One Is a Piñata

February 1, 2019
Readers count up from one piñata to 10 friends at a fiesta. The numbers are introduced, in English, in erratically metered three- or four-line stanzas. "Two are maracas / we shake to the beat. / Two are zapatos / on my feet." The Spanish number names appear only under the indicated numeral--none are included in any of the verses even though there are 10 opportunities to give the Spanish números equal billing alongside their English equivalents, a lapse also seen in Thong's two previous concept books, Round Is a Tortilla (2013) and Green Is a Chile Pepper (2014). It's an odd choice, as Spanish vocabulary building is a principal focus of the series. There are also incidences of cultural dissonance, as in the spread that counts "Six kinds of salsa / to pour on rice"--an extremely irregular way to serve Mexican rice. The glossary omits the Feast of the Three Kings despite a banner that reads "¡Feliz día de Reyes!" In addition, it reinforces the incorrect Anglicized pronunciation of basic words, indicating, for instance, "NOO-bays" instead of "NOO-behs" (nubes--clouds) and "peen-YAH-tah" instead of the correct "pee-NYAH-tah" (piñata). Diphthongs are ignored altogether: The three-syllable "fee-EHST-ah" is used instead of the correct, two-syllable "FYEHS-tah" (fiesta). Parra's simple matte characters introduced in the previous titles in this series provide continuity and familiarity.Despite its flaws, this uneven offering still serves to introduce numbers bilingually. (Picture book. 4-6)

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Starred review from March 1, 2019

PreS-Gr 1-This companion to Green Is a Chile Pepper and Round Is a Tortilla makes learning numbers in English and in Spanish a fun fiesta for young readers. Through rhyming stanzas, children can count from one to 10, using bolillos, burbujas, paraguas, and calaveras along the way. Each number has its own theme, representing a year's worth of seasonal pastimes and festivals. The book is playful and fun to read and offers plenty of opportunities for bilingual vocabulary development, incorporating recognizable symbols of Latinx cultural heritage. Short, catchy text will hold the attention of very young learners and add to the book's buoyant appeal. Brightly colored, animated illustrations blend the imaginative with the realistic and complement the singsong rhythm, with words and pictures evenly placed throughout. Colors are vibrant, with a diversity of skin tones represented. Plenty of space around the text will facilitate letter recognition and comprehension for beginning readers; Spanish and English words are woven together seamlessly, accurately relating concepts in both languages. VERDICT An obvious choice for any picture book collection, this book teaches counting skills and new words while celebrating Hispanic and Latinx culture.-Natalie Romano, Denver Public Library

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2019
Preschool-G The team behind the Pura Belpr� Honor Book, Green Is a Chile Pepper (2014), returns with another bilingual concept book about counting. Thong's poem introduces counting words in English and Spanish, while Parra's bold, warmly painted illustrations vividly capture the culture and customs, from maracas to calaveras, pi�atas to velas. Each rhyming verse presents a number, with terms in Spanish highlighted in bold font. The spreads include illustrations that match the number in each rhyme, inviting readers to explore and count the images throughout each page. Readers will also find other elements of Latinx culture, enabling them to learn beyond numbers. Parra's paintings are full of life, matching the text and enhancing the narrative. There is a counting exercise at the end of the story and a list of translated terms in the glossary, making this an easy language-learning tool. A nice pairing with Virginia Kroll�s Uno, Dos, Tres, Posada! (2006), Patty Rodriguez' Counting with Frida (2014), and Susie Jaramillo's Little Skeletons Countdown to Midnight (2017) and its accompanying app.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)