Abuela

by Arthur Dorros, Elisa Kleven (Illustrator)

Overview

A young girl and her grandmother celebrate their home and relationship in this magical story. Winner of the Parents' Choice Award!

Come join Rosalba and her grandmother, her abuela, on a magical journey as they fly over the streets, sights, and people of New York City which sparkles below. The story is narrated in English, and sprinkled with Spanish phrases as Abuela points out places that they explore together. The exhilaration in Rosalba’s and Abuela's story is magnified by the loving bond that only a grandmother and granddaughter can share.

Also available in a Spanish-language edition (ISBN: 978-0-14-056226-2)

"A book to set any child dreaming...any reader can handle it, whether familiar with Spanish or not. It's just joyful."-The New York Times

* "A marvelous balancing of narrative simplicity with visual intricacy...the city is transformed into a treasure trove of jewels, dazzling the eye, uplifting the spirits."–The Horn Book (starred review) 

* "Each illustration is a masterpiece of color, line, and form that will mesmerize youngsters...The smooth text, interspersed with Spanish words and phrases, provides ample context clues...a jewel."–Booklist (starred review)

"Dorros's text seamlessly weaves Spanish words and phrases into the English narrative, retaining a dramatic quality rarely found in bilingual picture books"—Publisher's Weekly 



An ALA Notable Book
An NCSS-CBC Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
A Library of Congress Children's Book of the Year
An American Booksellers Pick of the Lists selection
A Booklist Editor's Choice
A Horn Book Fanfare Listing
Winner of the Parent's Choice Award
A Hungry Mind Review Children's Books of Distinction List selection
A New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing selection

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780525447504
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	09/12/1991
Series:	Picture Puffin Books Series
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	353,259
Product dimensions:	8.75(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.37(d)
Lexile:	510L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Arthur Dorros is the writer of many popular books, a number of which he also illustrated. His best-selling stories include Abuela, which was called "a book to set any child dreaming" and one of the "100 Picture Books Everyone Should Know." Along with awards including ALA Notable Book and Best of the Year for his fiction, his nonfiction books such as Ant Cities are widely recognized, with an Orbis Pictus and numerous Outstanding Science Book awards. He enjoys visiting schools internationally to work with young writers and illustrators. 

Elisa Kleven writes and illustrates picture books because she's never outgrown a deep childhood urge to enter a magical world. To date, she has written and illustrated thirteen books and illustrated fifteen others, including herSchool Library Journal Best Book, Puddle Pail, which also features the crocodile brothers, Ernst and Sol; her New York Times Best Illustrated Book, Sun Bread; The Lion and the Little Red Bird; and The Paper Princess.  Elisa and her family and live in Albany, California.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Abuela

"A book to set any child dreaming...any reader can handle it, whether familiar with Spanish or not. It's just joyful."-The New York Times

* "A marvelous balancing of narrative simplicity with visual intricacy...the city is transformed into a treasure trove of jewels, dazzling the eye, uplifting the spirits."–The Horn Book (starred review) 

* "Each illustration is a masterpiece of color, line, and form that will mesmerize youngsters...The smooth text, interspersed with Spanish words and phrases, provides ample context clues...a jewel."–Booklist (starred review)

"Dorros's text seamlessly weaves Spanish words and phrases into the English narrative, retaining a dramatic quality rarely found in bilingual picture books"—Publisher's Weekly 

"Should prove useful not only for collections in which there is need for ethnic diversity, but also as enrichment for intellectually curious children who are intrigued by the exploration of another language."—School Library Journal

An ALA Notable Book
An NCSS-CBC Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
A Library of Congress Children's Book of the Year
An American Booksellers Pick of the Lists selection
A Booklist Editor's Choice
A Horn Book Fanfare Listing
Winner of the Parent's Choice Award
A Hungry Mind Review Children's Books of Distinction List selection
A New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing selection

From the Publisher

In this tasty trip, Rosalba is ``always going places'' with her grandmother--abuela . During one of their bird-feeding outings to the park, Rosalba wonders aloud, ``What if I could fly?'' Thus begins an excursion through the girl's imagination as she soars high above the tall buildings and buses of Manhattan, over the docks and around the Statue of Liberty with Abuela in tow. Each stop of the glorious journey evokes a vivid memory for Rosalba's grandmother and reveals a new glimpse of the woman's colorful ethnic origins. Dorros's text seamlessly weaves Spanish words and phrases into the English narrative, retaining a dramatic quality rarely found in bilingual picture books. Rosalba's language is simple and melodic, suggesting the graceful images of flight found on each page. Kleven's ( Ernst ) mixed-media collages are vibrantly hued and intricately detailed, the various blended textures reminiscent of folk art forms. Those searching for solid multicultural material would be well advised to embark: Vamos ! Ages 3-7. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

PreS-Gr 2-- An innovative fantasy narrated by a Hispanic-American child who imagines she's rising into the air over the park and flying away with her loving, rosy-cheeked abuela (grandmother). From the air, they see Manhattan streets, docks, an airport, tourist attractions, and Rosalba's father's office. The simple text could be enjoyed as a read-aloud or as a read-alone for newly independent readers. What makes the book so interesting is Dorros's integration of Spanish words and phrases via Abuela's dialogue within the English text. While some phrases are translated by the child, others will be understood in context. As insurance, a glossary, which provides definitions and pronunciations, is appended. The illustrations sing out a celebration of the love and joy that underlies the brief, straightforward narrative. Combining vibrant watercolor and pastel images with interesting snippets of collage in an exuberant folk-art style, Kleven depicts the adventurous, warm-hearted Abuela and the jazzy, colorful topography of an energetic, multiethnic city. Thoughtful design extends to the endpapers featuring cloud formations that cleverly echo many images from the story. While not bilingual in the strictest sense, this book is a less self-conscious, more artfully natural approach to multicultural material. It should prove useful not only for collections in which there is need for ethnic diversity, but also as enrichment for intellectually curious children who are intrigued by the exploration of another language. --Kate McClelland, Perrot Memorial Library, Greenwich, CT

School Library Journal