Libro del Mes: ¡Fiesta! by Ginger Foglesong Guy

¡Fiesta!

by Ginger Foglesong Guy

Illustrated by René King Moreno

The LBBC’s recommendation for July’s Libro del Mes is ¡Fiesta! by Ginger Foglesong Guy.

Counting books and abecedarios provide a great starting point for bilingual families. They teach beginning concepts simply and effectively. ¡Fiesta! is an excellent example. Once again, René King Moreno’s artwork follows the joyful story of three children as they shop in a mercado, return home to decorate their yard, and end with a fabulous fiesta with their amigos.

Guy’s text is clear and simple: “Una canasta”, “Dos trompetas” and so on. It is perfect for young toddlers. But also good for second language learners, as it is written with text in English and Spanish. I really enjoy how the illustrations fill in the rest of the story, and I love the cultural detail that Moreno puts into each page – especially when the characters are going through el mercado!!

If you would like to buy your own copy of ¡Fiesta!, 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.

This month, we’ll be focusing on using multicultural literature and music as teaching tools. In addition to learning another language, children can also learn the alphabet, numbers, colors and even how to read using the growing number of books, DVDs and CDs now on the market. Underlying every LBBC recommendation, is the importance of literacy. Let us take an active role in our children’s education by providing them with books and other resources to increase their knowledge and learning abilities. Let us improve their chance of success by instilling in them a self-confidence that comes from knowing and appreciating their heritage, and from seeing a positive reflection of themselves in the world of literature and beyond.

If you haven’t already checked it out, stop by and read this post on using multicultural children’s literature to supplement your child’s education over at Modern Familia. I appreciate Angelica giving me the opportunity to share my story on her wonderful blog.