Amigos y abuelos: recent children's books from Spanish-speaking countries.

Spanish-speaking children (and Spanish learners) can be enticed into the world of reading by wonderful books that they can relate to. From an endearing story about an understanding abuelo, to well-known favorites, to a dignified Spanish rendition of the story of creation, the following recently published books from several Spanish-speaking countries will satisfy and delight children and their parents.

Bunting, Eve ABUELO TEJON, ?TU SABES HACERLO? (Can You Do This, Old Badger?) Il. by LeUyen Pham. Trans. by Christiane Reyes. ISBN 84-261-3169-7. Barcelona: EditoriaI Juventud, 2000. 32 pp. $15.95. Abuelo Tejon and his grandson, Pequeno Tejon, compare what they each can do. Pequeno Tejon shows off as he jumps, rolls, and climbs; Abuelo Tejon shows his grandson where to find juicy earthworms, how to fish, how to get honey without being stung, and how to get mud out from between his claws. Children and adults will rejoice in the joys and love that each generation provides. Pham's mellow double-spread illustrations of the two energetic badgers are an endearing complement to this charming story of love and life. Ages 4-8.

Cousins, Lucy EL AUTOBUS DE MAISY. (Maisy Drives the Bus.) ISBN 84-95040-69-7. EL CARNAVAL DE MAISY. (Maisy Dresses Up.) ISBN 84-95040-40-9. ?DONDE ESTA EL PANDA DE MAISY? (Where Is Maisy's Panda?) ISBN 84-95040-07-7. ?DONDE VIVE MAISY? (Where Does Maisy Live?) ISBN 84-95040-46-8. !FELIZ NAVIDAD, MAISY! (Merry Christmas, Maisy!) ISBN 84-95040-61-1. JUEGA CON MAISY. (Where Are Maisy's Friends?) ISBN 84-95040-44-1. MAISY SE BANA. (Maisy Takes a Bath.) ISBN 84-95040-71-9. MAISY Y SUS AMIGOS. (Maisy's ABC.) ISBN 84-95040-02-6. LA PISCINA DE MAISY. (Maisy's Pool.) ISBN 84-95040-76-X. Ea. vol.: trans, by Xavier Borras Calvo. Barcelona: Ediciones Serres, 1999-2000. 22 pp. $10.95. The novelty may be wearing off; nevertheless, fans of Maisy, the cute mouse of previous lift-the-flap stories, will enjoy more of Cousins's board books with the same bold, watercolor illustrations and brief, simple Spanish texts. In these stories, Maisy picks up her friends at several bus stops, decides on a costume for a party, searches for her panda, shows off her house, gets ready for Christmas, plays hide-and-seek with her friends, takes a bath amid many interruptions, introduces her friends, and goes for a swim. Ages 1-3.

Ginesta, Montse (adapter) EL GATO CON BOTAS. (Puss in Boots.) Il. by Imma Pla. ISBN 84-86673-90-9. LOS TRES OSOS. (The Three Bears.) Il. by Marta Balaguer. ISBN 84-86673-92-5. Ea. vol.: Barcelona: Editorial Acanto, 1999. 30 pp. $16.95. Bold, full-page, modernistic illustrations add zest and humor to these fluid renditions of two well-known favorites. In addition, each title includes a fold-out game based on the story and three recipes of special dishes mentioned by the protagonists. Ages 7-9.

Hoffmann, E. T. A. CUENTOS DE HOFFMANN. (Stories by Hoffmann). Il. by Javier Serrano and others. Trans. from the German by Celia and Rafeal Lupiani. ISBN 84-207-1277-9. Madrid: Grupo Anaya, 2000. 304 pp. $35.95. This luxury, large-format edition is a special tribute to E. T. A. Hoffmann (1776-1822), the German author, critic, and composer. It includes four of his most popular stories: "El Cascanueces y el rey de los ratones" ("Nutcracker and the Mouse King"), "El nino desconocido" ("The Unknown Child"), "Maese Martin el tonelero y sus oficiales" ("Master Martin, the Barrelmaker and His Workers"), and "El hombre de la arena" ("The Sandman"). The book includes 25 stylized, full-page color illustrations, a sentimental introduction by Luis Mateo Diez, and an emotional biographical tribute in the appendix by Juan Tebar. Serious children's literature scholars will appreciate these fluid Spanish renditions of Hoffmann's gratifying, yet sinister, stories. Ages 10-18.

Levy, Una TOMAS NO QUIERE ZAPATOS. (No Shoes for Tom!) Il. by Anne Decis. Trans. by P. Rozarena. ISBN 84-348-6355-3. Madrid: Ediciones SM, 1999. 59 pp. $9.95. Tomas enjoys going barefoot. Despite his parents' protests, he refuses to wear any shoes--until wintertime when Tomas accompanies his father to feed the cows and his feet almost freeze. Now, Tomas is delighted to wear his new, red snow boots. Charming color illustrations enhance this joyfully realistic story, originally published by O'Brien Press. Ages 7-9.

Novoa, Teresa PADIA Y LOS TRAMPOLINOS. (Padia and the Tricksters.) Il. by the author. ISBN 84-241-5974-8. Leon: Editorial Everest, 1999. 35 pp. $6.95. As soon as Padia falls asleep, trampolinos (weightless, puppet-like creatures) come out and wake her. Some trampolinos are good, others are bad; but they all worry young Padia. Fortunately, Papa finds her favorite toy rabbit, who is appointed tamer of trampolinos. The exuberant, double-page spreads perfectly represent Padia's nighttime fears. Young readers will be reassured and go back to sleep. Ages 3-5.

Pieper, Christiane SIN RUMBO POR EL MUNDO. CATALINA Y EL OSO. (Meandering the World. Catalina and the Bear.) Il. by the author. Trans. by Pepe Martinez. ISBN 84-95123-62-2. Pontevedra: Kalandraka, 2000. 32 pp. $15.95. As lazy Bear meanders around the world, Catalina follows and enjoys the sights and activities. At times silently, at times joyously, they jump, crawl, or romp with other animals they encounter along the way. Originally published by Verlag, Frankfurt, this simple Spanish version, with its lighthearted watercolor illustrations, is just right for beginning Spanish readers (or learners). Ages 3-5.

Ray, Jane ASI EMPEZO EL MUNDO. (The Story of the Creation: Words From Genesis.) Il. by the author. Trans. by Nuria Salinas Villar. ISBN 84-8441-054-4. Barcelona: Montena/Grijalbo, 2000. 24 pp. $22.95. By the acclaimed illustrator of La primera Navidad (The Story of Christmas) and originally published in Spanish by Dutton in 1993, this much-improved rendition interprets the story of creation as told in the King James version of the Book of Genesis. The dignified, yet simple, text, is accompanied by Ray's folk art style, which is painted in rich hues and highlighted with an iridescent gold. Ages 5-8.

Scheffler, Ursel ?QUIEN TIENE TIEMPO PARA OSITO? (Who Has Time for Little Bear?) Il. by Ulises Wensel. Trans. by Christiane Reyes. ISBN 84-261-3166-2. Barcelona: Editorial Juventud, 2000. 28 pp. $15.95. When Papa Oso and Mama Oso are too busy building a new house, Osito goes off in search of someone who has time to play with him. After several of his overtures for friendship are rejected, Osito finds another little bear who is eager to play with him. Wensel's warm, soft illustrations help make this a soothing, reassuring story about the joys of friendship. (Originally published in Germany.) Ages 3-5.

Silverstein, Shel EL ARBOL GENEROSO. (The Giving Tree.) Trans. by Carla Pardo Valle. ISBN 980-605-322-3. Caracas: Litexsa, 1999. 56 pp. $13.95. This touching Spanish version of Silverstein's popular story retains the poignancy of the original. Readers will be inspired by the tree's endless capacity to help a boy throughout his life. Silverstein's original black-and-white line illustrations tenderly depict the beautiful leafy tree that ultimately is reduced to a stump, where the boy turned old man can sit and rest ... "y el arbol fue feliz" ("and the tree was happy"). Ages 5-8.

Solotareff, Gregoire TU GRANDE Y YO PEQUENO. (You Big and I Small.) Il. by the author. Trans. by Christiane Reyes. ISBN 84-95150-76-X. Barcelona: Editorial Corimbo, 2000. 33 pp. $19.95. A young, lonely elephant meets a powerful lion; the lion feels sorry for the elephant, who is small. Soon, they become more like father and son, but when the elephant grows big and strong, the lion king sends him away. Bold, bright watercolors help make this a cogent story about forgiveness and redemption as the now big, powerful elephant eventually reassures the old, feeble lion. Ages 5-8.

Ungerer, Tomi EL HOMBRE DE LA LUNA. (Moon Man.) Il. by the author. Trans. by Olga Abasolo. ISBN 968-19-0661-6. Mexico: Alfaguara, 1999. 38 pp. $7.95. Ungerer's satirical story about the Man in the Moon's ill-fated attempt to live on Earth and the resulting frenzy is just as appealing in Spanish as it was in English. This book is not to be missed, as it maintains the quirky tone of the original as well as the author's funny, mocking illustrations. Ages 5-8.

Velthuijs, Max SAPO Y CERDITO. (Frog and Piggy.) ISBN 84-207-9275-6. SAPO Y LIEBRE. (Frog and Hare.) ISBN 84-207-4353-4. SAPO Y PATA. (Frog and Duck.) ISBN 84-207-9276-4. SAPO Y RATA. (Frog and Rat.) ISBN 84-207-4352-6. Ea. vol.: Il. by the author. Madrid: Grupo Anaya, 1999-2000. 16 pp. $8.95. The adventures of Frog and his friends are highlighted in these well-designed board books that feature Velthuijs's characteristically simple and alluring watercolors and brief texts. Ages 2-6.

For additional high-quality children's books in Spanish, go to the Web site for the Barahona Center for the Study of Books in Spanish for Children and Adolescents (www.csusm.edu/csb/).

Isabel Schon is Director, Barahona Center for the Study of Books in Spanish for Children and Adolescents, California State University San Marcos.