Dickmann, Nancy La Vida de la Abeja

Dickmann, Nancy      La Vida de la Abeja  

Heinemann (Capstone)        2011   24p     21.50     978-1-4329-5270-9        

elem                Watch it grow(Capstone)     VG-BNes

            Spanish language translation of The Life of a Bee.  The volume provides a

visual and factual account of the life cycle of bees for younger readers.

            Outstanding color photos and simple to understand text provide an

excellent overview of the life cycle of bees for younger readers.  This volume

is the Spanish translation of The Life of a Bee, and is also available in a dual

language version.  Each stage of a bee’s life is presented both visually and

factually, with large photos at the top of each page, and the factual text

beneath.  Word ╥balloons╙ are used to point out specific elements of the photos

for increased detail.  A picture glossary at the end is beneficial for both

emerging readers and students learning the Spanish language.  A life cycle chart

at the end summarizes the information presented and makes the cycle more

understandable.  The only flaw in this otherwise excellent volume is the

omission of the term zangano in the picture glossary.  The inclusion of that

definition would do much to enhance the student understanding of the three types

of bees.  In addition, the term is also a slang term with several negative

translations, and, if known by younger readers, would only serve to confuse them. 

An index is also included.     This book is part of the Mira Como Crece (Watch it

Grow) series in Spanish.  The series consists of 11 books at this time.  The

focus of the series is an introduction to plant and animal life cycles.

            Naismith, Pat

Lee, Sally Eleanor Roosevelt (bilingual)

Lee, Sally        Eleanor Roosevelt (bilingual)         

Capstone Publishers 2011   24p  23.99     978-1-4296-6112-6           

elem    Pebble Plus (Capstone)       VG       A biography

of Eleanor Roosevelt with full page photos of her and her family.  The

highlights of her life are presented in English/Spanish for grades 3-5.            This

easy to read biography of Eleanor Roosevelt is part of a series called First

Ladies. The focus is on Roosevelt╒s childhood, her interest in helping the poor

and working class citizens as well as her humanitarian work. A timeline at the

bottom of the page allows students to trace important events in her life. The

bilingual text with English at the top of the page and Spanish at the bottom

make the text accessible to native Spanish speakers as well as provides students

learning Spanish with a quick translation for verification of their Spanish

skills. Even the photos and timeline use the bilingual approach. A glossary,

index and access to the publisher╒s internet site, Facthound, complete the book.

            This bilingual Pebble Plus series focuses on President╒s wives in a series

called First Ladies/Primeras Damas. A timeline at the bottom of the pages,

numerous photos as well as bilingual text provide an overview of the

accomplishments of First Ladies.     McNicol,Lois

van Tol, Alex A Punta de Cuchillo (Knifepoint)

van Tol, Alex  A Punta de Cuchillo (Knifepoint)   

Orca    2011   128p   9.95    978-1-55469-863-9           

hs        Realistic Fiction          Orca Soundings         E-BN   Jill is looking

for a way to earn money during the summer. She took a job as a tour guide on

trail rides. At first it sounded like a great job but the truth is it is a job

that pays next to nothing, requires a lot of hard labor taking care of the

horses and feeding them.    When Jill applied for the job she thought it was

going to be an easy job. She thought all she had to do was get there and be the

tour guide on the trail ride.  What she was not told was that she would have

care for the horses, feed them, and basically be on call for the tours. If that

wasn╒t bad enough she had to put up with a boss with an attitude, insufferable

coworkers and terrible pay. 

 It seems like she is the only one working all the time but she feels sorry for

paying customers who are looking forward to the trail rides so she always steps

up to the plate and complies. Then the day comes when she is so angry that she

has it out with her boss and her coworkers are negligent of their duties and she

has not had a bite to eat and she is so tired when one customer come in for a

tour. In her tired state of mind she forgets to ask the stranger for the receipt

and is not bale to leave a message that she is on the road. Then all hell breaks

loose and she finds herself facing a stranger far from the ranch and he has a knife

pointed at her! What transpires next is a run to save herself from this

dangerous killer before he kills her.

  A Spanish language novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the

very end!      Diaz, Magna

Donahue, Jill Lynn. Being Honest (Bilingual).

Donahue, Jill Lynn.      Being Honest (Bilingual).      

Picture Window Books(Capstone)   2011        19.49 978-1-4048-6689-8 

elem              VG-BNes

      Teaching values and morals is the job of the classroom teacher as well as

the parent.  This book teaches children how to be honest by using various case

scenarios and showing how each child resolved the problem by displaying honesty.

      Teaching children to be honest should be a joint undertaking by both

parent and educator, and this book offers both a wonderful opportunity to share

various examples of honesty in well-illustrated format which is creative and

lively!  With its bilingual format of English at the top and Spanish below, each

double-page spread provides an example of something that a child did wrong

followed by his or her confession to whomever was hurt by the accident or

incident.  The colors that the illustrator chose are bold and eye-catching. 

Examples of different case scenarios include the breaking of a vase, an

overpayment for feeding a cat, a purse found on the way to school and a

forgotten baseball bat, to name a few.  After reporting each incident, the

author repeats the child’s name and says that he or she is being honest.  The

repetition is wonderful for early readers, and students will readily relate to

each incident since opportunities to display honesty present themselves often

throughout our day.  The resourceful classroom teacher could use this book to

open a conversation about the value of honesty during morning opening exercises

or during break time.  Another use is to promote writing by having the student

write about a time when he or she was honest.  “Way to Be” includes four

topics:  being caring, trustworthy, honest and tolerant.  

Each book is bilingual English to Spanish, presents simple case scenarios that are resolved by the

author in a positive way and depicts each example using illustrations that are

creative and child-friendly.  Squaresky, Martha

Dickmann, Nancy. La Carne y las proteinas.

Dickmann, Nancy.   La Carne y las proteinas.      

Heinemann (Capstone)    2011  24p 16.77 978-1-4329-5130-6 

elem              VG-BNes     

Children learn which animals and other food products contain proteins, why eating proteins is

important and the negative side of eating too many fatty foods.   The

combination of simple sentences, repetition of key vocabulary words and eye-

catching photographs is perfect for young children to learn about healthy foods

that contain proteins.  Written in Spanish, this handy guide will entertain

children, parents, elementary school teachers and early readers. Its simple

sentences make reading practice easy and fun, and the repetition of certain key

words promotes early reading skill building.  With each turn of a page, a new

sight greets a youngster!  The best is a huge tuna draped across the shoulder of

a young fisherman.  The tuna’s eye looks right at the readers making this

picture the best in the book!  Finally, the book teaches the basics about

proteins in a clear, well-organized format, making this book a very good

selection for Spanish-speakers.  The diversity is contemporary, the colors and

food arrangements are eye-catching and the glossary is clear and illustrated! 

Spanish speakers who have first learned to read and write in their own language

find learning to read English to be much easier.  With books such as this one,

students can practice reading at the same time learning how to make healthy

choices.    “Comer sano” includes books about milk & cheese, fruits, greens,

grains and the food pyramid.  

Written in Spanish, this set is wonderful to introduce healthy eating to young readers.  

It describes the food groups, their origins and their benefit to the body.    Squaresky, Martha

 

Frank, Ana. Diary of Ann Frank (Spanish version)

Frank, Ana Diary of Ann Frank (Spanish version)
Vintage see Random 2010 376p 13.00
978-0-307-47568-8 jr/sr E-BN

The Spanish translation of the classic book Diary of Anna Frank. A very good addition to your Spanish collection. The diary of Ana Frank is a classic that everyone should read and now it is available in Spanish translation for your Spanish collection. The translation is very good and looses non of the candid moments that Ana share with us as her life and that of her family spun out of their control. The translation allows you to feel the fear that was felt even as life continued for all involved in this terrifying time in the history of Germany.
As we follow Ana’s life transformation from a normal home life to one of hidden terror as World War II ravish the world as she knew it, we feel the power of the human spirit struggling for survival even as everyday day may be the last. A wonderful biography now available in Spanish Diaz, Magna

Bradbury, Ray Farenheit 451 ( Spanish language version)

Bradbury, Ray Farenheit 451 ( Spanish language version)
Vintage see Random 1993 175p 13.00
978-0-307-47531-2 jr/sr Science fiction E-BN
This Spanish Language version of Farenheit 451 is excellent and has all the best storytelling of the original. The story is captivating from the start and has a way of pulling you into the threads of the action. This version of Spanish language classic Farenheit 451 is excellent and will entice all readers. It never looses the original flavor, it only adds to the fact that it is a classic. The reader will get a chance to enjoy this version and feel the terror, the pain and the fear of losing books to an ignorant culture that now bans books. Guy Montag slowly awakens to new wonders when he meets the precocious Clarissa who is full of wonder, questions and observation. She loves to observe nature, walk in the rain, look at the stars..... Something Montag has never thought about. Now he finds himself looking at the stars, or looking down at the ground at flowers, smelling the air and wondering thought he should not be thinking.
A captivating story that will keep you reading till the end and will make you think about issues, rights of people that we take for granted. A book for group discussions. A must read in any language. Diaz, Magna
Spanish Language books- Classic Science Fiction - Ray Bradbury