Scrub-a-Dub-Tub: bilingual books

Showing posts with label bilingual books. Show all posts

Monday, December 01, 2008

The Book Bag, Bilingual Books (November/December 2008)

Feliz Navidad (Spanish)
Nollaig Shona (Irish - Gaelic)
Joyeux Noel (French)
Shen Dan Kuai Le Xin Nian Yu Kuai (Mandarin)

We hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday season. Here are some of the fun bilingual books we've enjoyed these past two months, including one holiday story. Click the title to see our review; click the cover image to link to a bookseller. The Reading Tub uses its earnings from purchases to donate books to at-risk readers and keep the website subscription-free.

The Miracle of the First Poinsettia: A Mexican Christmas Story written by Joanne Oppenheim, illustrated by Fabian Negrin. La Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) should be a happy time, but Juanita is sad. Papa has lost his job, so there isn't extra money for candy or toys. Because she has no gifts, she stays outside the church. What can she give that is worthy of Baby Jesus? "This is a simple story that is elegantly told. The illustrations (done with watercolor and oil pastels) offer a rich complement to the words. The images are detailed enough to carry the story if you want to use this as a wordless book." (Barefoot Books, 2003) Reading Level 2.0

The Best Mariachi in the World / El mejor Mariachi del mundo written by J.D. Smith, illustrated by Dani Jones. Gustavo really wants to be a mariachi like his brother, father, grandfather, and cousins. But no one would let him touch their instruments. Upset about being left out, Gustavo went to the desert and started singing. One morning, he woke the neighbors! Is he destined to be the worst mariachi? "Every child who has wanted to "belong" will enjoy this story about a boy who wants to be in a mariachi band. Colorful illustrations help make the story sing." (Raven Tree Press, 2008) Reading Level 3.7

Bursunsul and Paskualina: The Story of Two Friends written by Olesya Tavadze, illustrated by Evgueni Ivanov. Bursunsul and Paskualina are two very different dogs. One is big, the other is small. One is white, the other is black. Despite their differences, they are very good friends. That is, until Paskualina took something from Bursunsul, who got angry and bit her! Uh oh! "The story presents its messages of respect, friendship, and forgiveness very well. The vocabulary repetition and simple sentences make this a perfect story for first- and second-grade readers." This book is available in seven languages. Read the complete story at biguniverse.com. (Reading Corner, 2007) Reading Level 2.3

Oranges for Everyone written by Daiga Zake, illustrated by Elena Stojanova Jimmy gets a bag of oranges. Having claimed them all for himself, he ends up giving them away, one by one, to family and friends. When he is left with none, he learns a valuable lesson: sharing is contagious." This book is available in ten languages. Read the complete story at biguniverse.com. (Reading Corner, 2007) Reading Level 1.7

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Reading Ahead - Bilingual Books (November/December 2008)

Our thanks to everyone who offered comments on the September/October 2008 Bilingual Books post! We now have a very nice collection of books for readers at various ages. Click the book's title to visit our website. Click cover to connect with a bookseller. The Reading Tub uses its earnings from purchases to donate books to at-risk readers and keep the website subscription-free.

Marco Flamingo written and illustrated by Sheila Jarkins. This is an excellent book for learning to read in either English or Spanish. Marco is adorable as a flamingo wearing a scarf. (Raven Tree Press, 2008) Reading Level 2.7

Teach Me ... Everyday Mandarin Chinese, Volume 1 written by Judy Mahoney and illustrated by Patrick Girouard. This is a picture book/CD set that uses familiar children's songs as a foundation for building language. (Teach Me Tapes, Inc. 2008)

We Are Girls Who Love to Run / Somos Chicas y A Nosotras Nos Encanta Correr written by Brianna K. Grant, illustrated by Nicholas A. Wright, translated by Ana C. Venegas. This full-text bilingual book blends affirmations and a story about the benefits of running. (Balanced Steps, LLC, 2008) Reading Level 3.7

Fiesta Femenina: Celebrating Women in Mexican Folktale retold by Mary-Joan Gerson, illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez. There are eight Mexican folktales in this collection. The text is predominantly English, with Spanish blended in. There is a pronunciation guide for words and phrases in the back. (Barefoot Books, 2001) Reading Level 4.1

The Frog in the Well retold by Irene Y. Tsai, illustrations by Pattie Caprio, Chinese translation by Joyce Lin. Each page has one, simple sentence in both English and Chinese. (Mandarin). This looks like a title that would have value whether you're learning Chinese or English. (CE Bilingual Books, LLC) 2008) Reading level 1.3

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Thursday, October 23, 2008

The Book Bag, Bilingual Books (September/October 2008)

There are a number of bilingual books in the TBR pile. We haven't received any bilingual books in the last two months, so there is nothing for our Reading Ahead post. Here are two of our favorites for this Book Bag.

I Wish I Was Tall Like Willie by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook, illustrated by Bonnie Adamson. Manuel admires Willie. he is tall, like a basketball player. Manuel uses stilts and even spikes his hair so he can be taller. But every time he tries something new, it always backfires. Then he learns Willie wants to be strong like him. This is one volume in a companion series about two boys, each of whom wants to be like their friend. "This is a wonderful series. Kids spend so much time comparing themselves to others, that this is a fun way to remind them that they are 'perfect' just the way they are. Reading in Spanish offers some terrific elementary-level words that kids will see in school." (Raven Tree Press, 2008)

Dorothy and the Glasses by Ivona Brezinova, illustrated by Mentor Llapashtica. Everyone in Dorothy’s house wears glasses, even her stuffed animals. Dad says it helps them see things better. All Dorothy sees is that she doesn’t look like she fits in with her family. Why doesn’t she need to see things better, too? "Children will relate to Dorothy and her desire to find things that make her like everyone else in the family. This picture book helps kids see that being unique doesn’t mean being an outsider." This book is available in a number of languages, including Albanian, Russian, Serbian, and Spanish. ( Reading Corner/International Step-by-Step Association, 2007) You can read this book online at Big Universe.

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Thursday, August 28, 2008

Bilingual Books (July/August 2008)

There were only a few bilingual and foreign-language children's books this time. Rather than write two bare-bones posts, I'm combining the Reading Ahead (previews) and Book Bag (review) columns for Bilingual Books.

First I'd like to call attention to the Step by Step Reading Corner, a non-profit publisher dedicated to literacy. They create children's picture books in many languages, including French, Spanish, and Slavic languages (think: Russia and Eastern Europe). These are not bilingual books, but you can buy the same book in English and the language of your choice. Check out the Step by Step Reading Corner store at Big Universe to read the stories online. Here are some of the titles that have caught our eye. They were all published by the International Step by Step Association in 2007.

A Mango for Grandpa by Caroline Hudicourt, illustrated by Ismer Saincilus We are interested in the growing collection of stories that help a child deal with an aging/dying grandparent. Read this book online at Big Universe.

Moush Wants to Get Lost by Rouzanna Baghdasaryn, illustrated by Yulia Lushnikova. Moush is a little boy having a bad day. He thinks running away will help. Read this book online at Big Universe.

The Doll's Nose by Miranda Haxhia, illustrated by Ursula Kohrer. Clara and Ana invited Mary to play dolls with them. But Mary was too embarrassed, she didn't have a doll. So when she couldn't buy one, she made one. Achoo! Oh, no. Mary had forgotten about her doll's nose! What could she use? "This is a creative, well-balanced story. It doesn't overplay the family's poverty and Ana and Clara are not mean about having dolls. It has just the right blend of independence and creativity you hope to see in a story, and I love how the other girls want to have dolls that are just like Mary's. It would be nice to find more stories like this one." Read this book online at Big Universe.

Here are the other attention-grabbers.

Keisha's Doors / Las Puertas de Keisha and Tacos Anyone / Alguien quiere tacos? by Marvie Ellis, illustrated by Jenny Loehr These are the first two titles in a picture book series about children with autism. I am encouraged to see picture books to help children understand autism in their peers, and they are bilingual to boot! (Speech Kids Texas Press, Inc.)

Mandy and Pandy Visit China and Mandy and Pandy Play Sports by Chris Lin, illustrated by Ingrid Villalta These are two titles in Mandy and Pandy, a bilingual boardbook series in English and Chinese. Each book comes with a CD so that you can follow along and also hear pronunciation. The book is read three times: Slow dialogue, alternating English and Chinese; word-by-word in Chinese; and
conversational Chinese. These would have been fun to have BEFORE the Olympics!(Mandy and Pandy, LLC, 2008)

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Friday, June 20, 2008

The Book Bag: Bilingual Books (May/June 2008)

We only finished one truly outstanding bilingual book these past two months. There are some new titles in that we are very excited about in the May/June edition of our Reading Ahead post.

Paco and the Giant Chile Plant / Paco y la planta de chile gigante by Keith Polette, illustrated by Elizabeth O. Dulemba. "Everyone will enjoy this new ending to a classic story. The illustrations, combined with well integrated Spanish, make this a must-read for elementary-aged children." (Raven Tree Press, 2008)

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Reading Ahead - Bilingual Books

It is wonderful to see such variety in format and content -- including some non-fiction -- in bilingual books. Here are a few we're looking forward to reading. Click on the title to visit the Reading Tub; click the cover to go to a bookseller.

I Wish I Was Tall Like Willie / Quisiera ser tan alto como Willie by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook We loved the "I Wish" series for girls, and this looks just as wonderful. (Raven Tree Press, 2008)

Papa and Me by Arthur Durros, illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez This is a bilingual book that embeds the Spanish in the story. It's nice to see a story that celebrates father and son relationships. (Rayo, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2008)

Postcards from Washington, DC / Postales desde Washington, DC by Laura Crawford, illustrated by Bonnie Adamson This is a new title in the bilingual picture book series Traveling with Annie. It sounds like a neat concept (and the pictures are great). (Raven Tree Press, 2008)

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Monday, April 21, 2008

The Book Bag: Bilingual Books (March/April 2008)

We don't often have bilingual books to feature. Here's a multi-media product you may enjoy.

Teach Me ... French Spiritual Songs by Judy Mahoney and Anne Mahoney. This is a multi-media product to teach French. There is a songbook and CD; songs have both vocal and instrumental versions. "The program is well organized, imaginatively conceived, and easily engages the learners. This is unique and enjoyable approach to bilingual learning." (Teach Me Tapes, Inc. 2004)

You might also be interested in Jules' review of Everything Bonjour by Leslie Kimmelman at 7 Impossible Things Before Breakfast. (Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2008)

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Wednesday, February 20, 2008

The Book Bag, Books for Ages 5 to 8, January/February 2008

Amazing Mallika by Jami Parkison. If you're a Bengal tiger, the first rule of hunting is be calm. That may be easy for some tigers, but not Mallika. Time and time again her hot temper gets the best of her. How will she ever learn to control her temper? The illustrations in this book are incredible, and the helps kids recognize anger and it offers solutions, too. (Marsh Media, 1997)

Grandmother's Stories: Wise Woman Tales from Many Cultures by Burleigh Muton, ed. Each culture has its legends and myths, but none are more rich than those of the wise women who because of kindness, empathy, and wisdom outsmarted those who had plans to "keep them down." You'll find a story from every continent in this volume. This collection of stories/fables feature a wise woman as the hero. We like that it has CDs with the stories for following along. (Barefoot Books, 1999)

I Wished for You: An Adoption Story and You Are My Wish Come True by Marianne Richmond. Like all little bears, Barley wants to hear (again) about why he is so special to Mama Bear. In these books, parents can select the story that fits them ... I Wished for You is an adoption story. You Are My Wish Come True is for biological families. (Marianne Richmond Studios, Inc. 2007)

The Jester has Lost His Jingle by David Saltzman. The laughter is gone. When the King banishes the Jester from the kingdom, he is determined to find out where laughter has gone. This picture book offers a lesson for all of us. (The Jester Co., Inc. 1995)

Polar Slumber by Dennis Rockhill. This is a book with something to offer everyone. There is a wordless version, and English version, and an edition in Spanish. Even though every page is filled with snow, the book leaves you with a warm, cozy feeling. (Raven Tree Press, LLC, 2004)

Ocean Seasons by Ron Hirschi. Who knew that there were four seasons under water? This is a nice, entertaining non-fiction book. (Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2007)

Winter is for Whales by Ron Hirschi. Like Ocean Seasons, this is a non-fiction picture book.In this one, learn about Hawaii. The collage illustrations are wonderful and there are little pop-ups that kids will love. (Island Heritage Publishing, 2007)

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Thursday, June 21, 2007

The Bookbag, Books for Ages 4 to 8, May/June 2007

Summer is here, with plenty of time for laid-back, fun reading. It was quite a challenge to select just a "few" of the books we love for this bookbag. Since it's summer, we tended to pull favorites that have a summer-time feel to them.

If you want to see more recent reviews, just type in "May 2007" or "June 2007" when you search the Reading Tub Website. Be sure to keep reading, the Just One More Book! Podcast is here, too.

Remember, the books are listed in alphabetical order by title. There is no ranking.

Dad's Bald Head by Paul Many. Father's Day may be over, but this one is a perfect read for any time. Pete loves his Dad, but Dad doesn't like the "scraggly" hair on the side of his head. One morning Dad decides to shave it all off. Then Pete doesn't know what to think: is this guy still his dad? This is a light-hearted look that offers kids a way to understand "big" changes. (Walker Publishing Company, 2007)

Dr. Duncan Dog on Duty by Lisa Dunn-Dern. Everybody in this family has a job...even the pets! Introduce your children to community service as they go with Dr. Duncan visit children at the hospital. (Visikid Books, 2007)

The First Well & Other Read-Along Stories by Bookbox. This collection of five fables is an e-Book on DVD. Each of the stories offers a magical journey and a lesson in life and wisdom. We love the fact that you can pick from among six languages for the stories. (www.bookbox.com, 2005)

Flying Solo by Kristi Stephas. This summer, Ellie (6) is flying from Chicago to California to spend a week with her aunt. She has never been on a plane by herself before, so this is a little unnerving. "This story gives you everything you want to prepare a child for an airplane trip." (Toy Truck Publishing, 2005)

I Wish I had Freckles Like Abby and I Wish I had Glasses Like Rosa by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook. This pair of bilingual books is a charming look at friendship and how children view themselves in others' eyes. (Raven Tree Press, LLC, 2007)

There's a Season for All by Sammy Shu. Looking for a creative, folklore-sh way to explain the seasons? Then the fairies in this book will help. This highly imaginative story offers a "history" of how the seasons came to be, as well as lessons in sibling rivalry, friendship, and cooperation. (Raynestorme Books, 2005)

To Know the Sea by Frances Gilbert. Princess Isola is feeling, well, isolated. She lives in a mountain kingdom, but is intrigued by the sea. When the queen issues a proclamation (with a reward, of course) for the first person to bring the sea to the kingdom, the princess learns a valuable lesson. (Greene Bark Books, 2000)

Trosclair and the Alligator by Peter Huggins. Trosclair likes to explore the Louisanna Bayou on his pirogue (boat). He's sure those storis about Gargantua, the alligator, were more than a little exaggerated. Then he met Gargantua face to face! This is a classic fable set in the bayou ... with an interesting twist. (Star Bright Books, 2006)

Usborne Book of Lullabies by Fiona Watt, editor. This boardbook presents seven poems perfect for bedtime. It is also accompanied by a CD that plays the tunes of these and five other ready-for-dreamland pieces. (Usborne Publishing Ltd, 2005)

Vegetable Dreams (Huerto Sonado) by Dawn Jeffers. When Mr. Martinez learns that Erin wants to create her own garden (and her parents tell her it is too much work), he offers to help her. Together, they create a special bond as they plant and then enjoy the benefits of spending time in the garden. (Raven Tree Press, 2006)

What's With This Room by Tom Lichtenheld. Messy rooms and kids just seem to go together. In this humorous look at what's "really" going on, both parents and kids can get a new perspective on this age-old problem. (Little, Brown and Company, 2005)

Just One More Book! Click the title to listen to the Podcast.

Ages 0 to 4: Fun, Times Eleven: The Eensy-Weensy Spider by Mary Ann Hoberman. "When it comes to generously illustrated sing-along staples, more is more. Boasting eleven extra verses of the classic toddler tune and thirty-two pages of captivating illustrations, this book has always left our girls eager for its next reading." (Little, Brown and Company, 2004)

Ages 4 to 8: Fur and Feathers: Saving Samantha - A True Story by Robbyn Smith van Frankenhuyzen. Warm, realistic illustrations and generous, unimposing text vividly recreate the thrill of befriending an injured fox pup and the bittersweet satisfaction of her eventual return to the wild. I don’t think our two daughters could be more excited about this story if they had lived it themselves! (Sleeping Bear Press, 2004)

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Monday, March 20, 2006

We're Interested in Bilingual Books

As you know, The Reading Tub, Inc. supports the work of Lullalee Productions, a non-profit that donates books to families in need.

On 6 April 2006, Shriners Hospitals for Children-Los Angeles/Lullalee Productions and Services is co-sponsoring a Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness CarniFair. A formal presentation on child abuse prevention followed by a free and fun child safety focused "Carnifair."

Lullalee Productions is collecting books for the event. They are expecting more than 2,000 participants. The population served is 90 percent Latino, and they are mostly in need of Spanish books. If you have a bilingual or Spanish book to share, send it/them to:

Shriners Hospital for Children-Los Angeles, CarniFair

Attention: Patricia Tepedino/Marie Rameriz

3160 Geneva Street

Los Angeles, CA 90020

Thanks, as always, for helping us spread the joy of reading.

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Friday, March 03, 2006

The Bookbag, Books for Ages 4 to 8, January/February 2006

Given the volume of books we're processing, we've decided to go to a bi-monthly format for the Bookbag. As time and seasons/special events warrant, we'll post additional notes.

Hopalong Jack and the Blue Bunnies, Jeri Landers. In a large family of bunnies, it's really hard to be a standout. Jack desperately wants to be noticed, but whenever he tries to make himself unique, his siblings copy his actions. "On the literal side, the story opens a wonderful door to talking about feelings and self esteem. On the creative side, there is plenty to seek and learn about the art and "hidden" objects." (Ochre Moon Press, 2005)

My Little Lore of Light, Haijah Amina Adil. This collection of stories introduces children to the prophets of Islam. The vignettes begin with Creation and Adam and proceed through history to Mohammad. Each story highlights the influence of Allah on the growth and development of Islam and the role that the prophets played in carrying out his work. "Although written for Muslim children, many of the personalities and events recounted in the stories will be familiar to Jews and Christians, since they are also a part of the Judeo-Christian heritage found in the Old Testament." (Islamic Supreme Council of America, 2005)

Nine Famous Artists Your Children will Love; An Art Discovery Primer and Handbook for Parents and Their Children, Michael Napoliello, Jr. The book's premise is that children who have been introduced to the arts, turn out to be brighter, happier, and healthier individuals, ultimately becoming contributors to their families, professions, and communities. "The author's enthusiasm and expertise shine through in the book. He presents parents with a “How To” game plan for providing their children with interesting and exciting experiences in the arts." (Seven Locks Press, 2003)

No Small Change, John Luksetich. In the Money Kingdom, the Half-Dollars make the rules. When they decide the penny makes no cents, Peasant Penny and her friends add things up to show the rulers they're wrong. This is a picture book with math and life lessons. "This can be a simple counting/math book, but it's also a nice allegory for treating others with respect and understanding one's own value, too. There is lots of potential here. (Imagine Nation Press, 2005)

Tito the Firefighter/Tito El Bombero, Tim Hoppey. Tito loves the firehouse. Every day Richie, one of the firefighters, and Tito exchange hellos. One day, as Tito passes the firehouse a man is shouting. Richie needs his help, because he doesn't speak Spanish, and, ultimately, Tito gets to ride in the firetruck to help Richie. "This was fun to read … and for parents with rusty Spanish, not overwhelming at all. We have a number of bilingual books in our library, but this was the first one to prompt our child to want to practice her skills." (Raven Tree Press, 2004)