Say Hola to Spanish

June 1, 1996
PreS-Gr 2-"Spanish is fun,/ so give it a try./ Hola is hello,/ adios is good-bye." So begins this catchy introduction to some basic vocabulary. The almost-musical rhymes resemble a commercial jingle and facilitate learning. The Spanish terms are printed in bold throughout the text, along with plenty of visual clues, to make it easy for youngsters to decipher them. A glossary of the 70 words with pronunciations and the English equivalent is provided. However, since the pronunciation guide appears at the end, the book is best suited for reading aloud by a person already familiar with the language. The colorful cartoons are adequate, but often awkwardly drawn. Lynn Reed's Pedro, His Perro, and the Alphabet Sombrero (Hyperion, 1995) is similar in scope.-Maria Redburn, Irving Public Library, TX

May 1, 1996
Ages 4^-9. "Spanish is fun, / so give it a try. / Hola' is hello, / adios' is good-bye." In such singsong, Dr. Seuss-style rhymes, more than 70 Spanish words are introduced either directly or through usage. In purple, hot pink, melon, and turquoise, the exuberant gouache and colored pencil illustrations are flooded with creamy southwestern hues. Together, text and illustrations create a fiesta of lively language fun, perfect for spicing up a story hour or sneaking in a first Spanish lesson. A Spanish language teacher for 10 years, the author hasn't forgotten to include a glossary and pronunciation guide at the end. ((Reviewed May 1, 1996))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1996, American Library Association.)