Oh No, Gotta Go!

"¡Tengo que ir al baaaañoooo! I have to go to the baaaaathroooooom!"

What parent doesn't dread these words during a car ride? And who doesn't remember being the one squirming in the backseat, desperate for the car to stop, somewhere, anywhere!

Oh No, Gotta Go! is both an amusing and endearing story-in-verse of a little girl who realizes she needs a bathroom while riding in the car with her parents. In this book, Susan Middleton Elya weaves Spanish words and phrases into the verses very cleverly, inviting one to chime in. A glossary and pronunciation guide are included in the back of the book.

We were out driving, down the camino.

Papá and Mamá were dressed muy fino.

The backseat was mine, my favorite spot,

until I remembered the thing I forgot.

"Where is un baño?

¿Dónde está?

I really do need one," I told mi mamá.

What I love best about this book, is that the rhymes and carefully placed Spanish words facilitate learning the language for non-Spanish speakers. And for those learning English, it's a fun way to learn the rhythm of the language.

Recently, one of my 4th graders discovered this book in our classroom library. She quickly read it, then called a friend over and they read it out loud, falling apart in giggles! My students often remark about books and poems that "mix" Spanish and English on their pages. "Is that OK?" they often ask. This is where I extol the beauty of being bilingual, of being able to say things in more than one way, and of having the choice to combine both languages when one wants to say something just so.

Enjoy this book with your little ones, perhaps as a preventative lesson about "going" before going out. Or, just read it for fun. You'll find children will be able to "hold it" until the humorous ending.