Con el sol en los ojos/With the Sun in My Eyes

Gr 2–4—Simple, free-verse poems cultivate a child's imagination-of corn kernels in the air that become constellations, of a doll being unloved, of exploring the silence within, of capturing the sun's reflection in objects. An internationally acclaimed poet and illustrator partner to create a splendid work of art. Mixed-media illustrations combine contemporary, innovative techniques, utilizing paper scrapping, watercolors, and stamping set against monochrome backgrounds to enhance the imaginative ambience of the poems. Pastels and earth-tones color the pleasant Picasso-like figures, some full-bodied and others just containing outlines. Fish float in the air after nibbling a boy's toes. A kite floats in the sky, pulling children into the air. Spanish and English texts sit side by side, allowing readers to compare the sounds and rhymes of the words. The complexity and vocabulary of some of the lengthier poems may be difficult for younger readers to grasp. The translation adequately reflects the original poems. An excellent addition to libraries and language-learning activities.—Cristi Jenkins, Fort Vancouver Regional Library, WA