Twas Nochebuena

September 15, 2014
Latin American holiday traditions and a host of Spanish words spark this zippy recast of Clement C. Moore’s Christmas poem. A girl invites readers into her family’s preparations for a boisterous Christmas Eve, a feast with all the favorite trimmings, and religious observations, too: “We clink our glass marbles and play lotería,/ while singing and laughing—qué maravilla!/ When out in the jardín I hear such a clatter,/ I spring from my silla to shout, ‘What’s the matter!’ ” Descriptions of the montones of tamales, turkey with mole sauce, and freshly fried “buñuelos with
cinnamon sugar” have a mouth-watering effect, and Palacios’s mixed-media paintings of cheerful children, adults, and pets hum with an exuberance and anticipation that many readers will find familiar. A glossary is included. Ages 3–5. Author’s agent: Natalie Lakosil, Bradford Literary Agency. Illustrator’s agent: Kendra Marcus, BookStop Literary Agency.

September 1, 2014
A Latina child celebrates the Christmas season with her extended family in this warm, cheery story that incorporates Spanish vocabulary into the text. Using the familiar structure of "The Night Before Christmas," the unnamed little girl describes the preparations her family undertakes each December. The girl lives in a comfortable home with her parents, grandmother and three younger siblings, with extended family nearby. Some of the activities are common to Christmas celebrations across cultures, such as hanging decorations and putting up a tree. Others are Latino traditions, such as Las Posadas, in which celebrants parade from house to house, and breaking a pinata made from a jar. On Christmas Eve, the family enjoys games, special foods and a trip to midnight Mass, along with a fireworks display and a late dinner. Opening presents is the concluding event. Spanish words or phrases are included in each sentence and are generally clear from context. A complete glossary of Spanish words is appended, though there is no pronunciation guide. Vibrant illustrations create a cozy atmosphere with a palette of warm shades and a retro, 1960s vibe established through clothing styles and fabric patterns. This pleasant family story conveys strong family bonds and traditions while offering non-Spanish speakers a way to learn some basic vocabulary. (Picture book. 4-8)

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October 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 2-To the rhythm of "The Night Before Christmas," a laughing Latino family prepares for the Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) celebration, from making tamales to hanging colorful adornos (decorations) on the walls. "When our guests all arrive, we stroll down to the park, /and join the posadas that start when it's dark./With homemade faroles that glow in the night/we'll sing canciones by soft candlelight." Palacios brings the warmth and happiness of the family alive in vibrant spreads. This lively picture book offers a wonderful way to celebrate and learn about Latino Christmas traditions.-Diane Olivo-Posner, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2014
Grades K-3 In Latin America, nochebuena, or Christmas Eve, marks the high point of the holiday celebrations. In this warm ode, every member of a young girl's family, including the cat and the dog, are involved in traditional preparations: making tamales, hanging up adornos, walking through town to midnight mass, and feasting on turkey and mole before opening presentsand falling asleep exhausted. This lively and colorful version of 'Twas the Night before Christmas is a linguistic and visual treat. The lyrical blend of English and Spanish and vibrant action-packed illustrations make this ideal for read-alouds and choral readings in classrooms. Palacios' mixed-media illustrations are crisp and modern with culturally specific details that wonderfully anchor the story in Latino traditions.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)