her deceased grandmother. She wonders what it will feel like when her grandmother's spirit returns on the Day of the Dead. How she resolves these questions will beautifully explain to anyone outside of the culture why those who celebrate this holiday take the time to remember.



3. This book is great for readers learning spanish or english. It has beautiful illustrations, and a great story that is based on an event that most children will have to face. The celebration of the day of the dead brings people closer to those who have passed away, and is a great idea to give to children.
   Este libro es muy bueno para lectores más jovenes para aprender inglés o español. Tiene dibujos bonitas, y un gran cuento que es sobre un evento que muchos niños tendrán. La celebración del Dia de los Muertos traiga los personas muy cercas a los personas que son muertos, y es una buena idea dar los niños.



4. This book blends beautiful illustrations of artistic collages, with a touching story told from a young girl's perspective of losing her grandmother, and trying to find the perfect way to honor her beloved 'abuelita' on the Day of the Dead.
   Teaching at middle school in a community of growing numbers of hispanics this story has helped teach cultural traditions to my students in a unique way. In reading this story along with videos and personal sharing from our Mexican students and teachers, ALL our students celebrated the Day of the Dead this school year with their own artwork and special foods and breads. Having this story told in both English and Spanish was truly an added bonus for our English Language Learners to enjoy.



5. This book is a beautiful bilingual book that is ideal for young students. It serves as a nice introduction to Day of The Dead, which is celebrated in Mexico, on November 2. The author fails to mention this in the book but instead makes a note of it in the authors notes. Therefore,for clarity, the adult might want to incorporate this fact into the storyline. Use of another book, like The Day of the Dead / Dia De Los Muertos or Mexican Day of the Dead as a supplement will enrich the students learning about Day of the Dead. The story is rather flat, as noted in one of the editorial reviews here but the salvation of the book are the rich illustrations. The artist when to great lengths to create dimension in the art, resulting in exquisite drawings that will captivate the young audience. The story evolves around young Rosita's loss of her mentor and grandmother to an undisclosed sickness. After she dies Rosita longs for abuelita(grandmother) and her grandfather(abuelito) and family teach Rosita how to honor the dead. They teach her about making abuelita's favorite goodies and making an offering to her spirit at home and at the graveyard. Rosita questions whether she will "encounter" abuelita or not but is eventually touched by her spirit. This is a very cool book that explains how grief for the departed is handled in Mexican culture. As stated the illustrations are magnificent and worth the price of the book alone. Bilingual students , or those learning a language, whose first language is either English or Spanish, will benefit from the text, if read to in both languages. Recommended for community and K-8 school libraries.