(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Robert Casilla. Sixth grader Blanca, who lives with her immigrant family in the barrio, yearns for a better life. These poems reveal Blanca's hopes, dreams, and frustrations with both humor and poignancy; Medina's free verse lends itself well to treatment in both English and Spanish. The poems are accompanied by realistic black-and-white illustrations. Glos.

Reviewer: Tim Wadham

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Fabricio Vanden Broeck. These truly bilingual poems are packed with poignant, tender moments in the life of a Mexican immigrant child trying to fit in without losing his identity. Jorge tells of his defeats and victories in school, of prejudice and making friends. The black-and-white drawings punctuate the poems in a spare manner that lets the poetry speak for itself. Finally--bilingual poems that aren't overflowing with happy colors and tortilla chips. Glos.

Reviewer: Elena Abos Alvarez-Buiza