Product Description

From Pura Belpré Award–winning author Margarita Engle comes a lively, rhythmic picture book about a little girl visiting her grandfather who is a pregonero—a singing street vendor in Cuba—and helping him sell his frutas.

When we visit mi abuelo
, I help him sell
frutas
, singing the names of each fruit as we walk, our footsteps like drumbeats, our hands like maracas, shaking…

The little girl loves visiting her grandfather in Cuba and singing his special songs to sell all kinds of fruit:
mango,
limón,
naranja,
piña, and more! Even when they’re apart, grandfather and granddaughter can share rhymes between their countries like
un abrazo—a hug—made of words carried on letters that soar across the distance like songbirds.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-A young girl visits her abuelo in Cuba and accompanies him as he sells delicious frutas, calling out in song and inviting everyone they pass to come and have a look. Many pregoneros, singing vendors, call out in song together, their voices mixing and creating a beautiful melody that travels through the streets, carrying with it requests for candies, yams, tamales, and more. When the new year arrives, the young narrator loves to help Abuelo sell the grapes that people will use to make one wish for every month of the new year. Although the trips come to an end, and it is difficult for the young narrator and her family to return home, she takes comfort in knowing that she and Abuelo can still exchange letters full of love. Bright, colorful spreads share the beauty and vibrancy of the streets of Cuba and the joy shared by the family. Delightful verses sprinkled with Spanish express the girl's love of family and home, as well as her longing for a time when seeing family will not be so difficult. An author's note discusses the use of Spanish in the text, travel restrictions between Cuba and the United States, the history of pregoneros, and the tradition of eating grapes on New Year's Eve. VERDICT A heartfelt story full of love for family and traditions, highly recommended for picture book collections for children.-Selenia Paz, Harris County P.L., Houstonα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

* “Palacios' beautiful artwork renders the city in rich, saturated colors with bustling crowds of people set against brightly hued buildings . . . Engle deftly weaves Spanglish through the conversational text . . . an author's note [enhances] the experience of this heartfelt read. . . ” — Booklist, Starred Review

* “Palacios’ vibrant illustrations beautifully capture the joy and liveliness of the event. . . A joyful celebration of Cuban tradition and family ties.” — Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

* “Palacios gives a visual richness to the spreads, portraying streets teeming with people of various skin tones talking, dancing, and buying. . . Engle’s mix of Spanish and English flows easily off the pages.”

— Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Engle’s text is rich in sensory details . . . Palacios’s digital illustrations are characterized by soft lines and warm colors that augment the positive mood throughout. . . Fond reminiscences and a nuanced cultural depiction make for another warm ode to Engle’s beloved isla.” — Horn Book Magazine

“[A] note of separation marks the apt and poignant segue to Engle’s historical and cultural notes on street vending . . . The sun-soaked colors and invitingly tactile texturing of Palacios’ digital artwork will draw readers to the joyful visit.” — BCCB

“Bright, colorful spreads share the beauty and vibrancy of the streets of Cuba and the joy shared by the family. Delightful verses sprinkled with Spanish express the girl’s love of family and home. . . A heartfelt story full of love for family and traditions, highly recommended for picture book collections. . .”

— School Library Journal

About the Author

Margarita Engle is the C