How Do You Say?: Como Se Dice? (Bilingual English/ Spanish)

PreS-Gr 1--Young children will delight in the antics of two endearing giraffes in this bilingual picture book. This work makes ample use of white space to help readers focus on the plot, and each page presents just one word or short phrase, first in English and then in Spanish, with a word shared by both on one spread. Initially, an English- and a Spanish-speaking giraffe meander unknowingly toward each other as they eat. "Oooh," says one. "Aaah," declares the other. "Food!" exclaims one, and "Comida!" shouts the other. However, neither giraffe notices the other until they are eating from the very same tree. Although they speak different languages, the pair find ways to communicate and common interests that make for a joyful day. Considering the limited number of words in the book, readers must pay close attention to its visual clues. Yet its endearing illustrations provide just enough foreshadowing so that very young children, with adult scaffolding, can make predictions about the story. VERDICT When combined with adult guidance, this small book will be a favorite for repeated, interactive read-alouds given its child-friendly visual appeal and theme of friendship across languages.--Ruth Quiroa, National Louis University, IL

Two look-alike giraffes mirror each other's behavior and exchange simple words in Spanish and English in this upbeat tribute to language. "Food!" declares the English-speaking giraffe. "Comida!" says the other. Both dip their long necks to drink water, and after declaring that they are friends, they don party hats amid a shower of balloons and confetti ("Party! Fiesta!"), then fall asleep in heap. Dominguez's bold, playful pictures keep the focus squarely on the giraffes' one-on-one interactions as she demonstrates something that many children know intuitively: speaking different languages is a minor detail when it comes to making new friends. Ages 2-4. Agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt. (Nov.)

Praise for "Maria Had a Little Llama / Maria Tenia Una Llamita"

A fresh and enjoyable reimagining of a traditional children's rhyme. "Kirkus Reviews"

A solid addition to a bilingual storytime program. "The Bulletin""