Nana's Big Surprise/Nana, Que sorpresa! [Hardcover]

Amada Irma Perez (Author), Maya Christina Gonzalez (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Nana's visit from Mexico should be a joyous occasion. But this summer she's coming to California because Tata has died. Amada and her five brothers hope to cheer her up with a surprise gift of a coop full of fluffy yellow chicks just like the ones Nana raised with Tata in Mexico. But no matter how hard everyone tries to make Nana feel better, it seems like nothing can bring a smile to her face. That is, until one day the chicks reveal a little surprise of their own.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In this moving, heartfelt picture book, Perez explains how a visit from Nana, who is in mourning for her husband, spurs her loving grandchildren to help by asking about the chickens in the family's coop. As they talk about the birds, they reminisce about Tata. The story, with characters inspired by the author's grandparents, is beautifully written, both in English and in Spanish. The sturdy, colorful illustrations are full of bright patterns, collage elements, and unusual perspectives that give them a magical edge. Although the busy backgrounds sometimes make the words difficult to read, this poignant tale of family love and grieving is ideal for reading aloud in either language, especially to children coping with deep losses of their own. Stella Clark
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Children's Book Press; Bilingual edition (March 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892391901
• ISBN-13: 978-0892391905
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,520,175 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming story of beloved memories., May 12, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nana's Big Surprise/Nana, Que sorpresa! (Hardcover)

Award-winning author Amada Irma Perez presents Nana's Big Surprise, a bilingual English/Spanish picturebook about coping with loss. When grandmother Nana's beloved husband passes on and she comes to live with her children and grandchildren, her heart is heavy with sadness. Trying to cheer her up, the family surprises her with a coop of fluffy yellow chicks, just like the ones she used to raise. But the chicks don't lay eggs, and nothing seems to help Nana feel better - until one sunrise, the chicks reveal their secret. The emphatic and colorful illustrations by widely exhibited artist Maya Christina Gonzalez add the perfect visual flair to this heartwarming story of beloved memories.