Say Hello!

March 15, 2010
Carmelita, a girl in pigtails with a butterscotch complexion, walks with her mother and her dog through a multicultural neighborhood en route to meet her Abuela Rosa. Each individual they encounter says hello in his or her respective language, and Carmelita echoes back each greeting. “Shalom!' says Mrs. Rosen and her children,” while a man flipping pizzas at an Italian restaurant calls “Ciao!” Even less formal greetings gets their due as Carmelita's friends shout “Hey!” and “Wuzzup?” Isadora's trademark textural collages, using oil paint and printed papers that recall batik, vividly convey the joys of diversity. Ages 3–5.

March 1, 2010
PreS-Gr 1-Carmelita and her mother set out to visit Abuela Rosa. As they pass each family or store, they call out the appropriate greeting. Whether it be friends just returning from Africa (""Jambo"!") or the woman in the bakery (""Bonjour"!"), Carmelita's dog is ready with a friendly "Woof!" When Carmelita reaches her grandmother (""Hola"!"), the two share a smile as the pup seems to understand yet another greeting. Carmelita's busy, diverse neighborhood is a place that children will enjoy, and Isadora's oil-and-collage illustrations are richly detailed. From Carmelita's "huevos con tocino" (eggs and bacon) to the Japanese restaurant's lanterns, textured paint and printed patterns invite readers to linger on each page. Text and illustrations work together to provide clues for readers who may be learning these greetings for the first time. Pronunciation is not included, so adults will want to prepare before reading the book aloud. This accessible story could be used to discuss not only languages, but clothing and manners as well."Lisa Glasscock, Columbine Public Library, Littleton, CO"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2010
Preschool-G One morning Carmelita, her mother, and their dog Manny go to visit Abuela Rose. Walking through their neighborhood, they run into friends and shopkeepers and stop to greet them in different languages: Buenos d-as to Seor Enrico at the bodega, Shalom to Mrs. Rosen and her children, Konichiwa to the Japanese restaurant staff, Jambo, to Joseph and his parents, Al salaam aalaykum to the butcher and his family, and so on. In contrast, Manny greets everyone with woof. Theres no real drama; the text is pared down to essentials and the striking collage-style illustrations are colorful and dynamic. Richly patterned with oil paints as well as printed patterns, the cut-paper shapes show up vividly against the white backgrounds. Pair this upbeat book with Manya Stojics Hello World! (2002) and Lilas Praps Animals Speak (2006) for opening discussions of different languages and cultures.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)