Clic, clac, muu vacas escritoras

You and your child will quickly learn what happens when animals go on strike in this clever book about cows who find an old typewriter and decide to use it. Click, Clack, Moo soon became a staple in our house, so I was pleased to find a Spanish version as well.

What I really enjoy about this book is that each of the farm animals is a distinct character for which you can create different voices.

After having read it countless times to my son in English, I was surprised how, without even thinking about it, the pitch and cadence of the animals' voices changed once I started reading it to him in Spanish. It is a subtle teaching moment about how communicating in each language may call for a different voice, literally.

Having the book in English and Spanish also presents a consistent set of images for the concepts in both languages. For those who like to stretch their stories and talk about things outside of the immediate storyline, it is easy to continue in a lighthearted, humorous way because of the tone the story sets.

After the first read, it will be difficult not to scream "Pato!" on a whim and leave your child in a fit of giggles on the floor.

Hairs - Pelitos

Hairs – Pelitos, by Sandra Cisneros, first appeared as a short chapter in her well-known adult novella, The House on Mango Street. In it, Cisneros lovingly described the members of her family. Now, in picture book form, Cisneros shares the diversity within her family, by vividly describing their different hair types.

This bilingual book starts with “Everybody in our family has different hair” and proceeds to describe each member of a diverse family, by describing the differences and texture of their hair. What stands out the most to me, is the way Cisneros describes her mother’s hair, “sweet to put your nose into when she is holding you” and “the warm smell of bread before you bake it.” Each page, illustrated by Terry Ybañez, is a colorful rendering of each family member, surrounded by a border containing smaller details that complement the story.

This book also includes suggested activities that can be shared with children after reading the story. As a mentor text, and in the teaching of writing, this book is perfect in its use of descriptive language. Hairs-Pelitos is perfect for children ages 4 to 8.

This book succeeds in celebrating the physical differences within a family, which are a phenomenon resulting from the wondrous combination of traits in our Latino heritage. I’ve observed the same beautiful variety as a teacher of children from various countries – curly hair, straight, spongy, sleek, unruly, thick, and baby thin. These differences are also present in my parents, my siblings, and our children.

This heart-warming story is a wonderful springboard for discussing family ties and differences with young children.

Skills Children Need to Be Readers By Third Grade

Vocabulary
By Christianne Meneses Jacobs

Your child is a sponge for language acquisition. Your child learns new words everyday such as names of family members and relatives, objects around the house, colors, body parts, animals, shapes and many more. Your child will learn these words by hearing you talk. That is why it is so important to talk to children even if they can’t respond yet.

The familiarity and knowledge of words forms a strong foundation for learning to read. A child uses his/her knowledge of words to figure out and make sense of new words. It is easier and faster to read a word that a child already knows. This ability to recognize those words will become important when reading with fluency.

A young child needs to learn about 2,000 words in order to communicate effectively. By the time your child enters first grade, your child should know about 10,000 words. Parents can start building a strong foundation in vocabulary development by helping their children on a daily basis. For example, point out objects in a picture, read the comics and the newspaper, talk while on a walk, and when riding in the car (instead of watching a video in the back of the car.) The world is full of new words. You can help your child learn three words a day. Your child will be successful in school with a broad knowledge of words.

LBBC Updates

Well, obviously summer is here as most of our book reviewers for the LBBC have apparently run off on vacations with their familias. But don't worry, there are many more book reviews in the works! And we also have some great author and illustrator interviews coming up soon.

In other news, I have to ask your patience with our little bookshop. There has been some ridiculous (and unconstitutional) tax plans being considered in my state and as a result, my bookshop hosting company has closed all accounts in NC. However, we've worked our way around this little problem, but we are having to build our bookshop all over again. Bluh. Hopefully we will be fully functional again within the week.

I'd also like to take a moment to recognize and thank the LBBC's sponsors. You can find a banner link to their respective sites in our sidebar. All are dedicated to the empowerment of Latino families and the education of our children through literature. All of them also promote bilingualism through the products that they offer and I hope you will give them your support.

Latin Baby is the parent company of the LBBC. Established in 2005, it has quickly become one of the largest on-line baby boutiques that specializes in products which celebrate the blend of our American and Hispanic heritage. We are committed to bringing you high quality bicultural baby products that are beautiful, original and affectionate.

Bubu Books is a fairly new company that specializes in bilingual books to aid your child's cultural and educational development. Their mission is to aid in the development of cultural identities in children by offering bilingual storybooks in multiple languages and cultures so that they can have characters with which to identify and grow.

Founded in 2005 by Darlene Tenes, a professional event planner, CasaQ is dedicated to presenting unique products that embrace our Latino culture and heritage blending modern with traditional, and old with new. Be sure to sign up for her fantastic monthly newsletter that is filled with recipes, historical facts and decorative ideas.

Los Pollitos Dicen is a premier line of Spanish baby gift t-shirts and onesies. Their adorable baby products are American made, but rich in la cultura Latina. Co-founder, Carrie Ferguson Weir has also reviewed books for the LBBC.

And Nos Vemos Greetings is one of the leading greeting card companies that specializes in bilingual cards for every occasion. Nos Vemos Greetings bridges the gap between cultures by bringing you the best of both worlds, sealed in an envelope.

Finally, I want to let all of you know that we'll be announcing a big surprise next week, so be sure to check back with us to find out how it involves you!
~Monica

The International Latino Book Awards

This year’s International Latino Book Awards were presented this past May during the BookExpo America in New York City. The ILBA was created to honor literary excellence in a variety of areas. Here are this year’s winners:

Best Educational Children’s Book - English

The Song of the Coconut by Adalucía. Cholita Prints & Publishing Co.

Best Educational Children’s Book - Spanish

Quiero Ser Poeta by Rafael Garcia Jolly, José Carbonell Pla, Antonia Moreno, María D. Torres Bañuls. Letra Rosa

2ND Place: El secreto del dorado by Maria Villegas y Jennie Kent. Villegas Asociados S.A.

Honorable Mention: Figúrate: Animales, Fantasía y Mundo by María Villegas y Jennie Kent. Villegas Asociados

Best Educational Children’s Book - Bilingual

Dealing With Insults / Qué Hacer con los Insultos by Marianne Johnson. Rosen Publishing/Buenas Letras

2ND Place: Teo in Palo Verde by Adam Del Rio. Lectura Books

2ND Place: Ronaldinho by José María Obregón. Rosen Publishing/Buenas LetrasHonorable Mention: Las Abejas by Katie Franks. Rosen Publishing/Buenas Letras

Best Children’s Picture Book – English

Abuelos by Pat Mora. Groundwood Books

2ND Place: The Secret Legacy by Rigoberta Menchú. Groundwood Books

Honorable Mention: Kitchen Dance by Maurie J. Manning. Clarion Books

Best Children’s Picture Book – Spanish

Los Tres Reyes De Oriente by Lluis Farre. Bambú

2ND Place: El mejor mariachi del mundo by J. D. Smith. Raven Tree Press

Honorable Mention: Mira, Mira by Angels Navarr. Bambú

Best Children’s Picture Book – Bilingual

Rachel and the Lion by Stephanie Lainez. Story House Books

2ND Place: Colors!¡Colores! by Jorge Luján. Groundwood Books

Honorable Mention: The Storyteller’s Candle by Lucia Gonzalez. Children’s Book Press

Best Young Adult Fiction – English

Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos. Atheneum/Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing

2ND Place: Amor and Summer Secrets by Diana Rodriguez Wallach. Kensington Publishers

Honorable Mention: Mr. Clean and the Barrio by David Bueno-Hill. Urbano Books

Best Young Adult Fiction – Spanish or Bilingual

El Asunto Galindo by Fernando Lalana. Bambú

2ND Place: Odisea by Albert Jané. Combel Editorial, S. A

Honorable Mention: Carlito’s Story by Max Benavidez & Katherine Del Monte. Lectura Books

Honorable Mention: No sapiens by Ariel González. Libros en Red

Best Young Adult Nonfiction - English

The Barefoot Shoeshine Boy by Al Rivera. Author House

Best Young Adult Sports/Recreation – English

Soccer’s Story & A Futbol Fable by Gil Sperry. Amigo del Mar Press

Best Young Adult Sports/Recreation – Spanish or Bilingual

Go Milka Go! ¡Corre, Milka, Corre! by Raquel Benatar. Renaissance House

A mis niños de treinta años

According to the information I've found online, Gaby, Fofó and Miliki ("Los Payasos de la Tele") were a trio of clowns from Spain. They were on several television shows throughout Latin America, and then moved back to Spain in 1972 and became hugely popular there.

I may be in the minority, but I knew none of this before I found this CD. All I knew was that my kids and I were stuck in a serious rut here at home. We were listening to the same music over and over, and all of them--even the ones I liked--seemed to include the same songs, Mambrú, Arroz con leche, Pim Pon. Which was all well and good, and these are the songs of my childhood, after all, but one day I went online determined to find a CD of children's music in Spanish that did not contain a single song I'd ever heard of.

I don't remember how, but this CD by Miliki was what I found, and it definitely got us out of our rut. Miliki revisits the songs of the television show (online reviewers who grew up with the show absolutely love this album), and the result, well, it got us out of our rut. Most of the songs are just lighthearted and fun. Miliki is often joined by a chorus of children, and there's a lot of singing/chanting back and forth, and I always find myself participating, like in "Hola, don Pepito," which is very catchy and keeps getting faster and faster:

Hola don Pepito.
¡Hola don José!
¿Pasó usted ya por casa?
¡Por su casa ya pasé!
¿Vio usted a mi abuela?
¡A su abuela yo la vi!
Adiós, don Pepito.
¡Adiós, don José!

My favorites are "La gallina Turuleca," "Mi familia" and "Mi barba tiene tres pelos." There's a sweet ballad called "El barquito de cáscara de nuez," which is a duet with Miguel Bosé. But the jewel on this album is a rendition of "Feliz en tu día," a duet with none other than Celia Cruz. It is amazing, and always makes me want to sing and dance along.

Also, it gave me an excuse to teach my sons to shout "¡Azúcar!" sporadically.

Francisco Gabilondo Soler- Cri Crí

Francisco Gabilondo Soler- Cri Crí is the most famous children's singer in the Americas. He was born on October 6, 1907 in Orizaba, Veracruz. Cri Crí created 210 wonderful songs from 1934 to 1962. His music is a must in elementary schools all over Latin America and in bilingual classrooms in the USA. Cri Crí is part of our roots and corazones. He died on December 14 1990, of cardiac disease, at the age of 83 years.

I learned my first Cri Crí song, Las marchas de la letras, in kindergarten. If you have a chance buy his music and give your child a great present. Here are some of his songs.¡Disfruta!

Arriba del Cielo

I have been going through all of my daughter's baby stuff to see if there's anything her little brother - who we are expecting in September - can inherit. Luckily, we didn't find out her sex, so most of the clothes we have for newborns and 0-3 months are not pink or purple. So, it looks like we're set for the first few months.

As I was rummaging through some baby toys and books, I came across a CD of lullabies that I was given as a gift from one of my mother's sister in Mexico. The CD is called Arriba del Cielo by Susana Harp. And I'm really not sure why it was in the box of baby books, although I guess my daughter stopped listening to lullabies a while back. Anyhow, I immediately decided to play it, and a bunch of memories came rushing back.

I used to play for my daughter, Vanessa, when she was a baby. That feels like a long time ago, and she is only 3. Although we didn't understand the majority of the lyrics - Harp sings in several of Mexico's indigenous tongues: Zapoteco, Maya, Mixteco and Náhualt - her beautiful voice is definitely soothing. Half of the songs are in Spanish and you can find translations of the lyrics, for the ones that are not, in the CD booklet.

Harp describes her CD, which she dedicated to her son Emiliano, as "arrullos, rondas, juegos, nanas...cantos de niños, murmullos del alma." ¿Qué lindo, no?

The other day, I played the track entitled La Boda del Sapo y la Rana, just to see Vanessa's reaction. She is totally into "cuentos," so she loved that this song tells the story of the wedding between the toad and the frog. She was able to pick up on a lot of words and then I just retold her the story in simpler words. And, we listened to it again!

The CD includes 15 songs in total. The last three are instrumental versions - great for putting a baby to sleep!

In researching a little bit more about Harp, I found out that the Mexican singer has dedicated her musical career to gathering information and rescuing the sounds of her country, in particular of her own state, Oaxaca. The songs on the CD go as far back as prehistoric Mayan times. In an interview, Harp explained that it took her over four years to research and gather all the songs she decided to include in Arriba del Cielo. Talk about a labor of love!

Anyhow, now that the CD has been rescued from the depths of the box full of baby toys, we will be once again listening to it - and I plan on definitely playing it for our baby boy. We'll see if it'll soothes him as much as it did Vanessa.

June's Book of the Month & Complimentary Bilingual Activity

Playing Lotería/El juego de la loteríaby René Colato Laínez
Illustrated by Jill Arena

The LBBC’s recommendation for June’s Libro del Mes, is René Colato Lainez’s Playing Lotería/El juego de la lotería.

Aurora reviewed this great book back in October last year, and she also interviewed René about it. I had not had the opportunity to read it until recently when I was so pleasantly surprised to find it at our local library. You can read Aurora’s review and interview here, but I wanted to add a few things and explain why we’ve made it our Libro del Mes. First, the story is engaging for children and something that they can relate to. Lotería focuses on the relationship between a child and his grandmother, and on how they become closer as each one teaches the other a new language, in this case, through the use of the lotería game. The storyline is fun and teaches the reader how to play the game.

The first time we read it, my daughter said she wanted to play the game at home. I started to go on-line to buy the lotería, but then realized this would be a great activity to incorporate in our summer bilingual fun activities.

So what I did was put together a simple table on a piece of paper in the same format as the lotería game boards. Then, I went ahead and labeled each box, but families could leave them blank if they prefer and just have your children draw whatever they want in each one then go back and label them. Since this was their first time creating the boards, I thought it might help my daughter to have a little more direction. Then I had her draw a picture in each box of the item listed.

Once she’s done, I made a color copy onto cardstock paper and then cut out the squares…Voila! You have your own little lotería game! We were out of frijoles, so we used buttons instead. Since we didn’t have a wire cage, I shuffled the "cards" and then put them in a little pile from which I pulled the top card. I made up silly phrases to go with each one. Here's what the final version looked like:

My kids had a blast and instead of making them fill the whole board, I just made them fill a row. Also, since my son is too little to draw yet, I had my daughter do a second board that was slightly different both in sequence and in items listed. If your children are too young to draw, but old enough to find the different pictures, you can draw them in yourself.

Or you can download our free printables here. Please note, however, that all the images are copyright, but are free for your personal use.

I’ve gone ahead and made several different versions (a blank game board, a labeled game board, and one complete with images,) so you can choose the one that best suits your needs. I've also included the simple directions for how to play the game on the introductory page. I hope you all enjoy this little activity this summer! Send us your pictures and we’ll post them!

And if you would like to buy your own copy of Playing Lotería, please click here. 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.

Father's Day: Celebrate Dads and Reading!

It's great to see I Love Saturday y domingos featured because it is included in Colorin Colorado's newest booklist, Reading with Dads! The booklist celebrates fathers and grandfathers and includes a number of heartwarming books from different cultures and ethnic traditions, including some bilingual English/Spanish books. For other children's books that celebrate dads, take a look at Reading Rockets' Fabulous Fathers booklist!

If you're interested in resources that focus on dads and literacy, you may be interested in these articles from Colorin Colorado:

• The Role of Fathers in Their Child's Literacy Development: Pre-K Version (also available in Spanish)
• The Role of Fathers in Their Child's Literacy Development: K-3 Version (also available in Spanish)
  
• Dads Who Are Making a Difference (also available in Spanish).

The last article features interview excerpts from the National Institute for Literacy's Dad's Playbook: Coaching Kids to Read, a fantastic guide profiling dads who have made literacy a priority, and offering lots of literacy ideas to help dads become their kids' #1 literacy coach!

As we approach Father's Day, it's important to note that dads and literacy have become a hot topic, as seen in the popularity of Book Dads, a website featuring "books with positive views of fathers and fatherhood." For more food for thought on why this website is needed in the first place, take a look at Where are all the nice, normal dads in children's books?, a column that was published last month in The Times (UK).

Finally, if you'd like to see more about Alma Flor Ada after reading I Love Saturdays y domingos, don't miss our Meet the Author interviews with her in English and in Spanish. You'll find out how Alma Flor Ada learned to read as a young girl, as well as the wonderful stories behind how she became one of children's literature most beloved authors.

Happy Father's Day, and happy reading!