Abuela - (Picture Puffin Books) by Arthur Dorros (Paperback)

About the Book

Readers are invited to join Rosalb and her grandmother on a magical journey, as they fly over the streets, sights, and people of Manhattan. The story is narrated in English and sprinkled with Spanish phrases.

Book Synopsis

A young girl and her grandmother celebrate their home and relationship in this magical story. Winner of the Parents' Choice Award!

Come join Rosalba and her grandmother, her abuela, on a magical journey as they fly over the streets, sights, and people of New York City which sparkles below. The story is narrated in English, and sprinkled with Spanish phrases as Abuela points out places that they explore together. The exhilaration in Rosalba's and Abuela's story is magnified by the loving bond that only a grandmother and granddaughter can share.

Also available in a Spanish-language edition (ISBN: 978-0-14-056226-2)

"A book to set any child dreaming...any reader can handle it, whether familiar with Spanish or not. It's just joyful."-The New York Times

* "A marvelous balancing of narrative simplicity with visual intricacy...the city is transformed into a treasure trove of jewels, dazzling the eye, uplifting the spirits."-The Horn Book (starred review)

* "Each illustration is a masterpiece of color, line, and form that will mesmerize youngsters...The smooth text, interspersed with Spanish words and phrases, provides ample context clues...a jewel."-Booklist (starred review)

"Dorros's text seamlessly weaves Spanish words and phrases into the English narrative, retaining a dramatic quality rarely found in bilingual picture books"--Publisher's Weekly

An ALA Notable Book
An NCSS-CBC Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
A Library of Congress Children's Book of the Year
An American Booksellers Pick of the Lists selection
A Booklist Editor's Choice
A Horn Book Fanfare Listing
Winner of the Parent's Choice Award
A Hungry Mind Review Children's Books of Distinction List selection
A New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing selection

Review Quotes

Praise for Abuela

"A book to set any child dreaming...any reader can handle it, whether familiar with Spanish or not. It's just joyful."-The New York Times

* "A marvelous balancing of narrative simplicity with visual intricacy...the city is transformed into a treasure trove of jewels, dazzling the eye, uplifting the spirits."-The Horn Book (starred review)

* "Each illustration is a masterpiece of color, line, and form that will mesmerize youngsters...The smooth text, interspersed with Spanish words and phrases, provides ample context clues...a jewel."-Booklist (starred review)

"Dorros's text seamlessly weaves Spanish words and phrases into the English narrative, retaining a dramatic quality rarely found in bilingual picture books"--Publisher's Weekly

"Should prove useful not only for collections in which there is need for ethnic diversity, but also as enrichment for intellectually curious children who are intrigued by the exploration of another language."--School Library Journal

An ALA Notable Book
An NCSS-CBC Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
A Library of Congress Children's Book of the Year
An American Booksellers Pick of the Lists selection
A Booklist Editor's Choice
A Horn Book Fanfare Listing
Winner of the Parent's Choice Award
A Hungry Mind Review Children's Books of Distinction List selection
A New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing selection

About the Author

Arthur Dorros (arthurdorros.com) has enjoyed words, pictures, and books for as long as he can remember. A photograph taken when he was one and a half years old shows him eating a few. Some of his later experiences led to his creating books. When he was four years old he sat on the tail of a ten-foot long alligator. Fortunately the alligator had been well fed. Out of that adventure grew one of his first published books, Alligator Shoes.

Since 1980, he has written and/or illustrated numerous popular titles about a broad variety of subjects from nonfiction, concept science books, to high-flying stories such as the award-winning Abuela. Before he started making books he did many things: he worked as a carpenter, teacher, farm worker, longshoreman, and photographer at various times. He loves to travel, learning about and meeting people, and discovering similarities and differences around the world. As a writer and illustrator he brings what he finds into his books. Mr. Dorros currently lives in Seattle, Washington, and enjoys visiting schools throughout the US and internationally to speak with students about telling their own stories.

In addition to the much-appreciated reactions of his readers, his works have been selected as Reading Rainbow Books, ALA Notable Book, American Bookseller Pick of the Lists, NCSS Notable Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies, Parent's Choice Award, Storytime Public TV Selection, and Booklist Editors' Choice, among other commendations.