By René Colato Laínez
Illustrated by Elwood Smith
Publisher : Holiday House (December 19, 2023)
Language : Spanish
Paperback : 32 pages
ISBN-10 : 0823456080
ISBN-13 : 978-0823456086
Señor Pancho Had a Rancho is now en español, El señor Pancho tenía un rancho. This Spanish version had received a starred review by School Library Journal.
K-Gr 2–This Spanish translation of Señor Pancho Had a Rancho is as enjoyable as the original. Colato Laínez adapts his own text, and combined with Smith’s memorable art, the result is energetic and rollicking. Taking on the classic “Old MacDonald Had a Farm,” the author presents two farmers—Don MacDonald and el señor Pancho, who have their hands full with their party animals. On one page, readers see Don MacDonald going about his daily routine on the farm, while on the opposite page, el señor Pancho does the same, albeit with some slight differences. While MacDonald’s animals make their traditional sounds in English, Pancho’s animals sing in their Spanish-language equivalent. For example, the chicks on the farm say “¡Pip!” the pollitos on the rancho say, “¡Pio!” Even the illustrations are depicted as either mirror or parallel images of the other, with differently colored cows or a dog for MacDonald and cat for Pancho, often sitting on the same spot on the opposite page. By the end, the animals take over the ditty when they meet their counterparts and start dancing along to a combined version of the two songs. Smith’s distinct line illustrations are the perfect fit for this silly rendition of an iconic tune. Colato Laínez and Smith expertly weave the two jingles to create a new story that can be used as part of a read-aloud, story time, or even curricular tie-in.
VERDICT Add this raucous twist on “Old MacDonald” to all Spanish collections.
The barnyard animals on Don MacDonald's and el señor Pancho's farms have a hard time communicating. Don MacDonald's rooster says ¡coc-a-duro-du! while Señor Pancho's gallo says quiquiriquí. The English-speaking chick says pip, pip, but el pollito says pío, pío. Then the horse says nei, nei—and el caballo says ¡niiiji! But when the animals come together for a barnyard fiesta, they realize that maybe they're not so different after all.
Musically rhythmic lines of verse full of Spanish-language animal sounds (and their English equivalents, rendered in Spanish phonetic spelling) encourage children to laugh and sing along. The colorful illustrations perfectly match the silly text, featuring playful livestock that sing and dance across the two dueling barnyards. This lively, irresistible book is a celebration of Spanish-language onomatopoeia!
René Colato Laínez is an award-winning author born in El Salvador. He currently lives in Southern California where he teaches kindergartners in a bilingual classroom. Other titles by René Colato Laínez include ¡Vámonos! Let’s Go! and Mamá the Alien.
Elwood Smith has illustrated more than a dozen books for children, including Zoo Ah-choooo by Peter Mandel. A guitar player, Smith has written songs and two musicals. He lives in the Hudson River Valley.
