Customer Reviews

Siesta (Ala Notable Children's Books. Younger Readers (Awards))

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A bilingual primer that combines language, color and wonderful illustrations, this simple book contrasts the text in both Spanish and English as two youngsters assemble the supplies they need for an afternoon backyard adventure: a blue (azul) backpack, a red (roja) jacket, a green (verde) flute, a yellow (amarillo) book and a number of other necessities. Once everything is gathered in a manageable pile, the children proceed to the back yard, teddy bear in hand, where they build a tent from a multi-colored blanket, serenading the teddy bear (and themselves) to sleep in the lazy afternoon. The illustrations are charming and colorful, focusing on the small world of a children's adventure, while introducing basic language and simple sentence structure in both Spanish and English sentences. This is the perfect book for young readers, the bilingual aspect expanding language horizons. Luan Gaines/ 2006.

In this board book story, a sister entices her little brother to find items they will need for their siesta (nap). "What do we need?" "My blue backpack." "My red jacket." He finds six colorful items, and something that contains all the colors--a blanket. The blanket, strung over the clothesline, becomes the tent for the summer's day siesta. Very simply told in Spanish and English, it is ideal for beginning readers. Words depicting colors are highlighted with their hue. The illustrations, however, steal the reader's interest! Pencil, watercolors and bright pastels enhance the many incidentals to be found on the pages. You won't have to look too closely to be mesmerized by the story told in pictures, from the child's many-colored xylophone, to the green and yellow parakeets in their cage, from the painting on the wall to the vista out the window, from the clothes in the dryer to the eggs in the refrigerator, little ones will want to go back again and again to identify items from their own world, either in English or Spanish.

My one-year-old loves this book! We have had it since she was born, and she became fascinated by it right around her first birthday, though she liked it fine before then. It is her current favorite. The illustrations are so detailed, yet clear enough that a baby can identify what they depict (which is often not the case). I like the bilingual aspect since my husband is Mexican, but that is secondary to the great pictures and sweet story. I'm going to look for more books by this writer and illustrator.

I started reading Siesta and Fiesta! (same author and illustrator) to my oldest son before he was 1. He is 3 now and chooses these books from our bookshelf on a regular basis. It's a bilingual book about colors, so it's great way to introduce babies, preschoolers and early readers to Spanish and to teach colors. My son loves to repeat the words and look for the different colors and objects on each page. The illustrations are very appealing--so warm and colorful. The detail on each page gives us a lot to look at, so we notice something new each time we read it. This is a big hit as a gift for parents who love to read with their kids and like the added bonus of teaching some Spanish words.

This book is about two little kids who go on a picnic. Before leaving, they assemble various items. The colors are pointed out through colored text and through the objects.

Though I liked the illustrations a lot, and especially the multi-colored blanket, I found the story to be too simplistic for my 26th month old, who is fluent in Spanish. The colored text didn't do much for him since he's not reading yet. I think this book is probably most useful for babies, or for non-native speakers at the early reading or pre-reading level.

Like Fiesta (by the same duo), my baby can't get enough of this book. She makes me read it to her over and over and over again. I just wish there were more books by these two.

Beautiful and colorful illustrations. Great story book and a must have for teacher's and libraries to have in their stock.