Synopses & Reviews
Francisco is finally old enough to journey to the mango grove all by himself to gather the mangoes for a special dinner. But bees swarm the fruit, and Francisco has trouble picking them from the tree. He returns to his father several times, and each time his father shares a different proverb to inspire Francisco to continue trying. "Querer es poder. Where there's a will, there's a way!" Finally, Francisco is able to gather some mangoes, and on his way home he stops to visit his uncle, grandmother, and aunt. Francisco shares his mangoes with them, and by the time he gets home he no longer has any! "Es mejor dar que recibir. Sometimes it's better to give than to receive."and#160;
Luckily for Francisco, his generosity does not go unnoticed. "Amor con amor se paga. Love is repaid with love."
Readers are sure to be charmed by this humorous story about problem solving and sharing. The book includes a glossary of Spanish words.
Praise for Aand#160;Mango in the Hand
and#8220;A "story told through proverbs" could easily go terribly wrong, but this sweet tale succeeds beautifully. This smoothly written family story is filled with warmth and humor and incorporates a blending of well-placed proverbs in both Spanish and English to drive the storyand#8217;s themes. Digitally colored pencil-and-ink cartoon drawings reflect the lush greens of summertime and outdoor living in this intergenerational barrio.and#8221; and#8211;Kirkus Reviews
Review
PRAISE FOR 'TWAS NOCHEBUENA: and#8220;A linguistic and visual treat. The lyrical blend of English and Spanish and vibrant action-packed illustrations make this ideal for read-alouds.and#8221; and#8212;Booklist and#160; "Thongand#8217;s humorous verse follows Clement Mooreand#8217;s strong rhythm without falteringand#8212;despite the metrical challenges of working in two languages at once. Palaciosand#8217;s warm, earth-toned illustrations of a happy multigenerational family invite readers into the festivities, whether these tradiciones are familiar or new to them." and#160;and#8212;Horn Book
and#8220;This pleasant family story conveys strong family bonds and traditions while offering non-Spanish speakers a way to learn some basic vocabulary.and#8221; and#8212;Kirkus Reviews and#160; and#8220;This lively picture book offers a wonderful way to celebrate and learn about Latino Christmas traditions.and#8221; and#8212;School Library Journal
Synopsis
Nina is visiting her grandmother in Miami for Christmas. Usually she spends it in snowy New England with her mother and her family, but this year is different. She isn t certain what to make of a hot and humid holiday, until she learns the traditions of her father s side of the family from her Cuban grandmother. She helps prepare for the evening and takes part in all their traditions the intricate cooking for the feast, the dancing, the music, and the gathering of relatives and neighbors. It all comes together for a Noche Buena that Nina will never forget.
Antonio Sacre and Angela Dominguez have created a wonderful story that everyone who celebrates Christmas will enjoy. The book includes a glossary of Spanish words.
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Synopsis
and#8217;Twas
Nochebuena and all through our
casa,and#160; every creature was kneading tamale
masa...
Itand#8217;s Christmas Eve, and youand#8217;re invited to a Nochebuena celebration! Follow a family as they prepare to host a night filled with laughter, love, and Latino tradition. Make tasty tamales and hang colorful adornos (decorations) on the walls. Gather to sing festive canciones (songs) while sipping champurrado (hot chocolate). After the midnight feast has been served and the last gifts have been unwrapped, itand#8217;s time to cheer, and#147;Feliz Navidad and to all a good night!and#8221;
Savor the magic of Nochebuena with a holiday tale youand#8217;ll want to read again and again.and#160;
About the Author
Antonio Sacre is a Cuban-American writer, storyteller, and performance artist. He lives in Los Angeles. Visit him online at www.antoniosacre.com.
and#160;
Angela Dominguez was born in Mexico City and lives in northern California. She illustrated Ava Tree and the Wishes Three and Carmen Learns English. Visit her online at www.andillustrations.com.