Los Gatos Black on Halloween

Bibliographic Information: Montes, M. (2006). Los Gatos Black on Halloween. Illus. Yuyi Morales. New York, NY: Henry Holt Company, LLC.

Brief Annotation: On Halloween all sorts of creatures come out to celebrate. In this book you will learn the Spanish name for each creature as well as what scares them the most on this ghoulish holiday.

Genre: Fantasy

Grade Level: K-3rd

Readers who will like this: Any child who enjoys Halloween!

Response/Rating (1-4): 4; I really like this book and would love to read it every Halloween! I also liked the glossary in the back that allows you to translate the Spanish words.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Why do you think Halloween is thought as a scary holiday?

a. Reading Strategy: Internet Investigation

b. Strategy Description: After reading the book, the students will go research online about how other cultures celebrate Halloween. They will then write a few interesting facts that they find to share with the class.

c. Rationale: This Reading strategy incorporates the theme of the book and encourages the students to explore other cultures.

Just A Minute

Bibliographic Information: Morales, Yuyi. (2003). Just a minute. San Francisco, California: Chronicle Books LLC.

Annotation: This is a counting book, both in English and Spanish, in which grandma tricks death himself into giving her more time.

Genre: Trickster

Grade Level: N-3

Readers Who Will Like This Book: People who have a sense of humor and like trickster tales.

Personal Response and Rating: I rate this book a 4. I enjoyed Grandma's ability to trick death long enough to spend her birthday with grandchildren with counting to ten in both Spanish and English interwoven throughout the text.

Prereading Question: Who knows how to count in Spanish?

Ladder to the Moon

Bibliographic Information: Soetoro-Ng, Maya. (2011). Ladder to the Moon. Illus. Yuyi Morales. Humen, Dongguan, China: Candlewick Press.

Brief Annotation: Little Suhaila visits her grandmother on the moon. Together they open their hearts to people in need, inviting them to the moon. When Suhaila wakes, she is excited to tell her mother she has met her grandmother.

Genre: Storybook

Grade Level: 1 - 5

Readers who will like this book: Anyone who is caring and wants to help people. Those who have deceased family members they have never met. Anyone with hope.

Rating/Response: 3 out of 4. While it is a beautiful story with lovely illustrations, there are some parts that may confuse younger readers. Overall, it is a sweet way to dream of those we wish we could have spent time with before they died.

One question I would ask before a read aloud: What does it mean to love?

Just in Case

Bibliographic Information (APA): Morales, Y. (2008). Just in Case. Illus. Yuyi Morales. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press.

Brief Annotation: This is an ABC story about Señor Calavera and his journey to Grandma Beetle's birthday party. He meets Zelmiro the ghost and Zelmiro helps him find a birthday present for grandma.

Genre: ABC PictureBook

Grade Level: Preschool-1st grade

Readers who will like this: Most children would enjoy this book that is so vividly illustrated. Children of a Spanish background would be able to relate to this book well.

Response/Rating (1-4): 4; This is a very cute book using the Spanish Alphabet and vivid colors to illustrate it. This book has a wonderful ending and is a great multicultural choice.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you know what the difference is between the Spanish Alphabet and the English Alphabet?