Mis libros: children's books in Spanish from Spanish-speaking countries. (Spanish Books for Children).

From well-constructed board books that celebrate the Day of the Dead, to the joyful story about moody Pedro and his resourceful father, these recently published books from Mexico, Spain, Cuba, and Colombia will satisfy and delight eager Spanish speakers (and Spanish learners).

For Preschoolers

Boy, Amelle MIS PRIMEROS DESCUBRIMIENTOS. (My First Discoveries.) Il. by the author. ISBN 84-348-7255-5. Madrid, Spain: Ediciones SM, 2000. 12 pp. $19.95. Especially designed for the very young, this well-constructed, large-format book encourages children to discover the seasons, colors, and numbers, and teaches them how to tell time. Through simple lift-the-flaps and pull-the-tabs, Lea, a charming mouse, and Lo, a wise fox, entice readers/viewers to select appropriate clothing, combine colors, choose the right food, count toys, and understand weight and height relationships (in metric). Ages 3-5.

Cousins, Lucy DIVIERTETE Y APRENDE CON MAISY. (Enjoy and Learn With Maisy.) ISBN 84-8488-018-4. Barcelona, Spain: Ediciones Serres, 2001. 12 pp. $14.95. In this large-format board book, fans of Maisy, the cute mouse, are encouraged to lift 36 flaps to find where Maisy's friends live, to count flowers, and to recognize colors, shapes, and opposites. Young Spanish-speaking listeners will enjoy the simple, easy-to-understand text as well as the bold, watercolor illustrations in primary colors. Ages 3-5.

Lazaro, Georgina MI CABALLO. (My Horse.) Il. by Encarna Talavera. ISBN 84-241-7940-4. Leon, Spain: Editorial Everest, 2001. 29 pp. $8.95 (paper). This imaginative, rhyming text, told in the first person, shows the delight a young boy takes in playing with his beloved hobby horse. On the horse, which was made by his mother from an old broom with an endearing horse's head, the boy travels to the moon, climbs mountains, searches for treasures, and visits faraway places. The original art, created with modeling paste, cloth, buttons, and yarn, adds dimension to the boy's reverie. Ages 3-5.

Leslie, Amanda CU-CU, ?QUIEN ES? (Flappy, Waggy, Wiggly.) Trans. by Emilia Hernandez. ISBN 84-7864-526-8. Barcelona, Spain: Editorial Esin, 2001. 34 pp. $15.95. The very young will delight in these ingenious Spanish riddles that encourage little ones to guess what animals are hiding under the flaps. Maintaining the humor of the original English version, each spread, with vivid colors and simply shaped animals, features written and visual clues that are hard to resist. Ages 3-5.

Moss, Martin SE ME MUEVE UN DIENTE. (Wibble Wobble.) Il. by Joanna Mockler. Trans. by Miguel Angel Mendo. ISBN 84-8488-020-6. Barcelona, Spain: Ediciones Serres, 2001. 32 pp. $18.95. All of Guille's friends have had a loose tooth, except him. When it finally happens, Guille cannot wait for the tooth to come out. There are some anxious moments when his tooth is accidentally thrown in the trash, but all ends well. Originally published by Orchard Books, London, Mendo's spirited Spanish rendition, with its bold watercolors, joyfully complements Mockler's childlike cartoon line illustrations. Ages 4-7.

For Grades K-4

Alonso, Dora LOS PAYASOS. (Clowns.) Il. by Eduardo Munoz Bachs. ISBN 959-08-0282-6. La Habana, Cuba: Editorial Gente Nueva, 1998. 60 pp. $10.95 (paper). Originally published in 1985, this collection of lighthearted poems features Hiloverde and other good-natured clowns who amuse readers with their feats. Munoz's double-page watercolors add whimsy and charm to Alonso's poems, which are enhanced with the parlance of Cuban children. Ages 6-8.

Browne, Anthony VOCES EN EL PARQUE. (Voices in the Park.) Trans. by Carmen Esteva. ISBN 968-16-6019-6. Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Economica, 1999. 26 pp. $13.95. Browne's always endearing bold, flat watercolors convey the humor in this story about a walk in the park, narrated in four different voices. A mother, father, son, and daughter each tells what he or she experienced at the park, as perceived through the lens of their personal concerns, likes, and dislikes. Esteva's rich Spanish rendition, with witty, well-edited details and fine pacing, captures the spirit and tone of the original. Ages 5-7.

Monroy, Manuel RABIETA TREBEJOS. (Tantrum Trebejos.) Il. by the author. ISBN 968-16-6080-3. Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Economica, 1999. 26 pp. $12.99. Narrated in the first-person point of view, a little girl tells how she learned to collect things from her grandmother, who first gave her one unmatched sock in which to store special belongings. Her mother, however, doesn't approve of Rabieta's increasingly large collection of stuff, counseling her to keep "only what we carry within ourselves." Monroy's intricate, eye-catching collages add a sophisticated tone to the story. Ages 7-9.

Ruvio, Gabriela EDU QUIERE SER MONO. (Edu Wants To Be a Monkey.) Il. by the author. ISBN 84-223-3276-4. Barcelona, Spain: Ediciones Destino, 2000. 26 pp. $16.95. Edu, a kind-hearted elephant, wants to be as slender and agile as the monkeys. When he loses weight, he delights in all the fun things monkeys can do, but he loses all the benefits of being a large elephant, including protection from being blown away by the wind. Fortunately, Edu is rescued by Elvira, a girl elephant, who feeds him and encourages him to enjoy being an elephant. The easy-to-read, energetic text is beautifully complemented with appropriately relaxed line drawings and lively double-page spreads. Ages 7-9.

San Vicente, Luis EL FESTIVAL DE LAS CALAVERAS. (The Festival of the Skulls.) Il. by the author. ISBN 968-19-0607-1. Mexico: Alfaguara, 1999. 22 pp. $13.95. Communicating the humor and spirit of the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead, this imaginative text depicts the travels, dances, and songs of happy skulls and skeletons. The easy rhyme and the fanciful illustrations have a definite Mexican flavor that Spanish-speaking children from other countries may find unusual and challenging. Ages 5-7.

Steig, William PEDRO ES UNA PIZZA. (Pete's a Pizza.) Il. by the author. Trans. by Cristina Aparicio. ISBN 958-04-6034-5. Bogota, Colombia: Editorial Norma, 2000. 32 pp. $8.95 (paper). Moody Pedro cannot go out to play ball with his friends; thanks to a resourceful father, however, he enjoys being transformed into a pizza. The fluid Spanish rendition cheerfully complements the warmth and imagination of the watercolor-and-ink line illustrations as Pedro is kneaded, stretched, twirled, tickled, and loved. Ages 5-8.

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.