SB Finds : Books + Libros

Given that we are in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15), we should pause to examine the meaning of being Latino in this country. Though I cannot count myself in this ethnic group, I am interested in staying abreast of Latino contributions to America because my entire world is wrapped up in the language and culture of this rapidly expanding population. One of the easiest, and most enjoyable, ways for me to delve into theRead More ...

 This is my new favorite bilingual children’s book! Rubber Shoes…A lesson in gratitude is an adorable story by Gladys Elizabeth Barbieri about a young girl (by the same name) who goes shopping for new shoes with her mother. When she can’t get the sparkly ballet slippers she wants, and instead receives a pair of zapatos de goma, little Gladys is disappointed and embarrassed. She tries her hardest to destroy or lose the shoes, but fails to rid herself of theRead More ...

Recently, I realized that we haven’t updated our list of recommended reference books for parents raising bilingual children in more than two years. Unlike other parenting topics, books on bilingualism do not abound. So, whenever a book in this subject comes out, we try to get our hands on it both for our own research and to share it with all of you. Last time we wrote about this subject matter, I gave you a list of 10 books IRead More ...

  Believe it or not, it’s that time of year: time to send your kids back to school – or to school for the first time. To prepare them for those early mornings and long days, I’ve come up with a list of titles about the classroom that young children will love. I’ve also included a Spanish thesaurus and preschool math book so that you can keep up with Spanish skills at home, whether or not your kids are gettingRead More ...

Birthdays are special occasions for people around the world, but for Latinos, each birthday is a passage into a new life stage. Whether you celebrate with a piñata, unique recordatorios, or a huge quinceañera bash, sharing your birthday with loved ones is a cultural necessity. Introduce your little lectores to the excitement of a cumpleaños by sharing some of these fun and informative books with them, or reminisce about your own lifetime of birthdays with the title I recommend forRead More ...

Anne Geddes is known for her photography, mostly of babies and kids in flowers, with flowers, on flowers, etc. Mis primeros cinco años (My First Five Years) takes it a step further by incorporating the photographs into a baby memory book where you can keep all the little details that come with the newness of a baby – milestones, pictures, measurements, etc. Sprinkled throughout this book you’ll find Anne Geddes’ famous photographs. I will say however, that some of the photosRead More ...

Have you noticed that most of the Spanish children’s books that receive mainstream attention are for children under 4 or 5 years old? I recently became concerned that my son and all of the Spanish-speaking children I know would reach an age when Spanish literature (translated or original) would be impossible to find. Then, in a moment of great synchronicity, I happened to run into a display of Spanish chapter books at my local bookstore. ¡Entonces, existen! While it wouldRead More ...

As a lover of legends and folktales, I am excited to start sharing longer, more complex stories with my growing son. Juan Verdades: The Man Who Couldn’t Tell a Lie is a perfect book for the transition from simplistic children’s stories to intricate tales with more than one character. In this beautifully illustrated book, a ranchero (Don Ignacio) makes a bet that his capataz – ranch hand – is incapable of telling a lie, which is why he trusts himRead More ...