Pio Peep!: Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes ANNOTATION
A collection of more than two dozen nursery rhymes in Spanish, from Spain and Latin America, with English translations.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
El sol es de oro
la luna es de plata
y las estrellitas
son de hoja de lata.
The sun's a gold medallion.
The moon's a silver ball.
The little stars are only tin;
I love them best of all.
Here is a groundbreaking bilingual collection of traditional rhymes that celebrates childhood and Spanish and Latin American heritage. From playing dress up to making tortillas, and from rising at daybreak to falling asleep, these joyful rhymes are sure to delight young readers.
Passed down from generation to generation, the twenty-nine rhymes included have been lovingly selected by distinguished authors Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy. English adaptations by Alice Schertle capture the spirit of each rhyme and have a charm all their own. Accompanied by enchanting illustrations by Spanish artist Viví Escrivá, this collection is destined to become a beloved classic for children already familiar with the rhymes as well as those encountering them for the first time.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Passing along traditional rhymes to a new generation of children is the focus of Pio Peep! Traditional Spanish Nursery Rhymes, selected by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy, English adaptations by Alice Schertle, illus. by Vivi Escriva. The 29 rhymes selected here celebrate childhood, from rising with the sun to playing pat-a-cake and other games to a last look at a sleepy mouse: "A sleepy mouse/ began to snore./ This tale is told-/ there is no more." The Spanish rhyme and its English counterpart appear side by side, and bilingual readers may sometimes wonder at the choices made in the English versions, which are not translations but "poetic re-creations." The softly rounded, glowing watercolors depict children mostly in modern dress amid lush natural landscapes. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Criticas - Ann Welton, Grant Center for the Expressive Arts, Tacoma, WA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
PreS-Gr 2-Twenty-nine nursery rhymes from the Latin American tradition appear in their original Spanish and in informed and stylish English translations. Perfect for beginning the year with the very youngest; the rhymes sing off the page and are excellent for filling those transitional moments with language-rich activity. In either tongue, love of language and poetic expression find an outlet here.
Children's Literature - Gisela Jernigan, Ph.D.
This lively collection of 29 traditional Spanish nursery rhymes consists mostly of double-page spreads featuring the Spanish nursery rhyme on the first page followed by a corresponding English rhyme on the second page. Bright, child-like illustrations frame, enhance and unify the bilingual rhymes. As explained in the Spanish and English introductions, the English versions of the rhymes are not translations but poetic re-creations of the originals. While some details may differ, this method very successfully helps preserve the charm and spirit of the original Spanish. Schertle does an admirable job of adapting and re-creating. The selectors purposefully chose rhymes that are well-known and loved throughout the Spanish-speaking world. While three of the rhymes are from Mexico, the rest are favorites in many Spanish-speaking countries. The rhymes represent a nice variety. They accompany finger plays, games, songs, counting, breaking a piﾽata, falling asleep and other activities. Some of the rhymes celebrate things in nature, such as ants and elephants, while others are just fun and silly. This attractive collection is a wonderful introduction to oral Spanish folklore and should appeal to both children and adults. It would be a useful, enjoyable addition to bilingual classrooms, libraries and homes. 2003, HarperCollins, Ages 3 mo. to 8.
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2-Following in the tradition of Margot Griego's Tortillitas para Mama (Holt, 1995) and Jos -Luis Orozco's Diez deditos (Dutton, 1997) comes this stellar collection of nursery rhymes. Selected from the rich oral tradition of Latin America and the American Southwest, most of the verses are known throughout the Spanish-speaking world. The rhymes cover everything from early morning birds to elephants to angels, and the reason for their enduring popularity is clear. Deeply rhythmic verses, compelling rhyme schemes, and words that "play trippingly on the tongue" characterize every verse. Schertle's excellent English adaptations are not literal translations but poetic re-creations. They retain the rhythm, meter, and general meaning of the originals, making the rhymes as memorable and memorizable in English as they are in Spanish. Escriv 's watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations use brilliant hues and detail to reconstruct a young child's world. Certain to become a staple for preschool and early elementary programs, this offering is also a wonderful, reassuring lap book. A must-purchase for libraries. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Hoping to introduce the rich heritage of Spanish nursery rhymes to children of all backgrounds, the editors have selected many of the best-known traditional rhymes, most originally from Spain, but now spread throughout Latin America. In this bilingual presentation, Schertle avoids a word-for-word translation and presents instead what the introduction calls a "poetic re-creation." While small details may differ, the English versions flow easily off the tongue. A few of the rhymes are associated with children's games, such as "El patio de mi casa" and children can get the sense of the game from the words, but there are few notes accompanying the individual rhymes. A preface acknowledges some sources and provides limited background information for adults. Escrivﾽ's pastoral paintings of sweet-faced children and adults dressed in a mix of traditional and contemporary clothing are pleasant accompaniments. (Poetry. 4-8)
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