On November 1st, McDonald’s celebrated the joy of reading by including four different original books in their Happy Meals. The books focused on nutrition, imagination and play and were available  in English and Spanish. They’re a great addition to the “on the go” library and a fun reminder for kids to eat right. Below is a short description of the four books pictured above.

• “La Hormiguita Campeona”  is a book about Ant, a bodybuilder, who encourages physical fitness through exercise and eating right.
• “Doddi La Dodo y su Viaje Fantástico” – Tells the story of Doddi, a bird who travels the world. Doddi eats right to have energy to take flight again and travel even farther each time.
• “Dina la Soñadora” – Dina is the world’s smallest dinosaur, but she has big dreams. She learned that by eating right she could accomplish her dreams of growing strong and tall.
• “Billy el Cabrito Comelón”– Billy has a big appetite and eats anything and everything in his path. Until one day he get’s sick. His family teaches him how to eat right and Billy becomes a happy and playful kid.

 
The best part is that all of these books are available for free download at McDonalds.com and MeEncanta.com . Just click on the See What Goes Into Your Happy Meals icon at the bottom of the page, then click on the image of the book and you’ll see an option to download the book in English or Spanish.

Editor’s note: We continue with our week of Sylvan Dell Publishing Spanish-language book reviews. Check out the book review below and don’t forget to enter our GIVEAWAY for each book reviewed, but also the GIVEAWAY on Friday for a one year subscription to the Sylvan Dell eBooks iPad app Fun eReader!

BOOK DESCRIPTION/REVIEW

Many of us remember the time we asked for a pet when we were little. In La mascota perfecta (A Perfect Pet in English), author Samantha Bell takes us through some unexpected options as a little boy is trying to find the ‘perfect pet.’ The author cleverly weaves high academic vocabulary with a catchy story line. And by using plenty of colorful and well-drawn illustrations, she makes sure children are engaged while learning the different animal kingdoms such as: reptiles, invertebrates, mammals and carnivores, among others.

I personally put this book to the test in my own classroom and read it the first week of school to my fourth grade students. As the story line progressed, the more intrigued my students were. The best part? Everyone thought they knew how the book was going to end, but it was a big surprise to us all. My students loved it!

BOOK DETAILS

Title: La mascota perfecta

Author and Illustrator: Samantha Bell

Publisher/Year: Sylvan Dell Publishing/2013

Ages: 8+

ISBN: 978-1-60718-7189

Price: $17.95

Website: Sylvan Dell Publishing

The Giveaway!

We are giving away one copy of La mascota perfecta to one lucky winner. All you have to do is leave us a comment letting us know why you think your child will enjoy this book.

You can also enter to win one of the other three Sylvan Dell Publishing books we’re giving away, plus an annual subscription to its Fun eReader for iPad and computer devices. To enter each one, visit this link.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We’re halfway through our “31 Days of Reading in Spanish” where we’re reviewing one kids book in Spanish every single day in July. We asked our contributors and SpanglishBaby familia to choose their kid’s libro favorito en español to review and the result has been a wonderful collection of books that together create the most fabulous Spanish-language library for any child.

For an updated list of all books being reviewed, go here.

We’ve also given away two prizes of $100 worth of books in Spanish for kids to random SpanglishBaby friends who shared on Instagram, Twitter and/or SpanglishBabyPlayground.com a picture of their child with their favorite Spanish book . Our first week winner will receive a collection of books we ordered from a friend visiting Mexico City — very unique and special books not found in the U.S.! Our second week winner took a collection of books from Puerto Rico.

Now that we enter the third week, we’re changing things up a little by also including an entry method through the rafflecopter below for this very special gift pack of unique books provided by LA Libreria.

I met the ladies that launched LA Libreria in Los Angeles earlier this year and was quickly in love with the carefully curated books they offer when I visited their booth at LéaLA in May. I quickly grabbed a small fortune worth in books and I have yet to regret it. I’ve already reviewed two of them: La Cenicienta by Gabriela Mistral and Juegos Tradicionales.

LA Libreria will open up their online store next month, but for now you can check out their full catalog on their website and like them on Facebook so you can stay up-to-date on their books and local events.

You can also be the first to win a prize pack of their beautiful and unique books valued at almost $80. The prize includes:

La Cenicienta by Gabriela Mistral. Ed. Amanuta ($12 + tax)

Juegos Tradicionales by Maria Angélica Ovalle. Ed. Amanuta ($13 + tax)

El Libro Negro de los Colores by Menena Cottin. Ediciones Tecolote ($18 + tax)

Niños de América by Francisca Palacios. Ed. Amanuta ($13 + tax)

El Árbol Triste by Triunfo Arciniegas.  Ediciones SM ($8 + tax)

To enter to win just visit LA Libreria online and tell us which of the books in their catalog you would love to get for your child and why. Make sure you enter via the rafflecopter below to make your comment valid.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Editor’s note: We continue with our 31 Days of Reading in Spanish. Check out the book review below and don’t forget to enter our weekly GIVEAWAY of $100 worth of books in Spanish!

BOOK DESCRIPTION/REVIEW

Have you ever found yourself wanting to teach your child that one game you loved as a child and played over and over again, but you just can’t get yourself to remember the words to the song, the rhyme or the exact details that made it so fun? Juegos Tradicionales would be the book to reach out to spark your childhood memory of all those traditional games your mom taught you that her mom taught her, and her abuela and on and on.

The author María Angélica Ovalle is Chilean and she interviewed several people from different parts of her country to find out which were the childhood games they remembered and treasured the most. The thought is that if several generations are fond of the same games, then these are the ones that tie them together and must continue being passed on to the future generations.

The 34 games in Juegos Tradicionales are definitely part of the Chilean fabric, but sifting through the book I found that most of them are the same in many other parts of Latin America or just have different names. Divided into “Los Primeros Juegos,” “Juegos con Canciones y Rimas,” Juegos con la Cuerda y de Manos,” “Juegos para Echar a Suertes,” and “Juegos Sin Rimas” you are sure to find much nostalgia that will get you more than eager to share these games with your kids.

The juegos I got excited about reliving?

• Mandandirun (which I knew as Matatero Tero Lá)
• El Vendedor de Huevos (which I knew as ¿Compra Huevos?
• Arroz con Leche

     BOOK DETAILS

    Title:  Juegos Tradicionales

    Author: María Angélica Ovalle

    Illustrator: Paloma Valdivia

    Publisher:  Editorial Amanuta

    ISBN: 978-956-8209-67-4

    Price:  $12.00

    Website:  www.la-libreria.net (Online store coming in August. For immediate orders, send an email to info@la-libreria.net) and Like them on Facebook.

Would you like to win this book? Head on over to this week’s giveaway to win a copy of Juegos Tradicionales and other unique books in Spanish from LA libreria.

Editor’s note: We continue with our 31 Days of Reading in Spanish. Check out the book review below and don’t forget to enter our weekly GIVEAWAY of $100 worth of books in Spanish!

BOOK DESCRIPTION/REVIEW

ABeCedario de Plantas, one in a series of ABC books available in both Spanish and English, is written by the incredibly talented bilingual author, Yanitzia Canetti.

I let my daughter Sofía choose the theme of which Canetti ABC book to purchase.  She carefully contemplated each topic:   plantas, music, nutrition, animals or professions.  Her LOVE of flowers made selecting AbeCedario de Plantas easy.

ABeCedario de Plantas covers amapola to zinnia in rhyming and alliterative verse. I was really impressed and delighted to see these literary techniques used; they are difficult to find in authentic Spanish-language materials yet so very essential to preparing our soon-to-be-independent readers.  There is even a section about interesting planta facts and a glossary of new words. Canetti also includes both the hard and soft sounds of letters like the C (conejo and cielo) which gives this book a mami’s two thumbs-up for fostering important pre-reading skills!

ABeCedario de Plantas is much more than just strengthening literacy skills through science however.  Reading this book aloud is festive!  Rolling off your tongue, the words sing, make music, and dance in your head!  It makes for great family reading!

BOOK DETAILS

Title: ABeCedario de Plantas

Author: Yanitzia Canetti

Age group: 2-8

Publisher/Year: BrickHouse Education/ 2010

ISBN: 978-1598351194

Price: $8.99 on Amazon

Have fun practicing Spanish through movement and storytelling this summer!

Moving and playing together is great in any weather, but summer is especially enjoyable for beach-themed kids yoga.  The sequence below will lead your family on a beach-inspired journey in your living room, backyard, or local park.  Kids yoga is all about having fun, being imaginative, and engaging through movement.

The specific order of the poses below is meant to invite flow from one pose to the next.  Feel free to add or take out any of the poses to suit the needs and interests of your child.  Creativity is always encouraged, but it is always best to start with the Sun Salute and end with the Resting Pose.  Get in the mood with comfortable beach clothes, and practice barefoot.  Even if you’ve never tried yoga, just give it a go.

Get out beach props like a beach umbrella, a beach chair, sunhats, or a bucket and spade.  Look for beach-related books, toys, or photos.  Put on your favorite beach music or the sound of ocean waves or animals.  Make fun fruity drinks with umbrella straws.  Cater to each of your senses.

Use your imagination!  Once your “beach” is set up, jump in and act out what you find along the shoreline with your children.  Discuss the “journey” with your children as you move together.  What do they imagine seeing, hearing, feeling, and smelling.  Kids yoga isn’t about perfect poses or rigorous exercise.  It’s about participating in a healthy activity together that promotes a balanced lifestyle.

1. Hello to the Sun – Saludar al Sol 

Sun Salute – Saludo al Sol

Stand tall, reach your hands up to the sky, and look up.  Hello sun!

2. Walking to the Beach – Caminar a la Playa

Walking – Caminar

Walk in place, pretending you are heading to the beach.  What do you see on the shoreline?

3. Beach Umbrella – Sombrilla

Tree Pose with arms out like an umbrella – Postura del Árbol

Stand tall on one leg, place your other foot onto your inner thigh, and pretend your arms are an umbrella.  What’s the weather like?  Is it windy?

4. Surfer – Surf

Warrior 2 Pose – Postura del Guerrero 2

Surf with your arms straight out and whoosh like the wind.  Did you catch a wave?

5. Beach Chair – Silla de Playa

Chair Pose – Postura de Silla

Sit back as if you’re sitting in your beach chair.  What do you smell at the beach?

6. Sandcastle – Castillos de Arena

Downward-Facing Dog Pose  – Postura del Perro Boca Abajo

Pretend you are a sandcastle roof and then come forward into a plank as if you are the castle bridge.  How does the sand feel between your fingers and toes?

7. Swimming – Nadando

Locust Pose – Postura de la Langosta

Lay on your tummy, swim with your arms, and kick with your legs.  What animals do you see in the water?

8. Sea Stars – Estrellas de Mar

Resting Pose – Postura del Muerto

Lie on your back with arms and legs stretched out, breathe, and rest.  What do you hear?

I would love to hear about your beach-inspired Spanish Family Yoga experience.  Email me at giselle at kidsyogastories dot com.

Related Links:

14 Ways Yoga for Kids is a Great Idea

A Step-by-Step Guide to have your Family Moving, Laughing, and Storytelling Together!

Beach-inspired Kids Yoga Lesson Plan with twenty kids yoga poses

10 Tips for Starting a Family Yoga Practice

Join the Lucas en un Dia en la Playa  virtual book launch to celebrate an Australian beach-inspired yoga story.  Get details and free kids yoga resources in your inbox by signing up for Giselle’s weekly Kids Yoga Stories Newsletter on her website, or check her out on Facebook, Twitter , and Pinterest .

Giselle Shardlow is the author of Kids Yoga Stories.  Her yoga-inspired children’s books get children moving, learning, and having fun.  Giselle draws from her experiences as a teacher, traveler, yogi, and mom to write her stories found at kidsyogastories.com or on Amazon worldwide.

{First image by  Martijn.Munneke }

Editor’s note: We continue with our 31 Days of Reading in Spanish. Check out the book review below and don’t forget to enter our weekly GIVEAWAY of $100 worth of books in Spanish!

BOOK DESCRIPTION/REVIEW

You know when you see a book cover on a shelf that just immediately draws you in and you can’t stop yourself from reaching out to grab and dig into it? That’s exactly what happened to me when I found Editorial Amanuta’s collection of classic princess stories written by the Chilean poet and Nobel Prize in Literature (the first Latina American ever!) Gabriela Mistral.

The beautiful illustrations by Bernardita Ojeda, paired with Mistral’s enthralling poetic rhythm elevate the classic tale of La Cenicienta to a work of art that is a treasure to have in any bilingual kid’s library. Mistral’s text remains true to Charles Perrault’s tale and in no moment is it childish. Some children, and especially those that don’t hear Spanish in a consistent basis, might have a hard time adjusting to the words. However, the poetic flow will capture them in a sweet embrace.

This trailer below will give you a beautiful glimpse of La Cenicienta  by Gabriela Mistral.

      BOOK DETAILS

      Title: La Cenicienta

      Author: Gabriela Mistral

      Illustrator: Bernardita Ojeda

      Publisher/Year: Editorial Amanuta, 2012

      Ages: 4+

      ISBN: 978-956-8209-81-0

      Price: $12.00

      Website: www.la-libreria.net (Online store coming in August. For immediate orders, send an email to info@la-libreria.net) and Like them on Facebook.

Before I share about the creative people and organizations that put these wonderful little bilingual books together I must say that my two-and-a-half bilingual baby girl approves! They are perfect for my vibrant explorer who is busy putting all the words she knows in Spanish (with some English) together because the illustrations are not only unique, but strategically placed to provoke conversation. For instance, in the Colores Everywhere! book the colors white and black are on side-by-side pages. On the left page there is a big white, three tiered cake and on the left there is a black dog. The text next to the cake reads, Te gusta comer pastel?/Do you like to eat cake? and on the right it reads, Claro que si/ Oh, yes, I sure do! My nena looks for those two pages and replies to the dog, “No perro es mi pastel!/No, dog, that is my cake!”

Now, the reasons why I, a bilingual mother raising a bilingual baby, love the books. First and foremost, I love the way the code-switched titles reflect our local central Texas linguistically diverse community. Here, in central Texas, we speak in English and Spanish (sometimes within a single utterance) just like the titles of the books! Secondly, I appreciate the effort the San Antonio Museum of Art and the San Antonio Public Library Foundation have put in creating books that promote art and bilingual literacy through reading! As an avid art lover I also think the illustrator, Madeleine Budnick, did a wonderful job displaying the museums art pieces in three little books designed with children (like toddlers) in mind. As a mommy who is always on the look out for bilingual books for my nena, I like to think I have developed a keen eye in identifying quality bilingual books and I whole-heartedly think these books fall under that category.

These books have inspired me to head on south (an hour from my home) and visit the San Antonio Museum of Art with my little girl with our library tote bag carrying our bilingual books. The plan is to try and locate the artwork in the book while visiting the museum. Though she is only two-and-a-half I think she will enjoy identifying the artifacts at the museum as she already does this with icons she has seen from other books, like with certain animals, colors, and shapes.

I hope you enjoy learning about shapes, numbers, and/or colors in Spanish and English with your sprouting little ones. Suerte!

The Giveaway

One Lucky winner will receive ONE 3-book series (pictured above). Just visit the Arte Kids website and leave us a comment telling us which of the three books you think your child would like best, then enter the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Last week, I received a copy of Indi Avila’s Sana, Sana book for my son Matías and I to review. What I was thrilled about even more was that Indi had taken the time to sign it and send me a very sweet note with it.

This is a story based on a classic Spanish language nursery rhyme that many of us know and love. Reading through the book, I could hear my mamá saying “sana, sana colita de rana, si no sana hoy sanará mañana” and it was an absolute joy to read to my son now.

The illustrations are vivid and colorful and easy for a 3.5 year old to follow and grasp the concept of sad and happy faces (obviously he doesn’t read). Each animal has a very cute and lovable look…in fact, muy tierno is how I would best describe it.

Lucía, the little girl who gets hurt while jumping rope, has to learn to be patient, realize the power of words, positive thinking and clear communication with her mami. Matías identified with Lucía when her mami says she had to stop crying and take a deep breath. He said“mami, así dices tú!” Clearly the message got through to him and it has sparked a new interest in mother – child relationships, seeing other children listening to their mami’s and of course the main question, ”¿Qué es sana?” The book allowed us to share a new and fun bedtime reading routine while learning new Spanish words.

As a bilingual parent who is always looking for well written and quality Spanish language books I would highly recommend adding Sana, Sana to your collection – nothing complex, just simple, easy to read and comprehend for both the parent and child. You can purchase the book for $12.00 via the Sana, Sana website or on Amazon.

We know you will enjoy it as much as we did!

The Giveaway

We are giving away one copy of Sana, Sana along with a tote bag and greeting cards to one lucky winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In the mood for besos y abrazos? Your day is here. Remember to celebrate el día de San Valentín (or Día del Amor y la Amistad) with all of your Valentines, young and old. It’s a good opportunity to discuss the proverbial ties that bind and the reason we are all making such great efforts to raise well-rounded, bilingual kids: ¡AMOR!

Keep the love alive by starting a collection of LOVEly books like the ones below. Find them, along with tons of other great ones, in La Tiendita.

Para los niños:

El Día de San Valentín/Valentines for Vinnie by Greg Roza

Un día del amor by Sujatha Lalgudi

El Primer San Valentín de Clifford by Norman Bridwell

On Valentine’s Day/Día de San Valentín by Judith Mazzeo Zocchi

Para los padres:

El amor en los tiempos del cólera by Gabriel García Márquez

De amor y de sombra by Isabel Allende

La Maestría del Amor: Una Guía Práctica para el Arte de las Relaciones by Don Miguel Ruiz

100 Love Sonnets: Cien sonetos de amor by Pablo Neruda

Un Día/One Day by David Nicholls

 
Check out all the Valentine’s goodies we have for you here and our Valentine’s Pinterest board is really cute too!