Customer Reviews

Abuela (English Edition with Spanish Phrases) (Picture Puffins)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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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.

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.

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.

Miss Jacobs' second grade class really liked the story Abuela. We loved learning Spanish words throughout the book. We liked the way the illustrator drew the s. We all agree that Rosalba's imagination was running wild. We wish we could take an adventure with her.

Our class of 20 latino students appreciates having books with characters that are like them. We liked to read this story on our own and in groups.

In Abuela, Rosalba and her grandmother, her abuela, fly over New York City. This tender tale is told from Rosalba's point of view in English interspersed with Spanish, as her grandmother speaks mostly in Spanish. Even for those unfamiliar with Spanish, the phrases are easy to decipher from the context in which they appear. The focal point of the story is a young girl's love and respect for her maternal grandmother which is revealed during the course of an adventurous day together.

Rosalba and her grandma go all around the city -- and a multicultural city it is - as is evident from the first page when they board a Brooklyn bus. Seeing a flock of birds at the park provides just enough spark of imagination for Rosalba to imagine herself flying. She invites her grandma to join her in flying above the rooftops of New York City. Illustrator Elisa Kleven's watercolor and pastel illustrations mixed with collage are evocative of folk art and lend a vibrant backdrop to the narrative of unbounded adventure.

Rosalba envisions the memories her grandmother would evoke flying over the port where dockworkers unload boxes of fruit from her homeland or flying over Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, her gateway to the United States. Linking hands, somersaulting in midair and waving to her father outside the window of the building where he works, Rosalba revels in her adventures with her beloved grandmother.

It's hard to read this story and not be struck by the love and reverence this young girl feels for her grandmother. Such sentiments are epitomized by the scene where Rosalba and her grandmother gaze and smile at one another as they fly close to the sea, their billowing skirts echoing the movement of the waves below them. That Rosalba is able to appreciate her grandmother's attempts to navigate between the old world from which she came and her new adopted homeland is a big part of the book's charm.

The story Abuela by Arthur Dorros teaches me to take care of your grandma. Abuela is about a girl who goes with her Grandma on an adventure in the city. They are using their imagination to do things together. Where will their imagination take them in the end?
This reminds me of when I saw my grandma sick in her bed and I felt sad. I ran to the backyard and just like in the story they went to the park. Sitting on the bench and the birds lift Abuela up into the sky.
I liked this story because it reminds me of my grandma and it is fun to be with her. I use my imagination when I am with her and I spend time with my grandma at her house and I give it a 10 out of 10 because she helps her grandma.

I love reading this to my 3-year old daughter. The pictures are so colorful and full of detail.

The language and tone is so fine. The author slips in and out of the two languages, Spanish and English so easily. It is the best way to read a story. It is fantastic for my daughter's imagination. She is flying just like Rosalba, just like we all did when we were young.

We also love her other book "Isla".

This is a wonderful book for kids and adults, alike. It's a very loving and imaginative story paired with breath-taking illustrations. They colors are gorgeous and there are endless tiny details to point out in the pictures.

I recommend this book very highly!

A great book-My wife was born in NYC and speaks spanish so our 6 yr old granddaughter calls her abuela or grandma. It was fun to fly over the city. She enjoyed both books Abuela and Isla-wonderful story and illustrations.