Abuela (English Edition with Spanish Phrases) [Hardcover]

Arthur Dorros (Author), Elisa Kleven (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 12, 1991 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Flying around Manhattan Island, somersaulting in midair, resting in the sky on a chair-shaped cloud . . . Rosalba and her grandmother, her abuela, are having an extraordinary adventure. How do they manage this exhilirating travel that started in the park? On Rosalba's marvelous imagination. Full-color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this tasty trip, Rosalba is "always going places" with her grandmother--abuela . During one of their bird-feeding outings to the park, Rosalba wonders aloud, "What if I could fly?" Thus begins an excursion through the girl's imagination as she soars high above the tall buildings and buses of Manhattan, over the docks and around the Statue of Liberty with Abuela in tow. Each stop of the glorious journey evokes a vivid memory for Rosalba's grandmother and reveals a new glimpse of the woman's colorful ethnic origins. Dorros's text seamlessly weaves Spanish words and phrases into the English narrative, retaining a dramatic quality rarely found in bilingual picture books. Rosalba's language is simple and melodic, suggesting the graceful images of flight found on each page. Kleven's ( Ernst ) mixed-media collages are vibrantly hued and intricately detailed, the various blended textures reminiscent of folk art forms. Those searching for solid multicultural material would be well advised to embark: Vamos ! Ages 3-7.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-- An innovative fantasy narrated by a Hispanic-American child who imagines she's rising into the air over the park and flying away with her loving, rosy-cheeked abuela (grandmother). From the air, they see Manhattan streets, docks, an airport, tourist attractions, and Rosalba's father's office. The simple text could be enjoyed as a read-aloud or as a read-alone for newly independent readers. What makes the book so interesting is Dorros's integration of Spanish words and phrases via Abuela's dialogue within the English text. While some phrases are translated by the child, others will be understood in context. As insurance, a glossary, which provides definitions and pronunciations, is appended. The illustrations sing out a celebration of the love and joy that underlies the brief, straightforward narrative. Combining vibrant watercolor and pastel images with interesting snippets of collage in an exuberant folk-art style, Kleven depicts the adventurous, warm-hearted Abuela and the jazzy, colorful topography of an energetic, multiethnic city. Thoughtful design extends to the endpapers featuring cloud formations that cleverly echo many images from the story. While not bilingual in the strictest sense, this book is a less self-conscious, more artfully natural approach to multicultural material. It should prove useful not only for collections in which there is need for ethnic diversity, but also as enrichment for intellectually curious children who are intrigued by the exploration of another language. --Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Greenwich, CT
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1St Edition edition (September 12, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525447504
• ISBN-13: 978-0525447504
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,270 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Arthur Dorros is a real-life papa. He learned Spanish while living in Latin America and helped teach his son, Alex, the language. One of Alex's first words was "agua," and Arthur called him "Agua Man."
Arthur Dorros is the author of many books for children, including JULIO'S Magic, a CLASP Amaricas Award Commended Title, and the popular Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science book Ant Cities. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I want to fly like an eagle, to the sea, October 31, 2004

By 

E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Abuela (English Edition with Spanish Phrases) (Picture Puffins) (Mass Market Paperback)

It's hard to resist the charms of a picture book filled to brimming with tiny fabulous details in a vast cityscape. It's probably one of the reasons I love books like, "Who Needs Donuts?" by Mark Stamaty or James Warhola's, "Uncle Andy's" so much. Usually books of this nature are very precise. They hide delicate little intricacies on each and every page, just waiting for the viewer to find them. Yet I've never read a picture book that contains such remarkably colorful embellishments as I have in Arthur Dorros' 1991 treasure, "Abuela". Taking a standard fantasy of wishing to fly, author Dorros and illustrator Elisa Kleven have given us a remarkable journey above a world too complex to capture in a single book. To read this book is to experience something beautiful.

Rosalba is quite close to her Grandmother or "Abuela" as she is called in Spanish. The two often go on enjoyable trips around and about town, just for the heck of it. On this particular day, the woman and the girl go to the park (Central Park, by the look of it) to feed the birds. It's there that Rosalba begins to speculate a little. What if the birds picked her up and started flying away with her? What if her Abuela simply leapt into the sky and flew too? The birds gone, the two could soar above factories, trains, people, and workers. What follows is a story in which Rosalba describes the path the two could take while skimming across the sky. They wave to the people and visit the Statue of Liberty. They race the sailboats, hitch a ride with an airplane, and hug on a cloud. In the end, the two are back in the park and they decide to go on another adventure in a boat. "Vamos" Abuela says, and she takes her granddaughter's hand.

There are quite a few remarkable Spanish/English picture books out there in the world today. One of the best, without question, is L.M. Gonzalez's, "The Bossy Gallito". But "Abuela" is just as good in many ways. There's a helpful dictionary of Spanish to English terms for those words and phrases in the text that kids (or adults) didn't quite understand. The story itself is well told, though its definitely left unclear whether or not the fantastic events that take place in this book are true or false. Aside from that, it's a great text, remenicient of Faith Ringgold's other kids-flying-above-New-York picture book, "Tar Beach". A pairing of the two during a storytime would not be out of place.

When I write reviews of picture books, this paragraph tends to be the space where I say something along the lines of "Of course the book itself would be nothing without the pictures". "Abuela" is no different and though it may seem a little repetitive, I say it again. The illustrations in this book are remarkable. What caught me off guard was the level of detail and the multitude of colors and fabrics lining the corners and seams of every page. This is perhaps the most subtle picture book I have ever seen in terms of how it uses mixed media. While some books throw fabrics and other elements into their pictures in a distinctly slap-dash fashion, "Abuela" subtley works them into the context of the illustrations without distracting you or drawing your eye away from the action. Whether it's Abuela's purple dotted purse or the fabric crested tops of buildings, the mixed-media here is perfectly melded to the story. Then there are the thousands of details lining each and every page. Plus the fact that everything is bright, colorful, and lively without ever straying into gaudy territory. Finally, illustrator Elisa Kleven has imbued her main character with a great deal of liveliness. Rosalba and her Abuela dip and dive and swoop with perfect grace and poise. If humans could fly, this is the best possible way they could look in sky.

It is not possible to be disappointed with "Abuela". The book is a fun fancy-free encapsulation of the ultimate flight of fancy. Kids that read this tale will be envious of Rosalba and her beloved grandmother. Adults will coo at the pretty pictures and helpful text. A beautiful story unencumbered by weight or gravity. Lovely.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My 3-year old son loves this book, June 12, 2002

By 

Jeremy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Abuela (English Edition with Spanish Phrases) (Hardcover)

I think it's the flying. It took us by surprise when, after checking it out from the library, it was suddenly his new favorite book. He was into the typical boy stuff: trucks, trains, front-loaders, rocket ships. Then all of a sudden, all he wants us to read is Abuela. It's a nice blending of fantasy and reality, with strong family relationships, and lots of fun, colorful pictures. He's moved on to other favorite stories now, but he always seems to enjoy this one. The sequel (Isla) is also good. A nice way to learn a few new Spanish words. There's even a glossary in the back with a guide to correct pronunciation. Just make sure you get the English with Spanish phrases, if that's what you're looking for. There is also a version that is completely in Spanish.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great way to introduce the Hispanic culture to any child., November 9, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Abuela (English Edition with Spanish Phrases) (Hardcover)

This book provides a wonderful introduction to a Hispanic-American child's way of life. Rosalba portrays the typical immigrant child without stereotyping. The author uses the Spanish language to lend authenticity to his story, and really gives the readers a chance to experience the fantasies of a child living in New York City.