Joe Cepeda

Third grade Gabi speaks Spanish at home and English at school and sometimes “Spanglish” everywhere. Spanish and English combine naturally in Gabi’s narration as the irrepressible, likable girl befriends a kindergartner who has moved from Nicaragua and as she controls her temper when teased by a classmate.

In this warm holiday story, a young Puerto Rican boy saves the life of his pet turkey on Thanksgiving with help from his close-knit New York City family and neighborhood. Spanish vocabulary is woven into the text. Spanish version available.

As Rosa Maria prepares for the family celebration of her granddaughter’s birthday, she gets unexpected help from the mice who live in the house. Spanish words are integrated into the joyful text and reflected in the energetic, vibrant illustrations.

Join a Latino celebration of Christmas from A to Z, enjoying the sights and symbols of the holiday. Spanish words and additional explanations conclude this energetic book with animated illustrations.

The irrepressible Gabi is tired of speaking two languages and feels like she’s messing up both. But what can she do if she is only allowed to speak Spanish at home? Gabi comes up with a solution that will make readers chuckle and recognize some of their own thinking in Gabi’s reasoning.

Many years ago in California, an energetic young Girl Scout named Dolores worked to raise money for soldiers fighting in World War II. A thoughtful young boy named Cesar worked in the fields to help his family put food on the table. As young adults, these two extraordinary individuals would meet and spend the rest of their lives working tirelessly on behalf of migrant workers and children through nonviolent struggle — side by side. Monica Brown and Joe Cepeda bring the story of Dolores and Cesar to life through this vibrant bilingual book, which will make an excellent addition to units on migrant farmworkers, civil rights, or women’s history.

The familiar “Wheels on the Bus” has been augmented (e.g., a fire truck goes “woo-oo”), adapted and presented here in Spanish and English. The accompanying illustrations are cheery, adding humor and verve.