Wednesday, December 17, 2008

More Picture Books for Navidad

René Colato Laínez

Here is my list of books for navidad for this year. Enjoy them and feliz navidad y año nuevo.

Merry Navidad!: Christmas Carols in Spanish and English/Villancicos en español e ingles by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy. Illustrated by Vivi Escriva.

This illustrated book for children introduces and organizes Christmas songs into the following categories: on the road to Bethlehem, the posadas, Christmas eve, the shepherds, Christmas lullabies, Saint Joseph, the Christmas tree, aguinaldos, and the Three Wise Kings. Musical notations of six of the songs are included at the end.



The Miracle of the First Poinsettia by Joanne Oppenheim. Illustrated by Fabian Negrin.

A retelling of a Mexican legend that describes the origin of the Poinsettia plant. In this version, a young girl has nothing to give the Christ child, but when the weeds she carries in her hands miraculously transform into red flowers, she now has the perfect gift.


Celebra La Navidad Y El Dia De Los Reyes Magos Con Pablo Y Carlitos / Celebrate Christmas and Three Kings Day With Pablo and by F. Isabel Campoy Isabel and Alma Flor Ada. Illustrated by Walter Torres.

Brothers Pablo and Carlitos write letters to the three kings, telling them the gifts they want to receive on Three Kings' Day. Includes facts about Christmas and Three Kings' Day.




Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto. Illustrated by Ed Martinez.

Maria tries on her mother's wedding ring while helping make tamales for a Christmas family get-together, but panic ensues when hours later, she realizes the ring is missing.





The Storyteller's Candle/La velita de los cuentos by Lucia Gonzalez. Illustrated by Lulu Delacre.

During the early days of the Great Depression, New York City's first Puerto Rican librarian, Pura Belpré, introduces the public library to immigrants living in El Barrio and hosts the neighborhood's first Three Kings' Day fiesta.



Miracle of the Poinsettia/Milagro de la Flor de Nochebuena: A Retelling by Brian Cavanaugh. Illustrated by Dennis Rockhill. Translated by Carmen Lopez-Platek.

The Miracle of the Poinsettia is a retelling of a traditional Mexican legend--a small girl has no gift to give the Christ child at the Christmas Eve procession. She gathers up weeds from the roadside and because she give them from her heart, they are miraculously topped with glorious red flowers.

The Christmas Gift: El regalo de Navidad by Francisco Jiménez. Illustrated by Claire B. Cotts.

When his family has to move again a few days before Christmas in order to find work, Panchito worries that he will not get the ball he has been wanting.




Charro Claus and the Tejas Kid written and illustrated by Xavier Garza.

One night Santa Claus transformed his cousin Pancho into the resplendent Charro Claus with his incredible Flying Burritos. And Charro Claus, it turns out, even had his own surprise elf-his nephew Vincente! All Christmas Eve, Vincente and Pancho deliver toys to the boys and girls on the border.




Farolitos for Abuelo by Rudolfo Anaya. Illustrated by Edward Gonzales.

When Luz's beloved grandfather dies, she places luminaria around his grave on Christmas Eve as a way of remembering him.




Humphrey's First Christmas written and illustrated by Carol Heyer.

We have all hear the story of the three wise men, who brought their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. But what about the camels who carried them? Here is the imaginative story of Humphrey the camel and his long, cold journey to Bethlehem. This story reminds readers of the importance of Christmas and the true meaning of gift-giving.

To view last year Picture Books for Navidad click here.

4 comments:

Alma Flor Ada said...

What a wonderful list you have created! Thanks for including our books Merry Navidad and Celebrate Christmas and Three Kings Day and its Spanish version Celebra el Dia de Navidad con Pablo y Carlitos. These holidays are very special and writing these books has been a way of acknowledging their contribution to our own childhoods and those of our families. Our hope is that they will lead children and parents to share together their own villancicos and their own holiday stories. My other Christmas title The Golden Cage, in Spanish, La jaula dorada, has been a constant source of satisfaction for me, as teachers and parents tell me it has help them discuss the true meaning of presents and gifts. As a personal note I will share that this Christmas, instead of material gifts what I will be giving my nine grandchildren is a digital book on the stories of their own fathers, uncles and aunt --that is my own children-- as they were growing up. It has been quite a monumental task to put this book together, searching through long kept photos and mementos to illustrated... it has also been an inmense pleasure to put together. All best wishes to you and your readers for these holidays and the new year, Alma Flor Ada

Beatrice said...

There can never be too many tamales! :D Ah, ya me dieron el antojo de tamales.....

Anamaria (bookstogether) said...

Thank you for this list! There are some old favorites (Too Many Tamales!) and some titles that are new to us, that I'll be sure to look for (Merry Navidad!). Thanks again!

Rene Colato Lainez said...

Thanks for your comments.
Alma Flor I love the idea of the digital book. It will be a great books for your nietos.

saludos maestra,

René