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32 pp.
| Atheneum
| April, 2004
|
TradeISBN 0-689-83088-2$$15.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Jon J Muth.
Using language too sophisticated for a seven-year-old, Iris describes the day when she and her Bronx-based family, neighbors, and dog nearly didn't get to enjoy a day at the lake because of a no-dogs sign. The plot is a red herring: the book's main pleasure is its depiction of a joyful Puerto Rican community. Muth's busy watercolors somehow keep up with the frantic cast.
213 pp.
| Holiday
| April, 2004
|
TradeISBN 0-8234-1817-0$$16.95
(3)
4-6
After a difficult move from Chicago to Puerto Rico, thirteen-year-old Luz finds strength and comfort in time spent with her aging grandfather. Though the story is not new (father leaves, mother remarries, one sibling courts self-destruction), Luz relates these events in a fresh, clear voice that involves the reader and offers hope.
(3)
1-3
Get Ready for GabÃ! series.
Illustrated by
Joe Cepeda
&
Joe Cepeda.
Gabà makes a friend when she and a new neighbor, Lizzie, discover that they both love to play superheroes. In the lively text, Puerto Rican Gabà moves comfortably between English and Spanish. Generously illustrated, this second book about Gabà is a welcome addition to the school series genre.
117 pp.
| Scholastic
| April, 2003
|
TradeISBN 0-439-51710-9$$12.95
|
PaperISBN 0-439-47519-8$$3.99
(3)
1-3
Get Ready for GabÃ! series.
Illustrated by
Joe Cepeda.
The first book in a proposed series about a Puerto Rican girl living in California is approachable and familiar. GabÃ, like many immigrant children, mixes up her Spanish and English words, using the wrong words at home and at school and finding herself in trouble at both places. This standard school story, illustrated with breezy drawings, will fill a need in many collections.
(3)
K-3
Dorling Kindersley Readers series.
This biography for newly independent readers focuses on the first Hispanic baseball player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The readable Spanish text, accompanied by black-and-white and color photos, tells of Clemente's childhood in Puerto Rico, his leap to the Major Leagues, his fight against prejudice, and his humanitarian efforts to help the poor. Glos., ind.
64 pp.
| Chelsea
| March, 2001
|
LibraryISBN 0-7910-6110-8$$17.95
(4)
4-6
Latinos in the Limelight series.
These formulaic biographies profile well-known Latinos in business, the arts, and sports. After a chapter about the subject's childhood and early years, the books provide basic background information about his or her career. The adulatory texts are accompanied by average-quality photos. A chronology and, where appropriate, lists of accomplishments and awards are appended. Bib., ind.
32 pp.
| Walker
| May, 2001
|
TradeISBN 0-8027-8760-6$$16.95
|
LibraryISBN 0-8027-8761-4$$17.85
(4)
K-3
Velasquez tells the story of summers spent listening to recordings of Latin music with his grandmother in El Barrio. The story touches on issues of immigration, but the focus is on young Eric and his grandmother's shared love of music. Figures in the realistic oil paintings are sometimes stiff, but text and art tell a personal story of a special relationship.
64 pp.
| Chelsea
| March, 2001
|
LibraryISBN 0-7910-6100-0$$17.95
(4)
4-6
Latinos in the Limelight series.
These formulaic biographies profile well-known Latinos in business, the arts, and sports. After a chapter about the subject's childhood and early years, the books provide basic background information about his or her career. The adulatory texts are accompanied by average-quality photos. A chronology and, where appropriate, lists of accomplishments and awards are appended. Bib., ind.
64 pp.
| Mitchell
| February, 2000
|
LibraryISBN 1-58415-006-8$$18.95
(4)
4-6
Latinos in Baseball series.
These serviceable profiles mix baseball achievements with biographical detail and discuss each player's ties to Latino culture. Among the subjects covered are adapting to life in the United States, learning English, and getting along with fans. The series' design, which includes stock black-and-white photos of uneven quality, is rather dull, but fans probably won't mind. Each book contains a list of stats and a chronology. Ind.
72 pp.
| Mitchell
| February, 2000
|
LibraryISBN 1-58415-011-4$$18.95
(4)
4-6
Latinos in Baseball series.
These serviceable profiles mix baseball achievements with biographical detail and discuss each player's ties to Latino culture. Among the subjects covered are adapting to life in the United States, learning English, and getting along with fans. The series' design, which includes stock black-and-white photos of uneven quality, is rather dull, but fans probably won't mind. Each book contains a list of stats and a chronology. Ind.
(2)
K-3
Juanito, who speaks only Spanish, has just arrived in New York from Puerto Rico--and he's lost his dog. Searching through the city, he meets children from Chinatown, Little Italy, Park Avenue, and Harlem and manages to make his problem clear to all of them in spite of language difficulties. Lively pictures in brilliant red and black illustrate this entertaining reissue.
64 pp.
| Mitchell
| March, 1999
|
LibraryISBN 1-883845-84-X$$18.95
(3)
4-6
Latinos in Baseball series.
Illustrated with black-and-white photos, each book in this well-written series describes play action that highlights the player's baseball career, then discusses his childhood and development as a professional player. The mistakes each star has made are confronted directly (such as Alomar's infamous spitting at an umpire), and the resulting portraits of the players provide informative, balanced looks at each. Ind.
104 pp.
| Enslow
| January, 1999
|
LibraryISBN 0-7660-1079-1$$19.95
(4)
4-6
Sports Reports series.
Athletes from football, basketball, hockey, and baseball are profiled in books that emphasize professional achievements but reveal limited information about each sportsman's personality. The accessible format, which includes a large typeface, wide margins, and fact boxes, will lure reluctant readers; the accompanying black-and-white photos all look the same and are frequently dark. A list of stats is included in each volume. Ind.
101 pp.
| Piñata
| May, 1998
|
TradeISBN 1-55885-224-7$$16.95
(3)
YA
Published spring 1998. Composed of stories, poems, and reminiscences, this eloquent volume chiefly focuses on Puerto Rican girls growing up in a New Jersey barrio. As the teenagers become immersed in the counterculture movement of the 1960s, their traditional parents struggle to understand the changes of the modern world. The writing style is excellent, although its adult tone, sometimes tinged with nostalgia, limits the book's audience.
(3)
4-6
Sports Stars series.
Bright color photographs, large type, and easy-to-read narratives create a reader-friendly introduction to five contemporary sport stars. The biographies are brief, and the fast-paced texts, filled with impressive athletic accomplishments, should entice young fans. Chronologies are included.