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Bilingual Picture Books

Drum, Chavi, Drum!  Chiki-Chak-Prak!   When Cubanita Chavi isn’t picked to play congas on the school float for Miami’s Calle Ocho Cuban Festival, she does something about it!

Birthday in the Barrio:  Cubanita rebels Chavi and Rosario swoosh through their Cuban-American neighborhood, recruiting kids and grown-ups to help plan a secret birthday block party.  Can the girls bring an entire community together for the most fun Miami Beach party ever and help the homeless?

  From the Critics:
 
School Library Journal: “Mayra L. Dole’s prose, in both English and Spanish, is exuberant, making use of colloquial expressions that reflect the nature of the Cubano neighborhoods of Miami.”

Booklist/: “Chavi is a strong, intelligent, and resourceful protagonist. Her ingenious efforts to organize a party not only demonstrate her skills but also a strong sense of her Cuban American neighborhood in Miami. …unstoppable enthusiasm… wise children.”
Kirkus Reviews: “The warmth of family and community suffuses the tale and crosses all cultural boundaries.”  
Midwest Book Review: ” Chavi proves that with a little determination and creativity she can do anything.” 
Children’s Literature: Mayra L. Dole’s narrative entertains… and creates a picture of neighborhood unity. This book is part of the “Chavi” series and useful in teaching teamwork and initiative.”
San Francisco Chronicle: “… a pair of Cuban American girls use their wit and charm to enlist everyone’s help to throw the party.  …there’s a unique plot twist in the bilingual book, “Birthday in the Barrio…”  The young party planners turn the traditional event, which is often a lavish, keep-up-with-the-neighbors affair, into a block party — and a fund- raiser for the local homeless shelter.  ‘It’s not a story looking from the outside in, but from the inside out. …it’s rollicking fun.’ … 
 
National Education Association: Welcome to the lively Miami barrio where Chavi and her friend Rosario are intent on making Lazarita’s dreams of a 15th birthday party come true, even though her father has lost his job. Mayra L. Dole’s colorful bilingual book Birthday in the Barrio/ Cumpleaños en el Barrio tells the story of Chavi and Rosario’s scheme to put on a party that won’t cost Lazarita’s family anything, while at the same time helping out the nearby homeless shelter.  
Bayviews: “This well-done bilingual picture book positively portrays a Latino community. . . And, quite refreshingly, it is the children who lead the adults to the resolution. Best suited for one-on-one sharing, this family portrayal is a must for any library serving a Latino community with a need for primary grade picture books.”  
Foreword Review: “Picturesque words enliven the text… The bilingual-English and Spanish-text enables children to improve their less-familiar language. Cuban and standard Spanish words add ethnic flavor to the English part… The compassion that the characters show for people who are homeless promotes good values. …This lively adventure demonstrates to youngsters that in spite of plans going wrong, hope remains for… whatever one strives to accomplish.”
Diario Las Americas: “… Lively narration written with talent and love.”
 
Rethinking Schools Curriculum Resources: “…By bringing the community together to help a homeless shelter, Chavi shows what working together can accomplish.” 
Tolerance Magazine/Tolerance.org: ”… Children will love the creative use of language.”
  
Book Notes Center for Children/YA: ”…a festive story of friendship and community. Dole’s rhythmic language make this an enjoyable story for young readers.”
Candela Boston Review: “… Chavi shakes land and sky… in this adventure that encourages Latino unity and life as a community.  Mayra Lazara Dole’s book is a great option to help your children practice English and Spanish reading. Our children will get the flavor of a Hispanic celebration with music, dancing and of course ‘puerco asado.  … a perfect fussion of lively illustrations and narrative.” 
Latin Beat: “No challenge is ever too big for Chavi, who with the help of her neighborhood friends and their families, organizes a spectacular street party…  …the cultural references are vividly and naturally imbedded throughout the text.  Chavi’s adventures are uplifting and inspiring….”  .

From the Critics for Drum, Chavi, Drum!:

Miami Herald: “…Mayra L. Dole has woven the texture of Cuban Miami into Chavi’s story. The neighbor ladies give manicures in their homes. The men play dominoes in the park. The illustrations by Tonel depict Miami’s famous street party in all its vibrant glory.”  

Orange County Register: “Confidant Chavi and Rosario make fine role models . . . It’s a fun, inspiring tale.”  

School Library Journal: “The exuberant text is alive with rhythms, and Chavi is a heartwarming heroine who compares favorably to other girls who think outside the box…’” 

Booklist/American Library Association: …Tonel depicts Miami’s famous festival with bright colors, exaggerated shapes, and proportions that match the lively words, which introduce Chavi’s extended family and ‘the largest Latino festival in the nation.’”  

The Washington Post: A lot of kids are reading books such as “Drum, Chavi, Drum!” They help kids learn a second language and learn about another culture.  

 

Multicultural Review: “This children’s story builds self-affirmation, celebrates diversity, and breaks away from stereotypes… For the adult reader, the book reinforces traditional Cuban and Latino values and captures the cultural vibrancy and energy felt in the Miami area.”   

Diario Las Americas: “… Mayra L. Dole narrates with passion and talent.  This book needs to be in all libraries, schools and homes. It gathers, in addition, important aspects of the Cuban culture: the sense of extended family, the love of music, work ethics; customs, dominoes, and personages…”  

Midwest Book Review:  “Chavi brings her entire Cuban American community together in a birthday celebration like Miami has never seen before!”  

Tolerance.org: ”… a young girl wants to play drums in the Calle Ocho festival, a street party that celebrates Miami’s Cuban culture. Chavi is told that she can’t play drums and becomes the first girl to play in the festival.”  

Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute: A contemporary realistic fiction tale written by a Cuban-born writer and Senegalese djembe drum player; djembes are often traditionally played by males throughout West African and Caribbean cultures. Dole’s work sends a rhythmically empowering message to young girls everywhere to challenge that reality! 

Resource Center of the Americas:  ”…Colorful, up-beat, and exciting.” 

ASU: “Mayra L. Dole’s portrayal of the feisty Chavi will warm hearts of all ages with her antics and exuberance.”    

Sesame Street en Espanol: Consejos para las familias/ Episode 4077 Grover global:  Vayan de viaje con Grover a Puerto Rico donde aprende a hacer un instrumento llamado un güiro hecho de una calabaza vinatera.”.

Latin Beat: “… The amount of culture weaved into a book of 32 pages is one of the things that impressed me most. Additionally, the descriptive sounds of Chavi’s drumming bring the story to life. This is a definite read-aloud!”

Comments»

1. bronzeword - UTC000000UTC0902am09, ndUTCp28UTC02bUTCMon, 02 Feb 2009 03:25:09 +0000 04, 2007

I would be honored if you would Guest post here. I would like to highlight your books. please email me Thank you, Jo Ann Hernandez

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