Papa and Me [Hardcover]

Arthur Dorros (Author), Rudy Gutierrez (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 22, 2008 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: K and up

When I'm with my papá, I can fly like an eagle, an águila.
I can climb alto, high, in a tree,
And I am the ganador, the winner, of many races.
When I am with my papá, I hear the best cuentos, stories,
and I give him the biggest abrazos, hugs.

A young boy and his papa may speak both Spanish and English, but the most important language they speak is the language of love. Here, Arthur Dorros portrays the close bond between father and son, with lush paintings by Rudy Gutierrez.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3—A boy tells about a special day with his father, recounting their adventures from waking up in the morning until they arrive at Abuela and Abuelo's house in the evening. Most of the text is in English, with Papá speaking Spanish and the child restating his words in English or using his actions to convey his father's meaning. In addition, the endpapers have the Spanish words and their English translations arranged like graffiti on a blue background. The emotional heart of the story is brought to life in Gutierrez's luminous illustrations. Making pancakes, walking down a city street together, or splashing through puddles at the park may seem simple, but they are choreographed like a dance. Climbing a tree, looking at the sky, and drawing faces in the sand all take on mythic qualities. The playful surrealism of the artwork makes an ordinary day seem extraordinary. As the boy and his papá embrace, they are outlined with glowing colors, and their smiling faces mirror their love for one another. Their special bond will resonate with children and parents, wherever they live and whatever their language.—Mary Jean Smith, Southside Elementary School, Lebanon, TN
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From Booklist

From the time they wake up in the morning, a Latino boy and his father have fun. They cook breakfast, walk out to the park, and then take the bus to visit Abuelo and Abuela. The simple words, in both Spanish and English, and the bright, exuberant unframed double-page pictures celebrate the loving connection between parent and child—whether they are standing close together sharing stories on the crowded bus or the boy tells his father, “I am flying, flying” as he climbs a tree. The big, swirling circles in the artwork embrace the characters within the widening arcs of sky and waves, as when the boy, his father, and the grandparents meet in one tight hug while the sun sets. Their curving bodies, set against the geometric shapes of the turning globe, evoke the magical realism of traditional Latino art. The father speaks Spanish, the boy is bilingual, and both English- and Spanish-speaking children will recognize the family connections. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Hazel Rochman

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Rayo (April 22, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060581565
• ISBN-13: 978-0060581565
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,159,621 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

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a beautiful story about the unspoken love between a father and a son!, September 18, 2009

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Papa and Me (Hardcover)

A young boy calls out to his Papá, goes into his room and shakes him awake because it's time to get up and prepare for their day together. Papá leans over, hugs his son and they begin to sing to each other, "Cantemos, cantemos." They smile and laugh while pancakes and eggs are being cooked up in the fry pan. Flip, flip! After breakfast they tightly hold hands and are off for the day's adventure at the park. There are so many things to do in a park, but the first thing he has to do is imagine the whale and jump in a puddle. Of course Papá is more sensible and "steps around them."

Papá calls him "Agua Man" (water man) as he lifts him over another puddle. In his mind he is a flying agua man with a cape. They laugh and smile as they play. The little boy gets a boost up into a tree and imagines that he is flying. He spreads his arms out, but his Papá insists that he be careful. "Cuidado." He sees an imaginary bird in the clouds, but his Papá cannot see it. Very soon it is time to go home. There will be some other very special people waiting for them. Can you guess who it could be?

This is a beautiful story about the love between a father and son. Love, as we see it in this book, doesn't have to be spoken, but is rather felt while parents and children spend time together. The father in this book only speaks Spanish, but his young son is bilingual. The vibrant, colorful, swirling artwork is gorgeous and very appealing. There are no translations for the Spanish words, but they are easy to deduce from the text. This is a Pura Belpré Honor Book that any father and son would be proud to add to their shelves!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars lovely illustrations, December 2, 2008

By 

Kirsten G. Cutler (Santa Rosa, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Papa and Me (Hardcover)

Dorros, Arthur. Papa and Me. Pictures by Rudy Gutierrez. HarperCollinsPublishers. 2008.

A father and his son spend time together, preparing breakfast, riding a bus, visiting a park, and then going to visit his grandparents. A few Spanish words are included and explained within the text, "Good morning! I call to Papa. Buenos dias, Papa says back to me". The lovely illustrations glow with warmth and brilliant color. The artist plays with perspective, adding palpable movement, and the stylized and elongated shapes and figures lend depth of feeling to an otherwise very simple and brief text: the father bends over his son, one arm clasped around him as they sing together; the son rests one hand on his father's neck. Another illustration shows the father looking both loving and concerned as his son sits on a tree branch, his arms outstretched like he was flying. This is a wonderful tribute to a loving relationship between a father and son. The end papers are sky blue and highlight the bilingual words used in the story. A pronunciation guide would have been a helpful addition.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Boy and his Dad: Me Someday..., May 22, 2011

By 

manny (san antonio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Papa and Me (Hardcover)

The book "Papa and Me" is a story about a day in the life of a little boy and his father and the things they do. In the story the little boy is almost in a competition with his father has they go through their day. I can remember being with my dad when I was younger and trying to outdo him in vain but the bonding is what sticks out in my mind. The pictures are wonderfully drawn and painted and go with the text well.