PEPITA ON PEPPER STREET/PEPITA EN LA CALLE PEPPER

Pepita is lonely and unhappy about living on a new street. She translates her misery to rudeness when the neighborly old lady, the blonde woman from down the street and the mailman all introduce themselves by asking Pepita if she is new; Pepita’s response is always the same: “No, I’m not, you’re the one who’s new because I’ve never seen you before.” When finally Katie Ann, the little girl whom Pepita saw on her first day in the neighborhood, returns from a visit with her grandmother, Pepita is pleased to accept this peer as a new friend and boasts of how she’s been “visiting” with the neighbors. The lengthy, well-translated bilingual text and Pardo DeLange’s detailed, cartoon-style paintings of a Latino family living on an American suburban street bring out the essence of the story. Its message, of the importance of coping with the stress of moving by finding new friends, is flawed, however, with its portrayal of a protagonist who persists in her insolence. The lack of a positive model will make explanation and discussion necessary. (Picture book. 5-7)