How Do You Say? / ¿Cómo Se Dice?

October 24, 2016
Two look-alike giraffes mirror each other’s behavior and exchange simple words in Spanish and English in this upbeat tribute to language. “Food!” declares the English-speaking giraffe. “¡Comida!” says the other. Both dip their long necks to drink water, and after declaring that they are friends, they don party hats amid a shower of balloons and confetti (“Party! ¡Fiesta!”), then fall asleep in heap. Dominguez’s bold, playful pictures keep the focus squarely on the giraffes’ one-on-one interactions as she demonstrates something that many children know intuitively: speaking different languages is a minor detail when it comes to making new friends. Ages 2–4. Agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt.

As a Spanish-speaking giraffe and an English-speaking giraffe meet, they discover friendship has no language barriers.Two giraffes meet--"Oooh / Aaah"--and find they have much in common. They agree the acacia they nibble on is delicious and that they can share water from the same pond. And as they eat and drink, they get to greet. "Hello? / Hola?" and "Good day! / Buenos dias!" lead to "Happy / Feliz" and "Friends? / Amigos?" and a shared, enthusiastic "OK." Time now to celebrate: "Party! / Fiesta!" And after that? "Nap? / Siesta?" of course! The final two-page spread shows a tangle of balloons and giraffes sharing Zzzzs. Some things indeed are universal. The illustrations by Pura Belpre honoree Dominguez, created with pencil and tissue paper, then digitally colorized, feature the two giraffes in bold outlines and a limited palette of earth tones. Each two-page spread positions the English-speaking giraffe on the left and the Spanish-speaking one on the right, with only one word per page. Standing out against a white background, the giraffes, or parts of the giraffes, are depicted from different perspectives that add movement and nuance to the story. With only 20 words (fewer, really, since most words are just the equivalent word in the opposite language), so much can be said. Astute adult readers could turn it into a language lesson or a conversation on friendship. This charming story is as light as air yet carries heft. (Picture book. 2-4) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-Young children will delight in the antics of two endearing giraffes in this bilingual picture book. This work makes ample use of white space to help readers focus on the plot, and each page presents just one word or short phrase, first in English and then in Spanish, with a word shared by both on one spread. Initially, an English- and a Spanish-speaking giraffe meander unknowingly toward each other as they eat. "Oooh," says one. "Aaah," declares the other. "Food!" exclaims one, and "Comida!" shouts the other. However, neither giraffe notices the other until they are eating from the very same tree. Although they speak different languages, the pair find ways to communicate and common interests that make for a joyful day. Considering the limited number of words in the book, readers must pay close attention to its visual clues. Yet its endearing illustrations provide just enough foreshadowing so that very young children, with adult scaffolding, can make predictions about the story. VERDICT When combined with adult guidance, this small book will be a favorite for repeated, interactive read-alouds given its child-friendly visual appeal and theme of friendship across languages.-Ruth Quiroa, National Louis University, IL

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2016
Preschool-K Sweet pencil illustrations on mostly white backgrounds follow two giraffes, one who speaks English and another who speaks Spanish, as they enjoy delicious tree leaves and refreshing water. Although the giraffes speak different languages, they are delighted to realize they find happiness in the same things. Large, clear, and colorful text will make words easy to find and read. Each English word shares a spread with its corresponding Spanish word, which makes this picture book ideal for young and beginning readers who speak either or both languages. Children will find that, although people may speak different languages or have other differences, they will often have many other things in common, and, like the young giraffes, they can certainly become friends despite differences. The story closes with a fun celebration in honor of finding friendship. Small children will see themselves in these baby giraffes, from experiencing the nervousness of new friendship to enjoying playtime with others and finally while resting during a well-earned nap. Highly recommended for picture-book collections, especially where bilingual books are popular.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)