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ec_dee13's review against another edition
5.0
This book, on the 2016 list of notable poetry books selected by a NCTE committee, is a bilingual anthology of animal poems. Each page features a different animal with a poem in English and Spanish. The poems are not completely direct translations, but rather ones that keep the meaning the same despite not using the exact same words. In the author’s note, she explains that the always wrote first in Spanish and then English because her English is “more flexible.” The pictures are gorgeous, and full of other words that describe the scene. This book would be great to read at any age in elementary, but I think would be excellent to use in talking about imagery in poetry at the higher end of the elementary school. An especially great choice for a bilingual or ESL classroom.
muddypuddle's review against another edition
5.0
Ah, Julie Paschkis. One of my all-time favorite illustrators. And in this gorgeous picture book, she wrote all the poems, too - in two languages! Some of them just sang out to me. Others didn't. She wrote them first in Spanish, then translated to English. Her illustrations are luscious. A feast for the eyes. The few poems that weren't fives for me sounded GREAT in Spanish, even though I couldn't understand a word!
maidmarianlib's review
4.0
Lovely poems in English and Spanish, not exact translations but capture the essence and needs of both languages, fun in that it also has other words that are part of the illustrations too and the page break divides the languages.
jmshirtz's review against another edition
5.0
Berry loves when I read to her in Spanish and I love the practice! This book offers that, as well as complete understanding since the poems appear in both English and Spanish. The illustrations are the real wonder. Beautifully crafted with additional bilingual adjectives about the subjects of the poems. They are wonderful.
kendallbridgete's review against another edition
4.0
There is a lot to look at in this book and yet, it's not overwhelming. I'm not a poetry person, but I really enjoyed the text, as well as the layout and look of the book.
shayemiller's review
4.0
Julie Paschkis was both the author and illustrator of this book. And the art work, alone, makes this book delightful! Interestingly enough, she claims she's not a poet. Furthermore, even though English is her primary language, she wrote the first draft of each poem in Spanish. She says, "My English is more flexible, so it came second." The illustrations are done with Winsor & Newton gouache on Arches paper. She includes a number of English and Spanish words mixed and hidden within the art work. If I could, I would probably give this book a 4.5. I taught a number of elementary classrooms with a high percentage of Hispanic students and I would have loved to have this book back in the day. Very enjoyable!
bethmitcham's review
4.0
Beautiful picture book, with the vibrant illustrations also contributing perfect words to the page.
tashrow's review
5.0
In short poems in both Spanish and English, animals are explored in the way that they move and live in their habitats. The book begins with a slithering snake poem that hisses on the page. Other poems include black crows hopping and cawing, the slow movement of a black cow in a golden field, fleeting glimpses of a deer, and the shine of an owl at night. Still other poems focus on domestic pets like dogs and cats who fill the page with their personalities captured in verse on the page.
I was surprised to read in the Author’s Note at the end of the book that Paschkis is not a native Spanish speaker nor a poet. It was Spanish that allowed her to find her poetic voice, which is just as special as her art. She effectively uses her verse in both languages to convey the essence of the animal, celebrating what makes them unique. The poems are stand alone and strong, easily adapted to the classroom for specific units and subjects.
As always, Paschkis’ illustrations are gorgeous. They have a folkart flair about them and have words in both Spanish and English woven into them that let the words become part of the art in a very concrete way. It also gives these bilingual poems a new way to convey the dance of the two languages next to one another.
A dazzling collection of poems, it is welcome both for its bilingual elements and the alluring combination of words and art. Appropriate for ages 6-9.
I was surprised to read in the Author’s Note at the end of the book that Paschkis is not a native Spanish speaker nor a poet. It was Spanish that allowed her to find her poetic voice, which is just as special as her art. She effectively uses her verse in both languages to convey the essence of the animal, celebrating what makes them unique. The poems are stand alone and strong, easily adapted to the classroom for specific units and subjects.
As always, Paschkis’ illustrations are gorgeous. They have a folkart flair about them and have words in both Spanish and English woven into them that let the words become part of the art in a very concrete way. It also gives these bilingual poems a new way to convey the dance of the two languages next to one another.
A dazzling collection of poems, it is welcome both for its bilingual elements and the alluring combination of words and art. Appropriate for ages 6-9.
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