By Aracelli Astorga
LatinaLista
In the Spanish-language book, Con mis oidos, by Mariana I. Pellegrino, with illustrations by Mariana Nemitz, children are introduced to the many wonderful things people can hear by using our ears — school bells ringing, birds singing, ocean waves splashing.
The book’s text is made up of simple sentences that are more like poems than an actual story. The rhythm, though, is fairly easy for both parents and children to follow. Parents will appreciate the soft, muted watercolor illustrations that fill the pages with the sounds that we “hear” in the story: a clock tower represents school bells, birds in a tree represent singing birds. Children, though, might be turned off by the abstractness that characterizes the illustrations.
The companion CD is wonderful. Kristine Klanderud brings the book to life with her sing-song voice; the sound effects, such as children’s laughter and rain, enhance the book.
Kristine Klanderud reads the story in both English and Spanish which is a bonus for children who only understand one language.
This book is part of the Con mis series which focuses on the five senses. Con mis oÃdos is recommended for emerging readers.
Con mis oÃdos is published by Lorito Books.
Aracelli Astorga is a school librarian and part of the Review ‘n Receive book review program.
A bilingual approach to hearing sounds
