Fernando's Gift / El Regalo de Fernando [Hardcover]

Douglas Keister (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2004 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

In the rain forest of Costa Rica, a boy named Fernando lives with his family in the tin-roofed house that his father has built. He picks bananas right off the tree outside his door and swims in the river nearby. When Fernando finds his favorite climbing tree cut down, he learns that not everyone has respect for the beautiful forest. Full-color photos.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Ages 5^-8. Set deep in the Costa Rican rain forest, this bilingual (English and Spanish) story introduces young Fernando and his family. His mother takes care of the family, and his father tends crops and teaches people about preserving the rain forest. Fernando's best friend, Carmina, has a special cristobal tree where she likes to play, but one day, the tree is gone, cut down by those who wish to use the rain forest for their own purposes. Fernando has been unsure of what to give Carmina for her birthday, but now he has the perfect gift--a tiny cristobal tree from his father's nursery. They plant the tree in a secret spot, where the children hope it will be able to live a long life. The book is handsomely designed and features exceptionally crisp color photographs, though in several places those pictures are obviously posed. The story's message about the importance of the rain forest comes across in an accessible and child-friendly manner. Author's note appended. Ilene Cooper

Language Notes

Text: English, Spanish

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sierra Club Books for Children; 1st edition (May 5, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871564149
• ISBN-13: 978-0871564146
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 10.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #338,817 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Photographer-writer Douglas Keister, has authored and co-authored thirty-six critically acclaimed books. He also writes and illustrates magazine articles and contributes photographs and essays to dozens of magazines, newspapers, books, calendars, posters and greeting cards worldwide. His twenty-five books on architecture include five books on Victorian homes (Daughter's of Painted Ladies, Painted Ladies Revisited, America's Painted Ladies, Victorian Glory and 500 Victorians); twelve books on bungalow homes (The Bungalow, Inside the Bungalow, Outside the Bungalow, 500 Bungalows and eight small format books on bungalow details), a book on 1920's whimsical homes (Storybook Style) a book about cemetery art and architecture (Going Out in Style), a book on Spanish architecture, (Red Tile Style), four books on cottage (Classic Cottages, Inside Classic Cottages, Cottages and 500 Cottages a book on cemetery architecture (Going Out in Style) and a book on Courtyards. Keister photographed and wrote an award winning children's book (Fernando's Gift), has two monographs of his personal work (Black Rock and Driftwood Whimsy), and four books on classic recreational vehicles, Ready to Roll, Silver Palaces, Mobile Mansions and Teardrops and Tiny Trailers. His wealth of books on architecture has earned him the title, "America's most noted photographer of historic architecture". His book on cemetery symbolism, Stories in the Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography, has garnered a number of glowing reviews. Sunset magazine said, "Keister has done for cemetery exploration what Audubon did for birding."
He recently photographed and wrote two bilingual children's books in China, To Grandmother's House: A Visit to Old-Town Beijing (January 2008), and Tao Tao's Green Gift (future release). Three other books came out in 2008: Forever Dixie (a book on southern cemeteries), Teardrops and Tiny Trailers and a book featuring his collection of glass negatives. Lincoln in Black and White 1910-1925.
His thirty-seventh book, "Forever LA" which will feature cemeteries in the Los Angeles Area, will come out in the fall of 2009
Doug frequently gives presentations in conjunction with his books and speaks at related events. In the past few years he has lectured in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Spokane, Kansas City, Boston, Milwaukee, Vermont, Winnemucca and Carson City, Nevada, Lincoln, Nebraska, The Smithsonian in Washington D.C. and the Cooper-Union in New York.
He lives with his wife, Sandra Mclean, in Chico, California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book, February 6, 2010

By 

David Hooke (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fernando's Gift / El Regalo de Fernando (Hardcover)

We got this book for our 5 year old son before going on a family trip to Costa Rica. I really like the fact that it is in both English and Spanish and it tells a sweet story with pictures of real children. The pictures look a little posed, but our son really enjoyed it.

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Wonderful Earth Day Book!, October 28, 2001

By 

Diane E Glasgow (Cookeville, TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fernando's Gift/ El Regalo de Fernando (Paperback)

Learn about a family near a Costa Rican rain forest!
I read this excellent bilingual English and Spanish book to my
K-7 Spanish students for Earth Day! The photos make the story come alive! Readers will get a great idea for a birthday present which his or her friend will always remember!