Reina Ramos: Neighborhood Helper

by Emma Otheguy, Andrés Landazábal (Illustrator)

Overview

Reina helps her neighbors in this Level Two I Can Read story about Reina Ramos, a loyal friend whose high-spirited antics sometimes cause chaos but who always finds a way to make things right! Features Spanish vocabulary and a glossary.

Reina’s school is holding a food drive for the local shelter, and the classroom that collects the most cans wins a pizza party! Reina is so excited, but Abuela is too busy helping a neighbor with a new baby to help Reina with her school project. If her class doesn’t win, can Reina still find a way to help out?

Reina Ramos: Neighborhood Helper is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help. The story also contains several Spanish words and a glossary.

Acclaim for the first Reina Ramos I Can Read: Kirkus Best Book List for Early Readers 2022 and Chicago Public Library’s Best of the Best List 2022

Also available in Spanish: Reina Ramos ayuda a los vecinos.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063223240
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/03/2024
Series:	I Can Read Book 2 Series
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Emma Otheguy writes children’s books about Latine identity and Latin American history and literature. She is the author of Martí’s Song for Freedom, Martina Has Too Many Tías, and Sofía Acosta Makes a Scene. She coauthored, with Adam Gidwitz, The Unicorn Rescue Society: The Madre de Aguas of Cuba. She holds a PhD in history from New York University and lives in New York City. Visit her at emmaotheguy.com.

Andrés Landazábal is an illustrator and art director based in Colombia. His work has appeared in film, television, and print. Andrés’s love for drawing and painting was instilled at a young age by reading classic illustrated children’s books. Visit him at andreslandazabal.squarespace.com.

Editorial Reviews

This level 2 beginning reader contains an engaging, relatable story for emergent readers that features simple text, a sprinkling of Spanish vocabulary, and sweet illustrations on each page. — Booklist

The Spanish words and ­positive messages about managing conflict and problem-solving make this a welcome addition to beginning reader collections. — School Library Journal

Broad appeal and an engaging emotional journey make this an excellent addition to any early reader collection. Recommended for first purchase. — School Library Journal

A sparkling tale starring a resilient young protagonist. — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Otheguy’s text is perfect for beginning readers.” — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

07/01/2024

Gr 1–2—When Reina Ramos's class wants to win a pizza party for collecting the most cans in the food drive, she goes into overdrive planning and encourages those around her to participate. She even recruits Abuela, who agrees to help but then gets distracted with a new baby in the neighborhood. Reina's class loses by one can, and the disappointment is palpable. However, with Abuela's help, Reina learns that winning isn't everything, and there are still others to help. Otheguy's text is perfect for beginning readers to tackle on their own. Her blend of Spanish will expose young readers to the language and support multilingual learners. Landazábal's illustrations are bright and cheerful; Reina's expressions are especially strong. VERDICT A solid choice for early readers, especially recommended for students in immersive or bilingual classrooms.—Brittany Morgan

School Library Journal