From La Cenicienta to the ABC's: children's books in Spanish from around the world.

From the always-popular Cenicienta, to the exaggerated claims and impossible feats of Pai Luchi, to an entertaining approach to learning the letters of the Spanish alphabet, these books, recently published in Argentina, Mexico, Spain, and the United States, will encourage countless re-readings by Spanish-speaking youngsters, or by those eager to learn the language.

Folklore

Boada, Francesc CENICIENTA. (Cinderella.) Il. by Monse Fransoy. (Popular) ISBN 84-246-2536-6. Barcelona: La Galera, 2001. 24pp. $15.95. This story is one from the not-to-be-missed series that re-creates well-loved tales. This version of Cinderella features an engaging, easy-to-read text on the left page, facing modernistic, full-page watercolor illustrations. Spanish learners will appreciate the simple icons used to indicate the dialogue of specific characters. Readers will be enticed by the breezy, almost colloquial, style of this rendition. Ages 6-9.

Devetach, Laura CUENTOS DEL PAI LUCHI. (Pai Luchi's Tales.) Il. by Daniel Roldan. ISBN 950-07-2090-6. Buenos Aires: Editorial Sudamericana, 2001. 63 pp. $8.95 (paperback). This collection of 18 brief traditional tales features Pai Luchi, the boisterous, bragging popular hero who entertains listeners with exaggerated claims of impossible feats. Enriched with the vernacular of the people of Argentina, Pai Luchi's tales relate experiences with wild sheep, monster watermelons, poisonous snakes, and other hard-to-believe exploits. The small, black-and-white line illustrations are at times mere decorations. Ages 7-9.

Esterl, Arnica, reteller EL SASTRECILLO VALIENTE. (The Brave Little Tailor.) Il. by Olga Dugina and Andrej Dugin. Trans. by Diana Luz Sanchez. ISBN 968-16-6260-1. Mexico City: Fondo de Cultura Economica, 2000. 24 pp. $13.99. The author has artfully retold the Brothers Grimm's tale about a tailor who kills seven flies with a cloth and makes himself a belt in which he embroiders "Siete de un golpe." The original, extraordinarily detailed watercolors in earth tones add a surreal tone to the tailor's numerous misadventures, which nevertheless eventually result in his becoming a king. Ages 7-9.

Family

Clark, Emma Chichester !TE QUIERO MUCHO, CANGURO AZUL! (I Love You, Blue Kangaroo!) Il. by the author. Trans. by Estrella Borrego. ISBN 84-488-1211-5. Barcelona: Beascoa, 2001. 32 pp. $15.95. Lali continues to acquire stuffed animals, seeming not to care anymore for Canguro Azul. Eventually, Lali decides she prefers Canguro Azul above all, and she agrees to give all the other stuffed animals to her baby brother. Clark's vivacious watercolors and Borrego's lively Spanish rendition add a comic tone to this story about sibling relations and loyalty. Originally published by Andersen Press, London. Ages 4-7.

Robberecht, Thierry MI PADRE FUE REY. (My Father Was a King.) Il. by Philippe Goossens. ISBN 84-263-4725-8. Zaragoza: Edelvives, 2002. 26 pp. $16.95. A little boy is delighted with his father until three dignified men ask him to be king. When his father accepts, life at home changes completely. His father becomes so big that they can no longer play hide-and-seek or even live in the same house. The father's loneliness and sadness impel him to return the crown and become again the best father in the world. Originally published by Clavis, Belgium, this simple yet powerful story, narrated in the first-person, depicts the issues of time and parental obligations in a manner that even the young can understand. The forceful, rectangular-vertical lines of the colorful double-spread illustrations add to the pathos and emotional tone of this story. Ages 4-7.

Teague, Mark EL CHIQUERO. (Pigsty.) Il. by the author. Trans. by Marta Gomez Mata. ISBN 0-439-27000-6. New York: Scholastic, 2001.32 pp. $5.99 (paperback). Wendell Futz's messy bedroom annoys his mother; he even goes so far as to invite several pigs to share his cluttered room. When the pigs take over his chiquero (pigsty) and soil his comic books, baseball cards, and blankets, Wendell decides to organize a much-needed clean-up. Teague' s bright acrylic illustrations, now accompanied by Gomez Mata's jaunty Spanish text, will perhaps encourage young Spanish-speakers to pick up their own rooms. Ages 5-8.

Fantasy

Kitamura, Satoshi ?YO Y MI GATO? (Me and My Cat?) Il. by the author. Trans. by Maia Miret. ISBN 968-16-6234-2. Mexico City: Fondo de Cultura Economica, 2000. 30 pp. $17.95. When a witch's curse leaves Nicolas with the body of his cat, Leonardo, and the cat with the body of the boy, some interesting things begin to happen. As Nicolas adjusts to his new body, he discovers the advantages and disadvantages of a cat's life. Kitamura's eccentric, cartoon-style illustrations enhance Miret's carefree Spanish rendition, sprinkled with Mexican Spanish colloquialisms. Originally published by Andersen Press, London. Ages 6-8.

Yolen, Jane ?COMO DAN LAS BUENAS NOCHES LOS DINOSAURIOS? (How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?) Il. by Mark Teague. Trans. by Pepe Alvarez-Salas. ISBN 0439-31735-5. New York: Scholastic, 2001. 34 pp. $5.99 (paperback). Young Spanish speakers will identify with Teague's expressive dinosaurs, who try to delay their bedtime as long as possible, thereby frustrating their human parents. Alvarez-Salas's easy-rhyming Spanish rendition, which is as reassuring as the original, will encourage countless re-readings. Ages 4-7.

Values

Solotareff, Gregoire NIEVE. (Snow.) Il. by Olga Lecaye. Trans. by Margarida Trias. ISBN 84-8470-039-9. Barcelona: Editorial Corimbo, 2002. 32 pp. $19.95. A white wolf, who was abandoned at birth because of his paleness, resigns himself to a lonely existence until he meets a black wolf. Although both of them question the other's "strange" color, they become friends. Following an unfortunate misunderstanding, however, white wolf leaves his friend behind. After a lonely winter, they joyfully find each other again. The soft-edged strokes of varying intensity, amid lush winter forest scenes, contribute to the pensive mood of this stoical Spanish rendition. Originally published by L'Ecole des Laisirs, Paris, this beautiful large-format publication deals with such topics as prejudice, rejection, and friendship in a tranquil, thoughtful manner. Ages 6-8.

Christmas

Thompson, Kay ELOISE EN NA VIDAD. (Eloise at Christmastime.) Il. by Hilary Knight. Trans. by Ana Maria Moix. ISBN 84-264-3748-6. Barcelona: Editorial Lumen, 2001. 48 pp. $16.95. Following the high-spirited tone of the original, Moix's snappy Spanish rendition depicts lively Eloise as she scrambles around the Plaza Hotel preparing to welcome la Navidad with her pet turtle, Fittipaldi, and her puppy, Esmirruchi. Readers will learn some peninsular Spanish conjugations (e.g., podais, venid, subid). Fans of Eloise stories will enjoy this one, which is enlivened by Knight's effusive pen-and-ink illustrations in pink and black. Ages 5-8.

Fears

Zentner, Jorge COMEMIEDOS. (Comemiedos.) Il. by T'assies. ISBN 84-233-3304-3. Barcelona: Ediciones Destino, 2001. 32 pp. $15.95. A child, who is about 10 years old, explains to her younger brother how she deals with her fears. She calls on Comemiedos (a play on words, meaning he-who-eats-fears), who takes care of her fears of injections, the first day of school, big ocean waves, and darkness. Although Comemiedos is not a huge dog, nor a humongous cat, nor a mighty toad, it always works. Tassies's minimal illustrations against a white or black background, and Zentner's crisp text, enhanced with humorous, childish expressions, make an ideal pairing. Ages 3-6.

ABC's

Cruz-Contarini, Rafael LAS LETRAS HABLAN. (Letters Speak.) Il. by Maribel Suarez. ISBN 84-241-8547-1. Leon: Editorial Everest, 2000. 30 pp. $7.95 (paperback). Children are exposed to each letter of the Spanish alphabet in a simple rhyming text. The amusing watercolors and the well-designed fonts that highlight a specific letter make this an entertaining approach to learning letters. The letter "E," for example, shows a formally dressed Elefante (elephant) welcomed by a gentleman who states, "ENTRE, SENOR ELEFANTE. !QUE TRAJE MAS ELEGANTE...." Ages 6-9.

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 at 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.