Living in a small, midwest town, I can pretty much circulate any and all apple-themed books, regardless of quality or content. However, I am also fortunate enough to work with a lot of dedicated, open-minded teachers who are always happy to have me recommend updated, diverse titles to expand their repertoire of read-alouds so when I noticed that this apple book seemed to have a Hispanic flair, I picked it up to examine and was delighted with what I found.
With the loose framing of the cumulative nursery rhyme, "The house that Jack built," the story cheerfully marches through the seasons of the apple tree by Rosa's house, where her familia lives. "The warm days of spring, la primavera, pass by as Rosa watches the apple blossoms slowly turn into fruits." Eventually, Rosa's familia, madre, abuela, and abuelo, settle in for a picnic under the apple tree, with apple pie, empanadas, and limonada. A simple illustrated life cycle of the apple tree is included in the back of the book, a glossary of Spanish words, and a recipe for apple sauce.
The pictures are bright and cheerful; Rosa's abuelo has brown skin and a curly hair, while her abuela has lighter tan skin and a thick coil of gray hair. Rosa and her mother have tan skin and dark hair. Their house is pictured as a small, pueblo-style home on the edge of the desert with thriving wildlife all around.
Verdict: It is, quite simply, WONDERFUL, to see a rather tired old theme refreshed with engaging text and illustrations and portraying an inclusive, multi-generational family. This is a must-have for any library that gets calls for apple tree/seasonal stories, and I can't wait to share it with my families and teachers and to see the joy of our young Hispanic patrons as they are included in a local tradition. Highly recommended.
No comments:
Post a Comment