Marta! Big & Small (English With Some Spanish)

Arena and Dominguez nimbly combine an exploration of relativity with an introduction to Spanish vocabulary as una nina named Marta encounters various animals while exploring a junglelike setting. Though the text is minimal, Arena uses repetition and context clues to make each concept readily clear: "To a horse, Marta is lenta. Slow, very slow. To a turtle, Marta is rapida. Fast, very fast." Dominguez's loose, energetic illustrations underscore the meanings of each term and, during a run-in with a hungry snake, help demonstrate that Marta is--among other things--"ingeniosa. Clever, very clever." Ages 4-7. Author's agent: Jill Corcoran, Jill Corcoran Literary. Illustrator's agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt. (Aug.)

PreS-Gr 1--Young readers are introduced to the Spanish words for some opposites and animals by Marta, a very clever nina. Arena uses the Spanish word within the English text and then proceeds to use the word again, this time in English, thereby making the meaning clear. For instance, "To a bug, Marta is grande. Big, very big." The Spanish word is always highlighted in orange. Dominguez's artwork provides pictorial reinforcement. Changes in perspective emphasize and help visualize the different opposites. Standing out against a white background, Dominguez's illustrations, done with colored pencils and bold outlines with an earthy palette of mainly browns and greens, introduce humor to what could otherwise be a dry book. There is even a little tension when Marta meets a serpent: "To a snake, Marta is sabrosa." On the spread that follows, there are three words and a picture of a snake: "Tasty, very tasty...." The snake encounter is also used as the moment to present the Spanish names of all the animals Marta came across. At the end there is a list of all the Spanish words and their English counterparts, but there is no pronunciation guide. VERDICT A cross between a concept book and a word book, this is a fun read-aloud to use anytime or in a bilingual storytime program.--Lucia Acosta, Children's Literature Specialist, NJ

"A cross between a concept book and a word book, this is a fun read-aloud to use anytime or in a bilingual storytime program." —School Library Journal

"With repetitive text and child-friendly illustrations, this wonderful read-aloud invites the younger set to experience the tension, relief, and satisfaction of a great plot." —School Library Journal, Top 10 Latinx 2016

"Arena's clever, catchy text might invite some play-acting games, and the lively energy of her
informative words is well matched by Dominguez' friendly, dynamic creatures in an earth-toned palette. This handy introduction to Spanish vocabulary is perfect for animal-lovers of all stripes." —Booklist

"Pura Belpré honoree Dominguez's green, brown, and tan illustrations capture the movement in each spread . . . Marta's adventure is an enjoyable way to introduce animals, observe concepts, and identify comparisons and polarities in English and en Español." —Kirkus Reviews

"Arena and Dominguez nimbly combine an exploration of relativity with an introduction to Spanish vocabulary." —Publisher's Weekly

"An ideal choice for bilingual storytimes." —The Bulletin