Scrub-a-Dub-Tub: books in Spanish

Showing posts with label books in Spanish. Show all posts

Thursday, October 30, 2008

2008 Moonbeam Children's Book Award Winners

The Moonbeam Children's Book Awards recognize "books that inspire our children to read, to learn, and to dream." This year, the judges read 1,085 entries ... an average of 36 books/category. Here is the list of the winners in all 33 categories, as published on the Independent Publisher website.

I've bookmarked the list so I can seek out some of the new titles, particularly for independent readers. The Reading Tub received and reviewed many of the books for younger audiences. I have included all winners in a category and linked to any titles we have reviewed.

Board Book / Cloth Book
Gold: My First Hike, written and illustrated by Catherine Maria Woolf (Dawn Publications)
Silver: Kisses Kisses Baby-O! by Sheree Fitch; illustrated by Hilda Rose (Nimbus Publishing)
Bronze: What Does The Sign Say? by Dr. Ricardo Lewitus (Self-Published/Palotec Products)

Alphabet/Counting Book
Gold: Dogabet, written and illustrated by Dianna Bonder (Walrus Books)
Silver: My Favorite Sounds, by Peggy Snow; illustrated by Brian Barber (Maren Green Publishing)
Bronze: Virginia: An Alphabetical Journey Through History, by Betty Bruce Shepard, Peter W. Barnes, and Cheryl Shaw Barnes; illustrated by Marsha Lederman (VSP Books)

Picture Book - Preschool
Gold: Sunny Bunnies, by Margie Blumberg; illustrated by June Goulding (MB Publishing)
Silver: Swing!, by Pamela Klein; illustrated by Joel Tanis (DuPage Press)
Bronze (3): Buddy’s Bedtime, by Pauleen O’Shea; illustrated by Jason Dohanish (Idlehour Press); The Sock Fairy, by Bobbie Hinman; illustrated by Kristi Bridgeman (Best Fairy Books); Over on the Island, by Yuko Green and Sarah Tupou (Island Heritage Publishing)

Picture Book - 4-8 Year Old
Gold (2): Priscilla McDoodleNut DoodleMcMae Asks, “Why?”, by Janet Marie Sinke; illustrated by Craig Pennington (My Grandma and Me Publishers), and My Name is Not Isabella, by Jennifer Fosberry; illustrated by Mike Litwin (Monkey Barrel Press)
Silver (2): Monkey with a Tool Belt, written and illustrated by Chris Monroe (Carolrhoda/Lerner) and Pete & Pillar: The Big Rain, written and illustrated by Jeffery Stoddard (Warner Press Kids)
Bronze (3): Whistling Wings, by Laura Goering; illustrated by Laura Jacques (Sylvan Dell Publishing); Paco and the Giant Chile Plant (Paco y la planta de chile gigante), by Keith Polette; illustrated by Elizabeth O. Dulemba; translated by Eida de la Vega (Raven Tree Press); The Feather Club, written and illustrated by Beth Erlund (Erlund Johnson Studios)

Picture Book - All Ages
Gold (2): Singing to the Sun: A Fairy Tale, by Vivian French; illustrated by Jackie Morris (Kane/Miller) and Arthur of Albion, by John Matthews; illustrated by Pavel Tatarnikov (Barefoot Books)
Silver (2): First Snow in the Woods, by Carl R. Sams II & Jean Stoick (Carl R. Sams Photography) and Stefania’s Dancing Slippers, by Jennifer Beck; illustrated by Lindy Fisher (Scholastic New Zealand)
Bronze (3): Until We Meet Again, by Susan Jones; illustrated by Shirley Antak (50/50 Publishing); God’s Promise, by Maureen Moss; illustrated by Gerald Purnell (Illumination Arts); Keep Your Ear on the Ball, by Genevieve Petrillo; illustrated by Lea Lyon (Tilbury House Publishers)

Book with Merchandise (plush toy, etc.)
Gold: You and Me Make Three (with B.B. the Bear), by Wendy Lokken, Gwendy Mangiamele & Edna Cucksey Stephens; illustrated by Heather Drescher (EDCO Publishing)
Silver: The Lonely Little Monster (with Monster), written and illustrated by Andi Green (Monsters in My Head)
Bronze: Nana Star and the Moonman (with Moonman), by Elizabeth Sills and Elena Patrice; illustrated by Linda Saker (ee publishing & productions)

Environmental Issues
Gold: A Child’s Introduction to The Environment, by Michael Driscoll & Prof. Dennis Driscoll; illustrated by Meredith Hamilton (Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers)
Silver (2): In My Backyard, by Margriet Ruurs; paper sculpture by Ron Broda (Tundra Books) and The Forever Forest: Kids Save a Tropical Treasure, by Kristen Joy Pratt-Serafini with Rachel Crandell; illustrated by Kristin Joy Pratt-Serafini (Dawn Publications)
Bronze (2): Adventures of Riley: Tigers in Terai, by Amanda Lumry & Laura Hurwitz; illustrated by Sarah McIntyre (Eaglemont Press) and Planet Earth: 25 Environmental Projects You Can Build Yourself, by Kathleen M. Reilly (Nomad Press)

Mind-Body-Spirit
Gold: The Sad Mad Glad Book: The Anatomy of Your Attitude, by Chuck Stump & Jim Strawn (Four Dolphins Press)
Silver (2): Beauty’s Secret, by Debra Gano; illustrated by Dawn Pitre (Heartlight Girls) and The Land of Smaerd, by Andrea von Botefuhr; illustrated by Bryn Barnard (Know Wonder Publishing)
Bronze (2): Choose Your Life: A Travel Guide for Living, by Karen Gedig Burnett; illustrated by Sabrina Melo da Silva (GR Publishing) and We Are Girls Who Love To Run/Somos Chicas y Nosotras Nos Encanta Correr, by Brianna K. Grant; illustrated by Nicholas A. Wright (Balanced Steps)

Reading Skills/Literacy
Gold (2): Abadaba Alphabet: Learning Letter Sounds, by Sheila Moore; illustrated by Carol Holsinger (Abadaba Reading) and Sort it Out! by Barbara Mariconda; illustrated by Sherry Rogers (Sylvan Dell Publishing)
Silver: We Both Read: Thumbelina, by Hans Christian Andersen and adapted by Sindy McKay; illustrated by Quentin Gréban (Treasure Bay)
Bronze: Bumpy Books: Feel It, See It, Hear It, Say It, created by Ann Edwards and Karen Goldberg (Bumpy Books)

Congratulations to all the winners ... with special congrats to first-time authors Jennifer Fosberry, Sheila Moore, and Chuck Stump.

Read more!

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.

Read more!

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)

Read more!

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)

Read more!

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)

Read more!

Monday, August 27, 2007

School is in the Bag

Odds are your kids are already back to school ... but some school districts don't resume until after Labor Day, so hopefully this note is perfectly timed!

I have culled through the Book Bag on the Reading Tub® Web site to find some books that can help ease the butterflies of those heading to school for the first time, those who still get nervous even though this is "old hat," some titles that you may find useful for reinforcing basic skills, and (unfortunately) some books to help with bullying.

The list is grouped into early workbooks, picture books, early reader books and Middle School books (for kids transitioning from elementary school). If you have a favorite that worked in your house, please add a comment.

WORKBOOKS

The American Schoolhouse Reader (3-book set) by Beverly Allie, editor
Bully Brigade by Betty Jo Shuler
Help Your Kids Get it Done Right at Home and School by Donna Genett, Ph.D.
Let's Get Ready for First Grade by Linda Desimowich and Stacey Kannenberg
Let's Get Ready for Kindergarten by Linda Desimowich and Stacey Kannenberg
30 Minutes a Day Learning System (Preschool) by Brighter Minds
30 Minutes a Day Learning System (Kindergarten) by Brighter Minds
30 Minutes a Day Learning System (Grade 1) by Brighter Minds

PICTURE BOOKS
Boomer to the Rescue by Peter Parente
D.W.'s Guide to Preschool by Marc Brown
Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London
I'll Do the Right Thing by Jean Alicia Elster
Maddie and the Magic Penny by Celeste Scheinberg
Maggie and Kate: A Friendship Begins by Peggy A. Schmuldt
Molly McSholly Conquers Kindergarten by Tracy Uttley
Mouse's First Day of School by Lauren Thompson
My School / mi escuela by Ginger Fogelsong Guy
Songs for School with the Bandimals (Vol 1, series 2) by Herb Bridgman
Thank You, Esther by Charlotte Lundy
Tomorrow is the First Day of School by Maureen MacDowell

EARLY READER BOOKS
Marvin Monster's Teacher Jitters by Tabatha D'Agata
Morris Goes to School (I Can Read Level 1) by Bernard Wiseman
What a Day it Was at School by Jack Prelutsky

MIDDLE SCHOOL
A Bully's Doom: The Whisperer's Tale by Robert Hansen
Click Here to See How I Survived Seventh Grade by Denise Vega
The Computer's Nerd by W. Royce Adams
Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta

Read more!

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)

Read more!

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.

Read more!

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)