Grandma's Pear Tree, El peral de Abuela

Grandma's Pear Tree/El peral de Abuela

written by Suzanne Santillan

illustrated by Atilio Pernisco

Jessie has un problema...and it is getting worse by the moment! His pelota has gotten stuck up in Abuela's tree. But when he asks for help, everyone in his familia seems to be too busy. They each give suggestions for getting it down, but when little Jessie tries them out, they just seem to make things worse. Will he ever get things right before his Abuela finds out? You will have to read it for yourself to find out! (And your kids will find the ending to be hilarious!)

My kids love this story not only for the storyline, but also for the way it is written. Stories that are repetetive in structure have countless benefits for children. They can:

• help beginning readers learn new words and build up confidence
• quickly engage the reader by inviting them to make guesses or predictions about the story
• teach sentence structure and other grammatical practices
• help a child learn a new language

Santillan does a great job capturing young minds with the rhythmic flow of this story. El peral de Abuela has text in English with embedded Spanish words. A glossary is included in the back to help with vocabulary. It is a great story for beginning bilingual families, as well as English language learners.

Published by Raven Tree Press, you can find additional free activities to complement the book on their website.

Música amiga: El son del sol

~A guest post by F. Isabel Campoy


EL SON DEL SOL. VOLUME 10

We wanted for this volume to be an anthology of poems from well known Latin-American and Latino poets. It is never too early to expose children to the best voices in our culture. Through them, children will open their imagination to boats made out of paper while sailing the seas from Jamaica to Portobello in the words of Nicolás Guillén. Juan Ramón Jimenez reminds us that waves will dress in sunrise to reach the coast. José Martí tells us the story of the Pink Shoes to encourage us to be generous and learn to share with those in need. Mirta Aguirre brings us the joy of seahorses in their submerged worlds. Las gacelas, a poem by Jaime Ferrán, is evocative and hauntingly beautiful, and Alma Flor’s classic Canción de todos los niños del mundo reminds us of how similarly we smile, sing, learn, and play in every country in the world, no matter how far our countries might be from each other. I exhort us all to take care of life in Cuida la vida, and offer a poignant song about the importance of retaining our own language in No te olvides, no. ¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar! is a reflexion about what it is to think, and the joy of its discovery. Finally in La maestra tampoco lo sabe gives us all an opportunity to join in the path of learning by saying “I don’t know the answer, but we will learn it together.”

Suni Paz has turned these lyrics into parent and teacher favorites, as they will be sung by the entire family with fun.

The twelve poems con­tained in the book and the twelve songs con­tained in the CD are:

* Un son para niños antillanos – Nicolás Guillén
* Cigarras – Fernando Luján
* Doraba la luna el río – Juan Ramón Jiménez
* Baile de la caña – David Chericián
* Las gacelas – Jaime Ferrán
* Caballito – Mirta Aguirre
* Los zapaticos de rosa – José Martí
* Canción de todos los niños del mundo – Alma Flor Ada
* Cuida la vida — F. Isabel Campoy
* No te olvides, no — F. Isabel Campoy
* ¡Qué cosa divertida es pensar! — F. Isabel Campoy
* La maestra tampoco lo sabe — F. Isabel Campoy

Música amiga: El camino de tu risa

~A guest post by F. Isabel Campoy


EL CAMINO DE TU RISA. VOLUME 9


The world - seen through the eyes of children - lives in the lyrics of the poems included in this volume, as seen in Lo que vamos a ser. The value of friendship is expressed through the words of the Cuban poet, José Martí, in La rosa blanca. Alma Flor plays with her shadow in her poem Mi amiga la sombra and invites us all to open the roads of tomorrow with the help of our imagination in Hagamos caminos. I have created in Día de las madres a hymn to sing to mothers on Mother’s Day, and in Un beso de papá I tell the story of a girl who wanted a kiss from her father to keep forever in her heart. We also find inspiration in the global effort to save the Earth in Alto bien alto, where I invite children and their parents to care for trees and allow them to grow tall in our forests.

Suni Paz has some of her most relevant compositions in the accompanying CD.

The twelve poems contained in the book and the twelve songs contained in the CD are:

* La rosa blanca – José Martí
* Lo que vamos a ser –Alma Flor Ada
* Los loros –Jaime Ferrán
* Aventura –Mirta Aguirre
* Ronda de faroles –Folklore
* Los pollitos –Fernán Silva Valdés
* Mi amiga la sombra –Alma Flor Ada
* Hagamos caminos –Alma Flor Ada
* Día de las madres –F. Isabel Campoy
* Un beso de papa –F. Isabel Campoy
* Estaba una sirena –F. Isabel Campoy
* Alto, bien alto –F. Isabel Campoy

Música amiga: Do, re, mi, ¡Sí, sí!

~A guest post by F. Isabel Campoy


Do, Re, Mi, ¡Sí, Sí!  VOLUME 8


Every one of these volumes can be used with children of any age for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values.

There is much joy and humor in this book/CD combination. The ballad of El señor don Gato has enchanted many generations of children. Oficios is a poem/song filled with humor that will delight readers of any age with the many jobs that it considers - but the favorites are those that the heart chooses. La lluvia is one of Alma Flor’s favorites plays with the rhythm of drops falling. My three poems/songs in this volume play with metaphor and symbolism, manifest the love for a pet, and elicit a personal response when presented with Guillermo’s magical world that lives in the tip of his pencil.

Suni Paz brings her special rhythm to these compositions and the joy of her voice is an invitation for children to sing along.

The twelve poems contained in the book and the twelve songs contained in the CD are:

* El señor don Gato — Folklore
* Los días de la sem­ana — Folklore
* Ofi­cios – Alma Flor Ada
* La lluvia – Alma Flor Ada
* El ratón y el gato — Folklore
* A dormir — Folklore
* Pizpirigaña – Folklore
* La pastora – Folklore
* El trencito – Folklore
* El lápiz de Guillermo — F. Isabel Campoy
* Ramón y su perro — F. Isabel Campoy
* La nube y la ballena — F. Isabel Campoy

Música amiga: Sigue la música

~ A guest post by F. Isabel Campoy


SIGUE LA MUSICA. VOL. 7

Sigue la música contains well known songs from the folklore like He perdido el do and Mambrú. It also includes some original poems/songs by Alma Flor Ada like Clotilde and Dragones y cocodrilos. For La Cucarachita Martina Suni Paz has created an exceptional dramatization of the retelling in verse by Alma Flor Ada of this well known tale. My poem/song Familia celebrates the family telling every child the importance of having a common goal with parents, brothers and sisters.

Suni Paz musical creations provide a background for staging these lyrics as theatrical interpretations and dance.

The twelve poems con­tained in the book and the twelve songs con­tained in the CD are:

* He perdido el do – Folklore
* Antón Pirulero – Folklore
* La Cucarachita Martina — Alma Flor Ada
* Las jirafas gemelas — Alma Flor Ada
* Flores y caracoles — Alma Flor Ada
* Clotilde — Alma Flor Ada
* Mambrú – Folklore
* Dragones y cocodrilos — Alma Flor Ada
* El reloj de mi bisabuelo – Folklore
* La vilanela – Folklore
* Familia – F. Isabel Campoy
* La playa – F. Isabel Campoy

Música amiga: Caracolí

~ A guest post by F. Isabel Campoy


Caracolí . VOLUME 6


Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values.

This book and CD contain a combination of songs from folklore, including the beloved De colores, Pimpón and Caballito blanco. It also includes original poems/songs by Alma Flor Ada, like the well known Primavera and Cri-crí and enjoyable poems/songs by myself that stress the importance of language continuation. In Hablar como tú, the voice of a granddaughter tells her grandma that she wants to speak her language to be able to tell her how much she loves her. In Tú eres muy rico are present the values of family and culture.

Suni Paz accompanied by her guitar has put in these poems the music that will make them unforgettable, providing simple tunes that parents and children will be able to enjoy together.

The twelve poems contained in the book and the twelve songs contained in the CD are:

* De colores – Folklore
* Pri­mavera — Alma Flor Ada
* Salta la tablita – Folklore
* Cri-crí — Alma Flor Ada
* Caballito blanco – Folklore
* Pimpón – Folklore
* Las marionetas – Folklore
* Juanito – Folklore
* Juega conmigo – F. Isabel Campoy
* Hablar como tú – F. Isabel Campoy
* Cara­cola – F. Isabel Campoy
* Tú eres muy rico – F. Isabel Campoy

Música amiga: Con ton y son

~ Guest post by F. Isabel Campoy


CON TON Y SON. VOLUME 5


Con ton y son contains many well known traditional Hispanic songs like Las mañanitas and Tengo una muñeca as well as lyrics that emphasize the value of family like Isabel Campoy’s Mamá. Other compositions offer an inspirational message to children like ¡Adelante! and Mis manos.

Suni Paz has added in this collection the sounds of Mexico and Cuba, Venezuela and Spain.

The twelve poems contained in the book and the twelve songs contained in the CD are:

* Las mañanitas – Folklore
* Del… al… — Alma Flor Ada
* Tato, Anita y Titino — Alma Flor Ada
* Tengo una muñeca – Folklore
* La paloma – Folklore
* Tengo, tengo, tengo – Folklore
* En una bella ciu­dad – Folklore
* Origami — Alma Flor Ada
* En el kiosko — Alma Flor Ada
* ¡Adelante! – F. Isabel Campoy
* Mamá – F. Isabel Campoy
* Mis manos – F. Isabel Campoy

Música amiga: Corre al coro

~A guest post by F. Isabel Campoy


CORRE AL CORO. VOLUME 4


Every one of these books can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values.

This volume is an anthology of poems written by Alma Flor Ada or myself. The CD offers a combination of diverse music, lyric songs like El hada Hadaluna, lively songs like Jarabe tapatío and Sube y baja, and whimsical invitations to reflect like Mi back­pack, La cama de mi maestra y Soñar palabras.

Suni Paz brings her passion and knowledge of Hispanic folklore to each one of these compositions.

The twelve poems contained in the book and the twelve songs contained in the CD are:

* El ciempiés y la cigarra – Alma Flor Ada
* El ratón Botón – Alma Flor Ada
* El hada Hadaluna – Alma Flor Ada
* Los ocho chivitos – Alma Flor Ada
* Josefina y sus amigos – Alma Flor Ada
* Jarabe tapatío – Alma Flor Ada
* Y va de cuento – Alma Flor Ada
* Sube y baja – F. Isabel Campoy
* Mi back­pack – F. Isabel Campoy
* Bolsillo de pantalón – F. Isabel Campoy
* La cama de mi maestra – F. Isabel Campoy

Música amiga: Canción y alegría

~A guest post by F. Isabel Campoy


CANCIÓN Y ALEGRÍA. VOLUMEN 3


Canción y alegría contains several stories in verse by Alma Flor Ada. These stories introduce fun, enjoyable characters like La gallina Picotina, El loro Ala de Oro and La ratita Roequeso, as well as three poems by myself that allow for the manisfestation of tenderness and to inspire us to look closely at mother nature. The poems and songs are particularly suited to allow children with initial reading skills to read the lyrics independently.

Suni Paz musical creations draw from her extensive knowledge of Latin American and Spanish musical tradition making this CD and all CDs in the series a powerful introduction to the Hispanic musical heritage.

The twelve poems contained in the book and the twelve songs contained in the CD are:

* Perrito color de café – Alma Flor Ada
* Fa, fe, fi – Alma Flor Ada
* El gato del mago — Alma Flor Ada
* La gallina Picotina – Alma Flor Ada
* La ranita – Alma Flor Ada
* La burrita – Alma Flor Ada
* El loro Ala de Oro – Alma Flor Ada
* La ratita Roequeso – Alma Flor Ada
* Mi oso de papel – F. Isabel Campoy
* Mi mapa – F. Isabel Campoy
* Canta — F. Isabel Campoy

Música amiga: Canta la Letra

~A guest post by F. Isabel Campoy


CANTA LA LETRA.  VOLUME 2

Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values.

This volume is particularly suited for language and vocabulary development as well as family and identity values.

Música amiga is a program that can be used to develop initial reading skills. This volume will allow for the reinforcement of the vowel songs. The vowel substitution songs: “Una mosca”, “Yo te dare” and “La mar estaba serena” are excellent phonemic awareness songs. “A, a, a, mi abuelita me dará”, an original poem by Alma Flor Ada has become a very well loved song in Early Childhood education.My poems “Mi abuelo” and “Color hermoso” encourage recognition of family values.

Suni Paz's musical creations draw from her extensive knowledge of Latin American and Spanish musical tradition making this CD and all CDs in the series a powerful introduction to the Hispanic musical heritage.

The twelve poems contained in the book and the twelve songs contained in the CD are:

* Una mosca – Folklore
* A, a, a, mi abuelita me dará – Alma Flor Ada
* Yo te daré – Folklore
* La i minúscula – Alma Flor Ada
* La mar estaba serena – Folklore
* Un… en un… — Alma Flor Ada
* Las cinco vocales – Folklore
* Color hermoso – F Isabel Campoy
* Mi abuelo – F Isabel Campoy
* ¡Qué miedo! – F Isabel Campoy
* Arre, arre — F Isabel Campoy

Música amiga: ¡Que rica la ronda! by F. Isabel Campoy

This month we have a special treat for you. The estimada Sra. F. Isabel Campoy has graciously written a series of posts describing what she considers their best contribution to Latino children - Música amiga. Written together with Alma Flor Ada, this incredible collection is made even more powerful by their collaboration with the talented Suni Paz, who arranged and sings all of the songs on the CD many of which are her original compositions. In addition, the series contains magnificent color illustrations by Ulises Wensell.

Música amiga uses the power of music and poetry to build literacy. This remarkable series is available as a set or individually. Parents, teachers, librarians, and homeschoolers will find this set to be an extremely valuable tool for developing their children's/students' phonemic awareness and supporting language acquisition, basic foundations for reading success.

We hope you will join the LBBC in expressing our sincerest thanks to Sra. Campoy for sharing Múscia amiga with all of us this month...



~A guest post by F. Isabel Campoy

Música amiga constitutes an anthology of Hispanic folklore, plus our original poems. In its 120 compositions there is the foundation of language for children to learn by singing, and a treasure for mothers, to close the circle of their own childhood. In our 40 plus poems we share our pride to be Latinos, our joy to be part of an extended family, and even an invitation to take care of life!

There are ten books to this series, each with an accompanying CD.

Each book includes 12 carefully selected poems. All 120 poems are presented as songs in the CD collection. Some of the poems are from folklore, a number of them have been originally written by Alma Flor Ada and myself. A few are from other renown poets.

The books have magnificent illustrations from internationally acclaimed illustrator Ulises Wensell.

All of these poems and songs can be enjoyed by children in Pre-K to 6th grade, as they touch upon topics that affect us, inspire, and entertain us all. Parents will find it easy to sing along with their children thanks to Suni Paz’s musical creations, or learn the lyrics for inspiration and pride in their own identity.

The first five volumes are particularly suited for helping develop specific literacy skills and for the reinforcement of specific syllabic combinations as well as overall language development. The last five volumes support sustained language development, a deepened appreciation for literature and an ongoing love for independent reading.

The ten titles are:

* ¡Qué rica la ronda! — Música amiga 1
* Canta la letra — Música amiga 2
* Canción y alegría — Música amiga 3
* Corre al coro — Música amiga 4
* Con ton y son — Música amiga 5
* Caracolí — Música amiga 6
* Sigue la música — Música amiga 7
* Do, re, mi, ¡sí, sí! — Música amiga 8
* El camino de tu risa — Música amiga 9
* El son del sol — Música amiga 10

¡QUE RICA LA RONDA!  VOLUME 1

Every one of these volumes can be used with any age children for the appreciation of poetry and music, and the development of concepts and values. This volume contains a number of selections from the folklore, particularly suited for vocabulary enrichment. Los elefantes and Sapitos will reinforce numbers in a joyful way. Uno de enero facilitates the practice of the months of the year. Some of the songs will be excellent for movement coordination like La bella hortelana.

La cigarra guitarrista is a different approach to the old fable of the ant and the grasshopper. In this version Alma Flor has wanted to invite children to look at things from a different perspective, to recognize the role of artists and musicians in society, and to see the value of solidarity and collaboration.

Isabel Campoy likes to challenge the imagination of children through her poems. El beso is an excellent introduction to the idea of metaphor. Mi historia and Aquí vivimos celebrate our cultural identity.

Suni Paz’s musical creations introduce children to the variety of rhythms from our Hispanic heritage, and in her voice, children will find the echo of their mother’s voice.

The twelve poems contained in the book and the twelve songs contained in the CD are:

* Los elefantes — Folklore
* Sapitos – Alma Flor Ada
* El barco chiquitito – Folklore
* En el puente de San Juan – Folkore
* Uno de enero – Folklore
* La cigarra guitarrista – Alma Flor Ada
* La bella hortelana – Folklore
* En alta mar – Folklore
* El beso – F Isabel Campoy
* Lluvia – F Isabel Campoy
* Mi historia – F Isabel Campoy
* Aquí vivimos — F Isabel Campoy

Grandma’s Chocolate/ El chocolate de Abuelita

Coming Soon...

Grandma’s Chocolate

El chocolate de Abuelita

Author Mara Price
Illustrations by Lisa Fields
Spanish translation by Gabriela Baeza Ventura
November 30, 2010, 32 pages
Ages 4-8
ISBN-10: 1-55885-587-4
ISBN-13: 978-1-55885-587-8

 

A young girl enjoys her Mexican grandmother’s chocolate

gifts and stories about her indigenous ancestors

Abuela’s visits from Mexico are always full of excitement for young Sabrina. She can’t wait to see what’s in her grandmother’s yellow suitcase covered in stickers from all the places she has visited. Opening it is like opening a treasure chest, and this year is no different. Inside are a host of riches: colorful ribbons, a clay whistle shaped like a bird, a drum, and the strong smell of chocolate.
“Abuelita, do you want to play a game? Let’s pretend that I’m a princess,” Sabrina says. “Okay, Sabrina,” Abuela says, “but a Mayan princess should wear a beautiful dress called a huipil.” And she pulls the traditional garment worn by Mayan and Aztec women from her suitcase.

Sabrina has lots of questions about her ancestors. Did Mayan princesses have money? Did they go to school? Did they eat chocolate ice cream? With her grandmother’s help, Sabrina learns all about the cacao tree, which was first cultivated by Mexico’s indigenous tribes. Today, seeds from the cacao tree give us chocolate, but years ago the seeds were so valuable they were used as money. And Moctezuma, the Aztec emperor, liked to eat chocolate poured over bowls of snow brought from the mountains!

Sabrina discovers that “chocolate is perfect for a Mayan princess.” And children ages 4- 8 are sure to agree as they curl up with a steaming cup of hot chocolate and this charming bilingual picture book that depicts a loving relationship between grandmother and granddaughter and shares the history and customs of the native peoples of Mexico.

MARA PRICE is a native of Mexico and now lives in Southern California. A member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, her work has been published in Iguana, a Spanish-language children’s magazine. This is her first published book.

LISA FIELDS is the illustrator of The Triple Banana Split Boy / El niño goloso (Piñata Books, 2009). She received her BFA in illustration from the Ringling School of Art and Design and attended the Illustration Academy. A member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, she lives in her hometown of Katonah, New York.
 

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.

Giveaway Winner!

Happy 4th of July and congratulations to winner #6 Benita!

For those of you still interested in winning a signed copy of Monica Brown's Pelé: King of Soccer, you have one more chance over at La Bloga. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, July 7th.

Have a fun and safe holiday, Everyone!