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(3)
K-3
Translated by Gabriela Baeza Ventura.
Illustrated by
Felipe Ugalde Alcántara.
Poet Argueta has created a trilingual homage to the importance of water for life. His free verse poem highlights the water cycle from water's perspective beside Alcántara's verdant gouache paintings with fluid and rounded forms. Each spread includes a stanza in Spanish and English; a Nahuat translation (the language of Argueta's native Pipil-Nahua Indians of El Salvador) of the entire poem is appended.
32 pp.
| Piñata
| October, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-55885-855-8$17.95
(4)
K-3
Translated by Gabriela Baeza Ventura.
Illustrated by
Gabhor Utomo.
Nuyorican poet and playwright Laviera leaves us with this posthumously published story in English and Spanish. Mayan prince Mayanito travels throughout the western hemisphere befriending the fauna, flora, and Indigenous children of the Americas. Or was it a dream? The fantastical narrative meanders but sends a clear message of unity and oneness--not just among people, but also with nature--a point underscored by the watercolor illustrations.
32 pp.
| Piñata
| October, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-1-55885-812-1$17.95
(4)
K-3
Translated by Gabriela Baeza Ventura.
Illustrated by
Robert Trujillo.
Darío is certain his little brother's birthday will be the worst: all Ariel wants is to eat tacos in the park with their parents. But Darío is pleasantly surprised to find that a low-key party has its own benefits. Despite its overt message, the story, in both English and Spanish, is satisfying. The awkwardly rendered illustrations give the book an amateurish look.
32 pp.
| Piñata
| May, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-1-55885-804-6$17.95
(4)
K-3
Translated by Gabriela Baeza Ventura.
Illustrated by
Gary Undercuffler.
Francisco misses flying kites in his native El Salvador, so he builds one from found materials in his new Chicago neighborhood. The owner of a recycled goods store notices the kite and offers to pay Francisco to make twenty more. In both English and Spanish, the quiet text tells a gentle story. The illustrations are stiff but convey Francisco's pride in his creations.
32 pp.
| Piñata
| October, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-1-55885-813-8$17.95
(4)
K-3
Translated by Gabriela Baeza Ventura.
Illustrated by
Thelma Muraida.
"This is the field where you play with your team, / and parents cheer and your friends scream..." This book takes readers on a tour of a brother and sister's friendly town. The English text's irregular rhymes and rhythms are ignored by the Spanish translation; there are occasionally stilted moments in both languages. Muraida's illustrations are stiff but warm.
32 pp.
| Piñata
| October, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-1-55885-805-3$17.95
(4)
K-3
Translated by Gabriela Baeza Ventura.
Illustrated by
Robert Casilla.
In a pre-Mexico indigenous village, Mamá Alma talks to Bella about how she's growing old. They share memories and plan how Bella can remember the grandmother when she's gone. The book is text-heavy, a fault visually magnified by the accompanying Spanish translations; while stiff, the illustrations contribute setting details. A valuable author's note discusses the now-"misunderstood" tradition of the Day of the Dead.
32 pp.
| Piñata
| October, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-1-55885-794-0$17.95
(4)
K-3
Translated by Gabriela Baeza Ventura.
Illustrated by
Thelma Muraida.
"Cecelia and Miguel are best friends." So begins every page of this sweet tale of lifelong friendship told in simple English and Spanish text. The kids grow up together and eventually marry and have twins. The amateurish illustrations are made to look like photos pasted in a scrapbook, lending the book a nostalgic feel that will appeal most to adult couples.
32 pp.
| Piñata
| May, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-1-55885-788-9$17.95 New ed. (2012)
(4)
K-3
Translated by Gabriela Baeza Ventura.
Illustrated by
Oscar Ortiz.
Juliana, an enthusiastic young artist, grows interested in her new upstairs neighbor, a well-regarded poet "who lived on an island" like Juliana's mami had. The two form a friendship, during which Juliana learns about the nature of creation and collaboration, and that "words can change the world." The Spanish translation of the prosaic English text is enlivened by the tropical-hued illustrations.
32 pp.
| Piñata
| May, 2014
|
TradeISBN 978-1-55885-789-6$17.95
(4)
K-3
Translated by Gabriela Baeza Ventura.
When Dalia wakes up, her hair has grown "tall and thick as a Cuban royal palm tree." She gathers leaves, mud, and other treasures and turns her hair into a tree. The next morning butterflies fly out; she's a "BUTTERFLY TREE!!" Enhanced by lush illustrations, the Spanish and English texts don't make much sense but are full of references to Cuba's natural world. Glos.
32 pp.
| Piñata
| May, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-1-55885-763-6$16.95
(4)
K-3
Translated by Gabriela Baeza Ventura.
Illustrated by
Oksana Kemarskaya.
Inspired by her abuela's stories, Toña plants an urban vegetable garden in a small patch of earth. When others become interested in the project, she helps them transform all of the neighborhood's dirt patches into gardens. The story's appeal comes less from the stilted Spanish and English prose than from the high-interest premise. Kemarskaya's cheery art, though sloppy-looking, features vibrant characters.