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SPANISH IS THE LANGUAGE OF MY FAMILY

Name: SPANISH IS THE LANGUAGE OF MY FAMILY
Author: Michael Genhart
ISBN: 9780823450046

by Michael Genhart ; illustrated by John Parra ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 11, 2023

Tenderly tremendous.

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To prepare for the school Spelling Bee en Español, a young Latine boy gets a much-needed boost from his cherished Abuela.

Manolo seems prepared for the bee, as there are many words he can already spell: “F-a-m-i-l-i-a.” “J-u-n-t-o-s.” “C-o-r-a-z-ó-n.” Still, the lista de palabras includes words that Manolo doesn’t know how to spell, so Abuela helps him. During their lessons together, she shares stories from her childhood, when the “rule at school was ‘English only.’ ” Speaking Spanish—even in secret on the playground—resulted in punishments for the students, including being sent home, paddled, or having their mouth washed out with soap. Spurred by Abuela’s stories of the recent hurtful past, Manolo throws himself into practice even when frustrations set in. “Tengo fuerza.” On the day of the spelling bee, Manolo stands tall on stage thanks to Abuela’s strength. A measured reckoning with an oft-overlooked period in U.S. history, Genhart and Parra’s poignant collaboration explores the echoes of generational trauma and the power of societal change and hope. An author’s note explains that Genhart drew from the 1930s through the 1960s, including his mother’s experiences in Southern California. The closeness between Manolo and Abuela adds a layer of warmth to this poignant tale, making this spelling bee journey an eventual resonant triumph. The splendid, textured acrylic-based artwork is rich and vibrant; an especially inspired spread sees a determined Manolo scaling the word practico. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Tenderly tremendous. (references, Spanish alphabet) (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: July 11, 2023

ISBN: 9780823450046

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Neal Porter/Holiday House

Review Posted Online: April 24, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY

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THEY'RE SO FLAMBOYANT
by Michael Genhart ; illustrated by Tony Neal

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MAY YOUR LIFE BE DELICIOSA
by Michael Genhart ; illustrated by Loris Lora

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ACCORDIONLY
by Michael Genhart ; illustrated by Priscilla Burris

- PROFILES
Reclaiming Dignidad With Author Michael Genhart

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ON THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN

by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Laura Hughes ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 21, 2016

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of...

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Rabe follows a young girl through her first 12 days of kindergarten in this book based on the familiar Christmas carol.

The typical firsts of school are here: riding the bus, making friends, sliding on the playground slide, counting, sorting shapes, laughing at lunch, painting, singing, reading, running, jumping rope, and going on a field trip. While the days are given ordinal numbers, the song skips the cardinal numbers in the verses, and the rhythm is sometimes off: “On the second day of kindergarten / I thought it was so cool / making lots of friends / and riding the bus to my school!” The narrator is a white brunette who wears either a tunic or a dress each day, making her pretty easy to differentiate from her classmates, a nice mix in terms of race; two students even sport glasses. The children in the ink, paint, and collage digital spreads show a variety of emotions, but most are happy to be at school, and the surroundings will be familiar to those who have made an orientation visit to their own schools.

While this is a fairly bland treatment compared to Deborah Lee Rose and Carey Armstrong-Ellis’ The Twelve Days of Kindergarten (2003), it basically gets the job done. (Picture book. 4-7)

Pub Date: June 21, 2016

ISBN: 978-0-06-234834-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2016

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

- BOOK REVIEW
ON THE FIRST DAY OF FIRST GRADE
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Sarah Jennings

- BOOK REVIEW
FIVE LITTLE BUNNIES
by Tish Rabe ; illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

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IT'S NOT EASY BEING A GHOST

From the It's Not Easy Being series

by Marilyn Sadler ; illustrated by Stephanie Laberis ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 13, 2024

Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.

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A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.

Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.

Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)