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"My Grandma Mi Abuelita" by Ginger Foglesong Guy

Author:

Ginger Foglesong Guy

Illustrator:

Viví Escrivá

Publisher:

HarperCollins Publishers, 2007

Reviewed by:

Kristine Wildner, Holy Apostles School, New Berlin, Wis.

Beautifully illustrated, My Grandma, Mi Abuelita is a simple story told through pictures with straightforward, bilingual vocabulary words accentuating each page.  A young boy and his sister travel by plane with their father to Mexico to visit their grandmother.  The one or two word nouns and verbs are written first in Spanish, then in English. However, it’s not the words that tell the story, but the 2 page spreads of breathtaking watercolors. The love of the father and grandmother for the children is evident in the expressions on their faces.  Moreover, the imagination and excitement of the trip is seen through the children’s eyes. Details enhance the story with the children’s pictures on the wall, a view of the world outside through the windows, the excitement of the American airport and beauty of the Mexican countryside.

Best shared individually with a child, the book is a wonderful addition to a family library or preschool, particularly in a community of bilingual families. Any young child could quickly learn the key words in the story and “read” it all by himself – enjoying not only the accomplishment of recognizing words – but also the story told through pictures.  The stunning illustrations and multi-cultural focus make this book a recommended purchase for preschool children.