Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
The Cárdenas family makes great plans for a family picnic on July 4th when their truck-driving uncle is coming to visit. They prepare food, decorate the table and the backyard, and plan to watch the fireworks on TV. But plans must change. First a bad thunderstorm drives them from the yard, then lightning hits a transformer and the electricity fails. But they have a great time anyhow, helped by Uncle Chente's stories and the warmth of family togetherness. Howard's full-page scenes and vignettes on the facing dual-language text page use thin strokes of color to build forms and provide a sense of design unity, echoing that of the family. There is a sense of memory in the slight haziness of the texture. 2001, Piñata Books/Arte Público Press, $14.95. Ages 4 to 8.

Ramirose Attebury Wendt (Children's Literature)
As Estrellita sadly catches one last glimpse of her island home before flying away to a new land, she thinks about all the good memories she formed and all she will be missing. When she leaves the island, she leaves the beautiful rooster that woke her in the morning, the gentle sounds of the sea, the lively little frogs that kept her company in her bedroom. She remembers her playful companion, the mountain goat, the sweet taste of mangos, and the inviting aroma of coffee. Most of all she realizes that she is leaving her friends, the joyful people of her homeland, and the tender hugs of her grandmother. This beautiful book, with its poetic text in both Spanish and English, would make an excellent addition to a multi-cultural classroom or lesson. Not only will students who have had to leave their homes empathize with Estrellita, but the images evoked and the colorful scenes depicted should help provide native students with an understanding and compassion for those who've left behind loved ones and familiar surroundings. The book, in the form of a poem, would also lend itself to a unit or lesson on poetry. 2002, Piñata Press/Arte Público Press, $14.95. Ages 7 to 10.

Becky Young (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 14, No. 3))
Uncle Chente drives an 18-wheeler and promises to visit his family in Texas. When the family gets a postcard saying he will be able to visit them on July 4th, they plan a big family picnic celebration. But a sudden rainstorm, electrical failures, and a fire change all of the plans. Despite the problems, the family has a wonderful celebration and spends the time telling stories and laughing. This bilingual story emphasizes the importance of family, but the wonderful, full-page illustrations bring the story to life. Castilla's pastel drawings of the family are beautifully detailed. Children will love looking at the humorous pictures. The English text is at the top of each page, and the Spanish text is at the bottom. A small picture with one detail about the story separates each section of text. Each page of text is followed by a full-page illustration. This is a great read-aloud book for K-2. Teachers in bilingual and multicultural classes will have many uses for this book. Parents who read only in Spanish will be able to share this story with their children. With its emphasis on the importance of the family, this book can also be used to discuss the importance of the family and cooperation in the Mexican-American culture. Fiction, Highly Recommended. Grades K-2. 2001, Pinata Books, Unpaged, $14.95. Ages 5 to 8.