Where Fireflies Dance / Ahí, donde bailan las luciérnagas [Hardcover]

Lucha Corpi (Author), Mira Reisberg (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up

Vibrantly illustrated, this bilingual tale shows English and Spanish on each page. Weaving together pride in the author's Mexican heritage with a sweetly delivered message about growing up, the story shows that each person, like the revolutionary Juan Sebastian, has a destiny to follow. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4?Lyrically phrased in both Spanish and English, this warm family story opens a window to a rural Mexican upbringing. The narrator and her brother investigate a haunted house and recount the story of Juan Sebastian, whose ghost is said to visit it. Frightened by strange noises, the two run from the house straight into the music coming from the new jukebox at the cantina. Entranced, they begin to visit the bar nightly, until their mother discovers them. Exiled from the place, the children discover that their father knows all of their favorite songs and will sing for them. Readers will identify with traditions and memories of special times. Reisberg's brilliantly colored, primitive illustrations and arresting borders add immeasurably to the sense of place. This is a sure winner for storytimes as well as a solid addition for schools with Spanish-speaking students.?Ann Welton, Terminal Park Elementary School, Auburn, WA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 5-9. Like a grandmother telling stories to her grandchildren, the author recalls part of her childhood in a small town in Mexico, spinning her tale in a delicate thread of anecdotes. She recalls how, together with her brother, Victor, she explored the spooky, deserted house of local hero Juan Sebastian, hearing later from her grandmother that Sebastian followed his "destiny" to fight and die in the Mexican Revolution. She also remembers sitting outside the cantina with her brother, waiting for favorite songs on the jukebox, and listening to stories and songs in their cozy home, contemplating what their own destinies might be. Bold, cheery illustrations will help attract readers to the unusually sophisticated (though still accessible) text, which appears on the page in both English and Spanish. Susan Dove Lempke

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Children's Book Press; Bilingual edition (June 24, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892391456
• ISBN-13: 978-0892391455
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #953,290 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A short, sweet tale--told in two languages, June 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Where Fireflies Dance / Ahí, donde bailan las luciérnagas (Hardcover)

This is an excellent, but short, autobiographical story of the author's youth focusing on music and how it tied individual family members together. Vivid artwork enhances the story. Brief references to Mexico's fight for independence could open further discussion. Each page has English text with a Spanish translation below. An excellent read-aloud for 8 and up.

5.0 out of 5 stars Vibrant Illustrations, July 21, 2011

By 

Shirley Parenteau - See all my reviews

This review is from: Where Fireflies Dance/Ahi, donde bailan las luciernagas (Paperback)

Author Lucha Corpi's story, based on her own childhood, tells in English and Spanish of the ways music brings family together. Illustrator Mira Reisberg's vibrant artwork adds drama while presenting ethnic detail that pulls readers into the story.