iFiesta!

From Publishers Weekly Here's a counting and vocabulary book that, in a refreshing twist, teaches in English and Spanish. In a south-of-the-border setting, a group of children make their way around a village gathering items for a party ("fiesta"). From "Una canasta/ One basket" to "Cinco trompos/ Five tops" and "Diez serpentinas/ Ten streamers," the correct number of objects can be counted in each picture, while the text on the facing page asks, "?Que mas?/ What else?" The familiar, limited number of items?and vocabulary words?makes it all the more likely that children will absorb the language and counting lessons, although the absence of a pronunciation guide may hamper some would-be polyglots. Moreno's (The Pocket Book) pastel, watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations afford an idyllic, soft-lensed view of frolicking children, kindly merchants and such atmospheric elements as mariachis and an open-air market. The pictures also add a story to the counting/vocabulary class: all the objects go into the creation of a pi?ata, which explodes ("!Pau!/ Crack!") in a jubilant party scene at the end. !Ole! Ages 5-up. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 2?Three children begin with una canasta (one basket) and proceed to fill it with scrumptious candies, trinkets, and toys in preparation for a Mexican fiesta. Readers are invited to count along as they gather dos trompetas (two horns), tres animalitos (three little animals), cuartro aviones (four airplanes), cinco trompos (five tops), etc. in joyous anticipation of the party and the cracking open of the pi?ata. A simple bilingual text provides numbers in English and in Spanish. The soft-edged full-color illustrations done in pencils, pastels, and watercolors have a subtle folkloric quality. The colorful artwork complements the simplicity and childlike appeal of this delightful picture book.?Selene S. Vasquez, New York Public LibraryCopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.