This simple and sweet bilingual vocabulary book is a winner.
A Spanish/English primer infused with an element of fun and games reinforces both language and visual skills.
The follow-up to Loteria: First Words (2018) brings even more vocabulary to young readers. Bright, clean graphics and easy-to-read labels adorn the double-page spreads. Each of the 10 vocabulary words that appear in the book are taken from the traditional Mexican lotería card game. The Spanish term (including the article, to indicate gender) is printed in bold type above the English translation against a colorful background on verso. On recto, the classic lotería cards have each been given a cute makeover that will appeal to young audiences—from the vibrant red ketchup bottle representing “la botella” to the fanged but friendly-looking black spider, or “la araña.” Readers who have enjoyed playing the lotería game will appreciate the cultural connection, and those who aren’t familiar with it yet will still delight in the appealing illustrations and novel vocabulary. Children will be engaged with the opportunity to learn words in two languages. The mermaid and musician are depicted with pale and very light brown skin, dark brown hair, and blue and green eyes, respectively.
This simple and sweet bilingual vocabulary book is a winner. (Board book. 6 mos.-4)Pub Date: May 11, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-947971-56-1
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Lil' Libros
Review Posted Online: June 28, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Number lovers will enjoy this comic celebration. Although doubters may not be convinced that math is fun or approachable,...
Having tackled such hard-to-love topics as bees and spiders, Barton (Give Bees a Chance, 2017, etc.) here lobbies for the love of math.
An unnamed, unseen math-phobic narrator opens by announcing that they’re not alone, as “4 in 10 Americans hate math. That’s like 40%,” only to be hilariously interrupted by a three-eyed purple ET. “Did you just use math to explain how much you don’t like it?” The ET proceeds to explain how math is everywhere and in everything we already love, including cookies (demonstrating that a recipe is in effect a word problem), music (explaining the time signature and notes on a staff), and pizza (measuring the pie using pi). Loose and lively illustrations and big, bold lettering take readers on a colorful tour of cool math history and concepts. But the narrator’s critical questions go unanswered: How do you learn to love a problem like 785 x 5? And what to do with your frustration when you can’t arrive at the “one right answer?” The ET suggests shaking the numbers off the page when they get too overwhelming—an entertaining but ultimately evasive strategy.
Number lovers will enjoy this comic celebration. Although doubters may not be convinced that math is fun or approachable, they will be impressed with its ubiquity, and that’s a start. (Informational picture book. 5-9)Pub Date: July 2, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-451-48090-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: March 30, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A kindhearted, instructive tale with a Hawaiian twist.
Ebalaroza-Tunnell introduces the universal spirit of Hawaiian Aloha and its cultural and practical significance.
The narrator, Dr. G, whom we meet in a classroom, says: “Aloha is a powerful word that comes from the islands of Hawaii and has many beautiful meanings.” Dr. G has tan skin, dark brown hair, and kind eyes, and she wears a pretty yellow dress. Although “Aloha” means both “hello” and “goodbye,” it can also mean ”love,” she explains to the class. She provides a fun way of remembering the spirit of ALOHA: The letter A is for “ask,” so we can learn new ways of doing things. L is for “listen,” to really hear what others have to share. O is for “observe,” particularly the physical manifestations of our feelings. H is for “heart,” and the final A is for “adapt,” so we can change our attitudes and behaviors to grow and thrive. For each letter, Dr. G offers activities children can do, including journaling and breathing exercises. The text uses simple vocabulary and short sentences to describe relatively complex ideas, and Fadhilah’s cartoonlike illustrations of children of different races and ethnicities practicing the activities set a serene, inclusive scene.
A kindhearted, instructive tale with a Hawaiian twist. (Ages: 4-6, picture book)Pub Date: Feb. 22, 2024
ISBN: 9798989787005
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Plowline Publishing
Review Posted Online: April 1, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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