Speak English for Us, Marisol! (Concept Books (Albert Whitman))
Kindergarten-Grade 2-Marisol hurries home from school to see if her cat has had her kittens, but she is stopped many times by relatives and neighbors who need to make use of her ability to speak both Spanish and English. Uncle Tom s asks her to bargain with the poultry man, Auntie Flora needs help with a phone call, and Mrs. Lopez can't fill out an application form. When the child finally reaches home, her mother hustles her off to straighten out the telephone bill, not giving her time to check on her pet. Though the text never mentions the birth, the final picture shows the girl and her mother with her cat and her three kittens. The gouache-and-acrylic illustrations have a chalklike appearance and often cover three-quarters of a spread, fading out to a white margin. Somewhat impressionistic, they are at times posed and awkward, but do focus readers' attention on the action. Overall, this is a slight tale, but it is one that will undoubtedly resonate with many children of immigrants, who serve as translators for families and friends.Diane S. Marton, Arlington County Library, VACopyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.