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4.34 AVERAGE
4.34 AVERAGE
Super cute bilingual book. Great colorful illustrations.
‘A Song of Frutas’ by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Sara Palacios, is a sweet tale of a granddaughter and her grandfather as they sell fruit on the streets of Cuba. The illustrations are vibrant and exude the beauty of the location and the relationship between a granddaughter and her abuelo (grandfather).
Despite the fact that they live in different countries, they do visit each other, and when they can’t be together in person, they write letters, which makes them feel just as close. The fact that the author has made it clear that their words back and forth serve as a hug, ensuring they are always connected.
The author’s note in the back of the book mentions the mixture of English and Spanish, or Spanglish, that is used throughout the story, along with more details about travel restrictions between Cuba and America, New Year’s Eve traditions, and los pregoneros (singing vendors), who describe the things they sell poetically, as a means of attracting customers to purchase their wares.
Children and adults alike will enjoy this book that will enhance their understanding of Spanish words and phrases, and teach about traditions that may not be so familiar.
Beth Rodgers, Author of ‘Welcome to Chanu-Con!,’ a Children's Picture Book, and ‘Freshman Fourteen’ and ‘Sweet Fifteen,’ Young Adult Novels
*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*
Despite the fact that they live in different countries, they do visit each other, and when they can’t be together in person, they write letters, which makes them feel just as close. The fact that the author has made it clear that their words back and forth serve as a hug, ensuring they are always connected.
The author’s note in the back of the book mentions the mixture of English and Spanish, or Spanglish, that is used throughout the story, along with more details about travel restrictions between Cuba and America, New Year’s Eve traditions, and los pregoneros (singing vendors), who describe the things they sell poetically, as a means of attracting customers to purchase their wares.
Children and adults alike will enjoy this book that will enhance their understanding of Spanish words and phrases, and teach about traditions that may not be so familiar.
Beth Rodgers, Author of ‘Welcome to Chanu-Con!,’ a Children's Picture Book, and ‘Freshman Fourteen’ and ‘Sweet Fifteen,’ Young Adult Novels
*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*
I haven't come across a Sara Palacios illustration I didn't love, and this book was no different.
A young girl enjoys visiting her Grandfather in Cuba and walking the streets with him singing about the fruit they have to sell. Every New Year she wishes for friendship between countries so he may visit her some day. Meanwhile they share letters when she has to return home.
Author's Note includes information about Spanglish, travel restrictions separating families, Los Pregoneros (Cuba's singing street vendors) and the New Year's Eve tradition of gobbling 12 grapes at midnight and making a wish for each month of the coming year.
Author's Note includes information about Spanglish, travel restrictions separating families, Los Pregoneros (Cuba's singing street vendors) and the New Year's Eve tradition of gobbling 12 grapes at midnight and making a wish for each month of the coming year.
A book which reads as beautiful as it appears. Essential to any picture book collection, a must-read for all.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I liked this book a lot! It reminded me a lot of my own childhood in Dhaka and while the situations were very different, I also struggled to see my grandparents after moving to Canada. I remember running to the balcony because I would hear people selling fruits, ice cream, toys, etc. and more often than not, this was also done in song like in the book. (Sidenote, the song is absolutely stuck in my head.)
As for the art of the book, my favourite page is where the little girl is making her final wish for New Year and there's just a slight smile drawn on her face in contrast to how she was drawn before because she's talking about how her last wish is always for her abuelo to finally be able to visit her in the states.
I also think that this is one of my favourite author's notes because I love learning details about an author's process and their reasoning and history, and you rarely get that in books like this.
As for the art of the book, my favourite page is where the little girl is making her final wish for New Year and there's just a slight smile drawn on her face in contrast to how she was drawn before because she's talking about how her last wish is always for her abuelo to finally be able to visit her in the states.
I also think that this is one of my favourite author's notes because I love learning details about an author's process and their reasoning and history, and you rarely get that in books like this.
This was a fun lyrical story to read about a young girl who visits her Cuban abuelo and partakes in the tradition of helping him sell fruit on the streets. While they don't live close, they stay connected through letters to one another and through their strong love and heritage. It was a colorful read aloud emphasizing the values of family and traditions. My son loved singing the fruits in Spanish with me and making up the music together. <3
nice, and it's a rare book that includes the New Year's Eve holiday which turned out to be perfect for 12/30 when we read it!