Author:
Nivola, Claire
Title: El Bosque
Illustrator:
Nivola, Claire
Publisher: Editorial Juventud
Publication date: c2002;
Pages: unpaged
Paper price: $13.50 ISBN: 8426132553
Type: Picturebook
Grade level(s): Pre-K - 1st
A lighthearted story with a powerful message “El
Bosque” written by Claire Nivola tells the tale of a
conservative mouse who has a deep fear of the forest
outside his home. Battling self-doubt and demonstrating courage he decides to
challenge his fear by wandering out deep into the forest. After seeing the wonder and beauty that the
forest offers he realizes that he had nothing to fear but fear itself. The beautiful illustrations add dramatic
flare to a story already rich with meaning.
Author:
Abril, Paco
Title: Resdan
Illustrator:
Amargo, Pablo
Publisher: Leon España
Publication date: c2000
Pages: 31p.
Hardback price: $16.95 ISBN: 842417979X
Type: Picturebook
Grade level(s): Pre-K - 1st
Andrés is criticized at home and at school for his
'bad' behavior and he is called impossible, clumsy and
monstrous by everyone including his baby sister. For comfort he turns to the one
activity he enjoys - drawing. However the monster he creates comes to life,
and, what's more, he starts to behave just like Andrés...
Cool, retro illustrations grace this unique and appealing children's book from
Andres is tired of being laughed at, scolded and
scorned. One day at home he draws a monster, unknowingly bestowing it with all
of his own worst traits. All of a sudden it comes to life...and what he learns
is that everyone has a little monster inside of them. He learns to embrace his
monster and come to love it. A powerful message and an
appealing story.
Author:
Genechten, Guido Van
Title: Conmigo
Illustrator:
Amargo, Pablo
Publisher: Zaragoza
Publication date: c2001
Pages: 32p.
Hardback price: $17.95 ISBN: 842634583
Type: Picturebook
Grade level(s): Pre-K - 1st
Translation
notes:
Original title: Blackie
Translator: Gervas, Augustin
This touching story begins very poignantly. The main character, a small boy, proclaims
that he lives in a big house full of “things” and his parents are terrific
except they’re never around. His father
tells him it’s because they “have to make money.” He has a toy chest filled to capacity, a
castle and even a robot. But he doesn’t
have anyone to play with. It is then
that he discovers Migo. Migo plays with
him all day long, and serves as his protector, confidante and best friend. This is a nice story that overshadows a
serious subject (parental neglect) with the creativity and imagination of a
young boy.
Author:
Pommaux, Ivan
Title: Detective John Chatterton
Illustrator:
Pommaux, Ivan
Publisher: Ediciones Ekaré Publication date:
c2000;
Pages: unpaged
Paper price: $16.95 ISBN: 9802572365
Type: Picturebook
Grade level(s): 3rd – 5
Translation
notes:
Original title: John Chatterton, detective
Translator: Iribarren , Leopoldo
Start with a
film noir setting and exquisite graphic novel type illustrations; then add a
crafty private eye, a villain and a damsel in distress and you have a tense,
atmospheric and very unique picture book.
This spin on Little Red Riding Hood by Ivan Pommaux
follows famed feline private eye John Chatterton as
he responds to a missing person’s report that includes: a wolf in gangster
attire, a trail with red clues, and a visit to grandma’s house. Younger children will respond to the folklore
aspect while older children will be enthralled by the beautiful illustrations.
Famed Latino Children’s
singer/songwriter Jose Orozco teams up with David Diaz (Gospel Cinderella,
2000) to form this book about the relationship between words and actions. A boy gets up in the morning greets the sun
and takes off to absorb the day. He
counts along and plays with words he notices and hears from interacting from his
family. The translations are far from
exact as the Spanish text outnumbers the English text by about a 5/1
ratio. The text itself depends more on
feel and rhythm than an actual story.
The lively and charismatic illustrations may win over the skeptics,
however.
Author:
Fox, Christyan
Title: El Bosque
Illustrator:
Fox, Diane
Publisher: Combel
Editorial Publication date: c2003;
Pages: unpaged
Paper price: $11.95 ISBN: 8478646930
Type: Picturebook
Grade level(s): Pre-K - 1st
Translation
notes:
Original title: Cat and Mouse The Whole Story
Adapted by
E. Hernandez
“El ratón esta espiando desde su
rotonera. Y el gato, muy còmodo esta
dormiendo fuera.”
These are the opening words to a classic cat and
mouse story. The trouble starts when a
mouse has run out of food and tries to make his way to the kitchen but outside
of his mouse hole lies a sleeping cat. The clever mouse uses a roller skate to glide
past the car and when the chase moves to the bathroom, the mouse eludes the cat
by using a plastic soap container as a raft and a toothbrush to steer his way
across a sink. The only things slowing this nice story-in-rhyme down is that it’s
only sixteen pages. Think of all the
mischief that could’ve taken place with a true picture book format! Also there are diagrams cut into the book
that highlight each character’s expression during the chase and give a unique
point of view. This is great if no little
hands ever touch the book otherwise the pages could be easily torn. Still, this book is a must have for libraries
serving a high Latino population.