FICTION

Mi familia calaca/My Skeleton Family

by Cynthia WEILL
illus. by Jesús Canseco Zárate. 32p. Cinco Puntos. 2013. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-935955-50-4; ebook $14.95. ISBN 978-1-935955-51-1. LC 2013012342.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2—Anita, an adorable papier-mâché skeleton, introduces readers to her extended family. The text is simple and straightforward, appearing in both English and Spanish, using basic sentences to define the role of each family member or to describe them. This book could be used in units on teaching sentence structure or for independent reading. The photographed Oaxacan folk-art figures will make readers smile as each one has a fixed grin, as one would expect from a well-dressed skeleton. Anita's mother is wearing strands of pearls, great grandmother is featured with her walker, and the dog is wearing a sweater. This book would be a welcome and culturally relevant addition to beginning-reader collections.—Maricela Leon-Barrera, San Francisco Public Library
Side-by-side English and Spanish phrases help readers learn and translate vocabulary as a friendly skeleton girl uses brief, simple sentences to describe her family members: “Juanito is the baby. He’s so cute! / Juanito es el bebé. ¡Él es tan lindo!” Repeats and emphasizes important words in singular and plural forms. For example, Anita introduces her grandparents separately as “Mi abuelita” and “Mi abuelito” and then together: “My grandparents. They are the best. / Mis abuelitos. Mis abuelos son los mejores.” The illustrations—wiry, colorfully dressed papier-mâché sculptures—are arranged in family “portraits,” a fun use of traditional skeletons from Mexican culture.

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