School Library Journal Review

Gr 1-4-Ancona has a well-deserved reputation for turning out beautifully crafted photo-essays, and these six books are no exception. From city to country life, schools to dances, Latino life is presented in its great variety. Nonetheless, the common elements that unite all people-family, friends, school, neighborhood-are warmly affirmed. Clear, informative, well-composed color photographs capture not only the children telling the stories, but also crucial elements of their environments, giving a bona fide slice-of-life feeling. On some pages, children's drawings in colored pencil and crayon extend the photographic illustrations. The English translations are all fluid and colloquial, reading aloud just as well as the original Spanish. Short introductory paragraphs provide background on the subject under discussion. Tales of immigration from Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Cuba, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Peru are included. A map in each book traces the journeys of family members from their native country to the United States. Glossaries offer concise definitions of key Spanish words, and a final one-page entry in each book covers a subject that has been touched upon (for example, murals in Mi barrio) in greater detail. These well-composed books deserve a place in all collections serving elementary children. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.