Bilingual Reading- In English and español

Listen to María de la Luz Medina Pérez reading Braid/ Trencitas and René Has Two Last Names/ René tiene dos apellidos. Have fun, if you have the books, go get them!

Braids/Trencitas 

By Kathleen Contreras

Illustrated by Margaret Lindmark

This bilingual story shows the importance of family and of reading, while also emphasizing the rewards of passing along cultural traditions. Beautiful illustrations portray the moving story of Bela and her grandma, who love to tell stories, braid hair, and play lotería with the family: "Our stories, like our braids, bind us forever."

Listen/ Escucha

Braids

Trencitas

 René Has Two Last Names/René Tiene Dos Apellidos
    By René Colato Laínez

    Illustrated by Fabiola Graullera Ramírez

Young René is from El Salvador, and he doesn't understand why his name has to be different in the United States. When he writes Colato, he sees his paternal grandparents, René and Amelia. When he writes Laínez, he sees his maternal grandparents, Angela and Julio. Without his second last name, René feels incomplete, "like a hamburger without the meat or a pizza without cheese or a hot dog without a wiener."

This charming bilingual picture book for children ages 4 - 8 combines the winning team of author René Colato Laínez andillustrator Fabiola Graullera Ramírez, and follows their award-winning collaboration, I Am René, the Boy / Soy René, el niño. With whimsical illustrations and entertaining text, this sequel is sure to please fans and gain many new ones while explaining an important Hispanic cultural tradition.

Listen/ Escucha

René Has Two Last Names

René tiene dos apellidos

The LBBC's Favorite Latino Children's Literature Reviewed in 2011

This past year, the LBBC reviewed a lot of great books for the Latino children's market. Here are our favorite books for 2011...

¡Olé! Flamenco

Photo-essayist, George Ancona, explores this passionate, colorful, and explosive Spanish dance.

The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred

by Samantha R. Vamos

Illustrated by Rafael López

Written in the same rhyming format as that of “The House That Jack Built”, Cazuela gives this classic rhyme a bilingual twist.

Deigo Rivera, His World and Ours 

by David Diaz

A beautifully illustrated book that inspires the reader to think of how Diego’s art is relevant today.

Under the Mambo Moon

by Julia Durango

A unique story that explores various types of Latin American music - from Colombia’s cumbia to the Dominican merengue to the candombé of Uruguay. 

Under the Mesquite

by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

 

 The moving story of Lupita, the oldest of 8 children in a close-knit familia, and her struggle to keep her family together while dealing with the emotional burden after her mother is diagnosed with cancer.

 

 

 

Dancing Home

by Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel Zubizarreta

 

The story of two cousins, Margie (Margarita) and Lupe, who are learning to embrace their cultures while fitting into a new one.

De Colores, Bright with Colors

Illustrated by David Diaz

A picture book based on the well-known folksong that was brought to the Americas by the Spaniards in the 16th century.

Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People

By Monica Brown

Illustrated by Julie Paschkis

A beautifully illustrated and written book that introduces children to the Chilean poet and to the concept of words as art.

Caramba! Kids™

A note from José-Luis Orozco


You are invited to visit my new website, Caramba! Kids™ (www.carambakids.com), an innovative bilingual educational web-based portal that delivers effective learning tools for pre-school and elementary school aged children.


Caramba! Kids™ includes bilingual music by me (José-Luis Orozco) and educational content co-developed with insight from award winning experts in animation, music, technology and early childhood development.


Caramba! Kids™ includes videos, songs and activities to teach skills to young kids that are crucial for their success in school. It includes user friendly activities directed to educators and parents to use along with the songs. Every activity has been carefully developed and are linked to the newly developed core standards.


To experience the very best in bilingual educational resources for children ages 8 and under, visit Caramba! Kids™ now!


Sincerely,


José-Luis Orozco

The 2nd Children's Poetry Festival Takes Place in El Salvador

On November 16 - 18, 2011, the 2nd Children's Poetry Festival was celebrated in San Salvador, El Salvador. Author Jorge Argueta was kind enough to share this beautiful video with us. It is a little tribute to this amazing festival...

¿Pavo para la Cena de Gracias? ¡No, gracias!

 ¿Pavo para la Cena de Gracias? ¡No, gracias!

by Alma Flor Ada

illustrated by Vivi Escrivá

One of the cutest Thanksgiving books I've read in a while, ¿Pavo para la Cena de Gracias? ¡No, gracias! is the story of a turkey who is worried about being Thanksgiving dinner after he overhears a conversation about how fat and tasty he will be! Fortunately, una araña, in a nearby tree takes it upon herself to figure out how to help him out of his predicament.

The back of the book contains tips for parents on how to discuss the book and relate it to the child's life. This book is a lovely companion book to the classic story, Charlotte's Web. Available in English and Spanish, it is best suited for children ages 4 to 8.

You can see some sample pages and listen to a portion of the book on Del Sol Book's website.

Fly, Fly Butterfly/ Vuela, vuela mariposa

Written by  Diego H. Pedreros Velásquez

A beautiful book has emerged...

Fly, Fly Butterfly/Vuela, vuela mariposa, winner of the 2011 Skipping Stones Nature Books Honor Award, is hailed as being an “exceptional contribution to multicultural and ecological awareness in children’s literature.”

The journey of the monarchs...

“The author uses the monarch as a metaphor for how we should face life, and connects the fate of monarchs to how humans affect the planet. Excellent photographs by the author of monarchs and wildlife around Goleta (California)... The design, layout and artwork in the book capture the sense of wonder and adventure of learning about new things through the eyes of both the child and her father. It’s clear that this book was a labor of love... Perhaps the book’s most unique feature is that it is bilingual.”  Chip Taylor, director of Monarch Watch.

For more information visit, http://www.forlymonarch.com/

November's Libro del Mes: Dancing Home

Dancing Home

By Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel Zubizarreta

What a joy it is to share with you this month’s LBBC Book of the Month! With all the current rhetoric on what it means to be American and English-only agendas, I found Dancing Home to be such a beautiful lesson with a reaffirming message for our bilingual and bicultural children.

Dancing Home is the story of two cousins, Margie (Margarita) and Lupe. Margie is an acculturated Latina student living in California. She was born in Texas, speaks English, and knows without a doubt that she is American...until her cousin, Lupe, from Mexico comes to live with them. Then Margie begins to question what exactly it means to be “American” and is surprised to discover that embracing another culture and language does not mean you have to abandon the first.

Lupe has arrived in the United States not knowing the language or the people, but she is determined to try her best and has hope that she can find happiness in her new life.  She finds her bilingual education class to be very different from her school back in Mexico, but in it Lupe discovers the tools she needs to succeed academically and socially.

The book does such a great job of destroying stereotypes and judging people based on the way they look or the language they speak.

I like how the story provides the point of view of both girls. At the beginning, Margie has very negative feelings about her Mexican heritage. She doesn’t like to talk about it and has gone to great lengths in order to assimilate into her school by rejecting anything that that reflects the culture.  She is embarrassed by her cousin who doesn’t speak any English and resents the changes at both home and school that Lupe seems to bring with her.

Lupe’s character does a great job of showing how difficult it is for a child – or any person, for that matter – to move to a different country where they don’t know the language.  But her courage and strength come from her love for her culture. And the book ends by showing how beautiful and fortunate these girls are to have both cultures in their lives.

This book is best suited for older children ages 7 and up. Teachers and parents: This is a great book for discussing the value of being bilingual and bicultural. Other topics include immigration, friendship, teasing, assimilation, and the Mexican culture.

If you would like to buy your own copy of Dancing Home, please click here. The book is available in English or Spanish. Or you can follow the link in our sidebar to the LBBC’s on-line store. We have both new and gently used copies available.

Libros del Mes: Trilingual Board Books From Little Pim

For all of you who are fans of the excellent foreign language learning company, Little Pim, you will be delighted to learn that they have recently released their first set of trilingual board books.

Written in English, Spanish, and French, their first two books are titled, Feelings and Colors. I find these books to be especially engaging as both of them are interactive with flaps and tabs that allow young readers to discover the visual and written concepts. My children giggled after pulling a tab to see the smiling face of another child peering back at them.

Feelings is about Little Pim, the panda, who is learning to express himself and share his emotions with others by learning how to say the words in Spanish and French. In Colors, the reader helps Little Pim find a rainbow assortment of balloons only to discover a surprise party at the end.

These board books are just a small sampling of a long line of quality products from Little Pim, which also includes flash cards, videos, and apps. You can learn more by visiting their site at LittlePim.com.

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Disclosure: These two board books were sent to me by Abrams Books.

My Handy Writing Book: A New, Fun & Easy Way to Write Stories

 Writers’ Groups &  Press of Ventura & Beyond
Amada Irma Pérez & Associates

PO. Box 3513

Ventura, CA 93006

Phone: 805-642-7940

www.amadairmaperez.com

contact:   Amada Irma Pérez

My Handy Writing Book: A New, Fun & Easy Way to Write Stories
$9.95  *   September 2011

Ventura, CA---How to write stories and narratives is something that students in all grades are expected to master, yet few methods are easy, enjoyable and unforgettable.  My Handy Writing Book: A New, Fun &  Easy Way to Write Stories makes the process of writing pure joy for children 6 and up, their parents and teachers.  Grandparents will also find it irresistible to share and write their own stories with their lucky grandchildren as they help to color the whimsical black and white illustrations and trace hands on the blank pages.  Families will create heirlooms to be enjoyed for generations.

Amada Irma Pérez is an award-winning author of many bilingual children’s books. She taught elementary and university classes for twenty-five years before becoming an author.  She plans to write many more multicultural books.  She lives in Ventura, California.

Lili Sosa is the owner and creative director of Lili Sosa Creative Studio. She has many years of experience in graphic design including illustration,  web sites, and marketing materials in Mexico and the U. S.  She lives in Ventura, California

Praise for Amada Irma Pérez’s
My Handy Writing Book:  A New, Fun & Easy Way to Write Stories

“Amada Irma Pérez is a captivating storyteller and educator...Amada knows how to make the complicated act of writing easy and available to all, and for this she should be given a President’s medal. -Sandra Cisneros, author of The House on Mango Street and Caramelo

“...My Handy Writing Book is a must in schools, libraries and homes.” -Rene Colato Lainez, author of From North to South and The Tooth Fairy Meets el Raton Perez

www.amadairmaperez.com

REVIEW COPIES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Eric Carle's La araña muy ocupada

For those of you who have been wondering what sounds animals make in Spanish, check out the Spanish translation of Eric Carle's, La araña muy ocupada.

Translated by Nancy Mercado, the story is about a busy little spider who goes about making her web and ignores the attempt of various farm animals to interrupt her work. Many of you may recognize Carle's book from the English version. The Spanish version is equally adorable. Previous reviews on Amazon point out several grammatical mistakes. However, the publisher seems to have corrected these... though I did find one mistake in the translation (they use the phrase "este mosca" instead of "esta mosca").

I especially loved reading what sounds each animal makes in Spanish. And, of course, Carle's distinctive illustrations are engaging.

Here's a sample:

"Híiiiiii! Híiiiiii!" relinchó el caballo.
"¿Quieres tomar un paseo?"
Pero la araña no contestó. Estaba muy ocupada, tejiendo su tela.

So if you're looking for some English classics to share with your children, you might want to consider La araña muy ocupada.

Latina Authors Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month Isabel Campoy, Gabriel Zubizarreta, Suni Paz, and Alma Flor Ada will be making a series of presentations. If you happen to be in the area, you may want to attend one or more of them!


October 5 - Relación escuela-hogar para asegurar el éxito de los niños/Home-School Interaction for the Success of Our Children.
California Center for the Arts, Escondido, CA
Alma Flor Ada, Isabel Campoy and Suni Paz, Wednesday October 5, 2011, 5:30PM
to 7:30PM, California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025

October 6 - Excellence and Justice in Education Academies.
El Cajon, CA
Alma Flor Ada, Isabel Campoy and Suni Paz, Thursday, October 6, 2011, 8:00AM to 3:30PM
Author’s visit to Excellence and Justice in Education Academies,
851 South Johnson Ave., El Cajon, CA 92020, (619) 401-4150


October 7-8 Spanish Language Arts Conference.
Handlery Hotel, San Diego, CA
The goal of the conference is to assist districts to accelerate achievement for all students, eliminate the achivement gap, and increase parent and community participation, through professional development that nurtures and supports leaderships, innovation and creativity by promoting the integration of Language Development, Biliteracy and the Visual and Performing Arts.
Presenters:
Alma Flor Ada, Suni Paz, Isabel Campoy, Simon Silva. For additional information please contact: Vanessa Villasenor, Program Secretary San Diego County Office of Education, Phone: (858) 292-3548
email: vvillasenor@sdcoe.net
http://sdcoe.k12oms.org/eventdetail.php?id=51162


October 13 - Kidquake, Koret Auditorium.
San Francisco Public Library
Alma Flor Ada and her son Gabriel Zubizarreta will present their newly released book, their first collaboration as co-authors, Dancing Home, also published in Spanish as Nacer Bailando from 10AM to 12PM at the Koret Auditorium in the San Francisco Public Library. Join acclaimed children’s book authors, illustrators, poets for a morning of readings, discussion, and special workshops designed to help fuel the imagination of kids from 3rd to 5th grade.
http://www.litquake.org/calendar-of-events/event/kidquake-grades-3-5


October 13 - Colorado Bilingual Association Conference (CABE).
Denver, CO
Isabel Campoy is a keynote speaker at the Colorado Association for Bilingual Education (CABE)’s 2011 Fall Conference on Thursday October 13. The theme for the conference is “Unidos: Building Our Dream Together”
http://cocabe.org/2011_conference_56.html


October 14 - California Council for Teacher Education Conference.
San Diego, CA
Alma Flor Ada will make a featured presentation on Friday, October 14th at the Fall 2011 Conference of the California Council on Teacher Education at the Kona Kai Resort in San Diego, California. The theme of the conference, which also features Donaldo Macedo is “Reconnecting Student Voice with Teacher Education in a Globalized Society”
http://www.ccte.org/conferences/fall2011/fall2011announcement.pdf


October 21-22 USBBY Conference.
Fresno, CA
Peace the World Together with Children's Books is the theme of the 9th United States Regional Conference of The International Board of Books for Young People [IBBY]. It will take place in the Arne Nixon Center at California State University at Fresno. A unique opportunity to meet with national and international authors of children's literature.
Alma Flor Ada and Isabel Campoy will join other California authors that will be available to meet the participants and to sign their books.
http://www.usbby.org/conf_home.htm


October 24 – Kid Lit Salon: Writing Around the World. Book Passage Bookstore.
Corte Madera, CA
Spanish-born Isabel Campoy, Cuban-born Alma Flor Ada, and Gabriel Zubizarreta (Alma Flor’s American-born son) discuss collaboration and the best path to getting multicultural fiction and nonfiction children’s books published in today’s market. They will also share insights about several of their books, like the recently published Ten Little Puppies/ Diez perritos and Dancing Home as well as some of their previous titles, now beloved classics. Come join us at from 7-9PM at 51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera, CA, 94925
http://www.bookpassage.com/event/kid-lit-salon-isabel-campoy-alma-flor-ada-gabriel-zubizarreta

October 27 and 28 Miami, FL
Alma Flor Ada and Isabel Campoy will be making a two day presentation to Dade County Spanish Language teachers. The presentation will feature Puertas al Sol [also published as Gateways to the Sun] their series of 35 titles on multiple aspects of the Hispanic culture [poetry, art, biographies, theatre, Hispanic lands], their multicultural series Libros para celebrar [also published in English as Books to Celebrate] . The books in this 12 title collection combine a contemporary real life story of children living in the United States and a non-fiction section which provides cultural and historical information on specific holidays celebrated by various cultures. For information on these presentations, please contact the Director of the Dade County Bilingual Education Office, Maria A. Miranda TMiranda@dadeschools.net