by Juan J. Guerra ; illustrated by Victoria Castillo ; translated by Gabriela Baeza Ventura ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2017
The stilted and didactic dialogue takes this potentially useful bilingual title from inspirational to self-congratulatory.
Ten-year-old Salvador accompanies his grandmother, who does not speak English, to a community clinic in order to translate for her.
The white, male doctor is surly and rude, and the boy recognizes a need for bilingual/bicultural medical personnel in immigrant communities such as his own. This quasi-autobiographical account of a young boy aspiring to become a physician in the United States implies some disturbing conclusions with its extreme depiction, one being that only bilingual doctors are competent and/or caring. “There must be a clinic with better doctors. If only that doctor spoke Spanish…” Salvador muses. Readers learn that Abuela didn’t consult doctors in El Salvador, yet she states authoritatively that “in El Salvador, doctors really care for their patients”—a point of potential confusion for readers. Regrettably, linked to this unsatisfactory clinic visit is the message that Mexican food is unhealthy and to be avoided; while introduced to demonstrate the doctor’s cluelessness about Latin American cultures, the stereotype goes unquestioned. The abrupt conclusion is so heavy-handed and contrived that it eclipses any positive message. “That night, he imagined the amazing journey of becoming a doctor, wondering about mysterious and marvelous places like college and medical school.” Castillo’s background as a comic artist is successfully expressed in the characters’ exaggerated expressions and in her predominantly red and orange color scheme.
The stilted and didactic dialogue takes this potentially useful bilingual title from inspirational to self-congratulatory. (Picture book. 5-9)Pub Date: May 31, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-55885-846-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Piñata Books/Arte Público
Review Posted Online: March 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2017
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by David Wiesner ; illustrated by David Wiesner ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 2020
A retro-futuristic romp, literally and figuratively screwy.
Robo-parents Diode and Lugnut present daughter Cathode with a new little brother—who requires, unfortunately, some assembly.
Arriving in pieces from some mechanistic version of Ikea, little Flange turns out to be a cute but complicated tyke who immediately falls apart…and then rockets uncontrollably about the room after an overconfident uncle tinkers with his basic design. As a squad of helpline techies and bevies of neighbors bearing sludge cake and like treats roll in, the cluttered and increasingly crowded scene deteriorates into madcap chaos—until at last Cath, with help from Roomba-like robodog Sprocket, stages an intervention by whisking the hapless new arrival off to a backyard workshop for a proper assembly and software update. “You’re such a good big sister!” warbles her frazzled mom. Wiesner’s robots display his characteristic clean lines and even hues but endearingly look like vaguely anthropomorphic piles of random jet-engine parts and old vacuum cleaners loosely connected by joints of armored cable. They roll hither and thither through neatly squared-off panels and pages in infectiously comical dismay. Even the end’s domestic tranquility lasts only until Cathode spots the little box buried in the bigger one’s packing material: “TWINS!” (This book was reviewed digitally with 9-by-22-inch double-page spreads viewed at 52% of actual size.)
A retro-futuristic romp, literally and figuratively screwy. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-544-98731-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: June 2, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2020
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by Susan Rose & Silvia López ; illustrated by Gloria Félix ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 25, 2023
Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further.
A young Latine boy finally gets to rescue the dog of his dreams, but training can be a challenge in two languages.
Like many children, José has been dreaming of having a pet of his own, specifically un perro, a dog. Like any good owner, José promptly begins training his new canine companion but soon realizes his rescue mutt, Feliz, knows only words in English. This is a problem because in José’s home everyone speaks both Spanish and English. José and Feliz must rise to the challenge; fortunately, treats and snuggles are great motivators. The narrative uses Spanish words and phrases throughout (“perros blancos,” “¡Yo quiero este!” “¡Sientate!”), usually with English context clues for understanding. This is complex vocabulary for an early reader, and the shifting in phonics from English to Spanish will be challenging for true beginners; the book is best suited for intermediate to advanced readers in dual-language classrooms or homes. Much like Feliz, however, it is sure to find a loving (and bilingual) home. Cheerful illustrations complement the text, helping readers make sense of the narrative. While José and his mother are darker-skinned, his father and sister are lighter-skinned. (This review has been updated for accuracy.)
Cuándo quieras un perro feliz, look no further. (glossary of Spanish-English words) (Early reader. 6-8)Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 978-0-593-52116-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
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by Susan Rose & Silvia López ; illustrated by Gloria Félix
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