A Gift for Abuelita/Un regalo para Abuelita
   Nancy Luenn - Illustrator Robert Chapman
  1998 Rising Moon/Northland Pub, Flagstaff, AZ USA
   ISBN: 0873586883


Celebrating the Day of the Dead/En celebración del Dia de los Muertos. In this bi-lingual book the magic of love & the rituals surrounding the memorial day celebrated in Mexican American communities are woven together in a heartwarming family story.

Rosita y su abuela son inseparables. Whether Abuelita is teaching Rosita about gardening or creating a game out of making tortillas, Rosita always feels the warmth of her love. Cuando Abuelita muere, Rosita la extraña tanto que nada de lo que dice su familia la puede consolar. Finally, Rosita's grandfather tells her that she can show Abuelita how much she misses her by making a gift for the Day of the Dead, when Abuelita's spirit will visit.

Here is an affectionate picture book revealing a child's sense of loss & the healing power of remembrance. Esto libro con illustraciones, lleno de cariño, revela el sentido de pérdida de una niña y el poder curativo de los recuerdos.

With mixed media on cast paper illustrations by Robert Chapman, Nancy Luenn has told a loving & difficult story in both English & Spanish. This is a wonderful way to both teach how similar are these two languages & how easy it is to understand both.

There are Author's Note/Nota de la autora & Illustrator's Note/Nota del ilustrador which explain how & why this thoughtful & colorful book came about.

This coming together of a writer's story & the visions of an illustrator is perfect. A simple tale of sorrow, change, love & healing. There are skills & ideas tucked away inside this gift: of a child's grief over the loss of those everyday things they did together & how her people celebrate their loved ones' memories.

A Gift for Abuelita/Un regalo para Abuelita is a treasure to be read again & again not only for the story & the rich & detailed illustrations, it celebrates the marriage of two languages telling the same story.

A keeper of a book!

Nancy Luenn has published 15 books for children & teenagers including: Nessa's fish; The Dragon Kite & Squish! She teaches English as a Second Language. Lectora incasable desde que aprendió a leer, Nancy Luenn ha publicado quince libros para niño y adolescentes, incluyendo Nessa's Fish, The Dragon Kite y Squish! Ella enseña inglés como segundo idioma.

Robert Chapman began drawing & painting when he was 12 & hasn't stopped since. His fine art has been exhibited worldwide. Robert Chapman empezó a dibujar a pintar cuando tenia doce años y no ha dejado de hacerlo desde entonces. Sus obras artisticas se han exhibido por el mundo entero.
(02/25/01)

Rebecca