Libros del Mes: Trilingual Board Books From Little Pim

For all of you who are fans of the excellent foreign language learning company, Little Pim, you will be delighted to learn that they have recently released their first set of trilingual board books.

Written in English, Spanish, and French, their first two books are titled, Feelings and Colors. I find these books to be especially engaging as both of them are interactive with flaps and tabs that allow young readers to discover the visual and written concepts. My children giggled after pulling a tab to see the smiling face of another child peering back at them.

Feelings is about Little Pim, the panda, who is learning to express himself and share his emotions with others by learning how to say the words in Spanish and French. In Colors, the reader helps Little Pim find a rainbow assortment of balloons only to discover a surprise party at the end.

These board books are just a small sampling of a long line of quality products from Little Pim, which also includes flash cards, videos, and apps. You can learn more by visiting their site at LittlePim.com.

-----------

Disclosure: These two board books were sent to me by Abrams Books.

My Handy Writing Book: A New, Fun & Easy Way to Write Stories

 Writers’ Groups &  Press of Ventura & Beyond
Amada Irma Pérez & Associates

PO. Box 3513

Ventura, CA 93006

Phone: 805-642-7940

www.amadairmaperez.com

contact:   Amada Irma Pérez

My Handy Writing Book: A New, Fun & Easy Way to Write Stories
$9.95  *   September 2011

Ventura, CA---How to write stories and narratives is something that students in all grades are expected to master, yet few methods are easy, enjoyable and unforgettable.  My Handy Writing Book: A New, Fun &  Easy Way to Write Stories makes the process of writing pure joy for children 6 and up, their parents and teachers.  Grandparents will also find it irresistible to share and write their own stories with their lucky grandchildren as they help to color the whimsical black and white illustrations and trace hands on the blank pages.  Families will create heirlooms to be enjoyed for generations.

Amada Irma Pérez is an award-winning author of many bilingual children’s books. She taught elementary and university classes for twenty-five years before becoming an author.  She plans to write many more multicultural books.  She lives in Ventura, California.

Lili Sosa is the owner and creative director of Lili Sosa Creative Studio. She has many years of experience in graphic design including illustration,  web sites, and marketing materials in Mexico and the U. S.  She lives in Ventura, California

Praise for Amada Irma Pérez’s
My Handy Writing Book:  A New, Fun & Easy Way to Write Stories

“Amada Irma Pérez is a captivating storyteller and educator...Amada knows how to make the complicated act of writing easy and available to all, and for this she should be given a President’s medal. -Sandra Cisneros, author of The House on Mango Street and Caramelo

“...My Handy Writing Book is a must in schools, libraries and homes.” -Rene Colato Lainez, author of From North to South and The Tooth Fairy Meets el Raton Perez

www.amadairmaperez.com

REVIEW COPIES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Eric Carle's La araña muy ocupada

For those of you who have been wondering what sounds animals make in Spanish, check out the Spanish translation of Eric Carle's, La araña muy ocupada.

Translated by Nancy Mercado, the story is about a busy little spider who goes about making her web and ignores the attempt of various farm animals to interrupt her work. Many of you may recognize Carle's book from the English version. The Spanish version is equally adorable. Previous reviews on Amazon point out several grammatical mistakes. However, the publisher seems to have corrected these... though I did find one mistake in the translation (they use the phrase "este mosca" instead of "esta mosca").

I especially loved reading what sounds each animal makes in Spanish. And, of course, Carle's distinctive illustrations are engaging.

Here's a sample:

"Híiiiiii! Híiiiiii!" relinchó el caballo.
"¿Quieres tomar un paseo?"
Pero la araña no contestó. Estaba muy ocupada, tejiendo su tela.

So if you're looking for some English classics to share with your children, you might want to consider La araña muy ocupada.

Latina Authors Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month Isabel Campoy, Gabriel Zubizarreta, Suni Paz, and Alma Flor Ada will be making a series of presentations. If you happen to be in the area, you may want to attend one or more of them!


October 5 - Relación escuela-hogar para asegurar el éxito de los niños/Home-School Interaction for the Success of Our Children.
California Center for the Arts, Escondido, CA
Alma Flor Ada, Isabel Campoy and Suni Paz, Wednesday October 5, 2011, 5:30PM
to 7:30PM, California Center for the Arts, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025

October 6 - Excellence and Justice in Education Academies.
El Cajon, CA
Alma Flor Ada, Isabel Campoy and Suni Paz, Thursday, October 6, 2011, 8:00AM to 3:30PM
Author’s visit to Excellence and Justice in Education Academies,
851 South Johnson Ave., El Cajon, CA 92020, (619) 401-4150


October 7-8 Spanish Language Arts Conference.
Handlery Hotel, San Diego, CA
The goal of the conference is to assist districts to accelerate achievement for all students, eliminate the achivement gap, and increase parent and community participation, through professional development that nurtures and supports leaderships, innovation and creativity by promoting the integration of Language Development, Biliteracy and the Visual and Performing Arts.
Presenters:
Alma Flor Ada, Suni Paz, Isabel Campoy, Simon Silva. For additional information please contact: Vanessa Villasenor, Program Secretary San Diego County Office of Education, Phone: (858) 292-3548
email: vvillasenor@sdcoe.net
http://sdcoe.k12oms.org/eventdetail.php?id=51162


October 13 - Kidquake, Koret Auditorium.
San Francisco Public Library
Alma Flor Ada and her son Gabriel Zubizarreta will present their newly released book, their first collaboration as co-authors, Dancing Home, also published in Spanish as Nacer Bailando from 10AM to 12PM at the Koret Auditorium in the San Francisco Public Library. Join acclaimed children’s book authors, illustrators, poets for a morning of readings, discussion, and special workshops designed to help fuel the imagination of kids from 3rd to 5th grade.
http://www.litquake.org/calendar-of-events/event/kidquake-grades-3-5


October 13 - Colorado Bilingual Association Conference (CABE).
Denver, CO
Isabel Campoy is a keynote speaker at the Colorado Association for Bilingual Education (CABE)’s 2011 Fall Conference on Thursday October 13. The theme for the conference is “Unidos: Building Our Dream Together”
http://cocabe.org/2011_conference_56.html


October 14 - California Council for Teacher Education Conference.
San Diego, CA
Alma Flor Ada will make a featured presentation on Friday, October 14th at the Fall 2011 Conference of the California Council on Teacher Education at the Kona Kai Resort in San Diego, California. The theme of the conference, which also features Donaldo Macedo is “Reconnecting Student Voice with Teacher Education in a Globalized Society”
http://www.ccte.org/conferences/fall2011/fall2011announcement.pdf


October 21-22 USBBY Conference.
Fresno, CA
Peace the World Together with Children's Books is the theme of the 9th United States Regional Conference of The International Board of Books for Young People [IBBY]. It will take place in the Arne Nixon Center at California State University at Fresno. A unique opportunity to meet with national and international authors of children's literature.
Alma Flor Ada and Isabel Campoy will join other California authors that will be available to meet the participants and to sign their books.
http://www.usbby.org/conf_home.htm


October 24 – Kid Lit Salon: Writing Around the World. Book Passage Bookstore.
Corte Madera, CA
Spanish-born Isabel Campoy, Cuban-born Alma Flor Ada, and Gabriel Zubizarreta (Alma Flor’s American-born son) discuss collaboration and the best path to getting multicultural fiction and nonfiction children’s books published in today’s market. They will also share insights about several of their books, like the recently published Ten Little Puppies/ Diez perritos and Dancing Home as well as some of their previous titles, now beloved classics. Come join us at from 7-9PM at 51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera, CA, 94925
http://www.bookpassage.com/event/kid-lit-salon-isabel-campoy-alma-flor-ada-gabriel-zubizarreta

October 27 and 28 Miami, FL
Alma Flor Ada and Isabel Campoy will be making a two day presentation to Dade County Spanish Language teachers. The presentation will feature Puertas al Sol [also published as Gateways to the Sun] their series of 35 titles on multiple aspects of the Hispanic culture [poetry, art, biographies, theatre, Hispanic lands], their multicultural series Libros para celebrar [also published in English as Books to Celebrate] . The books in this 12 title collection combine a contemporary real life story of children living in the United States and a non-fiction section which provides cultural and historical information on specific holidays celebrated by various cultures. For information on these presentations, please contact the Director of the Dade County Bilingual Education Office, Maria A. Miranda TMiranda@dadeschools.net